Below, you will find a few questions for each chapter to help you further reflect on and discuss the story of Moses and Zipporah and the corresponding Bible passages.

Discussion questions

The twelve chapters and epilogue of the book Zipporah's God give you the family story of Moses and Zipporah as a thread running through the Torah and the book of Joshua. Hopefully, like a historical novel, it will help you to empathize with a very different time and place. The reading schedule is intended for people who want to read these six Bible books in their entirety.

When reading the Bible, you can use the classification of the biblical scholar Origen (from Alexandria in Egypt, around the year 200). He read a text on three levels, or "three times," so to speak:

• Concrete (physical): First, divide the story. What is actually written on the page? What happens in the story? How does that fit into the time and place described? If necessary, you can ask different people to listen from the perspective of a particular character in the story (even God, if necessary). How does the story come across to you? Avoid talking about yourself at this stage; you talk from your character's perspective and about the story. What questions does that raise for my moral reading?
• Morally (to the soul): Encourage, comfort, inspire and exhort. Can I apply the story to our time and to my life? What if I interpret the people of Israel as myself or my community, the laws as rules for living that we can translate to today, and the tabernacle and sacrifices as an attempt to deal with what is sacred in our lives? What questions does that raise for my spiritual reading?
• Spiritual: (to the spirit): Make room for silence and contemplation. May "God" reveal himself to me? In what ways do I experience or "see" a glimpse or shadow of "God" while reading, reflecting, and becoming still? Do I dare to "hear" an inner voice within me that connects me to "God"? Do I dare, like Moses and Zipporah, to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within me? How do I test that answer?

If you keep a reading journal, it is good to pay attention to these levels during or after reading. You can also use a Bible with wide margins, underline texts, and make notes in the text itself.

To support discussion groups, I offer some suggestions for questions that translate the story to today. The questions are organized by chapter, both for the story of Moses and Zipporah and for the Bible passages from the reading schedule. You can also make notes, either for yourself or in preparation for your discussion group.

Daughter of Midian: stories of faith

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. Moses comes from a rich and busy career in politics and the military and from a complex family situation. He also has some burdens to bear from his past. Zipporah is still young and comes from a strong family of sisters in which she bears a lot of responsibility. Her father does not have excessive status, but he does have an important role in his community and a deep spirituality. Zipporah shares in this but also longs to experience more of the world, and Moses offers her that opportunity. And Moses learns to know God in a new and more intimate way through his relationship with her. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. What do you recognize from Moses and Zipporah in your own situation? What did you learn from your parents and the family(ies) of your loved ones? Can you tell us something about your parents and grandparents? What is your own faith history? What do you hope to pass on to the next generation?

Genesis 11²⁷-36 The faith story of Abraham's family begins with their migration to another country, even before he knows God. There, in that experience, Abraham learns to listen to an "inner voice" that drives him forward. The faith he develops along the way, through trial and error, is passed on to his children and they to their children—however flawed. It is Abraham's "exodus" and his "covenant with God" that make this story the perfect introduction to the exodus and covenant of Israel.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. In which stories do you recognize something of your own family history and faith story? Where do you see inspiring examples in this Bible passage, where do you recognize painful situations? What character differences do you see between the main characters? In what ways do you see them growing as people and believers?

Do you see that the narrator hardly judges or glorifies his main characters? What does it mean to you that God does not want to bear a name, other than in relation to these people? "I am who I am, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

The fire of YHWH: Primordial stories about God and the world      

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First, share the story. Moses tries to "grasp" what "God" is, using names, images, and dogmas. He sees the gods as primal forces that want to influence people for their own benefit. But Zipporah teaches him that he must let go in order to be "grasped" himself. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. What are the primal experiences in which you feel the presence of something greater? Do you find them in nature (the sun, the starry sky, lightning, or fire)? Or do you find them in life (birth, love, death)? What is 'God' (or whatever word you use) at its core for you?

Genesis 1-11²⁶  At the beginning of Genesis, we find primal stories about the cosmos, the awakening of humanity, and our hubris. These stories found their way into the Hebrew Bible from ancient traditions. They also serve as an introduction to the Ten Commandments: in the creation story, we learn to honor God alone and not to idolize the sun or moon, to celebrate the Sabbath, and to honor marriage. Cain and Abel warn us against envy and murder. The sons of God who abuse the daughters of men are a warning against debauchery. In the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, and even Cain, we learn about the covenant between God and humans, as partners who commit themselves to each other.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. What is man, if God created man, male and female, to resemble God and to interact with Him freely in a paradisiacal state? Literally, it says that Adam, "man," became a "living soul" because God breathed His own breath into him. Do you also experience that you have something of God's spirit in you, something that enlivens your soul and inspires you?

What do you think of the character of the serpent, which represents the knowledge of good and evil, the loss of innocence, and the development of a self-aware ego? How can knowledge, morality, and progress be both positive and negative in human existence? What is gained and what is lost as a result?

How can a "covenant" offer the chance for restoration of an intimate relationship between God and self-aware people? Is that covenant more of an individual "agreement" with God for you, or is it more something of your family or faith community that you may be part of? 

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will 'see' or 'hear' something from 'God'. Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

The problem of Egypt: civilization and oppression   

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. In his family story, Moses is around fifty when he begins a third phase of life and a completely new mission. He has a task to accomplish to exorcise the demons of his past. He must return to Egypt and back to his family. Zipporah wants to go with him; his past and place of origin fascinate her enormously. But those two desires conflict with each other. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. Can people stand in the way of their loved ones in resolving problems from their childhood or in their family? Can your calling and your relationship be at odds with each other? When do you choose your own path and when do you choose your relationship? Have you had to make compromises and how do you look back on that? What in your past or family do you still need to address?

Genesis 37-50 and Exodus 1-4 Egypt represents the pinnacle of human development, including the social differences, prestige projects, and state coercion that go with it. Egypt is both promising and risky for talented people. Joseph, sold by his brothers, goes to Egypt where his faith in God is severely tested but also keeps him going. Ultimately, this enables him to save his degenerate family. Moses, on the other hand, has to leave Egypt in order to discover God and his true nature.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. How important are career and social success to you? Can you do a lot of good with them, or do they alienate you from who you are? Can you hold on to your own standards and values in your work, or does your work environment determine what you think?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will be allowed to "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

Into the desert: when change becomes inevitable   

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. Confronted with the refugees from Egypt, there are two different reactions: the Amalekites go into battle with the newcomers and the Kenites offer a peace treaty and good advice. Moses responds to the first group with a battle plan and to the second with a celebration in which he gives Jethro the leading role as priest. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. How do you respond to newcomers in your neighborhood or at work (or in your faith community), or—if you are the newcomer—to the reactions of the people who already work or live there? Do you see people as opportunities or threats? Are you willing to fight? Are you willing to work together and honor the other person in the process? How do you turn opponents into allies?

Exodus 5-18 Here we read the background to the exodus: the confrontation between Moses and the determined Pharaoh, the ten increasingly severe plagues of Egypt, and the spectacular escape. The first miraculous signs seem like a tragicomic chain reaction in which everything that can go wrong does go wrong.[1] Then natural disasters follow (hailstorms and locusts), causing famine in Egypt, after which everything becomes dark (because of the locusts?) and the firstborn children of Egypt die (because of disease?), including Pharaoh's son. The Israelites in the land of Goshen (which was drier and suitable for shepherds) escape this.

The book of Exodus interprets this story not as a series of natural disasters, but as a spiritual struggle between Pharaoh, who increasingly reveals himself to be the tyrant that he is, and the people, who experience how radically different the choice for freedom (and serving YHWH) actually is and how much opposition it provokes. And the role of God himself is not only encouraging but also demanding and threatening.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. What do you think of the plagues you have read about? See what associations they evoke with "plagues" in your own life. Have you ever tried to step 'out of the system' yourself, or have you seen others do so? Have you seen resistance from those at the top of the pyramid? Do you know people who have made a radical choice for their faith or their calling, or have you ever done so yourself? Have you or they experienced (spiritual) struggle or liberation in the process? What role did (your faith in) God play in this?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

[1] (1) The overflowing Nile water was red because of the clay that had been washed away by torrential rains in Ethiopia, and the fish died in this murky water; (2) the frogs multiplied in the remaining pools, but when they dried up, they moved into the houses; (3) the mosquitoes multiplied in the stagnant warm water, and (4) the biting flies in the rotting fish and frogs, which (5) bit the cattle and made them sick, as well as (6) the people.

The God of Sinai: the inner transformation of a people       

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. Moses wants so badly for his community to experience God in a tangible way. Sometimes he succeeds, but sometimes Moses is greatly disappointed in his people (when they worship the golden calf). Moses is willing to do anything to convince the people, even if it comes at the expense of his own family. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. How do you stand in your (faith) community? Have you tried to bring people closer to God? What were the beautiful and difficult moments in that? And when you (or your partner) are completely committed to something, what effect does that have on your role as a partner or parent?

Exodus 19-34 In chapters 19-24, the first covenant is made with the people: the Ten Commandments and a first set of social laws are given. In chapters 25-31, the "ritual institutions" are given: instructions for a holy place with consecrated priests who reflect the heavenly sanctuary. The drama with the golden calf in chapter 32 leads to the need to tighten and renew the covenant.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. How do your social responsibility and communal worship relate to each other? Can they be separated as strongly as seems to be demanded in our time? For years, the daily newspaper Trouw has had the habit of interviewing people about the 10 commandments in their lives, two full pages. Try this format with someone; it can lead to a wonderful conversation. And in the following chapters: which laws strike you or challenge you? What thoughts do the tabernacle and the ordination of priests evoke in you when you see them as a "model" or symbolic representation of heaven?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will 'see' or 'hear' something from 'God'. Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

The tabernacle of Israel: giving the sacred a place among us

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. For Moses, the tabernacle is a piece of heaven on earth through which the God of Sinai can travel with the people to the promised land. This is wonderful for the people, who otherwise experience little of God. But at the same time, it takes attention away from the spirituality that Zipporah experiences at home and within herself. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. How do you see the relationship between organized religion, your home situation, and your personal spirituality? Is one more important to you than the other? Do they reinforce each other?

Exodus 35-40 and Leviticus 1-10 The last six chapters of Exodus seem to be a repetition of the instructions for building the tabernacle. But now it is about its construction in physical reality and the joy that everything has been made exactly as it was designed. The chapters from Leviticus further elaborate on the sacrificial service of the priests.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. How do you experience enjoying "symbolic" architecture and rituals in a faith community? How important is quality compared to the idea that everyone can participate (with the risks of star allure or amateurism)? And how do you deal with your possessions? Are they yours, society's, or God's, and what are the consequences of such thoughts?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will 'see' or 'hear' something from 'God'. Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

Marching on the promised land: spiritual and physical hygiene

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First, share the story. The journey through the desert involves two types of guides: the Kenites, who know the desert, and God, who holds the fate of the Israelites in his hands. For Moses, these two work together. This dual perspective also helps us to see the miraculous in the ordinary and the ordinary in the miraculous. The same story can be told in two ways: from God's perspective and from people's perspective. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. Have there been major events or decisions in your life where you can use these two ways of looking at things? What happened from a human perspective? What happened from a spiritual perspective? What happens when you only have one kind of guidance in mind?

Numbers 1-11 and Leviticus 11-14 In Numbers 1-11, the tabernacle is now actually put into use as part of an orderly army marching to the Promised Land. This includes the strict hygiene referred to in Leviticus 11-14. Spiritual and physical health go hand in hand.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. Where do you want to go with your life? How do you ensure spiritual health? How do you stay physically healthy? If you become ill, do you pay sufficient attention to both aspects?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

The trembling tent: spiritual and physical intimacy

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. In this chapter, the simmering marital conflict between Moses and Zipporah comes to the surface. Moses wants to live a holier life and Zipporah has a greater need for intimacy. Miriam and Aaron interfere and come into conflict with Moses. But the points they raise do come from the Bible (the New Testament and the Torah). What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. How do intimacy and spirituality relate to you? Is faith something that belongs to you alone or also something you share with your loved one? Does a healthy or unhealthy approach to (physical) intimacy influence your relationship with God? If there are differences between loved ones, what is the best way for you to discuss them?

Numbers 12 and Leviticus 15-22 Physical uncleanness is not the same as sin. It is, however, a condition in which you cannot be intimate with God or with another person. That is why cleansing is necessary. There is also uncleanness (such as incest and prostitution) that involves injustice and sin and damages you spiritually. Such uncleanness must be avoided, and sin must be atoned for. Priests in particular must be careful, not because of gossip, but because their uncleanness must not stand in the way of intimacy between God and his people. "Difficult" rituals can help with this.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. How important is it for you to live a holy life and regularly seek cleansing and reconciliation? How important is it for you that your priest, if you have one, does the same? Suppose you were a priest, would that give you a greater responsibility?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you may "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

Kades Barnea: leadership crisis 

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. After his marital crisis, Moses now faces his greatest challenge as leader of the people. Tensions are running high and some of the criticism of Moses sounds very plausible. But the result is that the Promised Land disappears from view for years. Moses is required to make a huge change: he himself will not bring the people into the Promised Land, but must train others to do so. That does not happen automatically. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. Have you experienced conflict in organizations or communities? Have you ever had to make a drastic change and learn new things? What hindered you or what helped you in that process?

Numbers 13-20¹³  and Leviticus 23-27 Between the stories of conflict in Numbers, certain laws are also elaborated. Leviticus deals with the religious holidays and vows of the people. It is remarkable that the Sabbath and Jubilee years show how relative and temporary possessions are in the eyes of the Torah.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. It is precisely the holidays that should ensure connection within society and the willingness to work together and to care about the common good. How is that in your community? And does the existence or absence of that community also influence your view of possessions? Are your possessions yours, society's, or God's, and what are the consequences?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

The bronze serpent: the knowledge of good and evil        

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. In this chapter, the bronze serpent of technology, environmental pollution, and moral judgment plays an important role. What did you read? 

Encourage, comfort, inspire. When have you experienced the progress of science and technology as positive or negative? What was the difference? Is it enough to set ethical requirements for research? How do you deal with dilemmas, such as the health damage to people in developing countries who have to mine lithium for the batteries of our electric cars? How and where do you experience harmony with nature?

Numbers 20¹⁴-21 and Deuteronomy 1-15 The book of Deuteronomy is primarily a new interpretation of the exodus from Egypt and the radical choice for the God of Israel. Once you have entered into that covenant, your behavior determines whether you will be blessed or cursed.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. How does that moral appeal resonate with you? Do you feel that you have taken on certain obligations that you must fulfill in order to live well?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will be allowed to "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

Midian's Day: society and what threatens it  

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. This chapter focuses on the urge for purity and holiness, even if that leads to conflicts with people of other faiths in the area. Zipporah is critical of the conflicts: are they really necessary and do they come from God? For Moses, the temptation of Baal-Peor is a threat to Israel. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. How do you experience the struggle against idolatry in these chapters? In what ways do you admire Moses, and in what ways do you admire Zipporah? What would you do differently?

Numbers 22-36 and Deuteronomy 16-26 In addition to the story of Balak and Balaam, these Bible passages mainly deal with very specific laws that are intended to lead to a just and strong society.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. Which laws stand out to you or challenge you? Feel free to share your criticism, but try to find at least one rule that you want to try out in your own life. Make a conscious choice, share it with the group, and ask each other how it went next time.

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

Moses' Farewell: handing over leadership to the next generation

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. In this chapter, Moses says goodbye to the people and hands over leadership. This takes him a month. But Zipporah also takes the initiative: she does not let Moses leave without saying goodbye. What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. What have you had to hand over in your life, or what will you have to hand over? What is important to you in this regard, and to the people who will have to continue without you? Are people saying goodbye to you properly?

Deuteronomy 27-34 and Joshua 1-8 Everything in these chapters is aimed at keeping the people faithful to God even after Moses' death. Rituals, texts on the wall, songs, and so on. It ends with chapter 8 of the book of Joshua, in the middle of the Promised Land, in which the people, fully informed, once again choose the covenant.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. With whom have you formed bonds in your life? Have you ensured that it was and remains clear to everyone what those bonds entail? What have you organized to ensure that you remain faithful to them and keep your promises?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?

Epilogue: Gersom's path: taking your place in the world        

Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

First share the story. In the epilogue after Moses' death, people make different choices to worship God. Eliezer and Sebuel do so within the 'official' religion of the tabernacle. Micah does so in his private sanctuary. Gershom and Jonathan choose their own community, outside the official 'church.' What did you read?

Encourage, comfort, inspire. What choices do you make regarding a faith community or adherence to a particular religious movement? What is important to you in this regard? How important is it for you to pass on what you have received from your parents?

Josshua 9-24 The book of Joshua, if you read it literally, is a terrible story full of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The church father Augustine already pointed out that 'love is the fulfillment of the law.' He therefore believed that the Bible should always be interpreted from the perspective of the commandment of love; if that is not immediately possible, then the text should be read symbolically. After all, Joshua is also a story of perseverance, loyalty, and a new order. You can also look at your own life in this way. In fact, that was already the intention of the writers and editors of the Torah and Joshua: they tell the story with a symbolic meaning and appeal to their audience. This is reflected in the use of (living) times, places, numbers, and exaggerations.

Encourage, comfort, exhort. What obstacles do you have to overcome in your life, where do you have land to conquer, and where do you need to build altars and designate sanctuaries? We have also come to the end of reading the Torah and Joshua. What will you take with you into the future?

Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will "see" or "hear" something from "God." Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?