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Law · Old Testament · 40 chapters

The book of Exodus

The book of deliverance

Author
Moses (according to Jewish and Christian tradition)
Written
Around 1445–1405 BC, during the forty years in the wilderness
Time covered
From the oppression in Egypt to the erection of the tabernacle at Sinai, one year after the exodus from Egypt (around 1446 BC according to the traditional dating)
Key word
Redemption

Exodus tells how God turns a crowd of slaves into a consecrated people. Israel groans in Egypt; God raises up Moses, rescued from the water, brought up at court, exiled to Midian, then called at the burning bush. When Pharaoh refuses, ten plagues strike Egypt; the last spares the houses marked with the blood of the Passover lamb. The Red Sea opens, and the Egyptian army is swallowed up. In the wilderness, God gives manna and water from the rock. At Sinai, he makes a covenant, gives the ten commandments and the plans for the tabernacle. The golden calf breaks the covenant, but Moses intercedes. The book ends with the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle (40:34).

Main theme

The LORD delivers his people from slavery by the blood of the lamb and the power of his arm, makes a covenant with them at Sinai and comes to dwell among them in the tabernacle.

Outline

  1. Exodus 1-6 — Slavery and the call of Moses

    Israel oppressed in Egypt; God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush and sends him to Pharaoh.

  2. Exodus 7-15 — The plagues, the Passover and the Red Sea

    God judges Egypt, redeems his people by the blood of the lamb and brings them through on dry ground.

  3. Exodus 16-18 — The march to Sinai

    Manna, water from the rock, victory over Amalek: God provides for a grumbling people.

  4. Exodus 19-24 — The covenant at Sinai

    The ten commandments, the book of the covenant and the blood of the covenant sprinkled on the people.

  5. Exodus 25-40 — The tabernacle: God in the midst of his people

    Plans for the sanctuary, the crisis of the golden calf, renewal of the covenant, construction and the glory of God.

Key points

  • God reveals his name to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM THAT I AM” (3:14).
  • The ten plagues are a judgment on Pharaoh and “against all the gods of Egypt” (12:12).
  • The Passover: the blood of a lamb without blemish on the door shields from judgment — “when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (12:13).
  • The crossing of the Red Sea is the founding act of Israel’s salvation: “The LORD shall fight for you” (14:14).
  • In the wilderness, God feeds his people with manna for forty years despite their grumbling (16:35).
  • At Sinai, the law is given to a people already delivered: obedience answers grace (20:2).
  • The golden calf shows how quickly idolatry arises and how powerful the intercession of Moses is (32:1-14).
  • The goal of the deliverance is presence: the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle (25:8; 40:34).
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus 3:14 — God reveals his name: he is the eternal, sovereign Being, the one who depends on nothing.
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13 — The heart of the Passover: the blood of the lamb shields from judgment, a picture of the cross.
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:13–14 — Salvation comes from God alone; the people have only to trust and watch.

Jesus in Exodus

Jesus is the Passover Lamb whose blood shelters us from judgment (1 Cor 5:7); as with the Passover lamb, not one of his bones was broken (12:46; John 19:36). He is the true bread come down from heaven foretold by the manna (John 6:32-35) and the rock from which the water of life flows (1 Cor 10:4). The tabernacle foreshadows the Word made flesh who “dwelt among us” (John 1:14), and Christ entered as high priest with his own blood (Heb 9:11-12).

Did you know?

  • The bronze basin of the tabernacle was made from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting (38:8).
  • The people brought so many offerings for the tabernacle that Moses had to have it proclaimed throughout the camp that no more should be brought (36:5-7).
  • After speaking with the LORD, Moses did not know that his face shone; afterward he had to cover it with a veil (34:29-33).

Quiz on Exodus

What name does God reveal to Moses at the burning bush?

Where were the Israelites to put the blood of the Passover lamb?

What does Aaron make while Moses is on the mountain?

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