Please read my Exodus study questions and then Chapters 1-20 and 32-34 of Exodus.Of the stories here, which one seems to you the most interesting or the most important? Explain how that story is particularly appropriate as an example of Torah "law," or explain how that story shows the Torah to be something more than just a law code.
Jokingly I would have to say the whole first section. I mean the law is if God tells you to do something you better do it, or he will destroy your empire.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, I dunno if this counts but in Chapter 32 when Aaron makes the calf God repents for his anger. It is showing how you need to forgive, or else you will destroy what you do not wish to destroy. That and if God can curb his wrath, so man should do to.
Well the entire story of Moses is obviously one of the biggest and most memorable stories of the entire bible. This story to me has always been a very important and interesting story. It shows how big of an affect law can have on people and society. The pharaoh wanted the male babies to be killed, but instead of being killed he was sent down the river and was taken in by the pharaoh's daughter and Moses eventually became a great leader and a huge figure in the bible.
ReplyDeleteThis shows how much of an impact a law can have on people. If it wasn't for that law, maybe Moses never would have become the leader he was.
R. Casey Oberle
There are so many important stories in Exodus that are intertwined and lead into more and more examples of how Torah is both a an example of law and more than law. The most interesting part for me in particular are the parts where God is commanding Moses. This shows that laws are God given, and we should be governed by these God given laws. In Exodus 2:14, Moses is asked who made him a ruler and judge. Then, throughout Exodus, we see God give Moses instructions to lead his people.
ReplyDeleteI think a big question today that is brought up is how people who don't believe in God can be expected to accept certain moral laws God has given us. We see in Exodus 5 the king's resistance to doing what God commands through Moses. Then we read stories about how his people suffer as a result of his resistance to obey God and God's law.
Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"
ReplyDeleteI believe the stories in Exodus are all extremely important, as Genesis sets-up the creation of earth, man, and woman etc. Exodus picks that up and lays the foundations of Christianity. The part I chose earlier is, I believe, one of the most memorable moments in the Bible. It sets the story for Moses freeing the Israelites and some of the most important teachings the Bible has to offer such as the giving of the ten commandments to Moses, the parting of the Red Sea, or the ten plagues. All important teachings of the Bible and important parts of Exodus as you cannot seem to chose just one.
Exodus 14:21 - when this had it showed something more than law to the Israelites, and showed them the real power of God through Moses by splitting the Red Sea for the people to walk across and then after crossed closed it again; which should have not had the people wonder if God is real and his power.
ReplyDeleteExodus not only shows GOD's might in bringing the Isrealites out of Egypt, but from the time of the passover all the through Exodus is all laws. The ten commandments, how to build the tabernacles, how worship services should be conducted.
ReplyDeleteThe most memorable to me has to Exodus 17; Moses striking the rock. Its memorable becuase we usually dont talk much about the rock that was supposed to be struck; we talk about the one the Numbers chapter 20 where he strikes the rock instead of speaking to the rock as GOD commanded.
Its really interesting how the Isrealite people keep testing GOD after everything he did for them and yet they still dont trust him. I think there time in the wilderness was for the people to get the laws and instructions from GOD as well as learning how to trust GOD. Which we can does not happen especially in chapters 16 and 17; and even 32 when Aaron builds the Golden calf because the poeple are afraid GOD and Moses forgot them.
I think the parts that really stick out to me are how God repeatedly hardened Pharaoh's heart. It seems like the Lord used Pharaoh's lack of respect for the Law to make an example of the absolute power God had over Pharaoh and all of Egypt. I do find it perplexing a little bit about the idea of God having the ability to harden Pharaoh's heart. Was it simply going off the opposition that Pharaoh already showed to God's law? Anyways, I thought it was a good example of what happens when there is complete lack of honoring the law, bad things happen...
ReplyDeleteExodus 13:8 "On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'"
ReplyDeleteThis story of the Israelites' actions to commemorate the day the Lord led them out of Egypt is an important story and law which leads the people to give thanks for the things God has done for them. By not eating unleavened bread for seven days and holding a festival year after year, they remember how God set them free from the Egyptians.
Tyler Munson
ReplyDeleteFrom Exodus 5 to about 15 or so we see what repercusions can ensue if you go against god's command. The plagues that were inflicted upon Pharaoh and Egypt. With the rivers turning to blood and lotcus Pharoah decided to let the Hebrews but quickly but recanted the order and went after them. Going against God has it's concequences and we see that with the destruction of Pharaoh's army.
I like the story of the burning bush. This story has always seemed important to me because of how Moses reacts to God. Moses makes excuse after excuse of why he can't be the one to help free his people. God ends up saying that He created everything so He knows best. I think this shows that ultimately, God knows what he's doing and it's really not up to humans to try and figure it out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Terra in that I found when God hardens Pharaoh's heart interesting as well. In verse 11:9 it says, "The Lord had said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you - so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." I used to find this a little perplexing that God would harden Pharaoh's heart over and over so that he wouldn't let the Israelites go, but then you see that by doing so he is increasing the impact of his wonders. I do think he saw the rebellion in Pharaoh's heart to his laws and so used him as an example of following the law of God. Many might see this as God being a harsh ruler, but he is just and he impact his people in a much greater way than if Pharaoh had simply given in the first time.
ReplyDeleteI think the story of the plagues and the passover is a very important story of this section. It shows God's almighty power and his love for his people. I think this is a good example of how the Torah can be used to learn how to live our lives. Throughout these chapters we can see how God punished the Egyptians for not fearing and how he kept the Israelites safe. And finally with the death of the firstborn and the passover he gave the Israelites a chance to show their trust in him by painting their doorframes with blood. From this we can see that living our lives for God is the best choice for us and assures us that he will always look out for his people.
ReplyDeleteJohn Rawerts
Chapters 1-20 in Exodus interest me the most because it shows that Moses was willing to listen and follow God's 'orders'. When Rammses did not agree to what Moses said God wished, he ended up having Egypt destroyed, to a point, and his son killed off because he would not give up his workers and pride. To me, this shows that if one is told to do something, do it because otherwise, there will be rough consequences in the end. So, do as you are asked/told. There is also the fact that the Ten Commandments are established and these set up guidelines/rules to live by to please God.
ReplyDeleteI definitely found it interesting to see how immediately following Moses recieveing the ten commandments and passing them on to his fellow Hebrews, they almost immediately make an idol and start to break their laws.
ReplyDeleteexodus 3 is really a great story and something i have always loved. The story of Moses and the burning bush (God speaks through the bush). THis is a great example of the torah because it really shows how loyal moses was to God that even though he felt insignificant just a normal guy but someone the lord was asking to do something very amazing in the name of the lord. This is something God is able to do throughout the old testament, new testament, and even today. He uses people that really are nothing extraordinary but he makes them extraordinary!
ReplyDeleteTom Quigg
It was interesting to read about how Moses went up to the mountain for the time, and when he returns, the Israelites have a golden calf statue that the worship. the idol worship directly defies one of the ten commandments. god does get mad at them,and plans on destroying the israelites, but relents after moses reaffirms his beliefs in man. it shows that even the faithful need to be reminded of what there obligation is
ReplyDeleteI think that it is interesting to see that as Moses was receiving God's law the people were turning to an idol of a golden calf. As they were breaking the law, the law was coming down to them. It is as if God knew they would need the law at that moment and from that moment on they had their law to guide them even if they strayed from it like at the base of the mountain with the golden calf. -Zach Kuhlman
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important stories in Exodus is in Chapters 3 & 4 when God tells Moses that he will be used to deliver the children of Israel.
ReplyDeleteThis shows the Torah (law) to be more than a law code because when God says to do something you better do it. When God commands something it automatically becomes law. He said 'let there be light' and there was, so when He gives Moses precise directions He wants him to listen without question or making up excuses.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. (Exodus 32:33)
ReplyDeleteAnd the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made. (Exodus 32:35)
Probably one of the best examples of breaking one of God's commandments is the story of the golden calf, and the consequences that were rendered as a result. What's surprising is, it didn't even take long for the people to turn to false idolatry. I was also surprised when I read earlier on what God had said about how he felt about the golden calf.
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. (Exodus 32:10)
The people had almost suffered so much more greatly because of their actions. I even recall that God's law was so absolute that a man was put to death for working on the Sabbath day. These are just examples of why it's better to follow His commandments than disobey: You will have a much better time.
Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
ReplyDelete-This single line, in fact, embodies the most important part of the story. Exodus is less about leaving Egypt and more about the Jewish people setting out to reclaim their homeland in the name of God. This is an example how the Torah is more than just a law code, it is a written book detailing the Jewish quest for homeland that even continues today in the form of Zionism.
The law code which Moses received was very comprehensive. It included that people which were foreigners should not be casted out or suppressed because the people of Israel which the law code will go into affect for were once this kind of people (sojourners in a foriegn land). The law code is very 'heavenly' if you will because it is very fair, balanced, and unbias (as much as possible). This law code is pretty strict but presents a very good outline for a society to run smoothly and has within in no contradictions.
ReplyDelete- Jefferson Gunderson
The entire story of Moses throughout Exodus is one the most memorable stories in the bible for me. The entire book is a great example of the "torah" as a law and how Moses follows the law by going to the Pharoah of Egypt telling him to let his people go on their 3 day journey as God insists. However, the Pharoah is stubborn and throughout the plagues of frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness he still doesn't let the Israeli's leave Egypt. However, after the firstborn of each Egyptian family is killed the Pharoah insists that Aaron and Moses leave Egypt. Even in the remaining chapters of Exodus Moses follows the laws or "torah" God asks of him even though his people did become rebellious towards him.
ReplyDelete