Podcast Summary: followHIM – Exodus 7-13 Part 2 with Brother Dave Hadlock (April 1, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode of followHIM, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway welcome Brother Dave Hadlock to delve into Exodus 7–13. The episode draws thematic connections between Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage and personal spiritual deliverance through Jesus Christ. Building on themes of redemption, covenant, and Christ as Deliverer, Brother Hadlock helps listeners draw parallels between the Exodus narrative, Nephi's writings in the Book of Mormon, and the significance of the Passover in both Old and New Testament contexts.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Purpose Behind Nephi’s Writings and Deliverance (00:06–04:26)

• Connection to 1 Nephi 1:20: Dave Hadlock begins by linking Nephi's stated purpose—showing the "tender mercies of the Lord" and the "power of deliverance"—with the Exodus account.

• Example Stories of Deliverance: The group reflects on Nephi's experiences: softened heart, rescue from his brothers, deliverance at sea, and spiritual deliverance from sorrow.

  • Quote (Hank, 01:45): “We can go story by story. One of the first ones I would think of is he said, the Lord softened my heart... He is delivered—the ship. He is delivered—Laban and the plates… There's a pattern here. He's delivered.”

• Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31 & 33: Dave emphasizes Nephi's version of the doctrine of Christ as relying "wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” (02:41).

  • Quote (Dave, 03:32): “This is Nephi's doctrine of Christ. In my opinion, he relied wholly on in every aspect to be delivered…”
  • Jesus as "Deliverer" (Hebrew: Joshua)—a connection to names and symbolism (04:26).

2. Wilderness as Metaphor and Multiple Deliverer Figures (04:26–09:29)

• Wilderness Experiences: Dave draws analogies between various scriptural wildernesses—Adam and Eve, Lehi, and Christ—showing these as spiritual metaphors for transition, preparation, and testing.

• Exodus 17 & Typology of Moses and Joshua: Explains how Joshua (Hebrew: Jesus/Yeshua, meaning deliverer) and Moses function as types of Christ in the story of the battle with Amalek.

  • Quote (Dave, 07:35): “Think about that as a type of Christ… Christ goes to the hill Calvary, where his hands are in the air. And as long as his hands are in the air, Joshua, Jesus the deliverer, overcomes death in that valley of death.”

• Jehovah Nissi: The altar’s name meaning "sign"—pointing to Christ as the deliverer.

3. The Significance of Forty and Liminal Space (09:30–15:53)

• Biblical Pattern of Forty: Various scriptural events use “forty” as a period of preparation (the Flood, Jesus’s fast, Elijah’s journey).

  • Quote (Dave, 09:55): “So 40 is often tied with wilderness events in the Scriptures.”

• Preparation Before Sacred Space: Parallels between Israelites, Elijah, and personal transformation as moving from “telestial” to “terrestrial” to “celestial” existence.

4. The Passover as New Creation and Deliverance (15:54–22:22)

• Exodus 12 and the Passover: The ritual and instructions of Passover are unpacked as a day of new creation, kingly coronation, and covenant.

  • The lamb without blemish, the blood on the doorposts—a sign of deliverance.

• Creation Elements in the Exodus Narrative:

  • Blood of the lamb (element of creation)
  • Water (Red Sea crossing)
  • Fire (pillar—symbolic of the spirit)
  • Quote (Dave, 18:44): "Here's our blood element. If this is a new creation, we have to have the element of blood.…"

• God leads Israel out, promising they will become a “peculiar (little sheep) treasure” if they keep covenants (Exodus 19:5–6).

  • “Peculiar” as “little sheep,” emphasizing a pastoral and loving relationship.

• Ultimate Goal: To become “kings and queens, priests and priestesses” through covenants, just as Moses and Elijah anoint leaders after wilderness experiences.

5. Plagues, Passover, and Cutting Ties with Idolatry (19:44–22:22)

• Defeat of Egyptian Gods: Each plague symbolically defeats an Egyptian deity, preparing Israel for a new theology centered on Jehovah.

• Unleavened Bread Symbolism: Represents breaking from old Egyptian doctrines; no “leaven” (carryover) from the past.

  • Quote (Dave, 20:37): “Beware of the leaven of the Egyptians, their teachings, their doctrines, their cultures, their gods. We've got to distance ourselves from that… It's this Passover ritual.”

6. Christ, Passover, and Sacramental Parallels (22:23–27:55)

• Jesus as Passover Lamb: Ties between Passover and the sacrament—Jesus institutes the sacrament at Passover, calling himself the Lamb and Deliverer.

  • Quote (John, 22:59): “Was it Elder Holland that said, think of the sacrament as our Passover? ... Jesus says, that's me, I'm the deliverer, I am the lamb…”

• Transition from Animal Sacrifice to Sacrament: 3 Nephi 9’s pronouncement—“no more animal sacrifice”—marks a historic shift to higher law.

  • Quote (John, 24:01): “No more animal sacrifice, no more shedding of blood... that's about me. And now the sacrifice you bring is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”

• Application: How do we “put the blood of the lamb” on our homes today? Through the sacrament—making covenants, separating from worldly influences, and remembering Christ.

7. The Deep Meaning of Sacrament and the Bitter Cup (27:55–30:15)

• Elder Holland on Sacrament: The sacrament is meant as a “Passover remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption.” It’s not a routine but the real purpose of sacrament meeting.

  • Quote (Hank, Elder Holland, 26:33): “Do we see it as our Passover remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption?... This is the real purpose of the meeting...”

• Bitter Herbs and “Bitter Cup”: Sacramental symbolism—Christ drank the bitter cup so we could drink the sweet.

  • Quote (Dave, 27:55): “We partake of the sweet sacrament cup to avoid the bitter cup of our sins and transgressions. Christ takes upon himself the bitter cup so that we can have the sweet cup.”

8. Personal Deliverance – Dave Hadlock’s Testimony (32:40–39:01)

• Personal Application: Dave shares his own struggles with depression, anxiety, and finding God’s love—his personal "deliverance" story.

  • Quote (Dave, 32:40): “Let me walk through a little bit of my history, my need of a deliverer, my need of a redeemer, my need of a Joshua, my Jesus... I was in a dark place. I didn't know how to get out of it. I was in desperate need of a deliverer.”

• Love vs. Fear: Therapy helped him learn that behavior comes from love or fear, and that truly loving God and self starts by feeling God’s love first (1 John 4, Mosiah 4, 1 Nephi 1).

  • Quote (Dave, 34:18): “We love him, and because he first loved us, I didn't know how to feel God's love. But this is step one in that hierarchy. I have to first know that God loves me…”

• Tender Mercy Journal: Practical advice—daily recording God’s mercies led him to feel love and become open to deliverance.

  • Quote (Dave, 36:46): “I would do a tender mercy journal every day. I had to think back to the previous 24 hours and find something where God was merciful and showed his love to me during that time period.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Nephi on deliverance (Dave, 00:06): “…the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen… to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.”
• Hands upheld as a type of Christ (Dave, 07:35): “As long as Moses has his hands in the air up on the hill… Joshua is able to overcome Amalek and death as long as what? As long as Moses has his hands in the air…”
• The challenge of removing Egypt from Israel (John, 21:50): “It was pretty simple to get Israel out of Egypt, but it's very difficult to get Egypt out of Israel.”
• Sacrament as our Passover (Hank, quoting Elder Holland, 26:33): “Do we see it as our Passover remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption... This is the real purpose of the meeting...”
• Personal deliverance (Dave, 32:40): “I was in a dark place. I didn't know how to get out of it. I was in desperate need of a deliverer…”
• Focus on God's goodness (Dave, 36:50): “If I seek God, if I seek his goodness, if I look for his goodness, if I'm grateful, now I'm put in a place where God can deliver me… He is my Jesus. He's my Joshua…”

Important Timestamps

• 00:06: Nephi’s purpose in writing and deliverance motif
• 04:26: Wilderness metaphor and typology in Exodus 17
• 09:30: Significance of “forty” in scriptural preparation
• 15:54: Passover as creation and deliverance
• 19:44: Plagues targeted Egyptian gods, start of new theology
• 22:23: Jesus as the Passover Lamb, sacrament applications
• 27:55: “Bitter herbs” and the “bitter cup” in Passover and sacrament
• 32:40: Dave Hadlock’s personal story of bondage, therapy, and deliverance
• 36:46: The tender mercy journal and learning to feel God's love

Closing Thoughts

Brother Hadlock’s scriptural journey is both scholarly and deeply personal, threading the narrative of Exodus through Nephi's record, typologies of Christ, and culminating in the transformative ordinances of Passover and sacrament. The call to seek God’s goodness daily, recognize Jesus as Deliverer, and intentionally break from the “leaven” of worldly habits is as relevant now as it was anciently.

Final encouragement (Dave, 42:36):

“Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Turn to Him. Follow Him.”

For Listeners

If you found insights from Brother Dave Hadlock helpful or relatable, consider leaving feedback for him through the podcast’s website or YouTube channel. For more resources, episode notes, and a free digital book on finding Christ in the Old Testament, visit followhim.co.