Exodus 16-40

Exodus II: Shaping their imaginations and their world

There are several things to take note of through the end of Exodus:

First the material dealing with covenant, chapters 19-24:

· What patterns do you see emerging right from the very beginning of their wandering from the Red Sea to Sinai?

· What is the purpose of spending such a long time at Sinai?

· What did you think of the comments made on page 68 of Drama regarding the vassal, or suzerain, treaty and the discussion of the laws given as being genuine for the Israelite’s context? Often times we think that the laws given are some sort of heavenly rulebook. Is this what seems to be presented? If you have extra time (I know it’s the holidays and all) read a little of Hammurabi’s Code (Google it with the words Torah and you will find a variety of websites with all different kinds of answers).

· Think about the tension created by the fierceness and compassion of some of the commands. What do you think God is communicating?


Then the material dealing with God’s presence (tabernacle), chapters 25-31:

· After the material dealing with the covenant, why do you think God’s presence gets so much attention?

· God speaks seven times through this section (25:1; 30:11, 17, 22, 34; 31:1: 12). Take a moment and look up what God says in 31:12. Why could God be communicating about the creating of the Tabernacle?

· Think about the awesome holiness of God that is communicated here in contrast to the picture of Jesus as a little baby lying in a feeding trough. What are some theological questions or ideas that come out of this?