Bible Study Questions Scandalous Scripture: "Bridegroom of Blood"
- Prayer Brief Summary
- Welcome to Part 4 of Scandalous Scripture. This study explores the bizarre, uncomfortable, and graphic moments in the book of Exodus that we often speed-read past or skip entirely in Sunday School. From God's terrifying confrontation with Moses at a lodging place to the bloody ordination of the ancient priests, we will trace the cycle of blood straight to the cross. Ultimately, these messy stories point to Jesus Christ—our ultimate Bridegroom—who willingly shed His blood to save and consecrate His Bride, the Church.
- Detailed Questions
- 1. The Bloody Prophecy Read Genesis 49:10-11.
- As Jacob blesses Judah, he uses a very specific and graphic phrase to describe the coming King's garments. What is this phrase, and what kind of sacrifice does it foreshadow as we head into the book of Exodus?
- • Hint: Look at verse 11. It points to a Messiah whose victory comes through a messy, sacrificial cost rather than a sanitized political conquest.
- 2. The Dead Man Walking Read Exodus 4:24. Right in the middle of a travel narrative, God confronts Moses and is about to kill him! Based on the context of Genesis 17 and what Moses had failed to do with his own son, why was Moses's life in danger despite being called to free Israel?
- • Hint: Moses is going to Egypt to demand the release of God's "firstborn son," but consider his active rebellion against the Abrahamic covenant within his own family. Can a leader mediate for God's people while living in hypocrisy?
- 3. The Bridegroom of Blood Read Exodus 4:25-26. How does Zipporah intervene to save her husband's life, and what bizarre title does she call Moses after she applies the blood?
- • Hint:She acts quickly with a flint knife to fulfill the covenant. Think about how Moses's life was spared from the wrath of God only because his bride applied the blood.
- 4. The River of Judgment
- Read Exodus 7:19-21. As the plagues begin, the very first plague involves blood. Where does this happen, and why is this specific location a poetic and direct judgment from God?
- • Hint:Think back to Exodus 1. What did the previous Pharaoh use this specific river for when the Hebrews were multiplying?
- 5. The Doorposts Read Exodus 12:21-23. In the final plague, what is the only thing that saves the Israelites from the angel of death? Does their good behavior, moral resume, or church attendance play a part in this protection?
- • Hint:Pay attention to what they put on the wooden doorframes and what tool (a specific branch) they used to apply it.
- 6. The Splattered Congregation Read Exodus 24:7-8. After giving the law at Mount Sinai, Moses seals the covenant with the people. Instead of just signing a document, what shocking and messy thing does Moses do to the congregation?
- • Hint: He throws half the blood against the altar (representing God), but look at what he does with the basins of blood and the people. What does this say about the reality of being bound to a Holy God?
- 7. The Consecrated Priests Read Exodus 29:19-21. When God gives instructions to ordain the priests, Moses must apply the blood of a ram to three specific body parts. What are they, and what practical areas of our daily lives do they symbolize?
- • Hint: Think about what body part you use to hear, what you use to do the work of your hands, and what you use to walk.
- 8. The Harsh Reality of Forgiveness Read Hebrews 9:19-22. As we move into the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews looks back at Moses splattering the blood on the scrolls and the people. According to verse 22, what is the harsh but true requirement for the forgiveness of sins?
- • Hint: We often try to sanitize our faith today, but does the biblical law allow for forgiveness without a messy cost?
- 9.Our Passover Lamb
- Read 1 Corinthians 5:7 and John 19:29, 34. How does Jesus perfectly fulfill the picture of the Exodus 12 Passover lamb during His crucifixion?
- • Hint Look at what the Roman soldiers used to offer Him a drink on the wooden cross (matching the tool from Exodus 12), and what flowed from His side to serve as a witness to our salvation
- 10. The Ultimate Reversal
- Read Ephesians 5:25-27. Compare the story of Moses and Zipporah (Exodus 4) to Jesus and the Church. How is Jesus the "ultimate reversal" of the Bridegroom of Blood?
- • Hint:In Exodus, the bride had to shed blood to save the bridegroom from God's wrath. On the cross, who sheds the blood, and who gets saved from the wrath of God?
- 11.Application: Covered vs. Consecrated
- Read 1 Peter 2:9 and Ephesians 2:8-10. We are saved by grace, but we are called a "royal priesthood" created to do good works. Are you treating the blood of Jesus like mere "fire insurance" to keep you out of hell, or is your life truly consecrated?
- • Hint: Apply the priestly ordination from Exodus 29 to your own life this week. What is a practical step you can take to consecrate your "ear" (the media/gossip you consume), your "thumb" (what you type or do), and your "toe" (the places or websites you walk into)?
- Discussion