In this powerful follow up to Peterson’s wildly popular lecture series on Genesis—viewed by over 40 million people and counting—this deep dive on the book of Exodus takes viewers on an intellectual and philosophical journey that will educate and enlighten believers and nonbelievers alike on universal topics like faith, freedom, ethics, morality, politics, and more. Some view the old testament as being just that. Old. Full of genealogies and ancient history. The reality is the books contained in the Old Testament, the ones that make up the Torah, are as relevant today as they were when they were written. Jordan is joined by Dennis Prager, author of The Rational Bible series and co-founder of PragerU; Dr. Douglas Hedley, professor of the Philosophy of Religion, Cambridge University; Dr. Os Guinness, English author and social critic; Dr. James Orr, assistant professor of Philosophy of Religion, Cambridge; Dr. Stephen Blackwood, president of Ralston College; Gregg Hurwitz, novelist, scre
Jordan and his round table explore the themes of freedom against tyranny, God’s allowance of evil, and faith as an adventure within the first three chapters of Exodus. They seek to answer the question of whether one should take the easy path even if it is wrong or do what is right despite it being hard.
Then as now, societies turn from God and collapse until someone takes on the burden of restoring the relationship. As Jordan and his round table continue to analyze Exodus, new themes emerge including Moses’ willingness to respond to God’s call, man’s relationship with the divine, the possibility of turning evil into good with God’s help, and how peoples’ willingness not to take a stand contributes to their downfall.
The Bible is not only a patriarchal book, as many women are strong characters in its narratives. Jordan and the group discuss this in chapters three through six of Exodus, covering topics such as order and chaos, Moses’ relationship with the divine, and God’s transcendent quality.
Often, our freedom of choice keeps us from claiming the freedom God offers. As the round table in Exodus chapters seven through nine discuss, Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites leave is at the center of the conversation. Power, the desire to change, and the significance of the plagues are also discussed.
What do Pharaoh and Stalin have in common? Jordan and the roundtable discuss chapters nine through twelve in Exodus, finding parallels between the tyranny inherent in political leadership during Moses’ time and now, the repercussions of putting the state above the church regarding COVID-19 lockdowns, and the notion that for the will to be as free as it can be, it has to span the spectrum of choice between radical evil and radical good.
God commanded the Israelites to celebrate Passover before it occurred. In Exodus 12-14, the group discusses the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the connection between the Old and New Testaments, and the significance of cultural rituals for survival.
Jordan and the group discuss chapters twelve through fourteen of Exodus, exploring the meaning behind the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Old and New Testament connection, and the significance of rituals as a means of cultural survival.
In the first half of Exodus, the scholars discuss Moses' pivotal encounter with his father-in-law, his role as mediator between God and the Israelites, the dangers of forgetting rituals, and the moment when God reveals himself to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Moses' descent from the mountain with the Ten Commandments had a significant impact on the Judeo-Christian tradition. The group discusses how these commandments provided fundamental rules that guided the tradition, providing a balance between tyranny and excess freedom and allowing for a more organized society.
Jordan and the roundtable explore the remaining five of the ten commandments, interpreting their meaning through the King James and Hebrew lenses, and discussing how they apply spiritually, philosophically, and morally to our lives. They posit that we should view them not as a series of constraints but as enabling principles.
Jordan and Douglas Hadley unpack the significance of God’s laws in Exodus 21-24, discussing how they established a moral order and binary boundaries to prevent mankind from becoming like a God or reverting to an animal state with no morals.
The roundtable discusses how the consequences of not taking sacrifice seriously in religious practice can include disunity, as well as a lack of living up to the highest ideals. In Exodus 24, sacred space, ritual, and worship all rely on sacrificing in order to be meaningful, and disregarding this importance can lead to a disconnect between people and God.
The potential negative impacts of idolatry in modern society are explored in Exodus 29, verses 43-46. The perils of choosing idolatry over the divine are discussed, as well as Moses’ role as intermediary between God and the Israelites in both Biblical and contemporary times.
Jordan and the scholars finish their reading of Exodus, reestablishing the covenant and uniting the Israelites in their vision of the promised land, restoring law and order. This episode also includes supplemental readings from Leviticus.
Jordan and the scholars discuss the Israelites' stubbornness and Moses' frustration. They highlight the importance of shared vision, gratitude, and avoiding resentment.
Jordan and the scholars trace Moses' journey from Numbers to the end of Deuteronomy. Despite being able to see the promised land, Moses is unable to enter it before his death, but his name becomes a symbol of Israel and God's promise to His people.
In the conclusion of Exodus, Jordan and the scholars recap the story of Exodus and the Israelites’ escape from tyranny to freedom. This episode also features a summation from each of the scholars as they share what has been illuminated for them through this discussion.
