“Bondage, Passover, and Exodus”

“Bondage, Passover, and Exodus”
Lesson 13, Gospel Doctrine, compiled by Maren Hale

Reading: Exodus 1-2; 5-6; 11-4
Board: The Lord provides us with the light of the gospel and voice of prophecy so we can find our way safely back into His presence.

INTRODUCTION

The story of the Exodus is a story of deliverance through the power of God. The liberation of Israel from Egyptian bondage is parallel to our own deliverance from the consequences of sin through the process of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Today’s lesson is about one of the most dramatic rescues that has ever occurred – the deliverance of the Children of Israel from the plague of death and from Egyptian slavery. In many ways this rescue symbolizes an even greater rescue – our deliverance from sin and death through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

BODY

The Lord Calls Moses

In Exodus 1, the Children of Israel multiply and are strong even in their slavery. Pharaoh tells the midwives to kill any male babies, but the midwives feared God more than Pharaoh and the people multiplied.

Moses is born to Levite parents and is hid for 3 months. Then his Mother puts him in “an arc of bulrushes” by the river’s bank and his sister kept watch over him.

The daughter of Pharoah came to wash and had compassion on Moses and said, “This is one of the Hebrew’s children.” The Lord softened her heart and she raised
Moses as her son with Moses’ mother as his nurse maid.

When Moses was grown, he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew.

QUESTION: What does Moses do? [Slays the Egyptian, hides him in the sand. The death is discovered and Moses flees to Midian.]

QUESTION: Do you think Moses knew who he was? [Yes – His Mother had the opportunity to teach him. She was a woman of faith and courage and she instilled in Moses those traits.]

Moses then marries Zipporah and she bore Gershom.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 2: 23-25

23. And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

24. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, and with Isaac, and with Jacob.

25. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
[God heard the Iraelites’.]

God hears our prayers (The prayer of faith)

Just as the Lord heard the cries of ancient Israel suffering from bondage, He will also listen to our sincere prayers for strength and guidance to overcome the challenges of mortality and lead us out of bondage to spiritual well-being.

EXPERIENCE: Brother in Prison

When we lived in Germany, our stake president told us about an experience he had with an LDS American businessman who had been imprisoned in Germany for fraud.

President Mourik visited him in Prison and learned that the fraud had been committed by this brother’s partner who had lied, stolen, and fled Germany. This brother was left “holding the bag” and was given a prison sentence. President Mourik brought him a Book of Mormon and made a practice of visiting him throughout his incarceration.

When this brother was released from prison, he went to visit President Mourik in his office. President Mourik told the brother how sorry he was that he had to go through this terrible experience of being in prison.

The brother told President Mourik not to mourn for him. He said that he had turned to the Book of Mormon and prayer throughout his sentence, and said that he had been visited by the Savior during his bondage.

He said that he had come to deeply know and love the Savior. He told President Mourik that he was grateful for this opportunity in prison to come to know and love the Savior.

Even through this very difficult trial, this brother chose to draw near to the Lord and be strengthened by him. The testimony he had gained before his ordeal gave him strength and he was further nurtured in prison as he sought out the Lord and His Spirit.

Heber C. Kimball tells us that we need to build our own testimonies right now.

Quote #1, Heber C. Kimball: “The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?” (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p. 450)

In Exodus 3 we read of the great trials that were upon the Children of Israel as slaves to the Egyptians. Let’s read the Lord’s words regarding them in Exodus 3:7.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 3:7

“I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.”

We know that through the Atonement, Jesus Christ became fully and painfully aware of all our sorrows.

After the deaths of Joseph and Pharaoh, the Israelites began to suffer under successor regimes. Their burdens became heavy, their oppression painful. They cried to the Lord for relief, and He heard their prayers and intervened to bring a new situation into their lives and redress the wrongs that had befallen them. (Teaching and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, pp. 351-2)

We can also cry unto the Lord. Prayer can have a great power in our lives.

Quote #2, President James E. Faust: “Of all that we might do to find solace, prayer is perhaps the most comforting. We are instructed to pray to the Father in the name of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. The very act of praying to God is satisfying to the soul, even though God, in his wisdom, may not give what we ask for. President Harold B. Lee taught us that all of our prayers are answered, but sometimes the Lord says no. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the ‘best way to obtain truth and wisdom’ is ‘to go to God in prayer.’ Prayer is most helpful in the healing process. (Finding Light in a Dark World, p. 30-31)

Divine calling/divine power (We, too, receive callings in the Church.)

Then the Lord called Moses to deliver Israel.

Exodus 3:11-12

11. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Moses is apprehensive about his abilities: “Whom am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
But the Lord tells Moses he will be with him and gives him courage: “Certainly I will be with thee.”

When the Lord extends a calling, He supplies the power and guidance to carry it out.

EXPERIENCE: Early Church callings – Maren Hale

The Lord has a way of calling us to responsibilities in His kingdom that always stretch us and improve or develop our talents. I remember my first calling as a teenager was to be the chorister in Sunday School. I had 15 minutes to help the congregation learn a new hymn. I had to learn to lead music, to memorize many verses of our hymns, and to feel comfortable on the stand in front of everyone.
The skill of leading music has been useful to me throughout my life.

Soon after that, I was called as the Junior Sunday School pianist (Primary). I could play the piano by ear, but sight reading the songs was a real struggle for me. I had faith that if I accepted that calling, with the Lord’s help he would help me through that ordeal. I can’t say that I’ve improved a great deal in sight reading through my life, but the Lord helped me through my assignment at Church.

I was called in college to help set up the Latter-day Saint Student Association on the University of Utah campus. I was petrified, but with the guidance of the institute administrator, Brother Christensen, I managed. Through this calling I learned how to organize.

When Forrest and I were newlyweds in a student ward in Salt Lake, I was called to organize and produce a ward dinner and activity night. This experience taught me delegate. Then in the Berkeley married student ward, I was called to be the “flower coordinator.” Now they had to find a calling for everyone, so I had to find “free” flowers for our sacrament meetings each week. For a shyer person like me, this was especially challenging. This unusual calling helped me to be more bold.

These first callings in my life may seem simple to me now, but at the time, I was very apprehensive and worried. I had learned from my parents to accept Church callings. Then I learned for myself that accepting callings helped me to grow, depend on the Lord, and prepared me for future service in the Church and in my family.

QUESTION: What callings have you had that have frightened you? Perhaps you were a convert and given your first calling. Please share some of your experiences.

President Monson gives us counsel on how we will be able to fulfill our callings:

Quote #3, President Thomas S. Monson: “When we come to the temple let us come with the spirit of prayer, with the sprit of inquiry, with the spirit of acquiescence to the Spirit of the Lord and He will give us the power to fill any position that comes to us. He who the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” (“A New Temple Is Dedicated,” LDS Church News, September 1, 1990)

President Monson suggests we go to the temple for strength.

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory, ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39). Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation my sphere. No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty, touch the lives of others.

“To each of us in our respective responsibilities the Lord has said: “Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees’ (D&C 81:5). ‘And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord’ (D&C 81:4)…

President Hinckley continues: “You have as great an opportunity for satisfaction in the performance of your duty as I do in mine. The progress of this work will be determined by our joint efforts. Whatever your calling, it is as fraught with the same kind of opportunity to accomplish good as is mine. What is really important is that this is the work of the Master. Our work is to go about doing good as did He.” (“This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, p. 71)

Freedom and the Atonement (Bringing about the effects of the Atonement through obedience.)

Just as the Lord liberated the captive Israelites from Egyptian bondage, He has also put in place the saving truths, ordinances, and powers to bless our lives with redeeming grace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 5:1

1. And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

“The historical Israelite deliverance and exodus is a pattern for the journey of liberation that each of us must complete as we accomplish our ‘exodus’ from the bondage of sin and worldly entanglements toward a state of spiritual freedom.

“The Journey toward the Promised Land is symbolic of our passage toward Zion, where we can raise our families in truth and light, and taste the joys of the gospel through obedience and righteousness. Just as the Lord liberated Israel through the shedding of the blood of the firstborn of the Egyptians, so he liberated us through the shedding of blood of His Only Begotten, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life.

“The consequences of sin pass over us through the process of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, p. 356)

In Exodus 11 and 12, we read of the plague that was brought upon the Egyptians, but Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened. Then Moses gave instructions from the Lord for the Passover, and the Children of Israel are let go.

QUESTION: What was the Passover? [President Joseph Fielding Smith tell us:]

Quote #4, President Joseph Fielding Smith: “The Passover was a law given…to remind the children of Israel of the coming of Christ who would become the sacrificial Lamb. After he was crucified the law was changed by the Savior himself, and from that time forth the law of the sacrament was instituted. We now observe the law of the sacrament instead of the Passover because the Passover was consummated in full by the death of Jesus Christ.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:153:154)

The Passover gives us a rich understanding and appreciation of the Atonement.
The Passover symbolized and embodied the future sacrifice of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 11:4).
Symbolizes:

The firstborn male lamb The Only Begotten Son

The blood of the lamb saved. That the blood of the Lord purified the
faithful Israelites.

No bones to be broken. As with the Lord (John 19:31-36)

Partake of unleavened bread. The bread of life. As we partake of Him
(taking His name upon us), we can be
purified.

This bread couldn’t spoil or mold. A repentance and purified person.

Partake in haste That we need to respond
enthusiastically to the offer of the Lord.

“The children of Israel were in slavery; Egypt held them in bondage. Likewise, we are in slavery and bondage to Satan because of sin. When the final plague was instituted during the Passover, the firstborn sons of Pharaoh and the Egyptians were taken and Israel was granted its freedom. We, likewise, are made free by the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, pp. 357-358)

Quote #5, President Lorenzo Snow: "It appears that the children of Israel…were not very well acquainted with the Lord, or with His ability to carry out His purposes. They, however, had not the opportunities of becoming acquainted with Him, as have the Latter-day Saints. They had seen some of the works of the Lord wrought in the presence of the Egyptians as well as in their own presence; but their hearts had not been touched, neither had their understandings been enlightened by the intelligence of the Holy Spirit, as has been the case with the Latter-day Saints; and therefore, when they were brought to face the Red Sea, which, to all human appearance, was impassable, and with the armies of the Egyptians pressing close upon them, their hearts failed them." (Journal of Discourses, 23:150)

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “I cannot be grateful enough for the Atonement wrought by my Savior and my Redeemer. Through His sacrifice at the culmination of a life of perfection – that sacrifice offered in pain unspeakable – the bonds of death were broken, and the resurrection of all became assured. Beyond this, the doors of celestial glory have been opened to all who will accept divine truth and obey its precepts.” (“My Testimony,” Ensign, November 1993, p. 52)

Remember the Covenant (Particularly the sacrament)

Just as the Lord remembered His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by delivering Israel, so must we show through our daily obedience that we remember His goodness and honor His commandments.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 13:3

13. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall be no leavened bread be eaten.”

In this scripture we are reminded about our constant need to show gratitude to our Father in Heaven for the prayers that have been answered through many blessings.
We can show our gratitude for the Savior by remembering him as we partake of the sacrament.

Quote #6, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "Do we see [the sacrament] as our passover, this ordinance commemorating our safety and deliverance and redemption?
"With so very much at stake, this ordinance commemorating our escape from the angel of darkness should be taken more seriously than it sometimes is. It should be a powerful, reverent, reflective moment. It should encourage spiritual feelings and impressions." (Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 68)

Quote #7, President Joseph Fielding Smith: “Partaking of the sacrament is one of the most sacred ordinances given to the Church. It is given in order that we may be brought in closer communion with the spirit of the Lord and thus renew three most sacred covenants. They are first, that we will take upon us the name of Jesus Christ; second, that we will always remember him; third, that we will always keep his commandments which he has given us. We are promised if we will dot this that we will be blessed with the constant companionship of his spirit. If we have violated any one of these covenants, then there should be sincere repentance through which we receive forgiveness of the Church before we partake of the sacrament.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:85)

“King Benjamin taught that as we come to a knowledge of the glory of God, and have tasted of His love and received a remission of our sins, we should always
Remember the greatness of God and His goodness and long-suffering toward us, and we should humble ourselves and call upon His name daily.

“He promised if we will do this we will always rejoice and be filled with the love of God, and retain a remission of our sins; and we will grow in the knowledge of God and of that which is just and true (Mosiah 4:12).” (Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, p. 359)

Guiding ligh of the gospel (The Holy Spirit nourishes and guides us.)

The Lord provided means to guide the Israelites in their journey out of Egypt. Similarly, He provides for us the light of the gospel and the voice of prophecy so we might find our way safely back into His presence.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 13:21

21. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.

The Lord supplied miraculous means for marking the path of liberation and showing the Israelites the way to safety. He had Moses part the Red Sea for their escape! No less miraculous are His blessings to us today, leading us from one milestone to the next in our journey for spiritual liberation.

QUESTION: What have we been given to light the path showing us the way to spiritual safety?
● Scriptures – Book of Mormon
● The voice of living prophets
● The priesthood to provide authorized ordinances and salvation
● The sealing ordinances of the temple
● The Holy Spirit to illuminate our souls
● Our families

The voice of living prophets have again given us counsel and inspiration that show us the way to spiritual safety.

QUESTION: What counsel from conference touched you last week?

EXPERIENCE: Raising children in these difficult times
I visited with one of my daughters recently, and she mentioned the need she felt for guidance in General Conference on how to raise her children in these difficult times. If I had to pick one theme I felt during conference it was “How to Raise Righteous Families.”

I loved Elder Ballard’s counsel to mothers and daughters. He told the young women to “Look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards…Listen to her…trust her…be kind to her.”

To the mothers he said, “If the mother’s are thrifty so are their daughters. If the mothers are modest, so are their girls. If the mothers wear flip flops and other causal clothing to sacrament meeting, so do their daughters.” He told them that the world openly embraces casual promiscuity and immodesty. Elder Ballard said, “You need to have frequent, open discussions during which you teach your daughters the truth about these issues…teach them how to repent and how to remain pure and worthy.”

Truly the Lord is aware of our concerns and delights in guiding us as we raise our families.

President Spencer W. Kimball gives an example of how the Holy Ghost gives counsel and inspiration:

Quote #8, President Spencer W. Kimball: “President Heber J. Grant related an example of the revelations of the Lord to him. For twenty-two years he had felt the inspiration of the living God directing him in his labors. He wrote: ‘From the day that I chose a comparative stranger [Melvin J. Ballard] to be one of the apostles, instead of my lifelong and dearest living friend, I have known as I know that I live, that I am entitled to the light and the inspiration and the guidance of God in directing His work here upon the earth.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 448)

In families we help each other maintain a spiritual safety. We should remain ever vigilant and strong so that Satan will not have power over us and take us from spiritual safety.

Quote #9, President Joseph Fielding Smith: “It should be remembered that Satan has great knowledge and thereby can exercise authority and to some extent the elements, when some greater power does not intervene.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:176-78)

A greater power did intervene and Moses led the Children of Israel through the Red Sea and the people believed.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 14:14

15. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.

16. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

CONCLUSION

“From the scriptural account of the Exodus, we renew our acquaintance with the miraculous way the Lord delivered Israel from bondage through the leadership of a great prophet.

“Similarly, we can be delivered from the bondage of…sin through the redemption of Jesus Christ.

“The process of deliverance is simple and straightforward.

“Our Heavenly Father hears our sincere prayers of faith and declares His will through the scriptures and the words of living prophets.

“Through obedience to the principles of the gospel, and through the saving ordinances administered by authorized priesthood leaders, we are blessed with the effects of the Atonement in our lives.

Partaking of the sacrament allows us to renew our covenants and our commitment to obedience.” (Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, p.363)

I am thankful for this great story of Moses and the Exodus of the Children of Israel.

I know that it was through the power of God that they were delivered.

I pray that through our obedience each of us will delivered and return to our Father in Heaven.