The Law of Moses

1. Read: Genesis 1:1

2. About the Text:

1) This is the beginning of the Bible.

2) It is the first book of the Law of Moses.

3) There are five books in the Law – G, E. L, N, D.

4) Sometimes they are called the Pentateuch for “five books.”

5) The Jews refer to these books as the Torah which means “Law.”

6) These five books were written by Moses (Exodus 34:27-28).

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. First book of the Bible

1) Means “Origin”

2) 32,046 words.

3) Time Period: Creation to c,1700 B.C.

2. Book of Beginnings

1) Creation

a. Heavens

a) Sun

b) Moon

c) Stars

b. Earth

c. Water

d. Land

e. Plants

f. Animals

g. Mankind

2) First Sins – Adam/Eve, Cain/Abel

3) First Catastrophe – Flood

4) First Nations

5) Beginning of the Family of Israel – Call of Abraham

3. Purpose is to show Israel where they came from.

1) As a people covenanted to God through Abraham.

2) As a culture looking at the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

4. Historical precedents for the Law of Moses.

5. Major sections

1) Antediluvian period

2) Postdiluvian period

3) Patriarchs

a. Abraham

b. Isaac

c. Jacob

d. Joseph

6. What does it say about God?

1) He is the one and only Creator.

2) He does not tolerate sin.

3) He wants a covenant relationship with mankind.

4) He blesses His people.

1. Second book of the Bible.

1) Means “The Way Out”

2) 25,957 words

3) Time Period: c. 1440 B.C.

2. Major Sections

1) Moses the Mediator

2) 10 Plagues

3) The Passover

4) Escape from Egypt through the Red Sea

5) Giving of the Law in the Wilderness

3. Purpose is to identify Israel as holy nation and His covenant people – “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:5-6).

4. End of the Book – tabernacle is built, but God is not yet in it.

5. What does it say about God?

1) His name is Yahweh, I am that I am.

2) Powerful, mankind cannot stand against Him.

3) He demands obedience.

4) He will not accept compromise.

5) He wants to dwell with His people.

1. Work of the Levites/Priests.

1) From the family of Levi, one of the sons of Jacob.

2) Priests came from the family of Aaron (Exodus 29:9, Leviticus 8).

3) 18,852 words

4) Time: c.1440 B.C.

2. Reveals the sacrificial system of worship.

1) Burnt offerings (1).

2) Grain offering (2)

3) Peace offering (3)

4) Sin offering (4-5)

5) Guilt Offering (5-6)

3. Discusses various feast days and yearly calendar (23).

1) Sabbath (23:3).

2) Passover (23:4-8).

3) Firstfruits (23:9-14).

4) Weeks (23:15-22).

5) Trumpets (23:23:25).

6) Day of Atonement (23:26-32).

7) Tabernacles (23:33-36).

4. Purpose is to reveal the holiness of God and to instruct people on holy worship and living

1) “‘For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy… ‘For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44-45).

2) “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy’” (Leviticus 19:2).

3) “Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 20:7).

4) “‘And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine” (Leviticus 20:26).

5) “‘Therefore you shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy” (Leviticus 21:8).

5. What does it say about God?

1) God is holy.

2) Must worship Him according to His will (Leviticus 10:1-3).

3) Will not tolerate sin.

4) Must be sacrifice for sin (Leviticus 1-7).

5) Must be mediation for sin (Leviticus 8-10).

6) Will forgive.

7) Will atone for man’s sins (Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16).

8) Wants mankind to be moral.

9) Wants to dwell with His people – “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people” (Leviticus 26:12).

1. Numbering the People

1) 25,048 words

2) Time: 1440-1400 B.C.

3) Three Main Periods

a. Preparing to Depart from Sinai (1-10:10).

b. Sinai to Kadesh (10:11-20:21).

c. Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (20:22-36).

2. Purpose is history of wanderings and numbering of the people at beginning and end.

1) Two censuses taken.

2) 603,550 (Numbers 1:46).

3) 601,730 (Numbers 26:51).

4) Israel is shown to be unfaithful to God.

a. Grumbling (11:1-15).

b. Insubordination of Aaron and Miriam (12).

c. Twelve Spies (13-14).

d. Rebellion of Korah (16-17).

e. More grumbling (21:4-7).

f. Israel’s Idolatry and Fornication at Baal-Peor (25).

5) God is shown to be faithful to His people despite their unfaithfulness.

a. Keeps their numbers preserved in the wilderness.

b. Guides with cloud by day and fire by night (9:15-10:10).

c. Provides food (11:16-35).

d. Defeats enemies (21, 31).

e. Bronze Serpent (21:4-9).

f. Selects Joshua to succeed Moses (27:12-23).

g. Provides cities of refuge (35).

h. Brings them to the land of Canaan (33-34).

6) Explains why they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (13-14).

3. What does it say about God?

1) Loves his people and will be faithful to them.

2) Will not tolerate compromise (Numbers 20:1-13, Moses and the rock).

3) Gives a way for reconciliation (Numbers 21:4-9).

4) Wants man to trust and be faithful to Him.

1. “Second Law”

1) 23,008 words

2) Time Period: c.1400 B.C.

3) Moses speaks these words to Israel in a series of speeches.

4) First Speech (1-4:43).

5) Second Speech (4:44-28).

6) Third Speech (29-30).

7) Last Words (31-34).

2. Purpose is to give the Law again and issue warnings about obeying it.

1) Moses specifically discusses each of the 10 commandments in chapters 6-26.

2) First Commandment (6-11).

3) Second Commandment (12).

4) Third Commandment (13-14:21).

5) Fourth Commandment (14:22-16:17).

6) Fifth Commandment (16:18-18:22).

7) Sixth Commandment (19-21).

8) Seventh Commandment (22:-23:14).

9) Eighth Commandment (23:15-14:7).

10) Ninth Commandment (24:8-16).

11) Tenth Commandment (24:17-26:15).

12) Curses and Blessings (27:11-28).

3. What does it say about God?

1) Understands that teaching is generational.

2) Wants his people to know His Law.

3) Sets forth blessing for faithfulness.

4) Sets forth curses for disobedience.

5) Gives mankind the tools to be faithful and obedient.

1. This is an introduction to the books of the Law.

2. Invitation