Moses was sent to deliver Israel – While tending sheep, Moses is called up to Mount Horeb, where the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush. The bush is on fire but is not consumed. The experience is compelling for Moses, but God spared his life and sent him to be a deliverer of Israel from their captivity in Egypt. (Moses was said to be a prophet like unto Christ because he followed the pattern of Christ in the Old Testament). Exodus 3-4:17

 

Moses returns to Egypt – Moses enters Egypt with a word from God that will teach all nations that the Lord is the one true God. In this message from Moses, Israel is given a promise by God that they will receive a new land and a new home and will see a mighty deliverance from Egypt. This is the same promise He gave Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

 

When given a place to speak to King Pharaoh, Moses delivers the message to let God's people go. At first, because God hardens Pharaoh's heart, he rejects God's word to let the people of Israel go. Exodus 4:187:13

 

Ten plagues in Egypt - God sent ten plagues upon Egypt because Pharaoh refused to let God's people go through the prophet Moses. When the ten plagues were finished, Pharaoh decided to let the people leave Egypt. Begins in Exodus 7

 

Note: Plagues are meant to punish the wicked, not the righteous.

 

Ten Plagues in Egypt

1 River turned to blood Exodus 7:14-24

2 Frogs Exodus 7:25-8:15

3 Lice (Gnats) Exodus 8:16-19

4 Swarm of flies Exodus 8:20-32

5 Cattle of Egypt died Exodus 9:1-7 

6 Boils Exodus 9:8-12

7 Hail and fire mingled Exodus 9:13-35

8 Locusts Exodus 10:1-20

9 Thick darkness Exodus 10:21-29

10 Firstborn of Egypt died Exodus 11:1-10, 12:29-32

 

The Passover - God taught Israel how to keep the Passover on the night of the tenth plague that He poured out on Egypt when He said He would kill the firstborn. He told Moses this was the beginning of the lamb sacrifice that would continual yearly in Israel. He commanded them to put blood on the doorpost of their house and to eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This blood on the doorpost was so that when the Lord came to kill the firstborn of the Egyptians, He would pass over the children of Israel, saving their firstborn children from death. Exodus 12:1-28, 43-51

 

Israel's exodus from Egypt - After God finished the ten plagues that Moses sent upon the heart of Pharaoh and all of Egypt, Israel was finally delivered. Now it was time to be sent by God into the wilderness to face testing and to be provenbefore entering into the land of Canaan. Canaan was the land that God promised He would give them. This land was very prosperous and flowed with milk and honey. Exodus 12:33-42

 

Israel enters the wilderness – After Pharaoh released God's people, they left Egypt and came to the Red Sea. Pharaoh regretted his decision to let Israel go and began to give chase. While at the Red Sea, God began to teach Israel how to trust God and not judge after the flesh by what they saw and heard. 

 

The people saw no way out, as the Red Sea was in front of them, and the armies of Egypt followed up behind them to kill them all. After much complaining by the people, God told Moses to lift his staff and part the Red Sea and show them dry land. 

 

The sea parted, and Israel walked across on dry land to the other side. Pharaoh and his army followed, but the Lord released the sea and destroyed Egypt's army. Egypt is the enemy of God's people. (This is an excellent example of going into the waters of baptism and killing the old man.) Exodus 13-15

 

The wilderness journey – With the enemy of Israel destroyed, the people of God began their journey in the wilderness to learn how to serve God and to have no other gods before Him. The message was clear: there is only One God, and He is the one true God. 

 

As they traveled on, the people of God became very large. God told them to group themselves into twelve tribes according to the twelve sons of Israel. 

 

As they journey to the land of Canaan, they are put in many perilous situations that will teach them to look to the Lord and not trust in themselves. (This is why the wilderness is so important to the child of God. It is where you are taughtGod's faithfulness and that His promises to you never fail. Exodus 15-18

 

Israel arrives at Mount Sinai - God leads Moses to Mount Sinai, where He calls him up to the top of the mountain so that He could speak with him alone. While Moses is on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel are down at the base of the mountain, wondering where God is and where Moses went off to. As they wait, they take the gold that they took from Egypt and build a golden calf image and begin to worship it as a replacement for God who delivered them out of Israel. Moses came down, destroyed the image, and revealed the Ten Commandments for His people to follow. They remained at Mount Sinai until they began their journey to the promised land. Exodus 19

 

The Ten Commandments – Moses is given the Ten Commandments written by the hand of God to teach the children of Israel how to live righteously before Him. By giving commandments to men, they are taught the will of God and the mind of God. These commandments were written in stone and given to people on the earth, and are the pattern of the spiritual laws that God said He would write upon one's heart. Exodus 20

 

Notice: When you look at the commandments, do not look at them as just what you can and cannot do to please God. You must see them as God's nature. God is one; He is holy, He doesn't kill, He's not a thief, or doesn't commit adulteries and fornications, or speak false witnesses. These commandments are His nature, and He has given them to us to show us that we, by these spiritual truths, can have the heart of God with Him.

 

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20

 

1 Do not have any other gods before Me.

2 Do not make unto you any graven image.

3 Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.

4 Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.

5 Honor your father and your mother.

6 Do not kill.

7 Do not commit adultery.

8 Do not steal.

9 Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10 Do not covet.

 

Many other laws were also given to the people of God. Exodus 20-23:19

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The Tabernacle – While at Mount Sinai, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle so that He could meet and communicate with His people, Israel, as they journeyed on. The pattern for the Tabernacle and its courtyard was given to Moses by God, and it was a tent that could be moved as the people moved. The Lord used the Tabernacle to allow the priests of Israel to approach God and make sacrifices for the people and for their sins. It was used from the time of the Exodus out of Egypt until the time of the kings when King Solomon, David's son, built Him a permanent temple in Jerusalem.

 

When the Tabernacle was set up, the twelve tribes of Israel camped around the Tabernacle on all four sides. The Tabernacle was a sanctuary, which was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary that is to come in Jesus Christ. It was a place for Israel to meet with God and atone for their sins through the offerings of the High Priest, Aaron. Because of the sins of the people, only the priests from the family of Levi were allowed to touch the Tabernacle, so a fence was placed around it to protect it from the people. Exodus 25-30; 35:30-40:38

 

In the New Covenant, Jesus Christ is the High Priest, who makes atonement for our sins. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place. This is a reference to Jesus Christ entering the Holiest of All and making atonement for us once, so that we no longer have to strive for forgiveness for our sins continually.  Book of Hebrews

 

The Tabernacle consisted of two sections, as well as a courtyard.

(These were constructed in Exodus 35-40)

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1 The Courtyard

2 The Holy Place

3 The Most Holy Place, or the Holiest of Hollies

 

In the Courtyard

• The Courtyard - Upon entering the courtyard, you are surrounded by a fence made of linen curtains. This fence is designed to protect the sanctuary from the sins of the people and serves as an example of the walls of salvation in the New Jerusalem, as well as a symbol of the righteousness of the saints. Isaiah 60:18; Revelation 19:8

 

• The Brazen Altar - The altar contained fire and was a place where the priest sacrificed a perfect animal to atone for the people's sins. This act required the shedding of blood to forgive sins. Because this forgiveness was temporary, the priest had to make sacrifices before God for the forgiveness of sins continually. (Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and was offered once for sin, and now being forgiven, we are also called to be a perfect sacrifice before the Lord.) Exodus 27:1-8; 40:6; Hebrews 10:10; Romans 12:1-2

 

• The Laver of Brass - The laver contained water and was used to wash and purify the priests before they entered into the Holy Place. (This was an example of sanctification and how Jesus put off the old before He entered into the Holy Place. We, too, are called to be cleansed by the words of Christ.) Exodus 30:17-21; 40:7; 30-32; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22

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In the Holy Place

The priests would enter the Holy Place every day to serve the Lord. Inside the first section of the Tabernacle, the Holy Place, were the Golden Lampstand, the Table of Shewbread, and the Altar of Incense, which was placed in front of the Veil. This Veil separated the Holy Place from the second section of the Tabernacle, which is called the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 9:1-6

 

• The Golden Lampstand - The candles were kept lit by the priest and provided light for the Holy Place. The priest trimmed the wicks regularly to make sure the light did not go out. (Jesus was the light of the world and has called us to be the same.) Exodus 25:31-40; John 8:12, 12:46

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• The Table of Shewbread - Twelve loaves of bread were placed on the table, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The bread was for Aaron and his sons to eat as an example of a most holy portion out of the LORD'S food offerings. (Jesus was the Bread of Life, and those who eat will never hunger again.) Exodus 25:23; John 6:22, 33, 35, 48, 51; Hebrews 9:2

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• The Altar of Incense - The Lord required that incense be burned on the altar every morning and evening. It was a sweet incense, a mixture of spices to be used only for the Tabernacle as an offering to the Lord. (This represents the prayers of the saints offered as a sweet incense before the Lord. Jesus taught us how to pray and offer that incense to the Lord, which is the right prayer.) Exodus 30:1-38; Matthew 6; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4

 

• The Veil - The Veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was a barrier between God and man. Once a year, only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) through this Veil and speak directly with God. (The flesh of Jesus represented the Veil. When He died on the cross, the Veil was torn from top to bottom, and a new way into the Holiest of Holies was opened up for all those who believe and follow Jesus, who now have access to God through His death.) Exodus 26:31-33; Matthew 27:50-51; 2 Corinthians 3: 11-18; Hebrews 10:19-20

 

In the Most Holy Place, the Holiest of Holies, or the Holiest of All

While the Holy Place was entered into every day, it was only once a year that the High Priest entered into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement. It was there that the glory of the Lord would rest on the Ark of the Covenant, specifically on the Mercy Seat, which was upon the Ark. The High Priest sprinkled blood on the Mercy Seat to atone for his sins and the sins of the people. Hebrews 9:3

 

• The Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat - is where God came down and met with the High Priest above the Mercy Seat. It was made of gold, and upon it were two winged cherubim who faced each other. Inside it was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, which are the Ten Commandments. Once a year, the High Priest would sprinkle blood upon the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of the people. (Jesus is the High Priest who sprinkles His blood on the Mercy Seat. and atones for our sins.) Exodus 25:10-22; 37:6-9; 2 Samuel 6:2; Psalms 99:1; Hebrews 9:4; 12:24

 

Hebrews 9:1-5 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second Veil, the Tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the Ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

 

The Tabernacle of Moses was the place where God dwelt with His people in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus is the Tabernacle where God abides with His people. You must go through Him to get to the Father. While the Tabernacle of Moses served as a place for God to communicate with His people, Jesus serves as a better way. Hebrews 7:22; 8:1, 6;12:4

 

Time to go into the promised land - After leaving Mount Sinai, Israel began to make their way to Canaan land (God's promised land that He told Abraham He would give to him and his children). On the journey, Israel again demonstrated their rebellious and disobedient nature towards God's faithfulness. Numbers 10:11 - Numbers 14

 

Israel is a rebellious people –  While in the wilderness God was faithful to His people. He had given them a faithfulleader, who could talk to God, who delivered them out of Egypt and led them every step of the way. He gave them His commandments to help them learn to be faithful and teach them how to walk in the Spirit. He gave them a tabernacle to worship God and walk in forgiveness. He delivered them from all their enemies along the way, and yet they continually rejected His help.

 

Given that Israel had a leader, good commandments, and a tabernacle to communicate with God, one would expect that Israel could easily navigate the wilderness and fulfill God's plan to lead them into the land He promised. All they had to do was trust God and believe what He said. But after much time in the wilderness, Israel had become a generation of evil and adulterous people and would not believe the promises of God. Through all the blessings God had given them and all the mighty miracles that they had seen God do for them, they still wouldn't turn to God and believe. Even with the Law of God and His Tabernacle, they still refused to be thankful and obedient to God. (This is a repeat cycle of death and curses that began with Adam and remained with them for generations.)

 

Twelve spies were sent to Canaan - After some time, Israel arrived at the land that God promised them. God told Moses to spy out the land before they entered it. Moses sent twelve spies to scout out the land of Canaan; ten of those spies came back with an evil report, saying that giants were living there and they could not defeat them. Only two of them, Joshua and Caleb, brought back good reports, confirming God's promises of a land that flows with milk and honey, saying we can take the land, but the people would not listen.  Numbers 13-14

 

Because they rejected the good report of Joshua and Caleb, they would not go into the land of Canaan. The people feared the giants more than they feared God, so they believed the evil report. It didn't matter that God gave them faithful witnesses and had already shown them His power continually on the journey; they still refused to believe.

 

Moses interceded for them, but God insisted that they would receive His judgment for rejecting Him ten times. Instead of blessings, they began to suffer God's judgment in the wilderness. Through many examples, they received much judgment and suffered many things in the wilderness, wandering there until they all died, except Joshua and Caleb, who were of a different spirit. (In the New Testament, the apostles used many of these examples to teach the people of God what not to do.) You can find some of thier examples of rebellion in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22, Hebrews 3-4

 

Moses dies – While wandering in the wilderness, Moses died. Before he did, he taught the upcoming nation of Israel how to live in the new land that God promised them. He gave his farewell to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. He also anointed Joshua to be his successor in leading Israel. Joshua would be the one to guide Israel into Canaan to possess the land (God himself buried the body of Moses). In Deuteronomy 34, God makes his promise clear again to Moses.

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Deuteronomy 34:5-9 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

 

Note: Even with their disobedience and rebellion, God was faithful to do what He promised. Before they died, He raised a new generation of Israel to fear Him. Though still in the wilderness, this new generation would believe in Him and would be given a second chance to take the land God promised their fathers. (God always keeps His word!)