Exodus

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

      We see that the readers of Exodus would have had a history of slavery and oppression. The worst of it came when Pharaoh commanded that the newborn boys should be killed. The continuous commands to wipe out the nations in the promised land and not to mingle with them leads me to believe that the original readers could be easily swayed. That they could easily be influenced to worship other gods or to allow for customs that weren't pleasing to God. Exodus 34:12 is just one example of this command from God.

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

      Since we believe that the author is Moses, we get to find out a lot about him. He was not confident in God's calling on his life. He argued against God and was persistent. Moses absolutely didn't want to have to speak for God to Pharaoh. We see Moses change and grow in his confidence as a leader. We know he grew up in Pharaoh's house and had an excellent education. He probably was influenced by the Egyptian mythology of the day. He was faithful to the people of Israel and even pleaded to God for their lives in Ex 32:11-13. Moses had very intimate times with God. The story of the burning bush in chapter 3 and when he meets with God on Mt. Sinai in chapter 19 are times when God meets with Moses one on one.

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

      One of the main themes of Exodus that I feel is above all the rest is the glory and sole worship of God. God says, “I AM WHO I AM” and that His name is to be remembered for all generations in   Ex 3:14,15. The word glory appears many times and we see phrases like “the Lord who brought you out” and “I am the Lord your God” so many times in Exodus. Verses like Ex 9:14 shows God telling the people exactly who He is when He says, “Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.” God emphasizes and reemphasizes the point that He is their God, He is the only God, and He is all powerful. Other themes that come up in Exodus are the Sabbath day that God wanted His people to take. When He gives them their laws He stresses that they take one day to rest. We see complaining or arguing when Moses pleads his case for being unable to lead the people out from Egypt in Ex 3 and 4. The people of Israel complained to Moses and to God in the wilderness over their circumstances in Ex 14:11, 15:24, and 17:3. Along with the complaining the people never put their trust in God and what He could do. Go continually works miracles for them, but they continue to doubt His ability to rescue them and help them. We hardly see the people of Israel being thankful or worshiping God even though He had done so much for them.

Summary: Exodus is about Israel learning to trust in the Lord, and learning that He is the almighty one, the only one worthy of our praise.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      The character of God is shown throughout the book. From His willingness to rescue Israel from Egypt's oppression in Ex 6:6 to His detailed nature displayed in His careful instructions for the tabernacle Ex 25-27. He is a God who hears in Ex 6:5 and a God who helps in Ex 7:1. Day and night He watches over His people as He did for Israel in Ex 13:21-22 with the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day. He is glorious and jealous for all to know of His glory as seen in Ex 14:17. He speaks to Moses and says, “all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” God says to Israel that He is a healer in Ex 15:26. God is a jealous God and makes that clear to the Israelites in Ex 20:5. In the next verse God says that He is just waiting to lavish His love on those who obey His commandments. God is a fighter in Ex 14:13 when Moses says, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

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

      An obvious thing that we see about God's nature is that He is extremely detailed. The making of the tabernacle and all the laws really portrays God as someone who is concerned about the details. In Ex 6:6 God says that He will rescue them and later on He fulfills that promise. Back on verse to      Ex 6:5 God hears His people's cry. He meets them where they are at and promises rescue to them. In Ex 7:1 and in many other passages God helps Moses. God promises to help Moses with his speech, but Moses doesn't trust God enough and eventually God brings Aaron in the picture. God supernaturally helps those He calls and equips them. He also listens and works with us when we lack faith. Day and night God was with the people of Israel as Ex 13:21-22 explains. Just as He was with them at all times we can be sure that He is with us also. It is His very nature. God is a fighter in Job 14:13. He fights for His people.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      The most obvious example of God's redemptive plan in Exodus is found in the passover lamb.   Ex 12:1-17 tells the story of God saving the firstborn sons of all who spread the blood of a spotless one year old lamb. That spotless lamb is a picture of the spotless lamb named Jesus who would later shed His blood to save all people who believe on Him. We see this theme of the firstborn later in     Ex 13:2 and later in 34:19. As part of His redemptive plan for the world God continually uses the firstborn for sacrifices and blessings. In the New Testament we see God give His only son as a sacrifice. The sacrifices develop into a system. God changes the way He accepts sacrifices. This is all part of His overall plan to one day bring a sacrifice once for all time.

Personal Application

      The thing that stuck out to me most in Exodus was the theme of community and family. As believers we need all of the the parts of the body function well. In Ex 36:5 the people had given “more than enough materials to complete the job.” What a beautiful example of everyone getting involved in the plans of the Lord. So many different people with different skills helped to build the tabernacle. It was amazing to see men of the trade respected and written about in scripture. To me it shows the importance of everyone's skills and passions. God used and recognized ordinary people to do what they skilled at. I just love the sense of community you feel when reading in chapters 35-38. It was a team effort and everyone was glad to give what they could give. I think it's a great example for our churches today. That when everyone gives and everyone contributes the Lord is glorified. God moves in mighty ways because He is not limited to just teachers, preachers, or prophets. He actually sees the importance of carpenters and mechanics. I can be free to do what I love to do because God has given me that passion and wants to use me to further His kingdom.