Exodus

Date Written: 1450-1410 B.C. approximately the same as Genesis

Author: Moses

Setting: Egypt. God’s people, once highly favored in the land, are now slaves. God is about to set them free.

Key People: Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Jethro, Aaron, Joshua, Bezalel

Purpose: To record the events of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt & development  as a nation.

Key Verses: God said to Moses, “I Am who I Am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you” 3:14.

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers & I am concerned about their suffering..So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” 3:7, 10.

Chapter Outline:

1-7 Moses

8-13 The Plagues

14-18 The Exodus

19-24 The Law

25-40 Tabernacle & Worship

Importance of reading Exodus:

• We read in Exodus: The Israelites were slaves for 400 years. God heard their cries & rescued them. What we can learn from this: We can be confident that God still hears the cries of His people. Just as He delivered the Israelites from their captors, He delivers us from sin, death & evil.
• What we read: After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites became quarrelsome & discontented. What we can learn: Like them, we find it easy to complain & be dissatisfied. Christians still have struggles, but we should never allow difficulties & circumstances to turn us away from trusting God.  
• What we read: The book of Exodus tells us about the creator of everything becomes the redeemer of a few people. What we can learn: The word redemption includes the idea of releasing the kidnapped when the ransom price has been paid. This is how Israel was to understand God. He was the creator of the universe & also the redeemer of His people. Both aspects are important if we are to learn to know God as He is revealed in the Bible.
• What we read: God guided over 2 million slaves out of Egypt by using the plagues, Moses’ heroic courage, the miracle of the Red Sea & then He guided them with the Ten Commandments. What we can learn: God still guides us today with His Word & the Holy Spirit.
• What we read: God revealed His law to the Israelites at Sinai. Through the law, they learned more about what God is like & how He expected His people to live. What we can learn: The law is still instructional for us, for it exposes our sin & shows us God’s standard for living.
• What we read: We can learn from the way in which the tabernacle speaks of how we approach God. We come first through sacrifice (the altar), justified through Christ, then we need cleansing by the Spirit (the laver). The colors of the tabernacle are significant: purple speaking of royalty, blue of heaven & white of purity. What we can learn: Today we have a High Priest who represents us before God, but One who needs no sacrifice for His own sins. He made the once & for all sacrifice to which all the sacrifices under the Old Covenant point.

Things to think about as you read Exodus:

• What have you learned from Moses’ life & his example as a leader? How did he deal with difficult situations & people? What was his overriding passion? What did you learn about Moses’ relationship with God that you can apply to your own life?
• Keep in mind what you have learned about redemption & the Passover. These are OT pictures of the salvation to be offered through the Lord Jesus Christ.
• What have you learned about God, His character & His ways? What have you seen of His power & sovereignty? When we speak of God as being sovereign, we mean He rules over all. How do you see His sovereignty & power manifested in Exodus?

Link to Teaching Video: https://youtu.be/bwjGceDf9pU?si=cEvJna78fYbTITMt

Blessings,

Nichole Henson, MSW

Fullness of Joy Ministry