Introduction to Exodus

EXODUS – JOURNEY TO FREEDOM

An Introduction and Overview

The Exodus Story Line

We see from the first words of chapter 1 that Exodus continues the story line that was begun in

Genesis –

-1:1 – “These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with

his household.”

-Jacob’s family getting to Egypt is an amazing story of God’s providence and God’s

protection of His people!

-Jacob’s sons become jealous of their brother, Joseph, and sell him into slavery.

-But God is with him, and God uses the evil of Joseph’s brothers as a means of

protection of His people.

-Joseph rises to second in command in Egypt and brings his father’s family safely to

Egypt where they are rescued from the famine in Canaan.

-Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for

good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are

today.”

-So the children of Israel are saved and kept by God’s providential hand –

-1:2-5 – “Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and

Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was

already in Egypt.”

-Then things begin to change.

-1:6-7 – “Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the people of

Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so

that the land was filled with them.”

-This covers the span of about 400 years – from the death of Joseph to the opening

of the Exodus story.

-The next few verses set the stage for the event for which the book is named –

-1:8 – “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.”

-As we will see, the children of Israel become a threat to the Pharaoh.

So, the people go from a small family clan to a large multitude of people –

-And they go from favored status to being persecuted.

-From this they are going to be rescued through the great event of the Exodus!

Exodus – Major Themes

I see two major themes that come to us through Exodus – Redemption and Glory – and they are

related!

Redemption

A biblical story of redemption involves a rescue or deliverance from slavery or some kind of

bondage –

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-In the Exodus story, the Children of Israel are rescued from Pharaoh and Egyptian slavery.

The story about the rescue is about God –

-The rescue happens because of God’s compassion and because of His commitment to His

promises!

-2:23-25 – “During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel

groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from

slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his

covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel –

and God knew.”

(The NIV translates “God knew” with less ambiguity “and God had compassion

for them.”)

-God heard, God remembered, God saw, God knew – this rescue is the work of God!

The story of rescue is about God preparing a savior –

-We are given in Exodus one of the major people of the OT – Moses.

-Moses as a savior is a shadow of the ultimate Savior – Jesus Christ!

-Consider the parallels between the birth of Moses and the birth of Christ –

-400 silent years

-The slaughter of innocent baby boys

-The first cradle

-Significant name

In biblical redemption, the freedom gained through rescue is not freedom from God but freedom

to live as the people of God!

-This is why in the Exodus, right after the Red Sea rescue, the people go to Mt. Sinai where

they get the Word of the Lord.

-The Word that would teach them how to live as the distinct people of God.

Glory

Redemption and glory are not disconnected –

-Glory is the result of redemption.

-God redeems us that we might see His glory!

God wanted Pharaoh and the Egyptians to see His glory –

-Moses goes to Pharaoh and says, “The Lord says, ‘let my people go.’” –

-5:2

-But God makes it clear over and over that Pharaoh and the Egyptians will see His glory and

know His great name –

-6:6,7; 7:5; 8:10; 8:22; 9:14; 14:4, 18

-What God does in rescuing His people will cause the nations to know His glory –

-9:16

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God wanted His people to know His Name and see His glory –

-14:13-14 – “And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of

the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you

shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Exodus and You

See

Know

Marvel

The book of Exodus is a major part of God’s redemptive story – A MAJOR PART!

-You can’t tell know or tell the full story of God’s redemptive plan without Exodus.

Exodus outline

Exodus Big Picture

-fill the earth

-The birth of a nation

-raising up a Savior

Major Themes

-The Glory of God

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-Rescue from Bondage

-Redemption through Blood

-New life, new people, new purpose

Big Picture themes and there is personal application