2026 Bible Study Thread

[NSOE]

To add one thing onto this: atheists or skeptics often judge God for causing death on people in many Biblical cases; however, in a Christian lens, death is far from the worst fate possible..

Yes, I always say if I knew for a fact Heaven was open to me at that specific moment, I would want to die instantly.

 

[Northumber]

4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.'

God killing firstborns? This is morally imcomprehensible!! How can an all loving God kill off first borns?

The text just dives into the problem of evil doesn't it? I'm trying to think about what I thought when I first heard this as a kid. I don't think I had an objection or thought it needed explaining at the time. Maybe I had a better disposition then? It's a tough one to explain.

People here are hitting on it though. Death isn't the end. Who knows who God is saving. There is a pattern we learn in death.

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 13


The firstborn that is set apart as holy for God is always christological, whether it's man or beast. Up until now, the firstborn theme has shown up numerous times in Genesis and most prominently in the death of the firstborn in Exodus. The sacrificial beast has shown up multiple times in Exodus, first in the Garden of Eden, then again in Abel's acceptable offering, then again in Noah's animal sacrifice.


Paul explains the symbology of the unleavened bread in 1 Corinthians 5. The leaven is a symbol for sin, and so you must be unleavened, and you are if you are in Christ through faith.



This is the origin for the Jewish practice of wearing tefillin. I suspect that in the original context this was not so literal, but people have a tendency to over literalize the symbols in the Bible.

Exodus 13

'15;When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’

It's a little 'off' though because the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let them go due to having his heart hardended by God. So God turns the pharoah against the Israelites and then slaughters all the first borns because the pharoah who he mind manipulated against the Israrelits didn't do what he wanted? It's all a bit morally convoluted.

This part about sacrificing animals here is key:

11;“After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, 12you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 13;Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.'

Feels a bit ominous to say the first borns now belong to the lord just because God didn't wipe them out when he slaughtered all the israelite enemy first borns? As if we almost need to pay God back for NOT murdering the first borns?

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 14


The Egyptians make one final play to kill all the Hebrews. Immediately, the Hebrews give into fear and start complaining against Moses. Moses tells them that God Himself will fight for them. There is no synergy here, God alone can save us just as He saved them despite themselves.


God's pillar of fire blocks the Egyptians for a time, but it eventually gives way to allow the Egyptians to pursue the Hebrews into the Red Sea. Once they are in the Red Sea, God closes the sea on them. The Hebrews pass through the Red Sea and are saved by God. They are truly and finally out of Egypt. In 1 Corinthians, Paul calls this a baptism, the Hebrews are baptized unto Moses.

Exodus 14:

One of the most 'epic' and memorable sections here:

'21;Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22;and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.'

But beyond that spectacle is a doubt prior to this which is a little surprising:

'They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12;Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”'

This is human folly alright! Considering they've already witnessed or heard of (presumably) the Egyptians being totally wiped out, you'd think they would be a little more faithful.

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 15


The song of Moses here contains much poetry that will carry through the rest of the Bible. It is filled with salvific language; God Himself is your salvation, God redeemed His people in lovingkindness, God has purchased a people for Himself.


The Hebrews again give a glimpse of their ungrateful character, but God blesses them with sweet water anyway. Here is an image of the Gospel. The waters cross over from being bitter to being sweet when Moses throws the tree into them, the tree being an image of the cross of Christ.


After giving grace, God follows with the Law. The Hebrews are to do all that the Law requires. Not try their best. Not do what they can. They are to keep the Law perfectly or they can expect to come under the same curses as the Egyptians did.


The number twelve usually serves as symbol for God's people. Twelve tribes. Twelve Apostles. The number seventy has various meanings, but one of them is a reference to the nations. I do not think the Garden-like imagery here is an accident. The Hebrews had just been saved from the kingdom of darkness and re-entered paradise, so to speak.

Exodus 15:

Some majestic songs here and then this part brings some food for thought:

'22;Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.'

Again I find myself asking, why is it always three?

-Joseph's bros confined in prison for 3 days
- Jonah in the fish for 3 days
- Jesus in tomb for 3 days
- Abraham travels for 3 days before offering Isaac

It appears to always be the number of time needed of confinement or containment before a transformation. And perhaps it's more symbolic and the '3 days' of our own transformations might take much longer across a human life but be sure, changes do not just happen overnight.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

It's a little 'off' though because the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let them go due to having his heart hardended by God. So God turns the pharoah against the Israelites and then slaughters all the first borns because the pharoah who he mind manipulated against the Israrelits didn't do what he wanted? It's all a bit morally convoluted.

God is sovereign and man is responsible for the disposition of his heart. Both are true in the Bible. It is an antinomy.

Here's Grok's take:

The theological tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility for one's heart and actions (as seen in passages like Proverbs 21:1, Romans 9, and Philippians 2:12-13) is classically described as an antinomy in Reformed theology. An antinomy refers to two apparently incompatible truths that are both affirmed in Scripture, without full human resolution, yet not a true contradiction in God's perspective.

Proverbs 21
[1] The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters: he turneth it whithersoever it pleaseth him. [2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

Feels a bit ominous to say the first borns now belong to the lord just because God didn't wipe them out when he slaughtered all the israelite enemy first borns? As if we almost need to pay God back for NOT murdering the first borns?

Well God did save or preserve the firstborns from destruction. The firstborns don't really belong to us, but to God. True Biblical worship is about giving back to God what already belongs to Him. There's nothing we own that we can offer to Him in the first place. God's provision for His people is unconditional, and so our response in worship must be characterized by the same unconditional spirit, there should be no stinginess. One of the best examples of this is Abraham offering Isaac on the altar; God is the one who gave Isaac to Abraham in the first place, Abraham was not stingy in offering Isaac because he considered that God would be able to raise Isaac from the dead anyway.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 18

[8] Then Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come unto them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. [9] And Jethro rejoiced at all the goodness, which the LORD had shewed to Israel, and because he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Ironically, Jethro has the right response. God is to be praised for saving the Hebrews from Egypt. The irony is that the Hebrews were the ones who were saved and yet they still grumbled and complained against God and Moses.

[17] But Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing which thou doest, is not well. [18] Thou both weariest thyself greatly, and this people that is with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to do it thyself alone.

Jethro is essentially the first Presbyterian, he is the first to recommend that Moses appoint a plurality of elders to lead the congregation because Moses was not able to do all the work himself.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 19

[5] Now therefore if ye will hear my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be my chief treasure above all people, though all the earth be mine. [6] Ye shall be unto me also a kingdom of Priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. [7] Moses then came and called for the Elders of the people, and proposed unto them all these things, which the LORD commanded him. [8] And the people answered all together, and said, All that the LORD hath commanded, we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto the LORD.

God reinforces the Law once again. The people say that they will obey all the Law. They signed the contract. There is no excuse if they transgress the covenant and break the Law. There is a conditionality to the Law, whereas Grace is unconditional. Anyone who believes that God's love is conditional is still under the Law and has not come under Grace.

[11] And let them be ready on the third day, for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai; [12] And thou shalt set marks unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves that ye go not up to the mount, nor touch the border of it; whosoever toucheth the mount, shall surely die. [13] No hand shall touch it, but he shall be stoned to death, or stricken through with darts; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live. When the horn bloweth long, they shall come up into the mountain.

[16] And the third day, when it was morning, there was thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the sound of the trumpet exceeding loud, so that all the people that was in the camp was afraid.

God comes down on the top of the mountain, warning that if anyone or anything touches the mountain they will die, the sound of thunder and trumpets pealing. This is God at His most inaccessible and most terrifying. It is meant to convey the full power of the Law. This scene is recalled in Hebrews 12 to draw a contrast between the awesome and terrible character of the Law with the happy and festive character of the Gospel through Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 20

[18] And all the people saw the thunders, and the lightnings, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they fled and stood afar off, [19] And said unto Moses, Talk thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God talk with us, lest we die. [20] Then Moses said unto the people, Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not. [21] So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near unto the darkness where God was.

God gives His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. The Law is literally too good for the people to hear. As Paul says, the letter kills. This is because the Law is meant to convict us of our sins. Remember, being spiritually dead = guilty. Convicting someone of sin = killing them. If you can hear the Ten Commandments and not feel convicted in your heart for having broken them all, then you do not know yourself and certainly do not know God. As John says, whoever says he has no sin deceives himself and the truth is not in him.

[25] But if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones, for if thou lift up thy tool upon them, thou hast polluted them. [26] Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto my altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

The Law forbids any idols, but it obligates an altar so that the people can sacrifice to atone for their sins. Man's tools would profane the altar because they are man-made, God does not accept human works. No nakedness can be exposed on the altar because nakedness is a symbol of sin, as opposed to the covering or clothing being a symbol of righteousness.

 

[Northumber]

. If you can hear the Ten Commandments and not feel convicted in your heart for having broken them all, then you do not know yourself and certainly do not know God. As John says, whoever says he has no sin deceives himself and the truth is not in him.

It's like a person has a preceding posture to be able to receive the law like that. The law becomes like a medicine. Bitter, but a step in healing.

 

[Blade Runner]

People here are hitting on it though. Death isn't the end. Who knows who God is saving. There is a pattern we learn in death.

This presents a paradox in our human understanding of things. First, we know who "runs" the world, that is the base aspects of the world (the evil one). We also know that we are made to improve our lot, follow our intuition to help ourselves and others in many cases, but also realize even this can go too far. Since God permits the evil forces to generally win in many ways here (regarding the passions) we simultaneously are in this testing ground where we are pinballing between what we perceive to be good, and also following what we know we ought to do (or some of us do). If we go too far, survival and fear of death make us closer to animals. If we don't try to improve our lot and others, we risk wasting our talents.

The world is a very strange place, especially when we enter crisis eras like right now. I say this because it is weighing significantly on me currently, given that we inherited a material existence that is great, but see people that have related to said material like animals do: pigs in slop that are trying to get as much as they can and worried that it'll run out. In this fashion it seems pretty clear that so many people will pay the price, and mostly it has been a setup by these same evil forces that are always managing, massaging, and manipulating things. We are here not to be cold, but there is a fine line as we've stated in this thread that death is but another thing we must go through, not fear without trust in God. I find most modern christians find that bad things happening to people or even death, no matter how old or how absurd is emotionally bad for them, so they are totally averse to accepting it. I'm not sure where I lie on this subject, since I can't say I don't care if there are major repercussions (including death) for what people have done and are doing, but I have taken a rather indifferent approach on it. Some might say uncaring for a "christian" - which I'd dispute but it's hard for me to explain.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 21

[2] If thou buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. [3] If he came himself alone, he shall go out himself alone; if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

Here is where Exodus begins to delve into case law. All of these case laws are not additions to the Law, but still rooted in the Ten Commandments. Today, we call them civil laws as opposed to moral laws, but in the original context there was no such distinction.

[12] He that smiteth a man, and he die, shall die the death. [13] And if a man hath not laid wait, but God hath offered him into his hand, then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. [14] But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

Even the Law makes a distinction between murder and manslaughter. God will later establish the solution for manslaughter in Numbers.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 22

[18] Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Some of these case laws show up later in Scripture. For example, King Saul breaks this Law by seeking divination from a witch.

[28] Thou shalt not curse God, neither speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Remember that Job's wife told him to "curse God and die." How is it that she knew the Law even centuries before the Law was written down? This is because the written Law is the full revelation of the natural Law. The Law has always been in effect ever since the foundation of the world, even before it was written down. That's part of Paul's point in Romans 5. The written Law, the Mosaic Covenant, is a republication of the natural Law, the Adamic Covenant. Nevertheless, no one was ever saved by the Law, whether written or unwritten, but only ever saved by the Gospel, which too has been in effect ever since the world began.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 23

[1] Thou shalt not receive a false tale, neither shalt thou put thy hand with the wicked, to be a false witness. [2] Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil, neither agree in a controversy to decline after many and overthrow the truth.

Here is a Biblical warning against mob justice. It is almost impossible for those consumed by vengeance to recognize when they're following the crowd in a frenzy. This is the exact kind of thing that put Christ on the cross, from a human perspective anyway.

[3] Thou shalt not be partial toward a poor man in his cause.

Just because someone is an underdog does not mean they are always right. In America, the left is especially fond of the victim mentality. The Bible puts a hard limit on this; being the seeming victim is not the end all be all, but the truth is.

[4] If thou meet thine enemy’s ox, or his donkey going astray, thou shalt bring it back to him.

Beware the "finder's keepers" mindset. Watch No Country for Old Men. Even though it's a movie, it shows you the logical conclusion to that broken belief. Rather, if you find something that doesn't belong to you, go out of your way to return it to whom it belongs, trusting all the way that God will meet your needs. You might think that no one sees you slip that cash in your pocket, but God sees everything.

[20] Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee to the place which I have prepared. [21] Beware of him, and hear his voice, and provoke him not; for he will not spare your misdeeds, because my Name is in him. [22] But if thou hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and will afflict them that afflict thee. [23] For my Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them.

Keep this section in mind for the next chapter.

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 16


After leaving the "Garden" the Hebrews come into the desert wilderness on their way to Sinai. From the kingdom of God to the kingdom of Satan. Here they begin to complain against Moses because they became hungry. They do not have faith that God will provide for them. Despite their faithlessness, God was faithful to provide them with bread and meat, both symbols pointing forward to Christ. The manna that God rained from heaven was only for the day's provisions and would rot if the Hebrews tried to hoard it, the lesson being that God's providence is sufficient. You do not need the whole world and all it's riches, you need only God and what He provides. In the ancient world, if you had enough food for tomorrow then you were considered rich. That should put things into perspective.


The people Israel were not a good son to the Father. After clearly being told that God would not rain any manna on the Sabbath, they went out to search for some anyway. These are a people who only follow God's Law out of compulsion. How are they any different from Pharaoh who would do God's will only when God held a gun to his head, so to speak, only to reverse course the second God removed the gun? A good son would honor his father even without a gun to his head. A good son would look like Jesus, always doing the things that please the Father, even without the gun to His head.

This part has this charming image:

'4;Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5;On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Bread raining from the sky? Gives my a sense of loaves falling and even clobbering some people on the head home alone style. But in actualy it was more like flakes of bread.

Also an instance where people moan about God not giving them food and he responses directly to their request. However, there is a set of rules that they must store it up and wait until morning. Interesting that Moses appears to make this rule without any clear instruction from God.

This appears to be the beginnings of resepcting the 7th day the sabbath.

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 17


The Hebrews contend with Moses and demand he gives them water. God instructs Moses to strike the rock with his staff which then floods out water. The Hebrews are very much under the Law, obligating Moses to serve them under pain of the Law's penalty. In contrast, Jesus give the water of life freely to those under grace.


The image is of Moses on the top of a hill or small mountain, holding up the staff, growing weary, being supported, and having to sit down on a rock. The staff and the sword are both symbols of God's Law, which He uses to vanquish His enemies. Unlike God, Moses' arms are not "everlasting." He can only do so much. Moses' stony seat is a perfect image for the dominion of the Law. In contrast, Jesus sat down on the top of the Mount of Olives in the Sermon on the Mount. You see how Jesus and Moses in many ways are the mirror images of each other, just as God's Grace and His Law are mirror images of each other. Not identical, but corresponding.

Exodus 17:

This passage is a little controversial as it seems to condone a bit of 'cheeky' genocide towards the amelakites:

"14;Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”'

Are some tribes of people pure evil and in deserving of a 'blot out' ? The real world application of such a point of view is deeply concerning.

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 18


Ironically, Jethro has the right response. God is to be praised for saving the Hebrews from Egypt. The irony is that the Hebrews were the ones who were saved and yet they still grumbled and complained against God and Moses.


Jethro is essentially the first Presbyterian, he is the first to recommend that Moses appoint a plurality of elders to lead the congregation because Moses was not able to do all the work himself.

Exodus 18:

A chat with Jethro.

I'm curious what we are to make of this:

"Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”'

Does this give credence to the idea there are some other gods or is Jethro just messed up in his thinking here?

But anyway this passage is REALLY about taking the pressure off Moses to decide all these disputes:

'24;Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25;He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26;They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves'

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 19


God reinforces the Law once again. The people say that they will obey all the Law. They signed the contract. There is no excuse if they transgress the covenant and break the Law. There is a conditionality to the Law, whereas Grace is unconditional. Anyone who believes that God's love is conditional is still under the Law and has not come under Grace.



God comes down on the top of the mountain, warning that if anyone or anything touches the mountain they will die, the sound of thunder and trumpets pealing. This is God at His most inaccessible and most terrifying. It is meant to convey the full power of the Law. This scene is recalled in Hebrews 12 to draw a contrast between the awesome and terrible character of the Law with the happy and festive character of the Gospel through Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

'
Exodus 19:

Wait did god carry people on eagle wings? ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5

Getting some serious LOTR vibes from this passage.

EDIT: Just did some research and apparently this is not literal eagle carrying.

'
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Does this mean at the top of the mountain Moses is having a face to face meeting of the minds with God himself?

​

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 20


God gives His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. The Law is literally too good for the people to hear. As Paul says, the letter kills. This is because the Law is meant to convict us of our sins. Remember, being spiritually dead = guilty. Convicting someone of sin = killing them. If you can hear the Ten Commandments and not feel convicted in your heart for having broken them all, then you do not know yourself and certainly do not know God. As John says, whoever says he has no sin deceives himself and the truth is not in him.


The Law forbids any idols, but it obligates an altar so that the people can sacrifice to atone for their sins. Man's tools would profane the altar because they are man-made, God does not accept human works. No nakedness can be exposed on the altar because nakedness is a symbol of sin, as opposed to the covering or clothing being a symbol of righteousness.

Exodus 20:

'I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.'

Is this fair? And Isn't jealousy a human trait that an all-loving God should be above?

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 21


Here is where Exodus begins to delve into case law. All of these case laws are not additions to the Law, but still rooted in the Ten Commandments. Today, we call them civil laws as opposed to moral laws, but in the original context there was no such distinction.


Even the Law makes a distinction between murder and manslaughter. God will later establish the solution for manslaughter in Numbers.

Exodus 21

Some interesting laws some seeming more harsh than others.

When exactly was Hebrew slavery seen as wrong (if ever?)

and what exactly are we to make of this:

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.'

I mean in practice what is considered a 'curse'?