Rooting Path · Old Testament Survey · Lesson 3: The Exodus: Rescued to Be God’s People
This lesson in one sentence: God rescues first, then makes the covenant: first ‘I brought you out’, then ‘you shall not’.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Practice Together15 min
- Discussion20 min
- This Week5 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
Have you ever been ‘rescued’ by someone? Big or small, either is fine.
Read Together
13The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exod 12:13 · WEB
4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; 6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exod 19:4–6 · WEB
2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3“You shall have no other gods before me.
Exod 20:2–3 · WEB
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exod 20:2 · WEB
Practice Together
Write the eight events of ‘The Exodus and the Wilderness’ on slips of paper: the birth of Moses, the burning bush, the ten plagues and the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, the law and the covenant at Sinai, the golden calf, the spies at Kadesh, the death of Moses. Put them in order as a group, then check against the timeline. For each, say one sentence about ‘what God did’, and one word for ‘how the people responded’: trust? fear? grumbling? rebellion? obedience?
Discussion
- Before the Ten Commandments comes this sentence: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” (Exod 20:2) What does this order mean to you?
- “how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself” (Exod 19:4)—when God rescued the people, where was he taking them?
- The people had only just been rescued, and soon they were grumbling and making a golden calf. In what areas do you also quickly forget what God has done?
This Week
This week read Exodus 19–20: the covenant at Sinai and the Ten Commandments. As you read, notice: what did God say first, before he said ‘you shall’?
Each person names when they will read Exodus 19–20 this week.
Closing
Each person thanks God in one sentence for something he has brought them out of. The leader closes in prayer.
Tips for the leader
- Someone may ask whether the plagues or the Red Sea crossing ‘really happened’. This course does not go into historical arguments; you can say, ‘We read the text as it is, and first look at what God wants people to know about him here.’
- Which Old Testament laws are still kept literally today is something churches understand differently; as the lesson says, ask your own church, and don’t debate it in the group.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.