EXODUS BOOK OVERVIEW
OLD TESTAMENT LAW: THE LIFE + LEADERSHIP OF MOSES
The book of Exodus, meaning “exit,” recounts how God saved the Israelites from slavery and oppression in Egypt by leading them into the wilderness and towards the Promised Land. God used miracles, plagues, and unlikely people as His tools for the rescue and redemption of His people.
Moses, a descendant of Abraham and a leader among the Israelites, was challenged with faithfully leading the wavering nation toward the land that God had prepared for them. After freeing the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery, God began to establish the new nation of Israelites and provided governing laws in the form of the Ten Commandments. Because the Israelites are God’s people, He wanted them to be set apart and live in a way that was holier than the surrounding nations. God loves His creation and desires to be near His chosen people. God gave Moses instructions for building a tabernacle, an earthly dwelling place for God’s presence. Despite God’s nearness, the Israelites still rebelled against God and continually broke their covenant promise.
MAIN IDEAS: GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE
God revealed His plans for Moses‘ leadership in the form of a burning bush. (Exodus 3:10)
Making a way for the Israelites, God split the Red Sea for their escape. (Exodus 14:19-31)
God provided water and daily food for His people in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:4)
Moses trusted that God‘s presence was continually with the Israelites. (Exodus 33:14-15)
EXAMPLE OF GOD’S CHARACTER: TRUSTWORTHINESS
Instead of simply freeing the Israelites from the Egyptians, God used a series of plagues to drive Egypt to a breaking point. The Egyptian people worshipped many gods, which they attributed to natural forces, like the weather and the sun. Each of the ten plagues represented one of the gods worshipped by the Egyptians, including the sun and the Nile, as a sign of God’s authority over false gods. God displayed His power over creation and all other forces, leading Pharaoh to free the Israelites from captivity.
God protected the Israelites from many of the plagues, allowing only the Egyptians to be afflicted. Before leading the Israelites into the wilderness, God wanted to make Himself known as the ruler of all creation, a trustworthy God, and a protector of His people. The plagues weakened the Egyptians but strengthened the faith of the Israelites.
JESUS IN EXODUS: GOD’S PASSOVER LAMB
On a specific day, God instructed the Israelites to kill a lamb without any blemishes as a sacrifice. They were to take the lamb’s blood and use a branch to spread it on the top and sides of their doorposts. God explained that those who obeyed would be passed over by the plague and not afflicted. God was not only protecting the Israelites from the death of their firstborns, but He was also foreshadowing a greater sacrifice to come.
Jesus would serve as a sinless, spotless lamb, slaughtered for the sin of humanity. Centuries later, John the Baptist would see Jesus at the Jordan River and recognize Him as the Savior, saying “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
