How did Israel end up enslaved in Egypt?

In Exodus 1-2, the family of Israel has grown into a nation — and into slavery. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt opens the book of Exodus and shows that its story is, in a sense, our story too.

Generations after Joseph, “a new king arose who did not know Joseph” and enslaved the Israelites, even ordering their baby boys killed. Yet God was at work: a Levite child named Moses was hidden in a basket and rescued — placed, by God’s irony, inside Pharaoh’s own household. Dr. Holt shows how God keeps the promises He made to Abraham centuries earlier, preserving His people against every threat. Exodus is ultimately a picture of God redeeming a people for Himself.

Questions this study answers:

1. Who was Moses, and why was he born under a death edict? He was a Hebrew child born when Pharaoh had ordered every Israelite baby boy killed. God preserved him to become Israel’s deliverer.

2. Why did Egypt enslave Israel? A new Pharaoh, who did not honor Joseph, feared the growing nation and forced them into brutal slavery. Fear drove his cruelty.

3. How is Exodus a picture of the gospel? It shows God rescuing a helpless, enslaved people for Himself. That deliverance points to the greater rescue from sin in Christ.

“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” — Exodus 1:8 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

What is God’s name?

In Exodus 3, God speaks to Moses from a bush that burns but is not consumed. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt unpacks this holy encounter and the name by which God reveals Himself.

Moses, now an eighty-year-old shepherd, turns aside to see the strange sight and meets God on holy ground. God tells him He has seen Israel’s suffering and will rescue them — through Moses. When Moses asks who he should say sent him, God answers, “I AM WHO I AM.” Dr. Holt explains that this name reveals God as the self-existent, unchanging One. And He chooses a weak, reluctant shepherd, so that the power and glory would clearly be God’s, not man’s.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the bush burn without being consumed? It pictured God’s holy, fiery presence — and His promise that He would not consume His people but save them.

2. What does “holy ground” mean? That God’s presence makes a place set apart. Moses had to remove his sandals before the holy God.

3. What does the name “I AM” reveal? That God is self-existent, eternal, and unchanging — dependent on nothing and no one. He simply is.

“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’” — Exodus 3:14 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

What happens when obeying God makes life harder?

In Exodus 5, Moses confronts Pharaoh with God’s command — “Let My people go” — and things immediately get worse, not better. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explores what to do when obedience seems to backfire.

Pharaoh sneers, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him?” and responds by making Israel’s slavery even harsher — bricks without straw. The people’s faith collapses, and they blame Moses. Dr. Holt explains that God’s people often expect deliverance on their own timeline and grow angry when it does not come. God answers not with an explanation but by reasserting who He is: “I am the LORD,” recalling His covenant promises. Hardship is often the very soil in which faith grows.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Pharaoh refuse to obey? Because in his pride he did not know or fear the LORD. He saw no reason to submit to Israel’s God.

2. How did the people respond to harder oppression? Their faith faltered and they turned on Moses. They had expected quick relief, not greater hardship.

3. What does this chapter teach about trusting God? That His timing and methods are not ours, and delays are not abandonment. God answers by reminding us who He is.

“Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” — Exodus 5:1 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God send ten plagues on Egypt?

In Exodus 7-11, God strikes Egypt with ten devastating plagues. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains that the plagues were far more than natural disasters — they were a contest between God and Egypt’s false gods.

Each plague, Dr. Holt explains, struck at a specific Egyptian deity, exposing them as powerless before the living God. Through it all, God set His own people apart — the land of Goshen was spared the swarms, and Israel had light while Egypt sat in darkness. Pharaoh’s heart only hardened. The plagues reveal both God’s justice against persistent rebellion and His mercy toward those He calls His own.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God send ten specific plagues? To judge Egypt’s false gods and prove that He alone is the LORD. Each plague toppled an idol Egypt trusted.

2. Why did Pharaoh’s heart stay hardened? Because he kept refusing to humble himself before God, even as the judgments mounted. His pride would not bend.

3. What do the plagues reveal about God? Both His justice and His mercy — judgment on stubborn rebellion, and protection for His covenant people.

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” — Exodus 7:5 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

What is the Passover, and why does it matter?

In Exodus 12, on the night of the final plague, God gives Israel the Passover. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains this pivotal event — “the gospel in Old Testament clothing.”

As judgment falls on Egypt’s firstborn, God tells each Israelite family to kill a lamb without blemish and put its blood on their doorposts. Wherever God sees the blood, He “passes over” that home. Dr. Holt walks through the simple, profound pattern — kill the lamb, apply the blood, stay inside — and shows how it all points to Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Passover meal would later become the Lord’s Supper, the new covenant in Christ’s blood.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did it take ten plagues before Pharaoh let Israel go? Because Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and God was displaying His power over Egypt and its false gods. The plagues built to the final, decisive judgment.

2. Why was God so specific about the Passover lamb? Because the lamb pictured Christ — spotless, sacrificed in the place of sinners. Every detail pointed to Him.

3. How does the Passover point to Jesus? Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, whose blood causes God’s judgment to pass over all who trust Him. The Passover became the Lord’s Supper.

“Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” — Exodus 12:13 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

How does God provide when there’s nothing left?

In Exodus 16-17, a hungry, thirsty Israel grumbles in the desert — and God rains bread from heaven and brings water from a rock. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows how God provides and tests His people in the wilderness.

With no food, the people accuse Moses of leading them out to die, and God sends manna each morning and quail at evening — enough for each day, to teach them to trust Him daily rather than hoard. Later, with no water, they nearly riot, and God has Moses strike a rock, and water gushes out. Dr. Holt explains that both the manna and the rock point to Christ — the true Bread of Life and the Rock from which living water flows. Often it is not hardship but self-reliance that drives people from God.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why were the people grumbling? Because they had no food or water and feared they would die. Their complaint was really against God, not just Moses.

2. What was the manna? Bread God rained from heaven each day — a daily test of whether Israel would trust Him rather than hoard. It pointed to Christ, the Bread of Life.

3. How do the manna and rock point to Jesus? Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life, and Paul says the rock was Christ. Both picture the One who satisfies our deepest needs.

“Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.” — Exodus 16:4 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God come in fire and thunder at Sinai?

In Exodus 19, God descends on Mount Sinai in fire, smoke, and thunder, and the whole mountain trembles. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explores this terrifying display of God’s holiness.

Three months after leaving Egypt, Israel reaches Sinai, where God meets them in an awesome storm of fire and trumpet blasts. No one may touch the mountain and live; the people must consecrate themselves to approach a holy God. Dr. Holt explains that the nearer we come to God, the more we see how sinful we are. The good news is that what was once unapproachable is now open: when Christ died, the temple veil was torn, and through Him the holy God is now imminently approachable.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God appear in fire and thunder? To display His holiness and authority as the Lawgiver. The awesome scene taught Israel to revere Him.

2. Why couldn’t the people approach the mountain? Because God is holy and they were sinful; to touch the mountain meant death. It showed the distance sin creates.

3. How can sinful people come near a holy God now? Through Christ. At His death the veil was torn, opening the way for believers to approach God boldly.

“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.” — Exodus 19:5 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God give the Ten Commandments?

In Exodus 20, God speaks the Ten Commandments aloud from Mount Sinai. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains the purpose of God’s law — and why it cannot save us.

The first commandments govern our relationship to God, the rest our relationship to one another; Jesus summed them up as loving God and loving neighbor. Dr. Holt explains that sin is a matter of the heart, not just outward acts — so all of us have broken God’s law. The law teaches and convicts, but it cannot save; it is a “thundering barrier” that drives us to seek a Mediator. The frightened people begged for Moses to stand between them and God — but we need a better Mediator, Jesus.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why were there ten commandments, and how are they divided? The first four concern our relationship with God, the last six our relationship with others. Jesus summarized them as loving God and loving neighbor.

2. Can keeping the commandments save us? No. The law reveals our sin but cannot remove it. It shows our need for a Savior.

3. What hope is there for lawbreakers? A better Mediator — Jesus. Where the law condemns, Christ stands between us and God’s judgment.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.