Exodus Worksheet - Chapter 23

 Exodus Chapter 23

Introduction: Moses gave the 10 commandments to Moses in Exodus 20; now He gives him Judicial Instructions.

Review: After four hundred years, the descendants of Israel have been brought out of the bondage in Egypt. Now the process begins of bringing the nation into the Promised Land. The journey in the wilderness has begun. It also includes a people coming to know what God's standards are like. And so we have the giving of the Law. First, the 10 commandments which were written by the finger of God ( ) and then the ordinances given to Moses to pass on to the people. People must have rules of regulation or there can be no justice. Of course, these do not apply for the most part in our culture, but still, we have laws of justice and rightly so for the culture that we live in.

Exodus 23

1.  Read Exodus 23:1,2 ... God had told Moses to tell the people they were not to be malicious witnesses or bear a false report.  Have you ever been the victim of someone's false report or malicious gossip?  Remember, that Jesus was crucified based on false reports.  Yes, God had the plan of redeeming us but the enemy took advantage of wicked men and false reports to bring it about.  Look up the following verses and comment on them:

• Matthew 26:59-61 -
• Mark 14:56-59 -
• Luke 23:1,2 -

2.  If you have believed reports about others and repeated them as a malicious gossip, you are still serving your old nature.  The Lord intends that we lay aside all forms of gossip concering others.  If we are given to the habit of malice and gossip, we need to rededicate and repent ourselves and lay these things aside.  Look these up and comment:

• Romans 1:28-32 -
• Ephesians 4:17-32 -
• Colossians 3:5-10 -
• Titus 3:1-5 -

Back to Exodus 23

3.  In settling disputes, what were they to be careful they did not do? vs. 3

It is easy to favor those who have a harder time, but wrong is wrong and the wrong must be addressed in a dispute of parties.

4.  According to James, who else is it easy to be partial to?

• James 1:1-4 -

5.  What do we know about God's character concerning the rich and the poor and all mankind?

• Romans 2:11 -

Back to Exodus 23

6.  If a person met up with an enemy's ox or donkey wandering away, what were they to do? vs. 4
7.  If they saw a donkey helpless with a load who belonged to a person that hated them, what were they to do concerning the donkey regardless? vs. 5
8.  What are we taught in the New Testament regarding being kind toward those who are not kind toward us? 

• Romans 12:17-21 -
• Luke 6:27-25 -

9.  God is our great example.  When did He send Christ to die for us?

• Romans 5:8

Back to Exodus 23

10.  What were they not to pervert for any reason? vs. 6-8

11.  Regardless of what man may do in letting the guilty go free, what does God assure them? vs. 7

12.  How is this seen in what God says in Numbers 32:23?  Have you found this to be true in your own life?

Back to Exodus 23

13.  God addresses kindness to strangers again.  He tells them "you know how it feels to be oppressed as a stranger" referring to the time they were strangers in Egypt.  Do you know how it feels to visit somewhere and be a stranger?  This happens in our churches to our shame.  I have visited and not had one person reach out to me with warmth and hospitality.  We should make an effort to be the 'one' that makes sure no one comes in our presence and does not feel welcomed.  How important is hospitality to the body of Christ?  Read and comment on these verses.

• Romans 12:9-13 -
• 1 Timothy 5:9-10 -
• Hebrews 13:1-2 -
• 1 Peter 4:9 -
• 3 John 5 -

Back to Exodus 23

14. How did God store up to take care of the needy of the land back then? vs. 10,11

15.  How did God take care of man and beast in physical needs? vs. 12

16.  The Sabbath day of rest was for 'refreshment'.  What did Jesus remind the religious rulers of His day in regard to the Sabbath they were so strict about in putting the "burden of law" on others?

• Mark 2:23-28 -

17.  What did Paul say regarding one day over another? So many people divide over such things and really, we should all decide in our hearts the way best for us under the Lord's leadership and leave the judging to the Lord and not be a part of it.

• Romans 14:4-12

Back to Exodus 23

 18.  What were the people to be on guard about; what were they not to mention or let be heard from their mouths? vs. 13

19.  David understood this and wrote about it in Psalm 16.  Read and comment on this verse.

• Psalm 16:1-4 -

Back to Exodus 23

20.  How many times a year were they to celebrate a feast to the Lord? vs. 14
21.  How were they to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread? v. 15
22.  How were they to celebrate the Feast of the Harvest? vs. 16
23.  How were they to celebrate the Feast of the Ingathering? vs. 16
24.  Who were required to attend these feasts 3 times a year and appear before God? vs. 17
25.  What instructions did God give concerning the blood of His sacrifice? vs. 18
26.  What instuctions did God give concerning the fat of His feast? vs. 18
27.  What kind of fruits from the soil were they to bring to God? vs. 19

Note:  We will look into the feasts of the Jews more intensely as we move into Leviticus.  These 3 festivals are also called:  1) Feast of Unleavened Bread beginning with Passover; 2) Feast of First Fruits, also called Pentecost; and 3) Feast of Tabernalces or Booths.  Every feast pointed ahead to a prophetic event that was fulflled on the day it was celebrated after the birth of Christ.

28.  What did the apostle Paul write in the book of Colossians about the feasts?

• Colossians 2:16-17

Note:  Here is a list of what each one referred to and how it was fulfilled:

1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began with Passover, which speaks of salvation from judgment by the blood of the lamb. We will look at Passover tomorrow night in our Seder celebration.
2. The Feast of Firstfruits was 50 days after Passover, so it was given the name "Pentecost" meaning "50th". (It was also called the Feast of Weeks, because it was seven weeks plus one day after Passover.) This was the day when God was given the first fruits of the harvest. It was fulfilled the day when the first fruits of the harvest of men were given to God, when the Holy Spirit was poured out and the church was born.
3. The Feast of the Ingathering, or Tabernacles, was celebrated by God's people dwelling in temporary tabernacles, or booths. It points to a time yet future when God will gather His people into the Millennial Kingdom.

Back to Exodus 23

29.  How did God guard the people and guide them? vs. 20
30.  What instructions did God give them concerning the angel and what did He say about Him? vs. 21
 31.  This must have been the Son of God, Jesus, in His pre-incarnate form, as One with the Father from the beginning of time.  Comment on the verses below that show that God's Name is in Him.  (Amen) !

• Mark 11:9 -
• John 5:43 -
• John 10:30 -
• John 17:6-
• John 17:11 -
• John 17:12 -
• John 17:22 -
• John 17:26 -
• Philippians 2:9 -
• Revelation 19:16 -

Back to Exodus 23

32.  If they would truly obey the voice of the angel (most likely this was Jesus), then God would be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries.  In other words, He would fight their battles for them!  (vs.22)  His angel would go before them into the land of Promise.  What lands did this include? vs. 23 - Name 6 given.
33.  As they conquered these lands, what were they to be sure they did not do? vs. 24 - Name 3 things ... What were they commanded to do concerning their sacred pillars? vs. 24
34.  If they would serve the Lord, how did He promise to bless them? vs. 25,26 - Name 6 things
35.  What would God send ahead of them to throw the people into confusion and make their enemies turn their back to them? vs.27,28 -
36.  What was God's purpose for not driving out the people in a single year? vs. 29
37.  What process would God use to drive them out? vs. 30
38.  Where did God fix their boundary of land to possess? vs. 31
39.  They were to make no covenant with their gods. (vs.32)... Why did God say they were not to live in their land? vs. 33
40.  How are we told to live in the world daily and why?

• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 -
• 1 Corinthians 15:33 -

41.  How have you been challenged today?  Please share what has stood out to you in this lesson and how you will apply it to your life.
42.  Summarize the chapter and post a prayer if you would like.