Veronica and Erika introduce the book of Exodus and the first 8 verses in this episode. Since there are forty chapters in Exodus, they are not going to dive into every detail. Instead their goal is to add to the discussion by focusing on different thoughts and ideas that aren’t normally covered.
One way they are doing that is looking at the book in three parts: God redeems, God makes a covenant and God dwells. This will be the framework that each episode is built upon and woven into those three actions is memory. Remembering the past will affect the present which ultimately affects the future. As you read through Scripture yourself, see if you can identify one of those three actions.
This week Veronica and Erika deal with some of the bigger topics in chapters 1-3. Pharaoh is determined to remove the “swarm” of Israelites but the midwives thwart his plans with their lies. God doesn’t show up into the story until chapter 3 when Moses is over 40 years old, but we see that God was working behind the scenes. How do you see God working behind the scenes in the story? How do you see God working behind the scenes in your life?
Memory comes into play as Moses encounters God at the burning bush. God’s response to Moses’ doubts was not to point to how great Moses is, but to who God is and His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. How did God work in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s lives that might be helpful to Moses? If God came to you, what past stories could He point to to show His faithfulness in your life?
Veronica mentions the book “The Winged Watchman” by Hilda Van Stockum and Erika quotes Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
In this episode Veronica and Erika dive into chapters four and five.
What lessons can we learn from Moses and the signs God gives him to take to Egypt? How was God testing Moses’ faith in preparation for the things to come?
When Moses asked God questions, God responded one way; yet how did God respond when Moses offered an excuse? What does this teach us about how we interact with God?
What is the point of the story at the end of chapter 4? Why was this included in the Bible?
As Moses enters Pharaoh’s presence in chapter 5, what is the posturing that is going on between Moses and Pharaoh? We know Moses and Pharaoh will continue to interact over the next few chapters and things do not go smoothly for Moses or the Israelites. What hope does this offer to us today? Erika referenced Gladys Aylward and the hardships she endured trying to get to China. What encouragement can we find from her life?
Veronica and Erika pick up the discussion with Moses and God at the beginning of chapter six. God tells Moses that Abraham, Issac and Jacob knew God by His name El Shaddai (think memory and covenant), but Moses and Egypt are about to know God by a different name. We will see how God reveals Himself and this new name over the next few chapters.
After this conversation between Moses and God is what appears to be a random break in thought – a genealogy. Erika explains how the original readers would view this genealogy, how it provides a link to the past and the future, and why genealogies offer hope.
What does it mean Pharaoh hardens his heart and God hardens Pharaoh’s heart? Have you ever wondered if that was fair? Erika and Veronica tackle that subject in this podcast today.
We mention Lois Tverberg. Her website is www.ourrabbijesus.com.
Veronica also mentioned Bruce Waltke and his book titled “Old Testament Theology.”
In this episode Veronica and Erika start exploring the ten plagues. They answer questions like:
How long do you think the ten plagues lasted?
Have you ever heard hundreds of frogs croaking in their ponds? Did that make you stop and think what it would have been like for the people during that portion of the plague?
Why is it important to know the frogs didn’t just hop away, but died right where they were?
Veronica quoted from Lois Tverberg and Erika gave us this quote from the Book of Wisdom:
Book of Wisdom 11:15-16 “In return for their foolish and wicked thoughts, which led them astray to worship irrational serpents and worthless animals, thou didst send upon them a multitude of irrational creatures to punish them, that they might learn that one is punished by the very things by which he sins.” (quoted in White, Brazos, 80)
In this episode Erika and Veronica discuss Exodus 10-12. They talk about the importance of repetition in Scripture, the death of the firstborn, and Passover.
In this episode Veronica and Erika talk wrap-up the storyline of God redeeming His people found in Exodus 13-15. The story isn’t complete until the enemy, Pharaoh and his army, are finally conquered never to return again. What is Israel’s response seeing their enemy vanquished – joyful worship and praise of their God, their Redeemer.
God has redeemed His people but now Erika and Veronica point out that these chapters are all about the Israelites learning to know who God is. These chapters give us insight into how intimately God is involved in their lives and what kind of care they can expect from Him. Erika read Hosea 11:1-4.
You can find more about the Amalekites in Deuteronomy 25:17-19, I Samuel 15:1-9 and 30:1-2 and the book of Esther.
In this episode Veronica and Erika slow down their discussion as they begin a new portion of the book of Exodus. They are calling this part “God covenants.” They define a covenant and share the multiple images God uses to describe His relationship with Israel.
Veronica and Erika slow down and spend the entire podcast discussing Exodus 20:1-11. Using Dennis Prager’s book as a guide, they show how the commands are bigger and more in depth than normally taught.
Veronica and Erika continue the discussion of the remaining 10 Commandments in this episode. They expand all of these commands while showing how a society that fulfill each of these commands would lead to a redeemed world.
In this episode Veronica and Erika lay down basic principles you can use to help you as you read through these chapters. They do not go in depth into each particular instance, but instead give a viewpoint of what the culture might have been like back then. They continue to come back to the idea that we are to love God and love our neighbor. They hit on topics like slavery and justice.
Erika begins this episode summarizing the story by Patricia Polacco titled “The Bee Tree.” Veronica also used commentary from First Fruits of Zion.
In this episode Veronica and Erika dig into Exodus 24 and God making a covenant with Moses and the people. They examine the boundaries God placed around the mountain and how you see that repeated in Tabernacle and Temple. They also explain table fellowship, Moses and Joshua’s relationship, and the significance of two tablets.
Veronica mentions Lois Tverberg. Her website is www.ourrabbi.jesus.com – Our Rabbi Jesus
Veronica also mentioned Ray Vander Laan.
Veronica and Erika examine God’s response to the people sin with the golden calf. They talk about the significance of God’s word choice as well as Moses’s shrewd and bold conversation with God. Then they look at Moses’s word choice when he asks the people to help deal with the sin of the golden calf.
This week Veronica and Erika discuss Moses’ interaction with God following the golden calf incident. Since the beginning of the book, Moses has grown in his boldness with God. We can’t see what Moses saw, but we can hear what he heard.
Veronica and Erika finally get to the part of the story where God dwells with His people. They approach the chapters on the Tabernacle differently and show the lessons we learn from the specific details given.
Erika and Veronica conclude their study on Exodus. They wrap on the lessons on the Tabernacle and show what we can learn from the priests. They also jump to Exodus 40 and show how the book ends overall.