Daily Lesson for Tuesday 1st of July 2025

One cannot understand the book of Exodus without presupposing the teachings of Genesis. The Jews moved to Egypt, and, after a time of great prosperity and peace, they were enslaved.

But God did not abandon His people to their problems, even though it may sometimes have seemed so. No doubt many of the Hebrew people despaired of their plight. Yet, in the time of distress, God comes to help with His mighty hand. Our Lord encourages His followers: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalms 50:15, NKJV).

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

No pharaoh has a name in the book of Exodus. They carry the title of “Pharaoh” only, which means “king.” The Egyptians believed that the pharaoh was a god on earth, the son of the god Ra (or Osiris or Horus). Ra was considered the highest Egyptian deity, the sun god himself.

Yet despite all his power, this “god” was not able to force the midwives to go contrary to their convictions. In fact, in contrast to the nameless pharaoh, the two midwives are named, Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15); they are highly esteemed because they feared the Lord. Pharaoh’s wicked command had no effect on them because they respected God more than the orders of an earthly ruler (see also Acts 5:29). Thus, God blessed them with their own large families. What a powerful testimony to faithfulness. These women, regardless of how little they knew of theology, knew not only what was right but chose to do what was right.

When Pharaoh saw that his plot had failed, he commanded the Egyptians to kill all the male babies born to the Hebrews. They were to throw them into the Nile River, probably as an offering to Hapi, the god of the Nile, and also a god of fertility. (This is the first recorded time that Jews are to be killed only because they are Jews.) The purpose of the death decree was to subdue the Hebrews, to annihilate all male descendants, and to assimilate the women into the Egyptian nation, thus ending the threat that Pharaoh believed the Hebrews posed to his nation.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-01-the-hebrew-midwives/

Exodus points us to a wonderful conclusion with the Israelites being bound for the Promised Land, hence our theme hymn for the quarter being 
We Are Bound For The Promised Land – Hymn 620.
Welcome to the 3^rd quarter of Bible studies, with this one being in the book of Exodus. Our Sabbath afternoon introduction to these studies gives us the theme hymn also.

 Sunday continues with an overview of Exodus with the positive ending showing “God’s spectacular victory” just as we are able to claim now:
Hymn 608 – Faith Is The Victory. In this story we also see “God’s peaceful and comforting presence in the tabernacle” which is the total opposite to what happened in the slavery time in Egypt: 
Wonderful Peace – Hymn 466. The day’s study concludes with “God is still sovereign and will save His people: 
Hymn 85 – Eternal Father, Strong To Save.

We are reminded on Monday that “no matter how bad things seem, God is always there, and we can trust Him”: 
Hymn 279 – Only Trust Him.

The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, remained faithful to God at the risk of their own lives, just as we are encouraged to be faithful in 
Hymn 602 – O Brother, Be Faithful.

Wednesday reminds again that 
We Are Bound For The Promised Land – Hymn 620.

Thursday concludes with the fact that Israel was called to “witness to a world steeped in idolatry”, and we are called today to 
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378.

The last wonderful words in this weeks’ study say “That grace is our only hope”: 
Hymn 109 – Marvellous Grace.

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-oppression-the-background-and-the-birth-of-moses-singing-with-inspiration/

Daily Lesson for Monday 30th of June 2025

When Jacob’s family arrived in Egypt after experiencing famine in Canaan (Genesis 46:1-34), the Egyptian king was friendly toward the Hebrews because of Joseph and all that he had done for the Egyptians.

“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ So he set him over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41-43, NKJV).

Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Goodsalt.com

The most plausible historical background to the Joseph story is the following: the new ruler, in Exodus 1:8 (ESV), “who did not know Joseph,” is Ahmose (1580–1546 bc). Next came Amenhotep I (1553–1532 bc), the ruler who feared the Israelites and oppressed them. Later Thutmose I (1532–1514 bc) issued the death decree for all the Hebrew male children. His daughter Hatshepsut (1504–1482 bc) was the princess who adopted Moses to be her son. Pharaoh Thutmose III (1504–1450 bc), who was for some time coregent with Hatshepsut, was the pharaoh of the Exodus.

The Exodus occurred, according to the best calculations, in March 1450 bc (see William H. Shea, “Exodus, Date of the,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley et al., vol. 2 [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1982], Pages 230–238). To understand the time of the Exodus, study the following biblical texts: Genesis 15:13-16; Exodus 12:40-41; Judges 11:26; and 1 Kings 6:1 (see also Acts 7:6; Galatians 3:16-17).

The first chapter of Exodus covers a long period—from the time of Joseph, when his father, Jacob, with the entire family entered Egypt, to Pharaoh’s death decree. Though some debate exists over the exact number of years, what matters is that, even with His people enslaved in a foreign land, the Lord did not forget them.

That is, even though many details about the Hebrews in Egypt at that time remain hidden, at least for now (see 1 Corinthians 13:12), the revelation of God’s character still shines through the pages of this book, as it does all through Scripture. We can know that no matter how bad things seem, God is always there, and we can trust Him in whatever bad situation we find ourselves.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-01-the-historical-background/

Daily Lesson for Sunday 29th of June 2025

The book of Exodus is called in Hebrew shemot, literally “names” in English, according to the opening words of that ancient document. “And these are the names” is how it begins. The names of the patriarch Jacob’s family are enumerated right at the start.

Image © Review and Herald Publishing Assn. Goodsalt.com

The book of Exodus begins with a reminder of God’s blessing. When the patriarch Jacob and his family settled in Egypt, they were only 70 people (Genesis 46:27, Exodus 1:5); but the Israelites “were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7, NKJV). By the time of the Exodus, however, they counted “about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children” (Exodus 12:37, NKJV).

The biblical text paints the story of the children of Israel in Egypt in dark colors. The book of Exodus begins with their enslavement by Egyptian taskmasters and the oppressive labor that they imposed upon the Hebrews. The book of Exodus ends, however, with God’s peaceful and comforting presence in the tabernacle, at the center of the Israelite camp (see Exodus 40:1-38). In between these two opposite poles, God’s triumph is described. By the Lord’s liberating His people from slavery, by His opening the Red Sea, and by His defeating the strongest army of that time, God’s spectacular victory over the forces of evil is revealed.

The story paradoxically stresses that the more the oppressors “afflicted them [the Israelites], the more they multiplied and grew” (Exodus 1:12, NKJV). That is, no matter the human machinations, God is still sovereign and will save His people, even if circumstances appear hopeless, at least from a human perspective.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-01-gods-people-in-egypt/

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 28th of June 2025

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study

Exodus 1:1-22; Genesis 37:26-28; Genesis 39:2,21; Acts 7:6; Galatians 3:16-17; Exodus 2:1-25.

Memory Text:

“The children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them” (Exodus 2:23-25, NKJV).

The book of Exodus resonates with accounts of the oppressed, the marginalized, the persecuted, the exploited, and the degraded. Thus, people today who feel abandoned, forgotten, and enslaved can find hope, because the same God who saved the Hebrews can save them as well.

The book of Exodus speaks to the existential battles of life and to the injustices and trials that are part of this life. Everyone can be encouraged by the stories of God’s interventions in favor of His suffering people. God hears the cry of the oppressed, sees their struggles, notes their tears, and, in their agony, comes to help.

God takes the initiative to deliver those who trust in Him. We need simply to accept, by faith, what He offers us. This is why the book of Exodus should be studied, for it points to what Jesus has done for us all. It is a book about redemption, deliverance, and final salvation—all of which are ours, by faith, in Christ Jesus and what He has secured for us.

In the midst of the turmoil and darkness, if our eyes are fixed on God, we can recognize His presence, care, and help as He guides us to the eternal Promised Land.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 5.

Sunday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-01-oppression-the-background-and-the-birth-of-moses/