Study Guide
Introduction
In order to understand the Bible, it is important to know the context, that is, the big picture of what is happening. God had promised Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, that the people of Israel would possess the land of Canaan, called the promised land in the Bible (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:1-8). This was God's promise or plan. After 3 generations in the land of Canaan, there was a famine, and all of Abraham's descendants, only 70 in number, went to Egypt to escape the famine (Genesis 46:26-27). There they eventually were made slaves and stayed in Egypt as slaves for 430 years (Exodus 12:40-41). While they were in Egypt, they multiplied greatly, so that by the time they left, they numbered 600,000 able-bodied men (Exodus 12:37). It is estimated, based on that figure, that the total population including women and children was 2.4 million people.
God raised up Moses and performed miracles to deliver the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. They then began their journey to Canaan to take possession of the land as God had promised. To reach Canaan, they had to cross the Red Sea. This is a saltwater sea that includes the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba. It was impossible for the Israelites to cross over on their own. It was a barrier or wall keeping them from the promised land. That is the basic context of the verses above in Exodus chapter 10. They needed a supernatural breakthrough.
This incident, therefore, gives us an excellent model and some basic principles for seeing breakthroughs in our lives against what appears from our perspective to be insurmountable barriers or walls.
Background Information
The verses themselves are fairly clear and straightforward. The people of Israel have no weapons at all. The Egyptian army was the most powerful army on earth at that time. The Egyptian army had chariots and weapons made of iron. Pharaoh is the title the Egyptians used for their king. The staff that Moses carried was a plain wooden walking staff that God used miraculously (Exodus 4:1-5). It is what Moses used as an external visual of God's power. It is also a symbol of prayer (Exodus 17:8-12). Some important ideas and related scriptures are trusting in God and standing firm (Galatians 6:9); relying on God's power, not our own (Isaiah 41:10-13); and not letting fear control us (Psalm 27:1). Paul's description of his own journey in Philippians 3:13-14 is helpful.
Key Points
Never underestimate the persistence of Satan or the hold past hurts and failures have upon you. There will be times in life when you will hit a wall.
Fear must be replaced with the presence of God, faith in His promise, and reliance on His power.
Breakthroughs require united, prevailing prayer.
Digging Deeper Questions
1. Tell the story of what happened in your own words — make sure everyone understands the facts.
2. What walls or barriers do people face today in possessing the dream God has for their lives?
3. What was the first reaction of the people of Israel to the situation? Why is fear disabling? In what kind of situations have you faced fear in your life?
4. What were Moses instructions to the people in verses 13-14? Break it down into parts and discuss each part. How can you apply that in specific situations in your life?
5. Read verses 15-16. Put yourself in the situation of the people of Israel. Would it be easy or difficult for you to keep moving? Why? What could the command to keep moving mean to you in your situation now?
6. Read verses 21-22 and 28. How do you think their faith was impacted by this? Discuss a time in your life when your faith was impacted by what God did in your life.
7. What do you want to apply to your life from these verses. Be specific and relate it to something going on in your life now.
This Week’s Challenge
Share with your group areas that you need a breakthrough in, and pray for each other.