Episode 3:  Freedom & Instruction

Daily Reading:

Day 1: Exodus 1-4

Day 2: Exodus 13:17-15:21

Day 3: Exodus 20-24

Day 4: Leviticus 19-22

Day 5: Numbers 11-14

Day 6: Leviticus 12:1-2

Day 7: Group Meeting Experience on Exodus 20:1-17

This week’s reading picks up right where we left off, give or take 400 years. The Israelites, having moved to Egypt following the famine and led by Jacob’s sons, were once a protected population. They were protected by Pharaohs who remembered what Joseph did for Egypt, until there was finally a Pharaoh who forgets who Joseph was and what he did for the people of Egypt, and so slowly the Israelites become slaves in Egypt. Much like the Pharaohs forgot Joseph’s name, the Israelites have forgotten God. And so, the cycle begins again.

God approaches Moses through the burning bush and offers to partner with him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt’s oppression. It’s interesting: before God offers to help Moses, God first makes an introduction saying, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” It’s almost like when someone introduces themselves to you as a friend of your grandmother—it gives you more of a reason to trust that person. Moses would only have a loose understanding of who this God is because he was raised with a dual identity of Egyptian and Hebrew. After some assurances from God, Moses trusts the plan and partners with God to deliver the Israelites. God puts on a show through signs and wonders to prove to the Israelites that He is their God and that He is in the business of working for their good. We’ll begin to see how God reminds the Israelites of all that has been done for them, calling them back to faithfulness.

Because God saves them, the Israelites are declared holy, set apart, and God’s chosen people. God saves them and expects them to live a certain way in response to their status as chosen. This is a group of people who have never truly been a group of people. That’s how slavers keep people enslaved: by stripping their cultural identity and instilling fear. The Israelites have to learn how to be a people—and, more importantly, a people who worship God. This is where the importance of the Holiness Code comes into play. God gives them boundaries and rules—not out of a desire to control, but to create order and safety in their new identity. These rules are essential for shaping the Israelites into a nation that reflects God’s holiness.

The Holiness Code, as found in Leviticus, lays out specific guidelines for how the Israelites should treat God and each other. These rules are not arbitrary; they are a reflection of their covenant relationship with God, and they serve as a reminder of the holiness that God desires to cultivate in them. The Israelites were chosen not just to be saved, but to live as a distinct people who reflect God’s character in the world. Their obedience to these rules would be a sign of their identity as God’s holy people, set apart to demonstrate God’s love, justice, and mercy to the nations.

These rules helped the Israelites learn what it meant to be God’s people in a world that didn’t know who I AM is. As they obeyed, they would grow closer to God, live in harmony with one another, and become a witness to the surrounding nations of what it looks like to live under the reign of a holy and just God. The covenant, beginning in Genesis and continuing here, is not just about promises made—it’s about a way of life that is meant to reflect God’s holiness. Today, as we read these ancient texts, we are reminded that the covenant God made with the Israelites continues to call us to live lives marked by holiness and faithfulness to God, even if our standards for holiness look a little different today. 

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the idea of being “set apart” or “holy” shape the way the Israelites were meant to live? How does it impact us today as God’s people?
2. Why do you think God begins by reminding Moses of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What does this reveal about the continuity of God’s promises throughout history?
3. What role do rules and boundaries play in the development of the Israelite community? How can rules be seen as acts of grace and care, rather than as restrictions?
4. How does the Holiness Code shape our understanding of God’s expectations for His people? In what ways do these guidelines inform our relationship with God and others today?
5. The Israelites were called to reflect God’s holiness in their actions. How can we, as modern believers, live out this calling in our daily lives? What are some practical ways to live as a “holy people” today?

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