Exodus

Exodus

Context:

1.     What do you see in this book that tells about the Original Reader?

In Exodus you find the people of Israel complaining very soon after the Lord delivers them from the Egyptians. They were a people who were not used to having their hopes fulfilled. You can see the hopeless, slave like mentality of the Israelites in that they were constantly instantly complaining against God and Moses and saying that it would have been better if they had never come. This also shows the lack of trust that they had in their leaders. They were not use to trusting leaders.  14:10-12;16:1-3; 17:1-4; 32:1-3

2.     What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

The book starts out by showing Moses as a man who is not confidant in himself. He has no desire to lead the people of Israel. Throughout the book He eventually gains confidence. At one point you even find him doing a  “pendulum swing” to the other side trying to do too much as a leader. Moses’ heart of compassion for his people also comes out clearly because you see him constantly making intercession for his people. Exodus 3, 4; 17:12-26; 32:11-13, 30, 31; 33:12-17; 34:9

3.     What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one-sentence summary of the “main idea”?

God’s glory is a major theme throughout the book. Several times God mentions that He is working so that Egypt, Canaanite peoples as well as His people will know who He is. Trust is also a major theme throughout the book. Exodus tells the story of the Israelites having to learn to trust God on their way to the Promised Land. The importance of the Sabbath is also a repeated idea throughout the book as is the idea of “the firstborn”. You could say that the book of Exodus is God preparing the Israelites for the promise land and revealing Himself to Israel in greater ways than ever before. 6:6-8; 9:14; 14:4, 15-18; 4:21-23, 43-49; 13:1-2; 12:1-20 13:11-16; 16:4,5 20:8-11; 34:21

4.     What is the primary reason this book was written?

Exodus was written so that future generations of Israelites would be able to see who their God truly is. It is also a testimony to the power of God because it magnifies His glory.

Theme Tracing:

1.     What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

In Exodus you find God revealing Himself much more than He does in Genesis. You find Him revealing new names that He has never shared before. Exodus reveals a God who is eager to show His people who He is. Exodus also reveals a God who is holy and cannot tolerate sin or anything unholy. God is also revealed as being very detailed. He gives very specific, detailed instructions for how he wants the tabernacle built as well as the laws and practices that He wants Israel to follow. This shows that God is a God who is truly interested and involved in the simple seemingly insignificant details of our lives. 3:15-16; 6:2-4; 16:26; 17:15; 20:5

2.     What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

In Exodus you have the first mention of the Passover. You have Moses giving specific instructions to the people of Israel about the specific type of sacrificial lamb as well as the specific means of practicing the Passover. By teaching Israel to observe the Passover, God was preparing them to receive the Ultimate Sacrificial Lamb-Christ. Chapter12

Application:

The fact that the book starts out by saying several times that God heard the cries of the Israelites is so awesome to me. It says that they cried out to Him for help and there cry rose up to Him. He heard their groaning and remembered His covenant. (2:23,24) It is a reminder that God truly does hear us when we cry out to Him. As His people and as His children, when we cry out to Him to deliver us, those cries do not fall on deaf ears. He does in fact hear and He does in fact act.

I also really liked reading about how God chose to fight for Israel. You find Moses telling the people at the Red Sea that God is going to fight for them. They just need to stay calm, stand there and watch. The parting of the Red Sea was something that they were unable to do for themselves. God brought them to a place where they could not go forward and they couldn’t go backward. In that place you find God coming through saying, “Don’t worry. I’m going to fight for you.” It’s an encouragement to me that God will fight for me in areas of my life where I am incapable of making the waters part. And the best part of having God fight for you…He always wins. ;) 14:13