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.
“29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians; and there was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, “Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD, as you said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!” Exodus 8:29-30
ReplyDeleteI think that this is the most important passage in Exodus. Not only are we showed that God is still taking care of His people even though in the beginning He was still upset with all the choices that the people are making. I think that it also is a great example of what God is willing to do for His people. He knows that they are suffering and He is willing do anything to get his people out of their suffering. What happens next is another example of how the hope and prayer of the people is what God is listening to. He is going to protect the people who follow him not matter what happens and it is a clear vision of what is going to happen in the future.
Perhaps not the most significant but absolutely an interesting part of Exodus is the refusal by Egyptian midwives to kill the Hebrews' infant sons. Although I forget which chapter of Exodus tells this story, to me it is significant in that these women risked their lives to uphold their moral virtue, recognizing the wrong and choosing to do what was right. Did they do it because there was a law requiring it? Certainly not. My understanding of the passage leads me to believe they disobeyed the Pharaoh because his orders went against the way the midwives chose to live their lives, and were consequently blessed for it.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the most significant portion of this was when Moses killed the Egyptian that was beating the Hebrew. Even though Moses had been raised and treated well by the Egyptians, he still felt his loyalty was to other Hebrews. He gave up all of his position and had to go into hiding because of this. As a law code this passage says that even Moses was not considered above the law. Yet, at the same time it seems to be acceptable for the reasons that Moses broke the law. I've never seen a law code that on the one hand condemns the murderer and then goes on to exalt him. very interesting
ReplyDeleteThe story of the burning bush is very powerful, and is a good example of how law is extracted from the text. The conversation Moses has with God sets some pretty important precedence to be followed. Moses tries to say he’s not worthy/unable to complete the task, God tells Moses he’ll be with him along the way. Moses keeps questioning God, and God has all the answers. I like…and hate how God was so willing to prove his existence to Moses and the rest of us on earth have to take everything on faith :(
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