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8. Moses and the Passover

My notes on teaching the Old Testament, by Mama Brenda.


Leader’s notes: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover, Exodus 1:1-4:28; 12:1-42;

13:17-15:21

Don’t give out notes to start with. Ask those with books to keep them shut.


Give four ladies cards with one each of the first four references on, to read out one at a time. Elicit the information from the ladies.


How? God’s way was through one man - Moses


Get the ladies to work in pairs to find in the story (Exodus 1:15- 2:10) ladies who God used to begin working out the “how?”. Share answers and then give out notes or open the books.












Confirm their findings from Stephen’s account in Acts. God is making a way!






40-80 years old

Work through this section together eliciting answers from what the ladies already know and what they are reading. God is making a way!
















Student's worksheet: Lesson 8 Moses and the Passover Exodus 1:1-4:28; 12:1-42; 13:17-15:21.

Genesis 15:13-14 part of God’s promise to Abraham - Israel will be enslaved in Egypt

for 400 years, but will come out with great provisions

Genesis 50:24 God will come to your aid - Joseph’s death bed words to his brothers

- God will make a way

Exodus 1:6-7 The Israelites are now many people, becoming a threat to the new Pharaoh

Exodus 1:8-10 They are enslaved and progressively treated worse

How? God’s way was through one man - Moses


1-40 years old - God’s provisions for His appointed man

Exodus 1:15-21 midwives who feared God

1:22 Pharaoh tries again

2:1-3 Moses is born to a Hebrew family, who protect him as far as they can

2:4 The baby’s sister, Miriam, watches

2:5-6 Pharaoh’s daughter bathes in the Nile, just where the mini boat is

2:7 Miriam takes the opportunity

2:8-10 Moses’ mother looks after her own baby until he is old enough to go to

live with Pharaoh’s daughter in the royal palace - probably at about

three years old. Three precious years to teach the young Moses about his

people and his God

Acts 7:17-23 Here Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is giving the Jewish leaders a lesson from their own history - Moses was well educated in the palace, as fitted the son of a princess. God is making a way


40-80 years old - murder, cultural shock, desert shepherd, God’s call

2:11-15 hot headed murder, not accepted by his own people, fled to Midian

2:16-20 welcomed by Reuel (Jethro)’s family and settled in Midian

2:21-25 married Jethro’s daughter, Zipporah - they had a son. God was concerned for the Israelites

Acts 7:23-29 story corroborated in Stephen’s speech

Acts 7:30 after 40 years of shepherding in the desert Moses encountered God

Exodus 3:1-10 God attracted Moses with something he could not understand

3:11-22 Moses said - who am I to do this? What if the Israelites say “What is

the name of this God who sent you?” God revealed Himself as “I am who I am” and told Moses to go and talk to the leaders of Israel. God said that Pharaoh would eventually let them go when a “mighty hand compels him” (3:20) and the Egyptians would load them with gifts. Compare with Genesis 15:14

4:1-17 Moses did not want to go to Pharaoh - God gave him a sign - he still

did not want to go to Pharaoh - God was angry with Moses - God said

that Aaron would go with him

4:18-28 Moses told Jethro what he was about to do and started to Egypt with his wife

and sons, meeting Aaron on the way. God is making a way.


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Leader's notes: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover

80-120 years’ old

Work through together as a class until the two paragraphs bottom of page 26 and top of page 27.
































Work in pairs to find the words in Exodus 12:1-11 marked opposite by a *, and Jesus/Passover Lamb. The exact words may vary from one translation to another.


1 Peter 1:18-19 “You were redeemed……with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”


Romans 3:23-25 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that comes by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement.”







Student's worksheet: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover

80-120 years old - conflict - Passover - rejoicing - disappointment


Exodus 5:1-9 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and quoted the God of Israel – to which Pharaoh replies that he does not recognise the God of Israel, so the people cannot go. Pharaoh also says the Israelites can no longer use straw to make their brick quota, so making the job much harder. This action made the Israelites turn against Moses (5:22-23). God gave Moses an encouragement for the Israelites but they were too discouraged to accept it (6:5-9). Remember that sometimes when you are very discouraged - perhaps God IS encouraging you, but you are not willing to listen.

7:1-7 This is the introduction to the plagues that come on Pharaoh and Egypt in

7:14-11:10. Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Who brought judgement on Egypt?


Plague Pharaoh’s reaction Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart?

1.Blood No Pharaoh

2. Frogs Yes then No Pharaoh

3. Gnats No Pharaoh ?

4. Flies in Egyptian areas Yes then No Pharaoh

5. Death of Egyptian livestock No Pharaoh

6. Boils No God

7. Hail but not in Goshen(Israelites) Yes then No Pharaoh

8. Locusts No then Yes then No God

9. Darkness over Egyptian area Yes then No God

10. Firstborn die No then Yes then chased them God


Check 7:22, 8:7, 8:18-19, 9:11, then the magicians are not mentioned again!

Our God is totally powerful.


The institution of Passover is an integral part of Israelite history and of Jewish thinking even today. It fits in between plague nine and plague ten.

Exodus 12:1-11 A perfect* year old male* sheep or goat is to be killed *. The blood is to be put on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they will eat the roasted lambs. They must eat it with bread made without yeast, and with bitter herbs. They must eat with sandals on, staff in hand and be ready to leave.

12:12-13 That night God will kill all the firstborn, men and animals, in judgement on the gods of Egypt. “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

12:14-16, 24-28 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord - a lasting ordinance.” It is to be followed by a week-long festival of unleavened bread.

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Leader's notes: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover


1 Corinthians 5:7-8 “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival…….with….sincerity and truth.”



Work through the top half of page 27, Back to the story……


Note on the numbers.

Exodus 12:37 600,000 men

assume 600,000 women

assume 600,000 children

Exodus 12:38 ? herders

? many other people – Exodus 9:20; 12:38 and 48.

_______Round figure – not exact – to get an idea of the size

2,000,000 of this people movement


The Sudan and South Sudan displacement/famine/refugee figures are also not exact,

but accurate enough to give an impression.















‘What did God tell Moses to do?’ Answer 1, 2, 3 in pairs (See opposite)

Then ‘What did Moses do?’ Answer 1, 2, 3 in pairs (See opposite below)


Then share altogether to end.











Student's worksheet: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover

Before His crucifixion Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, but He put a completely new meaning into it. Look at the * 11 lines back, on page 26 - can you make each of them refer to Jesus as our Passover Lamb? 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:23-25;

1 Corinthians 5:7 and then verse 8 - celebrate by living in sincerity and truth.


Back to the story…….

12:29-30 The death of the Egyptian firstborn.

12:31-36 Pharaoh said go. Egyptians gave them gold, silver and clothing. See Genesis 15:14. The Israelites travelled from Rameses to Succoth -

600,000 (603,550 Ex 38:26) men aged 20 and over

+ women + children

+ those driving flocks and herds + many other people - (? Ex 9:20).

That is 5 times the population of Juba or one sixth of the estimated population of South Sudan 2016 + animals to get moving and organise!!!!

13:17-22 The Israelites move south, guided and accompanied by a pillar of cloud and

a pillar of fire.

14:1-18 Pharaoh decided to chase the Israelite exodus. God said (vs4 and vs18) what would happen was to demonstrate His glory.

14:19-31 The great horde of Israelites and the chasing Egyptians camp that night separated by the angel of God and the pillar of cloud. In the morning Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the waters divided. The Israelites went across on dry land. Late in the night God looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of cloud and fire and threw it into

confusion. At daybreak Moses stretched out his hand again and the sea came back. Not one of the entire Egyptian army survived. The Israelites feared God and trusted God and Moses.

15:1-21 A song of praise for what God had done. God had made a way. 12:40-42.


We need to finish the Moses story and jump ahead to finish this study.

As we will find the next time - the Israelites were a very difficult group to rule.

Numbers 20:2-12

Verses 2 - 5 opposition to Moses and Aaron

Verses 6 - 8 Moses and Aaron went to God for wisdom.

Verse 8 What did God tell Moses to do? 1.

2.

3.

Verses 9-11 What did Moses do? 1.

2.

3.

God had provided - but Moses had disobeyed.

Verse 12 Moses had not trusted God - he had done what he thought was right - Moses had not proved that God was right in what He (God) had said - he had doubted the holy, sovereign God.


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Leader's notes: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover


There is a lot of material to cover in this lesson, but that is because there is a lot of material in the Old Testament!!





The ladies may want to comment on the 6 things to note (opposite).










If you have time to spare you could get ladies to share how God has made a way for them when there seemed to be no way. Some experiences may seem small and insignificant, but they were big to the person concerned and they may help others. If God has been seen to ‘make a way’, it is valid sharing.



























Student's worksheet: Lesson 8 - Moses and the Passover

Consequently, neither Moses or Aaron entered the Promised land.


Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”

Deuteronomy 32:48-52, 34:1-7. Moses walked with God but he was still a sinful man. God requires obedience in His followers. And He definitely expects leaders He appoints live up to His standards. A solemn lesson.



6 things to note

- we have to be willing to receive God’s encouragement.

- God brought judgement on Egypt.

- The magicians were very limited in power, God is unlimited!

- Christ is our Passover Lamb - averting God’s judgement from us.

- People movements are not new - 6 million people was of a lot of people to move.

- Whatever God has used us to do in His service, we still need to honour Him as holy, and obey Him all the time.




















Please read for next time about living in the Israeli camp - Exodus 15:22-19:25;

23:20-33; 34:29-35; 39:32-40:38. Numbers 1:51-2:34.




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