Exodus & Sinai

While waiting for this study to begin, please read Exodus chapters 19, 32

and 33.

Shema

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might. Love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.

• Recited each morning and evening as a declaration of loyalty to God’s covenant.

Culture of the Eyes

• Beautiful lush land• Almost unlimited resources• Enormous architecture • But they were slaves

Culture of the Ears

• Out in the desert – you can Hear God• Struggle everyday, but they are free• It took God 1 night to get the Israelites out of

Egypt• It took 40 years to get Egypt out of the

Israelites

Marriage Ceremony

• Segula – Most important thing in the world for you

• Mikvah – ceremonial cleansing• Huppah – canopy• Ketubah – wedding vows• Symbol – wedding band

Sinai Marriage Ceremony

• Segula – God’s people – Exodus 19:5• Huppah – God’s presence – Exodus 19:9• Mikvah – prepare to meet God – Exodus

19:14-15• Ketubah – 10 Words (Commandments)– 2 identical copies

• Wedding Band – Sabbath – Exodus 31:13• God’s love language – obeying his commands

Israelite Unfaithfulness

• Israelites unfaithful at their wedding – Exodus 32• Used human wedding symbols to make the

golden calf – Exodus 32:2-3• Moses used the test of the unfaithful wife –

Exodus 32:20• Levites killed 3,000 people that day• God wants to send his bride away – Exodus 33:3• Moses pleads and God’s love returns – Ex. 33:17

Discussion Questions

• Is our culture one of eyes or ears?• In what ways are we slaves to our culture?• What is your segula? Your most important

thing?• Does knowing what your segula is, change the

way that you live?