Study questions for Exodus 15
Context: What’s been going on in the book so far? Historically? Theologically?
v. 1—What did everyone do as a result of the
Who were they singing to?
Where did they learn the song?
Where they singing in 4 part harmony?
Why are they singing to the Lord? For…
What had he done that was glorious? Ex. 15:7, 8; Isa 2:10
The point is that God is creator and he is still in charge of his creation.
There are two things to keep in mind throughout and for our own lives: Who is God? and what has God done to the enemies?
v. 2—What does it mean that the Lord is my strength? Where does strength come from? Isa 45:24
What does it mean that the Lord is my song? Psa 21:1, 13 God is the reason for the song, and thus for those who love him and recognize all that he is and does in their lives, he has become the song itself.
What had their strength and song become for them?
What does salvation mean?
Who is God to them?
Who was God to their fathers? 3:6
Why have they all of a sudden changed their tune towards God?
v. 3—What is the Lord?
What does it mean that he is a man of war? Valiant warrior
What is his name? What does this mean?
v. 4, 5—What did God do with Pharaoh and his army? Psa 136:15
Where did his chosen officers end up?
v. 6—Notice the switch to direct address of God.
What about God is glorious in power?
What does that mean?
Why do they refer to his right hand? Psa 60:5
What does God’s right hand do to enemies? What does shattered mean? The power of the enemy has been completely broken. The people now have the temptation of thinking they are “all that” because God did something for them. Or worse that they somehow did it themselves.
v. 7—How does God overthrow his adversaries?
What is fury? What happens when God sends (unleashed 5:1) out his fury?
What is stubble? Rapid and total removal.
v. 8—Why did the water pile up? How did it stay up?
Why didn’t the people fall over when they ran into the blast of air?
What happened to the water that was in the sea?
What happened to the deeps? What does this verse mean?
v. 9—What did the enemy say?
What were the Egyptians going to do with the Israelites?
What were they going to do with all the stuff?
How much were they going to get?
What were they going to do with the sword?
v. 10—You would have thought the stopping of the wind was what killed the Egyptians. What actually killed them?
v. 11—Where did all this historical reconstruction take the Israelites in their song?
Where does all historical recounting take the story teller when he understands how things really happen?
Who is like Yahweh among the gods? 1Co. 8:5-6 CF. KJV
What does this statement mean?
What does majestic in holiness mean?
What does awesome mean?
What showed God’s awesomeness? Psa 82:6
There is a shift in this verse from telling what God’s done to worshipping him. It is like they built themselves up and finally burst out in praise and adoration (
v. 12—What happened when God stretched out his right hand?
Didn’t they say that already?
“earth may refer to the grave” 1 Sam. 28:13, Isa. 29:4.
Vss. 13-18—Look forward to the future. It is either that the song was written later or refer to future events as if they had already happened because God was in charge and would do whatever he wanted to do. And don’t forget the Miriam is a prophetess. She may have spilled the beans about what was to come.
v. 13—Why did God do this for his people? Love that doesn’t fail or give up—refers to total commitment.
What does it mean that God redeemed his people?
How did God pay for the people in this context?
How did the people get to where they are at this point in their history?
v. 14, 15—What do the people around the area think about all of this?
How did they find out? Josh 2:10-11
How long has it been since the event in the sea took place?
What affect did the news have on the surrounding people? Psa 55:4; Num. 20:14-21; Num. 22:2
Who were the people who knew about these events?
v. 16—What is the result of this news on all the people in the area?
Why are they afraid? Why so afraid? Psa 48:6, Jer 6:24
What are the people of the land doing while the Israelites travel through their land?
Why are they not bothering the Israelites at all?
What does it mean that God has purchased the people? Deut. 32:6; Prov. 8:22; Psa 74:2
v. 17—Where is God going to take them? Psa. 80: 8-12
What mountain are they talking about?
What do they mean by “abode”?
What is a sanctuary? Psa 68:9-10; 78:54
What sanctuary are they referring to?
This is not a description of the land so much as a theological description of the Land God has in glory. A sort of theological description of the land.
v. 18—How does the song end?
Why does it end with the Lord reigning forever and ever?
v. 19—what prompted the song?
v. 20—What did Miriam do?
Who was Miriam? Where have we read about her before? Exo 2:4; Num. 12:2
Who all went out singing and dancing with her?
v. 21—How does her song differ from Moses’? Who did she sing her song to? The men
The song looks back on the wonderful and awesome works of God that they have just experienced. It also looks forward to the glorious future in relationship with the God of creation as their God and they as his people. It looks forward with confidence and awe, Praise and worship. They know that the God who did so much for them in delivering them from the Egyptians will never leave them nor forsake them. Rom 8:31-32.
v. 22—What happened after the worship service was finished? Moses led (lit. caused them to journey).
Where did they go from the
Do you have Shur on your map? Shur may refer to a mountain range.
How long did they go without water?
v. 23—Where is Marah? Num. 33:8
What initially happened when they got to Marah?
What was wrong with the water?
Why did they call the place Marah?
What does bitterness have to do with the name Marah?
v. 24—What was the people’s response to the bitter water?
Was grumbling a good thing in those days? Grumbling arises from an attitude of dissatisfaction with one’s lot and an inability to do anything about it. Mackay, p. 279.
What does their grumbling say about what they think about God, who he is, what kind of power he has, what good his promises are? 1 Cor. 10:10
Why, after all they had gone through, do you suppose they were grumbling now?
Have you ever seen this pattern in your life? Salvationàlife filled with testing, trials, trauma (all meant to prepare them for glory)àglory?
v. 25-26—What was Moses’ response to the grumbling people? Have we seen this response before? 8:12; 14:15
What should your response be to grumbling people?
What did God do in response to the prayers of Moses?
What did God do for the people at Marah?
What does a log have to do with it? Showed him a piece of wood or log actually means taught him or instructed him about the wood.
Have we seen anywhere else in the Bible where a piece of wood saves the people?
What was the statute and the rule? What is the difference?
In what way was all of this a test?
How will the people know what the will of the Lord is?
How will they hear the voice of the Lord?
Does any of this have anything to do with us?
How will we hear the voice of the Lord?
After they had heard the voice of the Lord what were they supposed to do?
What was the blessing to be if the people walked with God?
What were the cursings going to be if they didn’t?
Why does God say that he is their healer? Jehovah-Rophe Psa 103:2-3
v. 27—Where did the people go from Marah? 70 miles south
What just happened at Marah?
Was 70 palm trees enough? Elim means large trees
What is the point of the palm trees?
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