INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
We were created not only by an infinite, all-powerful God—the One who measures the waters in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 40:12) and holds the endless number of stars in the sky (Isaiah 40:26)—but by a God who is closer to us than the air we breathe. From Genesis to Revelation, God has pursued us with His love, that we might have a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

The Bible is full of stories of people who encountered this powerful and personal God. People who suffered, people who lost their way, people who longed for hope and redemption. Moses was one of these people. During this series, we’ll look at several stories in the life of Moses that give us a picture of these divine, intimate encounters with God. May we learn from Moses what it looks like to walk with God, face to face.

SERIES THEME VERSES
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11a (NIV)

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face…
Deuteronomy 34:10 (NIV)

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Provided at the end of this guide:
1. Purpose and Distinctives of the Book of Exodus
2. Recommended Books

CONNECT
Respond to either or both of these to help get the conversation started.

1. What words best describe the image that comes to mind when you think about God?

2. Describe a time you felt rescued by God.

OPEN WITH PRAYER
A simple centering prayer: Dear Lord, You are the giver of Life.1 You have redeemed me.2 Your love cannot be measured or stolen.3 With joy You have drawn water from the wells of salvation.4 Because I have Jesus, I have life.5

Lord, we lay down the burdens and responsibilities of the day and turn our eyes toward You. Help us be present with You. Help us be here and nowhere else. Quiet our minds and restore our union with You. [This would be a good time to take a few deep breaths.]

We pray You’d put thoughts in our minds and stir our hearts in ways that draw each of us closer to You. Help us hear Your voice and experience more of who You really are. Amen.

Add to this your own words of prayer.
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1 Job 33:4; Acts 17:25 2 Isaiah 43:1; Hebrews 9:12 3 Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 8:38-39; 4 Isaiah 12:3; 5 1 John 5:11-12.

BACKGROUND OF THIS WEEK'S LESSON
Exodus chapters 11-14 describe the story of salvation when God rescued the Israelites from 430 years of harsh, brutal slavery in Egypt. This event is one of the primary turning points in the story of the Old Testament. Following God's command, Moses had already confronted Pharaoh with nine plagues – each showing God's power over Egypt's gods. But Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. The stage was set for the tenth and final plague: the death of the firstborn.

NOTE: While Exodus 11-14 deals with the overall story of salvation from Egypt, this week’s sermon and Group Guide take a closer look at the blood of the lamb that saved the Israelites, as well as the blood of Christ that provides salvation for all who believe. The shedding of blood for salvation in Exodus 11-14 foreshadows Jesus’ shedding of blood for salvation. The parallel is striking.

For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Leviticus 17:14a (ESV)

Follow this stream of thought:
◾Because blood is life, the shedding of blood means death.
◾Adam and Eve disobeyed God and therefore deserved the punishment of death (Romans 5:12).

◾As a result, all humanity is born in sin and deserves death (Romans 3:23; 6:23).

◾Sin leads to death, blood leads to life. Blood needs to be shed to receive new life.
◾Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have freedom, salvation and a new identity as the permanent, forgiven, dearly loved people of God.

STUDY THE TEXT
1. What was the purpose of the blood on the doorposts?

2. How is this related to Jesus’ death on the cross?

3. Why was it important that the amount of lamb needed was to be the amount each person would eat?

4. Why did God have the Israelites do this in community? How does that help you understand the purpose of church?

5. Why do you think God chose this event to mark the first month of Israel’s year?

6. Why did the lamb need to be without defect? How does this point to Christ?

7. Why was it the firstborn that God struck down?

GOSPEL FOCUS
PASSOVER is a major Jewish festival that commemorates God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Passover also points forward to Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice brings deliverance from sin and death. That’s why Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on the night of Passover (see Luke 22:7-20).

According to these passages, what did the blood (death, sacrifice) of Jesus accomplish?

1. What are similarities and differences between the Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus?

2. How does remembering Jesus’ sacrifice make you feel?

3. What does it mean to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus?

4. How can this cleansing affect our hearts, our choices, and the way we live each day?

5. What does it mean to be justified by the blood of Jesus?

6. How can knowing that you are justified affect your relationship with others and with God?

7. Describe a time you felt truly free and forgiven.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
1. How can thinking about the blood of Christ make a difference in your life this week?

2. What’s one way this week’s study has deepened your understanding of God’s salvation?

Close your time with a minute or two of silence, quietly allowing your heart and mind to settle. Ask God what He wants you to know or do from this week’s study and discussion. Write down what you sense God is saying to you. Share this with the group and pray for each other.

…life is truly in the blood. Temporarily, it is in the blood running through our veins. Eternally, it is in the sin-breaking, guilt-removing, incomparable, inestimably valuable blood of Jesus Christ.

Anthony J. Carter,
Bloodwork: How the Blood of Christ Accomplishes our Salvation.

PURPOSE AND DISTINCTIVES OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS 1
The book of Exodus has several major themes:
◾First, it tells how the Lord liberated Israel from Egypt to fulfill his covenant with the fathers.
◾A second major element of the book is the covenant revelation at Sinai.
◾The third theme is a result of the first two: the establishment of the Tabernacle as God's dwelling with Israel.

Each of these themes is a triumph of God's grace. The true God judged the gods and human rulers of Egypt as He delivered His people, came to speak with men at Sinai and identified His own presence with the tabernacle He instructed the people to build. The unfolding of these themes also reveals the Lord's holiness and grace in his covenant law and in the ceremonial symbolism of Israel's life and worship.

At the center of all of these divine actions is Moses, God's chosen servant. He mediated God's judgment against Egypt (Exodus 4:1-17) and was the one through whom God delivered Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:31). Through Moses God gave his revelation at Sinai (Exodus 20:19). Moses also received and delivered the regulations for the tabernacle (Exodus 32-34). Although God's power and authority accomplished all these blessings for Israel, the book itself concentrates on Moses' role as God's servant.

1 Dr. Richard Pratt, Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible and thirdmill.org.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Here are some great resources as you continue your study of the life of Moses and the foundational beliefs of the Christian Faith. These are available in the Brookwood Bookstore.

EXODUS AND MOSES
Moses: In the Footprints of the Reluctant Prophet, Adam Hamilton
Leaving Egypt, Chuck DeGroat
The Paradise King, Blaine Eldredge

FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Basic Christianity, John Stott
I Believe: A Concise Guide to the Essentials of the Christian Faith, Thom S. Rainer
Blood Work: How the Blood of Christ Accomplishes Our Salvation, Anthony J. Carter
In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel-Centered Life, Sinclair B. Ferguson

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.