followHIM Podcast Summary

Episode: Exodus 7-13 Part 1 • Brother Dave Hadlock • April 6-12 • Come, Follow Me

Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway

Guest: Dave Hadlock

Release Date: April 1, 2026

Main Theme

Exploring Exodus 7–13: The Plagues, the Passover, and the Keys of Moses

The episode dives into the narrative of Exodus 7-13, focusing on the ten plagues, the symbolism behind them, and how the story of the Exodus connects to covenant theology, the doctrine of gathering Israel, and the redemptive symbolism of Jesus Christ as the "firstborn." Brother Dave Hadlock joins Hank Smith and John Bytheway to provide profound scriptural insights, drawing connections across the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, and modern revelation. The episode uncovers how Exodus reenacts creation, what the plagues teach about Jehovah, and how this ancient story applies to modern faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Introduction & the Power of Scripture

(Start – 13:42)

• Dave Hadlock shares his journey of gaining a love for the scriptures, inspired (much like Jonah) by a sense of inadequacy and a pivotal missionary companion, Pablo, who modeled preparation and insight (05:14–12:22).
  • "I either consciously or subconsciously decided I would never not be prepared to teach scripture again." – Dave Hadlock (11:53)
• Theme: God can use even our weaknesses or rebellious motivations for good, preparing us to help others.
  • "Even in his rebellion, he was being shaped as a tool. Man, you can't get away from the Lord. He pursues you." – Hank Smith (13:09)

2. Keys of Moses: Gathering, Covenant, and Knowledge of God

(13:50–27:44)

• Doctrine & Covenants 110 and 84: Keys of Moses are “the keys of the gathering of Israel”—to bring people from the four parts of the earth to sacred/covenant places.
• Scriptural Links: Joseph Smith—Matthew, Genesis 15, 3 Nephi 10–11, 20, etc.—tie the doctrine of gathering to covenant-making and the temple.
  • Genesis 15: The imagery of carcasses and birds is explained as covenant symbolism (18:50).
  • Notable Quote: "You're going to gather from the north, south, east, west directions to a holy or hierocentric...holy center, which is the templum in Latin, which is our root word for temple. The temple then becomes the covenant making place where we gather." – Dave Hadlock (22:00)
• "To know" in Hebrew (yada): Implies a covenant relationship. Eternal life, or truly “knowing” God, is tied to entering and keeping covenants (23:03–24:10).

3. Sacred Place & Sacred Time: Reenactment as Re-creation

(24:10–27:44)

• Sacred Time: Ancient cultures ritualized creation stories to symbolically return to an Edenic state—to be “clean,” purified, or sanctified (27:44).
• Exodus as Reenacted Creation: The Book of Exodus is read as a deliberate echo of Genesis; the plagues and the deliverance follow “de-creation” then a new creation for God’s people.

4. Setting the Exodus: Eden/Egypt as Sacred Space

(30:25–35:17)

• Egypt originally appears in Genesis as a plentiful, Eden-like place (Gen 13:10), before becoming a place of bondage, paralleling the “fall” of Adam and Eve.
• Quote: "Here Egypt is being compared to the Garden of Eden. The Exodus starts out in this Edenic state..." – Dave Hadlock (31:19)
• The narrative traces the “fall”—from plenty and covenant relationship (“knowing”) into bondage, bitterness, hard labor (Exodus 1) echoing consequences of the Fall in Genesis 3.

5. Moses & the Name of Jehovah: I AM THAT I AM

(37:29–40:10)

• Moses, meeting God at Sinai, asks by what name to tell the Israelites he’s sent; God answers, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex 3:14).
• Dave links Genesis’ Creator God (Yahweh/Elohim) to Jehovah of Exodus, noting the Hebrew roots and the significance that the deliverer is the Creator.

6. The Serpent Rod: Symbols of Authority and Christology

(40:27–47:05)

• God gives Moses a rod that becomes a serpent, symbolizing both His word and His power (reminiscent of the iron rod and the Word in scripture).
• Serpent Symbolism:
  • Not merely Satanic; can prefigure Christ (as in the brazen serpent, Numbers 21, and clarified in Alma 33) (43:17–45:35).
  • Quote: "Would Moses be putting a symbol of Satan upon a staff and asking people to look unto Satan and live?... [No.] The serpent on the staff becomes a symbol of Jesus Christ." – Dave Hadlock (43:44 & 45:35)
  • Satan's appearance as a serpent in Eden may be a counterfeit of godly symbols (2 Ne 9:9).

7. Meaning of the Plagues: A ‘De-Creation’ and the False Gods of Egypt

(52:20–60:08)

• The Plagues as Reversal: Each plague systematically undoes the blessings of creation:
  • Water to blood: The good, life-giving separation of waters is now death.
  • Dust to lice: Symbolic reversal of life from dust (man) to pestilence (Ex 8).
  • Frogs, flies, hail, locusts, cattle dying, darkness—each overthrowing a created “goodness,” casting Egypt back into pre-creation chaos (55:00+).
  • Quote (summary): "But we've got the waters of creation that were seen as good turned to blood...Now that which was created and seen as good in the beginning has all been corrupted as we go through these plagues." – Dave Hadlock (00:03/55:25)
• Typologically: Sets the stage for a new creation, the birth of a covenant people through deliverance.

8. Plagues as Polemic against Egyptian Gods

(61:46–66:20)

• John Bytheway explains how each plague targets specific gods/goddesses of Egypt (e.g., Nile god Hapi, the frog goddess Heqet, cattle deities, sun god Ra, etc.), systematically showing Jehovah’s supremacy.
  • “Jehovah is a teacher and he's showing him over and over again, that's not God. I am God.” – John Bytheway (66:04)
• New Testament & Last Days Echoes: Parallels in Revelation (8–16) and the Doctrine & Covenants signal repeating patterns of God’s supremacy over false gods and systems.

9. Passover & the True Deliverance: The Sacrifice of the Firstborn

(66:20–End)

• All plagues cumulatively fail to bring release for Israel until the death of the firstborn.
  • Typology of Christ: Jesus as the Firstborn whose sacrifice alone delivers humanity from bondage to sin and death.
• Establishing Passover: Memorializing this deliverance became central to Jewish worship—looking back to Exodus and forward to Christ’s sacrifice.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I either consciously or subconsciously decided I would never not be prepared to teach scripture again." – Dave Hadlock, on how a missionary experience shaped his scriptural devotion (11:53)
• "You're going to gather from the north, south, east, west directions to a holy or hierocentric...holy center, which is the templum in Latin, which is our root word for temple." – Dave Hadlock (22:00)
• "He was also spoken of by Moses. Now look at the context of this. Yea, behold, a type was raised up in the wilderness that whosoever would look upon it might live...he spoke of the Son of God." – Dave Hadlock, explaining the brazen serpent as Christ (45:32)
• "That's not God. I am God." – John Bytheway, summarizing the purpose behind each plague (66:04)
• "The death of the firstborn is the plague that ultimately allows all the people, the ancient Israelites, to be released from bondage. Think of the typology of Jesus Christ here. Christ the firstborn. And it's his death that releases us from bondage." – Dave Hadlock (67:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Dave's Personal Story: 00:50–13:42
• Keys of Moses & Covenant Gathering: 13:50–24:10
• Sacred Time & Place; Reenactment: 24:10–27:44
• Egypt as Eden/Setting the Stage: 30:25–35:17
• Moses Commissioned ("I AM") & The Rod/Serpent: 37:29–47:05
• Plagues as Creation Reversal ("De-Creation"): 52:20–60:08
• Plagues = Defeat of Egyptian Gods: 61:46–66:20
• Passover & the Death of the Firstborn: 66:20–67:37

Closing Takeaways

• Deep symbolic and covenantal meaning undergirds the Exodus narrative; plagues are not arbitrary punishments but deliberate theological statements.
• Jehovah as Deliverer: Demonstrates power over creation, false gods, and ultimately delivers his people through the death of the firstborn—a type of Christ.
• Invitation to Listeners: The scriptures reward deep, connected study. Investing effort (“you get out what you put in”) uncovers patterns affirming faith and the centrality of Christ’s atonement.

For deeper study & resource links, visit: followhim.co

End of Part 1.
Part 2 continues with further application, lessons of love, and the Passover’s significance for modern discipleship.