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Biblical Foundations for Womanhood
Bible Study Series, Book 2
Contents
Introduction
Biblical Foundations for Womanhood Bible
Study Series
Why? An Explanation from the CE/P - WIC
Staff and WASC
Study Objectives (Student Book)
Suggestions for Teaching this Study (Leader's Guide)
Lesson
1 A Covenantal
Perspective
2 The People of
God Called Through Moses
3 Identified and Separated by God
4 The People of God Prepared for Service
5 The Standard of
Conduct for Godıs People: Godıs Law
6 The People and
Their Duty to God
7 The People and
Their Duty to One Another
8 The Way of
Salvation: Taught by the Tabernacle
9 The Sacrificial
System: The Call to a Broken Heart
10 The Numbering of the
People: The Call to be Holy
11 The Rebellious Years
and the Call to be Without Blemish
12 Moses' Last Days and
the Call to Love
Prayer
Journal (Student Book)
Ten
Commandments (Student Book)
Resources (Leader's Guide)
This
excerpt from The Formation of God's People, Israel Student Book
by Lynn Brookside and Susan Hunt, copyright 2002, is provided here for
preview purposes only and is not to be
reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher, Christian
Education & Publications.
Lesson
2 - Student Book
The People
of God Called through Moses
Exodus 1-4
Preparation Worksheet
Overarching Objectives
That the members of the study group will:
1. Know God better
(Jeremiah 24:7).
2. Know that God's
relentless pursuit of His people is because of the covenant of redemption
between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before the world began (Ephesians
1:3-14).
3. Know that the
continuity of the covenant of grace is because of God's faithfulness to His
people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).
4. Learn the corporate
nature of God's covenant with the people of Israel and that this is a picture
of the church (1 Peter 2:9-10).
5. See the language and
concepts of the covenant emerge and know that these Old Testament symbols
foreshadow Christıs coming and purpose (Luke 24:25-27).
6.
Develop a habit of
looking for covenant promises and responsibilities as they study Scripture.
7.
Identify how women
had a dynamic affect on biblical history because they practiced their helper
design (Genesis 2:18).
Lesson Objectives
1. To better understand
that God has called a people to be His own.
2. To understand that
Godıs presence is the distinguishing characteristic of and source of power
for this covenant community.
3. To know that covenant
continuity is certain because of God's promise and presence.
4.
To identify some
characteristics that enable daughters of the covenant to be links in covenant
continuity.
5. To continue building
your Bible study group into a covenant community that lives covenantally.
Biblical Foundations for Womanhood
(From The True Woman)
Woman's Helper Design
In Genesis 2:18 the Lord God said, "It is not good for
man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Being appointed a helper is not a second class
assignment. Throughout the Old Testament God often describes Himself as our
Helper.
The Hebrew word for helper is ezer. In commenting on this
word, the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament explains, "The
Lord is seen as the helper of the underprivileged: the poor (Psalm 72:12) and
the fatherless (Psalm 10:14). . . . "The psalmist is conscious of
divine assistance at a time of illness (Psalm 28:7), at a time of oppression by
enemies (Psalm 54:4), and at a time of great personal distress (Psalm
86:17)."
This explanation of how God is our ezer gives us insight
into the helper role. The ways that God is our Helper can be summarized into
two categories: community and compassion. God enters into a loving, protecting
relationship with his people (community). He comes to our aid, comforts us,
and is merciful toward us (compassion).
This touches our feminine souls because entering into
nurturing relationships and extending compassion to those in need is part of
our helper design. Our design equips us to infuse community and compassion
into our relationships. Women will do this in various ways. We are not clones. Our strengths, temperaments, experiences, opportunities, life stage and
interests will be factors in how we fulfill this design. This concept has
application to us as individuals, and it also gives definition to our
corporate mission.
Our corporate ministry as women in Godıs church should
have the effect of bringing a deeper sense of community and compassion into
our church family.
(The True Woman, pp. 107, 108)
Examples of Corporate Helpers
When Jochebed decided to violate the law and hide her
baby, she was not just a courageous woman willing to risk her life for her
child. This was a woman who put her trust in the God who had made a covenant
promise to bind Himself to His people in covenant faithfulness. Jochebed was
not the only woman who clung to the promise. The Hebrew midwives were pro-life
crusaders who "feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them
to do; they let the boys live . . . (Exodus 1:17).
When the baby was three months old, Jochebed could no
longer hide him. She made a
basket, put the baby in it, and placed it in the river. "His sister stood at
a distance to see what would happen to him" (Exodus 2:4).
We are not sure how old Miriam was, but surely she was
still a child herself. Why did Jochebed leave this monumental, dangerous task
to her daughter? . . . Whatever the reason, Jochebed's confidence in her
girl-child is noteworthy, and Miriam's obedience is praiseworthy. Miriam did
not live among faithless, complacent women who were unwilling to stretch the
boundaries of their comfort zone. She had watched . . . her mother and the
midwives, and she followed their lead. . . . (The True Woman, p. 172-173)
Day 1: Read
Exodus 1, Genesis 15:13, 14 and Isaiah 55:8, 9.
-
Many
modern-day Christians, lacking an understanding of God's sovereignty, believe
that God never causes bad things to happen to His people. They assume that
circumstances sometimes simply get out of God's control and that He is forced
to sit unhappily by while human free-will trumps His power. After reading
these Scriptures, what would you say to someone who holds that belief?
Day 2: Read
Exodus 2.
-
During
your prayer time today, thank God for the many ways He has been with you and
provided for you when you have endured wilderness experiences. Thank Him for
the lessons He has taught you during those times.
If you have yet to go through a wilderness experience, then thank God
in advance for His provision when the time comes.
Day 3:
Read
Exodus 3.
Day 4: Read
Exodus 4 and Matthew 28:20b.
Meditate
on v. 11-12. What does this teach you?
During
your prayer time, meditate on God's promise"I will be with
you."given
to Moses when he humbly responded to God's call: "Who am I, that I should go
to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Christıs promise is the
same for us today. Praise and thank Him for that promise as you pray.
Day 5:
Read
Exodus 1-4 once again and answer the following questions.
For Further Meditation
Read Isaiah 43:1-3. Meditate on the glorious reality that
God is always with you. Thank Him for His presence. What difference does the
knowledge of His presence make in the way you view the world and your life?
___________
Class
Worksheet
The People
of God Called through Moses
Exodus 1-4
1.
Responsive ReadingLeader: I will establish my covenant as an everlasting
covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations
to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. (Genesis
17:7)
People: I will take you as my own people, and I will be
your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out
from under the yoke of the Egyptians. (Exodus 6:7)
Leader: I will give them a heart to know me, that I am
the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will
return to me with all their heart. (Jeremiah 24:7)
People: For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.
The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the
earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The LORD did not set his
affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other
peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD
loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you
out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the
power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God;
he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations
of those who love him and keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 7:6-9)
All: But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to
God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Corporate Prayer:
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find
favor with you. (Psalm 119:18 and Exodus 33:13).
2.
Exodus 12 Covenant Crisis, Covenant Continuity
At times of covenant crisis, woman's helper design
equips us to be a link in the continuous, connected story of redemption. List
the women who are mentioned in this passage and consider how they exercised
their helper design to serve the covenant community.
3.
Exodus 2:11-25The Wilderness Experience
God was preparing His man. Like Jacob, he had to be
humbled first before he could be fit to be a leader of the people of God. He
must learn patience so that he could reflect the longsuffering and patience of
God in his own life. That was
required of any who would lead the people God had called to Himself. (Scott,
p. 3)
4.
Exodus 3:1-15God's Call and Promise
Exodus 3:14: [This] was intended to be a promise, not
simply a theological answer. What he said that day was "I will be, that is, I
will be!" . . .
Reflect on what God was saying that day to Moses. He was
saying that His promise to be with Moses was a promise that would apply
equally well to all believers thereafter. God would always be known by them as
"the God who will be"with His people.
Thereafter, the people of God would call their God
"the
God who will be with us," that is, "He will be." The name they called Him
by was, therefore, "Yahweh" (translated in most Bibles as
"LORD," in some
as "Jehovah".) Yahweh means, in the Hebrew, "He will be." It was this name
by which the Lord chose to be known by His people throughout their history. It
was His memorial name.
The most significant thing about this precious name of
God by which His people have always known Him is not that it teaches the
existence of God, but rather that it is a promise of His continuing presence
with His people. It is that and
that alone that makes them a distinct people from all other the other peoples
of the earth. (Ibid. p. 6)
Application Principle
A daughter of the covenant is a link in the covenant
community when she rests in God's presence with her, humbly yields to Godıs
purpose for hardships, and believes in the sovereign power of God to
accomplish His purpose.
This
excerpt from The Formation of God's People, Israel
Leader's
Guide by Lynn Brookside and Susan Hunt, copyright 2002, is provided here for
preview purposes only and is not to be
reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher, Christian
Education & Publications.
Lesson
2 -
Leader's Guide
The People
of God Called through Moses
Exodus 1-4
Dear
Sisters
Seeing the covenant framework of Scripture is like finding a key that unlocks
a treasure chest. I pray that this study will help you and the women you teach
to see that framework more clearly.
Susan
Lesson
Objectives
1.
To better understand that God has called a people to be His own.
2. To understand that God's
presence is the distinguishing characteristic of and source of power for this
covenant community.
3. To know that covenant
continuity is certain because of God's promise and presence.
4. To identify some
characteristics that enable daughters of the covenant to be links in covenant
continuity.
5. To continue building
your Bible study group into a covenant community that lives covenantally.
Preparation
1.
Pray daily for each woman in your class.
2.
You cannot cover all of the material in the Scott commentary, or even the
Scripture reading in its entirety. It is largely background information for your
preparation. Choose those lesson elements that are best suited to your class.
Also remember that the chapter numbers and titles in the Scott commentary and
this Bible study are not in sync.
3.
Read: Exodus 1-4 , Scott commentary (pp. 1-11)
4.
Answer the questions on the Preparation Worksheet (SB p. _) for Lesson 2
and familiarize yourself with the Class Worksheet (SB p. _).
5.
Think through the Lesson Plan carefully and determine how much time you
will allot to each section. Adapt the Lesson Plan to the decision you have made
about your use of the Preparation Worksheet, your schedule, and your group.
6.
The Overarching Objectives are listed on the Preparation Worksheet. This
reminder will help women to see the themes unfold.
7.
Community
building ideas you may want to incorporate into your lesson plan:
-
Ask
someone else to lead the Responsive Reading.
-
Ask
someone to share a testimony about the ways that God's promise to be with
us upheld her during a “wilderness experience” (a time of hardship or
testing). See page _ of this LG for testimony guidelines.
-
Ask
someone to share a testimony about how she has been encouraged by the
“culture of womanhood” in your church to trust and obey God (i.e. how
other women have influenced her).
-
If
you have any reason to wonder whether there are women in your class who
have not yet believed unto salvation, ask everyone in the class to submit
a one-page written testimony. Explain that putting their testimony in
written form will help them to clarify their thoughts, and it will help
you to know them better. Once you have read the testimonies, you will be
able to determine which of your class members may need to meet with you
one-on-one so that you can further explain the Gospel to them and invite
them to join the family of God.
Lesson
Plan
Part
1, Exodus 1:1-2:10 Covenant Crisis, Covenant Continuity
1.
Begin with the Responsive Reading on the Class Worksheet (SB p. _) and
the corporate prayer.
2.
Explain that as we begin this thrilling study of the formation of God's
people, we see the shift from the familial to the corporate. We see Abraham's
family becoming a family of families--a community of people.
-
Use
page 2 in the Scott commentary.
-
We
will see covenant concepts emerge that teach us about salvation by grace.
-
It
is because of Ephesians 1:3-4 that God delivers them out of bondage and
takes them into the covenant as a nation.
3.
Read or summarize Exodus 1:1-14
-
Egypt's
enslavement of the Jews was a part of Godıs plan from the very beginning.
God forewarned Abraham of this in Genesis 15:13-14.
-
Ask
for a volunteer to read her response to the question for Day 1 on the
Preparation Worksheet. Use Genesis 50:20-21 and Acts 2:22-24 to emphasize
God's sovereignty. This does not negate man's responsibility, but it does
teach us that God is sovereignly in control of all things.
4.
Read or summarize Exodus 1:15-22.
-
At
this critical point of covenant crisis, it is fascinating to see the
ministry of women who fulfill their helper design by bringing community and
compassion to God's people. These women were obviously committed to the
continuity of the covenant.
-
Refer
to #2 on the Class Worksheet and ask the women to list the Hebrew midwives.
These women functioned according to their helper
design and bravely defied Pharaoh's command to murder baby boys as they were
being born (1:17).
5.
Read or summarize Exodus 2:1-10.
Use
the opening quotes on the Preparation Worksheet (SB p. _)
-
It
is into the midst of this great heritage of faith that Moses is born.
His mother, Jochebed, demonstrates immense faith by arranging to have
her "beautiful" (healthy [v. 2:2]) son "found" by one of
the few people in the kingdom who actually had the power to protect him.
-
Knowing
that it would be fruitless to have her Jewish son saved from death if he was
not also accorded the opportunity to know and understand his heritage, she
trusted God to arrange for her to raise her own son while he was under the
protection of Pharaohıs daughter.
-
During
this time in history, children were generally breastfed until sometime
between three and four years of age. Wet nurses were also routinely hired to
function as nannies who supervised the child's activities for several years
after the child was weaned. It is during these crucial years when Mosesı
mother probably had the opportunity to tell him who he really was and to
teach him about his Jewish heritage.
-
Miriam
is a commentary on Proverbs 15:33: 'The fear of the Lord teaches a man [a
girl] wisdom. . . .' Young Miriam . . . reacted with wisdom from the
Lord as she skipped up to the princess and asked, 'Shall I go and get one of
the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?' (Exodus 2:7). There is no
indication in the text that the princess had said anything about keeping the
baby. Miriam's swift response to the crisis prompted this solution. Jocebed
was allowed to nurse her own child and was even paid for doing it. (The
True Woman, p. 173)
-
Refer
to #2 on the Class Worksheet and add Jocebed and Miriam to the list.
6.
Group discussion:
-
What
are some covenant responsibilities we learn from these women?
-
How
did they express their helper design?
-
This
was radical obedience. What do you think they knew and believed about God?
-
These
women were thinking beyond their own safety and their own families.
-
They
were thinking of the corporate good. They were thinking generationally.
The babies they spared could not offer immediate relief, but the
women understood that baby boys must be saved to continue the covenant line.
Because of their faithfulness to the covenant community, many
families were spared grief and the covenant community was preserved and
continued to grow.
Part
2, Exodus 2:11-25 The Wilderness Experience
1.
Relate to the class that Moses' life can be broken into three periods of
forty years each. During his first forty years, Moses enjoyed a life of
privilege and the finest secular education available. He was provided an
excellent opportunity to develop the attitudes and knowledge necessary for
leadership. Despite the advantages available to Moses because of his exalted
position in Egypt, he chose to identify with his own people, the Hebrew slaves.
This ultimately resulted in a premature and disastrous attempt at providing
leadership to the Hebrews. Moses killed an Egyptian slave master in an attempt
to defend one of his brethren. His action precipitated a crisis, forcing him to
flee Egypt and live in the wilderness during his second period of forty years.
2.
During this second forty-year period, God humbled Moses, teaching him how
to survive in the wilderness and how to shepherd a flock. During this time, he
also married and raised a family. God used this time to make Moses a fit leader
for His people. (Moses' final forty years, leading the Israelites through the
desert, will be covered in future lessons.)
3.
Read #3 on the Class Worksheet (SB p. _).
4.
Group discussion: Refer to Day 2 on the Preparation Worksheet and let the
women discuss their answers.
Part
3, Exodus 3:1-15 God's Call and Promise
1.
Use the information on pages 4-5 in the Scott commentary and the notes
below:
Vss.
1-3:
-
Horeb
is an alternate name for Mt. Sinai.
-
The
Angel of the Lord was a theophany--a visible manifestation of God.
-
Fire
is a frequent symbol for God's presence. See Genesis 15:17, the pillar of
fire will lead the Israelites, Hebrews 12:29.
Vss.
4-5:
-
God
calls to Moses. God is the sovereign initiator in this relationship.
-
3:5
holy. The spot was made sacred by God's presence. See 19:23; 24:2.
The question of how to approach the holy God is central for Exodus.
It is resolved in the symbolism of the tabernacle. (NGSB, p. 96)
-
The
covenant is the way that God makes us holy so that we can live in His
presence without being consumed by His holiness.
-
All
of life is holy ground for the believer because God dwells in us.
Vs.
6
This
shows covenant continuity--the continuing, unbroken link between the past
and the people suffering in Egypt. And we are in that glorious covenant line.
This
is so important that it is repeated in vss. 15 and 16.
Vss.
7-10
Vss.
11-12
-
In
the presence of God, the question is: Who am I?
-
The
answer, "nobody"EXCEPT that God says, "I will be with
you." This is what distinguishes us and gives us our identity.
-
What
is the sign that God gives Moses (v. 12)? Horeb is Mt. Sinai. The sign is
that they will worship God at His mountain because they belong to Him. God
will bring them to that place and bring them into covenant as a people. They
will worship Him because He will make them holy and blameless.
He will bring them into relationship with Himself, and that
relationship demands our worship.
-
Worship
is our acknowledgement of who He is and who we are as His people.
Vss.
13-14
-
Refer
to #4 on the Class Worksheet
-
3:14
I AM WHO I AM. The Lord is not defined or determined by any other than
Himself. As the self-existent One, His promise is sure; He will reveal
Himself in His saving deeds. (NGSB, p. 97)
-
3:15
The Lord. The Hebrew is Yahweh, probably derived from the Hebrew verb
for "to be" (thus meaning "he is" or "he will be").
The corresponding first person is Œehyeh, "I am." Note the
parallels: "I Am has sent me" (v.
14) and "The Lord (Yahweh) . . . has sent me" (v. 15). (NGSB,
p. 97)
-
We
are beginning to see Moses as the head and mediator of the nation. In
Genesis we see God dealing with them through the head of the family, but now
as they become a nation there must be a head, a representative, a mediator.
This will be developed more, but this is the emerging picture of
Christ as the Head and Mediator of the New Covenant.
Vss.
21-22
2.
You may want to summarize by explaining that God reveals much about His
character during His interaction with Moses. Moses needs to understand who God
is in order to have the confidence to do what God expects of him.
-
He
is attentive to His children (v. 4)
-
He
is utterly holy (v. 5)
-
He
is the same God who made a covenant with Abraham (v. 6)
-
He
does not forget His promises (v. 6)
-
He
is concerned for His children (v. 7)
-
He
sympathizes with His peopleıs troubles (v. 7)
-
He
saves His people (v. 8)
-
He
has the power to command nations and rulers (v. 10)
-
He
is present with His people (v. 12)
-
He
is worthy of our worship (v. 12)
-
He
is eternal (v. 14)
Part
4, Exodus 3:16-4:31 The Evidence of Godıs Presence
1.
Use pages 6-9 in the Scott commentary. Cover as much of this as time
allows.
2.
Particularly emphasize 4:24-26.
-
For
some reason, Moses had neglected circumcising his son. As the leader of Godıs
people, he must fulfill the covenant requirements.
-
There
could be no compromising. Refer to Genesis 17:9-14.
-
Point
out that, here again, despite the fact that circumcision prior to puberty
was alien to Moses' wife, Zipporah, she stepped forward and performed the
rite, thereby aiding the covenant community by making it possible for its
leader to adhere to all of God's law. She was a true helper who protected
her husband and preserved covenant continuity.
-
Bridegroom
of blood. Through the spilling of blood, Moses was given back to his wife
and to his people. Through the shedding of blood Jesus is given to us.
-
Refer
to #2 on the Class Worksheet and add Zipporah to the list.
Additional
notes from the New Geneva Study Bible.
-
4:24
kill him. The Hebrew is unclear. These words echo v. 23 and may refer to
Moses' firstborn, Gershom, not to Moses. Alternatively, the attack may have
been directed against Moses himself, perhaps because of his failure to
circumcise his son.
-
4:25
sharp stone. Presumably, a ceremonial instrument. Zipporah intervenes to
circumcise her son.
-
Moses'
feet. Lit. "his feet"; the word "Moses'" is supplied
(cf. 24 note). The connection of Zipporah's actions with the "husband of
blood"
is uncertain. Circumcision, no less than the Passover, requires the shedding
of blood for cleansing and protection. The Lord, the God of the fathers,
requires the sign He gave to Abraham (Gen. 17:10). Other examples of divine
confrontations at the beginning of a mission include Gen. 32:24 and Josh.
5:13. (NGSB, p. 99)
3.
Emphasize 27-28.
Part
5, Application
1.
Summarize by referring to the Preparation Worksheet, Day 5 (SB p. _), and
let the women share their answers to these questions. The answers below are some
possibilities, not an exhaustive list.
-
What
does this passage teach me about the character of God? (Answers: He is
caring, holy, faithful, all-powerful, omnipresent and eternal.)
-
What
does this teach me about Jesus, the mediator of the covenant?
(Answer: He is the Mediator, the fulfillment of God's promise to be
with us.)
-
What
characteristics of the covenant do I see in this passage? (Answers: It
is sovereignly initiated and sustained, corporate, generational and
exclusive.)
-
What
covenant privileges and responsibilities are mine because of who God is and
what He has done and is doing for me through Jesus? (Answers: We are
privileged to be set apart for and by God, having Him ever-present with us,
enabling and empowering us. We are
responsible for trusting and obeying God.
During times of crisis, a woman's helper design can provide a link in
the continuation of the covenant
community. We are to be willing to serve and protect the covenant community.
Use the application principle below to add to this discussion. You may want
to give examples of threats to covenant continuity such as: when a Christian
marriage is in trouble, when there is disunity in Godıs church, when a
covenant child is rebelling.)
2.
If there is time you may want to discuss the following: The Hebrew
midwives, Jocebed, Miriam, and Zipporah show us a picture of the culture of
womanhood in the covenant community. What is the culture of womanhood in our
church? What are we doing to cultivate a culture where young girls are
challenged to radical obedience?
Application
Principle
A
daughter of the covenant will be a link in covenant continuity when she rests
in God's presence with her, humbly yields to God's purpose for wilderness
experiences, and believes in the sovereign power of God to accomplish His
purpose.
Part
6, Closing
1.
Divide the class into small groups of prayer partners and give them time
to pray together. Encourage them to spend the first few minutes of their prayer
time praising God. If there is time, suggest they begin by discussing their
answers to the For Further Meditation question, on the Preparation Worksheet (SB
p. _).
2.
Encourage students to work through the Preparation Worksheet for the next
lesson (SB p. _).
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