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It Is Written

Sabbath School 3rd Quarter 2025: Exodus

Eric Flickinger

Jiřί Moskala

01 Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses

Welcome to Sabbath School brought to you by It Is Written.

We're glad that you are joining us today.

We are beginning a brand new 13 week, 13 lesson journey through the book of Exodus.

The book of Exodus is an incredible story of how God led and continues to lead His people.

And we're going to be exploring that as we journey through this book.

But before we begin, let's start with prayer.

Father, we want to thank you for being with us today.

And as we begin this brand new journey through the book of Exodus, we ask that you would lead us, guide us, direct us into your truth, help us to get a clearer picture of your character and to see how we can live our lives to glorify you in the last days of earth's history.

We ask your blessing upon our time together and we thank you in Jesus name, Amen.

Well we are also grateful to have with us the author of this quarter's Sabbath school lesson, Dr.

He is the Dean of the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, and also a professor of Old Testament exegesis and theology.

This is an incredible story that we're going to be going through, a journey in many senses of the Word, to see how God has led in the past and to see how he is leading us today and desires to lead us in the future.

Now, you've written on the book of Exodus and on this journey that Moses kind of leads us through.

Why is this book something that you are clearly passionate about?

What about this kind of grabs your attention and your heart and and compelled you to study into this subject more deeply?

Well the book of Exodus is actually the foundation because it is part of the Torah, the Pentateuch, and the Torah is really what you have in the basis for the whole teaching of the Bible.

And Exodus is the very beautiful narrative, is a story about God, how he was leading his people out of the difficulties of life.

But besides lecturing, it was going back also to my life.

Because I was growing up in the former Czechoslovakia.

It was a communist country, and there was some kind of oppression there for the religion.

And the book of Exodus was speaking to my heart because this was God who also was hearing our prayers, our cries, our frustrations, and He was also helping us.

So this is 1 of the backgrounds which helped me to really embrace the book of Exodus.

And when I was invited to write about that, I said, yes, why not?

Because this is really close to my heart.

So it's something that you're very passionate about.

It has a personal application based on experiences that you've had and something you've been studying for many, many years.

How long, How far back were you asked to write about this?

It was, I think, like 5 years ago when I was asked if I would take this task.

It's a book which brings all the biblical themes, biblical teaching together, is part of the Torah.

And Torah is not only something like a law, which is iron and cold and telling us what to do and what not to do.

But Torah, this biblical message, is actually God's instruction.

It's coming from the word Yara, Torah from Yara, and it's like pointing with the finger to the path on which we should go.

And there are God's instructions, and these instructions are not only laws.

Actually, the first law is coming in chapter 20 of Exodus, but there are stories, there are narratives, there are songs, there are beautiful conversations, and all this is teaching us something deep about God and about life and how to relate to God and to life.

And so we're going to get to at least touch on many of these themes as we go through here.

Of course, we don't have an entire semester at the university to go through it.

We're kind of taking 13 half-hour episodes and condensing as much as we can into it, but we'll get the most that we can out.

I notice you've got a pin on your lapel there.

Yes, it's now a very recent pin because Andrews University are celebrating 150 years of existence.

It was first in Battle Creek and then later came to the Berrien Springs, Michigan.

And then I have the pin of Seventh Adventist Theological Seminary, where I have the privilege to be the dean.

And we have all the important things in this beautiful logo that we need to, you know, serve God.

We need to prepare how to serve and also to proclaim.

It's like a flame there representing the Holy Spirit, also the Trinity, and also the eternal gospel, 3 angel message.

And also the globe is in this setting that we are university for the worldwide church.

Fantastic, taking the gospel to all the world.

Well, we're gonna get to experience part of that as we look at the book of Exodus.

So I want to dive into our first chapter here, our first lesson.

Let's start with a good place to start, and that is what about the meaning of the word Exodus?

What does the word Exodus mean, and why in the grand scope of the biblical narrative is understanding this really important for us?

Well, the word Exodus is actually from the Greek exodus, which means to go out.

It's like ex, out, and then Hodos, like the way.

And yes, it is God who is leading in this way out.

Here, God's people are in Egypt, they're in oppression, and God is finding the way in his intervention, in his love, in his care, to take these people out of Egypt.

So we're going to go with them out of Egypt, and of course as the book gets started, and we'll delve into it here very shortly, they're in Egypt and they would really like to be somewhere else.

Even the word Egypt, if you take it from Mitsrayim, it's like a duel.

It's like God's people are in double grip.

They are there, and they need to be liberated.

So Egypt is not only like a country, but we can take it as a model for us.

And it was for me personally that we are in this grip of sin, of difficulties of life, persecution, and misery, and despair, and God who is intervening and he can find the way this to from this difficulties out, X, so Exodus, so that he can really bring liberation, deliverance and redemption.

And we're going to see that as we continue throughout.

You know, I was in Greece not too long ago and driving along the highways as you get ready to go off on an exit.

So you still see that day to day driving through Greece.

You are in the building and then you have, you know, Exodus sign.

We've kind of touched on it a little bit.

What are some of the key events that sort of set the stage for the story in the book of Exodus?

Well of course the book of Exodus is continuation of Genesis and in Genesis at the end you see after God created everything and the sin came and flood and God called God's people Israel to existence through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.

Then you end with Joseph who is in Egypt, and then the whole family is coming to Egypt.

02 The Burning Bush

♪ Welcome to Sabbath School brought to you by It Is Written.

We are on a journey, a journey through the book of Exodus, looking at Moses, looking at the Israelites, and especially looking at God as He led his people and he leads his people today.

This week, we're looking at lesson number 2, and that is the burning bush, a fascinating story from the book of Exodus.

Father, we thank you for being with us and guiding us through our study on the book of Exodus.

We're just beginning this journey, as was Moses at this point in the book.

And we ask that you will guide and direct us into a clearer understanding of you and your character of love and mercy and grace as we do so.

Well, we're glad that you are here, but we are also glad that the author of this quarter's Sabbath school lesson is here with us.

Yirgi Moskala, he is the Dean of the Theological Seminary at Andrews University.

Mascala, thank you again for being with us.

So this is lesson number 2, the burning bush.

We looked a little bit last week about the oppression that God's people were under and Moses' early life.

And now we're getting to the point where God calls Moses to do something, to do something significant.

So how does God intervene in Moses' life?

And what does this burning bush experience look like?

You know, I think that this burning experience for Moses was really extraordinary because this burning bush experience is when God is coming and disturbing him in his life.

First 40 years were in Egypt when he was the prince.

Of course, there were tensions and intrigues in the court, royal court.

But then he is in the family of Jethro, in the Midian desert, and he has a quiet life.

And he actually likes it very much, because now he is married, he has 2 sons, he has a great family, this family is supporting him, he is there, he is also like a shepherd with the sheep.

And now God is coming and telling him, well, I am here and I will send you back to Egypt.

So this was like a very changing, disturbing experience, completely out of the blue.

Before, he wanted to do something for Israel, but now he is very reluctant to do it.

And we read there that it was God himself, the angel of the Lord.

And then you have the angel of the Lord called the Lord, who is really calling him and revealing himself to him.

And he is overwhelmed by the presence of God.

So walk us through why this experience was so transformative for him.

Why it was so dramatic from his past 40 years of living in the wilderness.

You know, as I said, he had a comfortable life.

Now is coming a special command to him by God who is appearing, and it's an extraordinary appearing because he sees the burning bush and this fire is still there and it's not consuming the bush.

So he's coming closer and then God is revealing himself to him.

That he is this God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob, that he's here in order to do something for the oppressed people in Egypt.

He's now out of Egypt and another 40 years were there where God's people were in oppression.

And for us, we read it in several sentences, but if I am in oppression for 1 day, 1 month, 1 year, or several years.

So it's accumulating, and now God is coming to him and saying, Moses, Moses, and when he's responding, here I am, God is really telling him, yes, you are on the holy ground.

I am here, I am present, but don't be afraid.

And then you have this beautiful passage when God is saying, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.

I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers.

And I am concerned about their suffering.

And then at the end, he said, so now go and lead my people out of Egypt, out of this land of slavery.

You know, Moses didn't immediately jump on this opportunity.

It seemed a little bit, it was difficult for him to wrap his mind and his heart around.

Even though it talks about the the angel of the Lord appearing, this is This is the Lord who is speaking to him, who's giving him this command to go, and he's a little, he's hesitant.

And he also, He's good at making excuses.

I hear what you're telling me to do, God, but...

When God introduces himself to Moses, how does he identify himself?

How does he help Moses to understand who it is that he's actually speaking to.

Well, actually in verse 6 you can read, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

And this Moses hid his face and he realized that he's in the presence of God.

So it was from our perspective as Christians, as Seventh Adventists, this was Jesus who was there communicating with Moses.

And when he now tells the command, and they are like clear 2 commands in the Hebrew text, you go and lead, you know, lead these people out of Egypt.

It is very interesting that Moses is now engaging in dialogue with God.

And what I like it actually very much that God is open to dialogue.

But maybe this dialogue is from the perspective of Moses, like not only the hesitance, but really refusal to go.

And the first objection he's saying, well, Lord, who I am?

And so he's playing very, very humble, who I am.

So who I am that you remember me, and you are now calling me to do this specific task.

I am not born to be savior and a leader of these people.

You are asking me to go there and the response of God, I think this is very important, there is always excuse and God responds.

When God is telling us in our life, I am with you, this is all encompassing promise of God.

Like when Jesus was going to heaven and said, I will be with you till the end of the world.

And God is telling him, I will be with you.

And God is telling him, and I will give you a sign.

And you will come back with the Israelites here and you will know that I was with you so take my promise I will be with you and And of course it is not enough for Moses and he's asking the question but they will ask me who are you God?

And now again God is now revealing who he is And this is that famous statement in the Bible that God is saying, I am.

And you can also translate this, I am who I am.

03 Rough Start

We are studying through the book of Exodus, a fantastic book, a beautiful picture of God working with and through his people.

On our first week, we kind of looked at the background of the book of Exodus, where Moses came from, what his life was like.

Last time, we took a look at his encounter with God at the burning bush.

And now we're going to take a look at Moses as he comes face to face with Pharaoh.

But before we dive into it, let's start with prayer.

Father, we thank you for being with us today and for promising to guide us as we study your word.

We ask that you will bless our time together, open our hearts and minds to a message from you, and we thank you in Jesus' name, amen.

We're grateful to have you with us, but we are also grateful to have the author of this quarter's Sabbath school lesson with us, Dr.

It's a pleasure for me to study the book of Exodus together with you and with all the people around.

It's an exciting story, and we've kind of come up to the point where Moses has now been called.

We've seen him, you know, how he was raised.

We've seen him spend some time in Egypt, had to leave Egypt, then the episode of the burning bush and now he is coming face to face with Pharaoh with that message that God has called him to share.

So what does Moses say to Pharaoh in their first encounter?

Well, in the first encounter, and not only in the first, but even the later, He starts with very clear, in chapter 5, verse 1, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says.

And I love that, because he's not coming and saying, well, Pharaoh, listen to me, I have something very unique to tell you.

It is not Moses' word, it is not the word of the committee of the elders, it is God's word.

So Pharaoh need to understand that he is now dealing not with human authority, but with God himself.

And he probably heard more already about this God of Israel, but Moses is coming and saying, look, this is the God, our God, God of Israel, who is now asking you something to do.

And he continues, says, let my people go.

The Lord says, Let my people go so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.

And I think that this is a very famous sentence, let my people go.

And it's occurring several times in the book of Exodus.

And Pharaoh, in his response, is very clearly saying, I will not let the people go.

And this is that very important statement.

And when Moses is starting, thus says the Lord, the first response of Pharaoh is, and who is the Lord that I should obey him and let Israel go?

So I think that This is now the whole great controversy play, where you have the living God, who is demanding, let my people go, my people Israel go to worship freely.

And on the other side is the Pharaoh, who prays to be God, who wants to demand that divine authority that he commands and everybody had to obey.

And his conviction, probably, I am who I am.

He is my country, my territory, my people.

He is very clearly using the term, you know, and is refusing.

I do not know the Lord, speaking again about Yahweh, and I will not let Israel go.

God demands, you know, now through Moses and Aaron, but I will not do it.

It's a stubbornness which comes through his decision and his words.

He is, he's not resistant, he's rejecting.

I mean it's not even partial, it's just, and who is this God anyway?

Yes, he has no questions for clarification.

And so now Moses and Aaron and they said, the God of the Hebrews has met with us.

Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword." And now you have again Pharaoh's response.

And what is interesting is that you have in this chapter now, chapter 5 and the beginning of 6, different sets of dialogue.

It starts with Moses and Aaron speaking to Pharaoh.

Then You have Pharaoh speaking with slave masters and the Israelite supervisors.

Then you have the slave masters and the Israelite supervisors with the people.

Then you have a dialogue between the Israelite supervisors with Pharaoh.

After that, you have the Israelite supervisors talking with Moses and Aaron.

And then comes that Moses speaks with the Lord.

And so this is a set of dialogues which unfold this narrative, dramatic narrative, how everything was done when Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh.

You know, when I was younger, I always thought, well, when God is telling, I will be with you, go and do this, so then everything will be smooth.

He is telling, trust me, it will go according to my will.

And we over and over again see that in the scriptures it's a little bit different.

And instead, what you would expect that it will be now success and smooth, maybe with 1 exception with Jonah.

But every time comes more and more difficulties.

This is why also the title for this study week is a harsh beginning.

Rough start, you know, it's a very rough, you know, What you would not expect is happening.

God revealed several times and said, I hear your cry.

And instead, that beautiful things will happen.

You see that through this dialogue, you are, the story unfolds, that there are bigger and bigger difficulties.

So walk us through some of those bigger and bigger difficulties.

What was the immediate effect or the immediate consequences of Moses and Aaron going before Pharaoh?

Well, the rough start was that Pharaoh says, you are only making excuses.

You want to, you know, that people go and do something else to worship their God.

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