There is a short introduction available for the book of Exodus. You can read it here.
Key Themes (Exodus)
The book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible and a foundational narrative for the identity of Israel as God’s chosen people. It recounts the story of the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai, and the formation of the nation under God’s law. Exodus plays a crucial role in understanding the relationship between God and His people, as well as the principles of worship, law, and covenant. The key themes include:
- Deliverance and Redemption: A central theme in Exodus is God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The story of the Exodus, including the plagues, the Passover, and the crossing of the Red Sea, illustrates God’s power to save His people and His commitment to fulfilling His promises. This theme highlights God as a redeemer who hears the cries of the oppressed and acts to bring freedom.
- Covenant Relationship: Exodus emphasizes the establishment of a covenant relationship between God and Israel. At Mount Sinai, God gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments and other laws, which form the basis of the covenant. This theme underscores the idea that Israel is chosen to be God’s special people, set apart to live according to His laws and to be a witness to the nations.
- God’s Presence and Guidance: Throughout Exodus, God’s presence is manifested in dramatic ways, such as the burning bush, the pillar of cloud and fire, and the glory on Mount Sinai. The construction of the Tabernacle as a dwelling place for God among His people is also a key aspect of this theme. Exodus highlights that God is actively present with His people, guiding and leading them, and that His presence is central to their identity and worship.
- Law and Order: The giving of the law at Mount Sinai is a major theme in Exodus. The Ten Commandments and the detailed laws that follow provide a framework for the Israelites' ethical, social, and religious life. This theme emphasizes that the law is a gift from God, meant to guide the people in righteousness, justice, and holiness, reflecting God’s character in their community.
- Worship and the Tabernacle: Exodus places significant emphasis on the proper worship of God, culminating in the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle serves as a symbol of God’s presence among His people and a central place of worship. This theme underscores the importance of worship that is conducted according to God’s instructions, highlighting the holiness and reverence due to Him.
- God’s Sovereignty and Power: The book of Exodus repeatedly demonstrates God’s sovereignty and power over creation, history, and the nations. The plagues against Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the miraculous provision of manna and water in the wilderness all testify to God’s supreme authority. This theme reinforces the understanding that God is in control of all things and that His purposes will be accomplished.
- Israel’s Identity as God’s People: Exodus establishes the identity of the Israelites as God’s chosen people, liberated from slavery to serve and worship Him. The journey from Egypt to Sinai and the giving of the law shape Israel’s national and spiritual identity. This theme emphasizes that Israel’s identity is rooted in their relationship with God and their calling to be a holy nation.
- Testing and Trust in God: Throughout the narrative, the Israelites face various trials, including hunger, thirst, and conflict. These challenges serve as tests of their faith and obedience to God. The theme of testing and trust highlights the importance of relying on God’s provision and guidance, even in difficult circumstances, and the consequences of doubt and disobedience.
The book of Exodus is a profound and foundational narrative that explores themes of deliverance, covenant, law, and worship. It reveals God’s character as a powerful redeemer, a just lawgiver, and a faithful presence among His people. Through its dramatic events and covenantal framework, Exodus shapes the identity of Israel and lays the groundwork for understanding God’s ongoing relationship with His people throughout the Bible.
What I Noticed Today (Exodus 1-3)
Exodus 1
Chapter 1 summarizes Genesis 37-50, the oppression of the Israelites, and the birth of Moses.
In verses 1-7, a summary of Genesis 37-50 listing the sons of Jacob, who came to Egypt.
- A total of 70 of Jacob’s descendants came to Egypt; Joseph and his family were already there.
- Joseph died, but the people multiplied and filled the land.
In verses 8-22, a new Pharaoh comes to power in Egypt who oppresses the Israelites:
- A new king (pharaoh) came to power who did not know Joseph. He was concerned that the Israelites had multiplied and would take over because they had become powerful. He decided to deal shrewdly with them.
Note: This is the first time the Israelites are referred to as a “people.”
- So the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites by making them into forced laborers. They were forced to build the store cities of Pithom and Ramses.
- But the more the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites, the more they multiplied and became even more of concern to the Egyptians.
- So the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites even more. They worked them even harder, forcing them to make bricks, and do all kinds of fieldwork.
- The Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) to kill the boys when they were born, but let the girls live.
Note: There were likely many more midwives than these two. Since they appeared before Pharaoh, they were probably the leaders of the group of midwives.
- The Hebrew midwives feared God and did not kill the boys, and when asked, they said the Hebrew women had given birth before they arrived.
- So God was good to the midwives and gave them families.
- Pharaoh then commanded his people to throw all the boys into the Nile, but let the girls live.
Note: Pharaoh intended to deal “shrewdly” with the Israelites, but when his initial plans did not succeed, he simply escalated the oppression of the Israelites from forced labor to infanticide to be carried out by his own people.
Exodus 2
Chapter 2 describes the birth of Moses and his early years in Midian.
In verses 1-10, the birth of Moses, and his adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter:
- A Levite man married a Levite woman and had a son. She hid him for three months. Then, after three months, when she could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket and put him in the Nile river, while the baby’s sister watched from the shore.
- Pharaoh’s daughter spotted the basket among the weeds, had a servant get the basket, and opened it. When she saw the baby, she felt sorry for it because she knew it was a Hebrew boy.
- The baby’s sister called out to Pharaoh’s daughter, asking if she wanted a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for her. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, promised to pay the woman wages to nurse the baby, and named him Moses because she drew him out of the water.
Note: In both Egyptian and Hebrew, the name Moses bears a similar meaning, “to draw out,” or “bring forth.”
In verses 11-25, Moses grows up, kills a man, and flees to Midian:
- Years later, Moses had grown up and was out watching his own people being oppressed by an Egyptian.
Note: Moses was 40 years old at this point (Acts 7:23).
- Seeing no one around, he killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.
- The next day he saw two Hebrews fighting and asked the one in the wrong why he was attacking his neighbor. The man responded, asking who made you judge over us? Are you going to kill me as you did the Egyptian?
Note: Apparently, the man Moses saved in verses 11-12 told others what Moses had done because, by the next day, others knew he had killed the Egyptian.
- Fearing Pharaoh would kill him, Moses fled to Midian and sat down by a well.
Note: The Midianites were a nomadic tribe founded by Midian, the son of Abraham, with his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-6). They lived in what is modern-day Saudi Arabia on the east side of the Gulf of Aqaba.
- The priest of Midian had seven daughters who came to the well to draw water for their father’s flocks, but other shepherds drove them away. Moses rescued them and watered their flocks.
- The daughters returned to their father, Reuel, and told him an Egyptian had rescued them and watered their flocks.
Note: Reuel is referred to as Jethro in Genesis 3:1, and 18:1.
- Reuel told the daughters to invite the man to dinner, and Moses stayed with them.
- Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife, and she bore him a son, which he named Gershom, saying he had been a foreigner in a foreign land.
Note: Zipporah means “little bird,” and Gershom means “resident alien,” referring to the fact that he was born to Moses while Moses was banished in a foreign land.
- After a long time, the pharaoh died.
- The Israelites were suffering under severe oppression, and they cried out to God. He heard their cries and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Note: Exodus 2: 23-25 represents a turning point in the narrative. The Israelites had been oppressed for many years, but now God was about to deliver them from their oppressors.
Exodus 3-4:17
This section records God’s call to Moses on Mount Horeb.
Exodus 3
Chapter 3 details the appearance of God in the form of a burning bush before Moses.
In verses 1-3, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses:
- While Moses was shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep, he led them to Horeb and the Mountain of God.
- Moses saw a burning bush that was not consumed, so he went over to look at it.
- A voice called out from the bush, “Moses, Moses.”
- The voice told Moses not to come closer and to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.
- The voice said, “I am the God of your father Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
Note: The burning bush is the first instance of the Lord identifying himself as God (Ex 3:4). God tells Moses what lies ahead, the signs and wonders, as well as the opposition.
- Then the Lord said he had seen the misery of the people of Israel and heard their cries. He said He had come to rescue them from the oppression of the Egyptians and take them to a land flowing with milk and honey: the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- God then commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh so that he could lead his people out of Egypt.
- But Moses was concerned, asking who am I that I can do this? God reassured him that He would be with them, lead them out of Egypt, and they would worship Him at this mountain.
Note: The Hebrew word for worship, ābad̠, is the same as “to be a slave.” The Hebrews had been slaves in Egypt to Pharaoh and were now being called to serve the Lord.
- Then Moses asked when I go to the Israelites, and they ask who sent me, who should I tell them sent me.
- God answered, “I AM WHO I AM.” Say “I AM” sent me. Say, “YAHWEH the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, sent me.” This is My name forever.
- God then told Moses to go and gather the elders of Israel and tell them He had heard their cries and would bring them up out of Egypt as He had promised, and take them to a land flowing with milk and honey.
- Moses then took the elders of Israel and go to Pharaoh and tell him that Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, had met with them and told them to go into the wilderness to make sacrifices to God.
- However, said God, I know Pharaoh will not let you go until I strike Egypt with miracles. After that, he will let you go.
- I will give you favor with the Egyptians, so you will not leave empty-handed. You will plunder the Egyptians.
Note: Plundering the Egyptians fulfills Genesis 15:14.
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