God provided detailed instructions on how to construct a portable worship center—the tabernacle—and how to make and set up its furnishings. The Israelites built everything just as God commanded. The animal sacrifices in the tabernacle pointed to the final sacrifice God would send to take away sins—Jesus.

The Israelites grew impatient waiting for Moses to return from Mount Sinai and worshipped a golden calf that Aaron made. God was ready to destroy them because of their sin. But Moses interceded, and God showed mercy.

God gave the Ten Commandments to teach the Israelites (and us) how they should relate to him and to each other. Because no one can keep the Ten Commandments perfectly, these commands also show us our sin and need for a Savior—Jesus.

God miraculously provided food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness. He gave them manna in the mornings and water from a rock! God also provided protection from enemies. But the Israelites would easily forget his blessings and grumble and complain.

God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and provided them with great possessions as he promised. In a great miracle, God rescued his people by parting the waters of the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk through on dry ground. But he closed the waters over the Egyptian army, destroying them completely.

God instituted the Passover to protect the Israelites from the final plague and to remind them of his power. The Passover foreshadowed Jesus as the spotless Lamb whose blood saves us from our sins.

God sent plagues on Pharaoh and his people for refusing to let the Israelites go. With each plague, God showed his omnipotence.

God called Moses while he was watching flocks in the desert of Midian. God wanted Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery to the land of Canaan. But Moses objected several times to God’s call before submitting to his will.

God protected Moses from Pharaoh’s command to kill all the Israelite baby boys by having him adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in the palace. But Moses killed an Egyptian and then fled to Midian to avoid punishment.

God blessed Jacob (Israel) with the land of Goshen where he could move his family and be close to Joseph in Egypt. Near the end of his life, he gave a prophetic blessing to each of his sons concerning their future tribes, but the Savior was promised to Judah’s descendants.

Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized his brothers and tested them to see if they had changed before he revealed who he was. The brothers bowed before Joseph just as he dreamed they would. Joseph forgave them because he realized that God had sent him to Egypt to save his family from the famine.

God gave Pharaoh two disturbing dreams that his wise men couldn’t interpret. The cupbearer remembered Joseph from the prison and recommended him to Pharaoh. Giving God the credit for his gift, Joseph explained that Pharaoh’s dreams were a warning of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh honored Joseph and gave him a powerful position to prepare Egypt for the famine.

Joseph remained faithful even in difficult circumstances as a servant in Potiphar’s house and then in prison after he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. God blessed weJoseph wherever he went and had a plan for him.

Jacob favored Joseph over his other sons, which made them jealous. Joseph’s dreams indicated that he would one day rule over his family. This made his brothers even angrier. So they sold Joseph into slavery, and he was taken to Egypt. In spite of the brothers’ sin, God used these events to bring Joseph to Egypt and accomplish his sovereign plan.

God blessed Jacob so much that he had a large family and many possessions when it came time to leave Laban’s home. To return to Canaan, Jacob knew he must reconcile with Esau. Jacob was afraid of his brother, but God protected him and Esau forgave him. God gave Jacob a new name, Israel, to symbolize his new beginning in the land of Canaan.

Isaac and Rebekah sent Jacob to Rebekah’s brother Laban to find a wife. Laban tricked Jacob by giving him Leah to marry first, but Jacob worked another seven years to marry Rachel, too. God blessed Jacob with many children.

Isaac wanted to bless Esau, but Jacob and Rebekah deceived him into blessing Jacob instead. God’s will was accomplished in spite of the sinful methods used by Jacob and Rebekah. The consequences of their deception led to Esau wanting to kill Jacob and Jacob fleeing to Rebekah’s brother for safety.

God answered Isaac’s prayer for Rebekah to have children and gave them twin boys—Esau and Jacob. God told Rebekah that the older brother would serve the younger. Esau was born first, but he despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a bowl of stew.