THE BOOK OF EXODUS

INTRODUCTION:

1.Assignments for those students who really want to know:

a.Read Exodus thoughtfully, carefully, prayerfully; looking.

b.Familiarize self with the Ten Commandments (memorize them?)

c.Memorize: (1) The 7 furniture articles in the Tabernacle;

(2) Heb 8:5;

(3) Rom 15:4.

2.EXODUS records the beginning of the national life of Israel, God’s chosen people.

3.Transition from plurality of tribes into one Nation of God.

4.NAME: (“Exit,” “Departure,” “Going Out”) refers to the key event in the Book, the greatest single event in Hebrew national history - See 19:1.

5.AUTHOR: Moses (there is much internal and external evidence to support his authorship).

6.DATE: Written during the Wilderness Journey, sometime between 1445 BC and 1405 BC. It covers 431 years (From the death of Joseph to the setting up of the Tabernacle).

7.The Book of EXODUS is a continuation of Genesis; the 70 descendants of Jacob who moved from Canaan to Egypt multiplied to a multitude of 2.5 million.

8.The Message of this Book is REDEMPTION: When Israel finally turned to God for deliverance from bondage, He responded by redeeming them - See 6:6.

9.Three Divisions: Historical; Legislative; Ecclesiastical.

a.1-18, The Exodus -- Divine Power. {Compare Divine

b.19-24, The Law -- Divine Holiness. {Sovereignty In The

c.25-40, The Tabernacle -- Divine Wisdom. {Book Of Genesis.

1.HISTORICAL: The Exodus (Divine Power) - Chapters 1-18.

A.BONDAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD: CHAPTERS 1-6.

1.1:1-8, The new Pharaoh KNEW of Joseph and his people in the sense of being acquainted with his name and the events surrounding his history.

2.1:9-10, But did not KNOW him in the sense of looking with favor on the Hebrews; He feared they might join Eastern powers and invade the Land of Egypt.

3.1:11-22, So the Egyptians began oppressing the Israelites with slavery and forced labor.

4.To this terrible situation God sent Moses as a deliverer.

5.2:1-15, Moses’ preparation in Egypt; He was reared in the royalty of Pharaoh’s court.

6.2:16-22, Moses’ preparation in Midian: At the age of 40 he identified himself with his people, and fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian; He was then in Midian 40 years.

7.2:23-25, Then God responded to the cries of the enslaved and persecuted Hebrews.

8.3:1-4:31, At the burning bush God called Moses to go to Pharaoh to demand that he release Israel (Note 4:22-23).

9.5:1-23, Pharaoh responded by making the burden of slavery even harder than it was before.

10.6:1-13, God’s promise to redeem Israel.

11.6:14-30, The family tree of Moses is given.

12.7:1-13, Moses and Aaron again before Pharaoh (This time they came with a sign from God -- The rod which became a serpent).

B.DELIVERANCE BY THE GRACE OF GOD: CHAPTERS 7:14-19:2.

1.7:14-12:36, God revealed Himself to Pharaoh through the ten plagues which came upon the land.

a.Their growth in severity makes them easy to memorize.

b.The tenth plague brought death to the firstborn of every Egyptian household. (Remember the warning of 4:22-23!)

2.12:1-13:22, From the Land of Goshen to the Red Sea.

a.12:1-36, Israel was spared by means of the Passover Lamb; Its blood was put on lintels and doorposts; Its flesh roasted and eaten with unleavened bread, with the Israelite families dressed and prepared to travel.

b.12:37-13:22, Then they left Egypt, God leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

3.14:1-19:2, The journey to Mt. Sinai.

a.14:1-31, Freed Hebrews crossed Red Sea by God’s miracle.

b.15:1-21, Moses and Miriam sang praise to God’s power.

c.15:22-16:3, On the march to the Desert of Sin, the people complained against God.

d.16:4-36, God responded by sending them manna and quail.

e.17:1-7, At Rephidim, God gave them water from a rock.

f.17:8-16, And God delivered them from the Amalekites.

g.18:1-19:2, Upon the advice of his father-in-law (Jethro), Moses organized the people for their new life, and then led them to Mt. Sinai.

4.The people had experienced God’s deliverance, guidance, and protection; Now they were ready to be taught what God expected of them.

5.They were redeemed, now they must be set apart to walk with God; So the emphasis moves from narration to legislation.

2.LEGISLATIVE: THE LAW (DIVINE HOLINESS) - 19:3-24:18.

A.19:3-8, The Law sealed God’s covenant with Israel.

1.19:4-6, The Law was simply a continuation of the Covenant God had made with Abraham - cf 2:24; 6:4-5.

a.It was ADDED to that Covenant, to expose sin - Gal 3:19.

b.It held back blessing of the Covenant - Gal 3:8,11-14.

c.But did not set the Covenant aside - Gal 3:15-18,26-29.

d.Now, in Christ and under the Gospel, the Law is set aside BUT NOT THE COVENANT - Rom 10:4; Col 2:14-17; Rom 8:3-4.

2.19:7-8, The terms of the Sinai Covenant were accepted by the people.

B.19:9-25, The two parties of the Covenant met.

C.20:1-17, The Decalogue (The Ten Commandments) stated fundamental duties to both God and man.

D.20:18-23:19, Then some civil and ceremonial laws were given.

E.23:20-33, God’s promise to protect them was conditioned on their keeping the Covenant with Him - vv20,23-24,27,32-33.

F.24:1-18, Ordinances -- governing religious life (They seem to have been given to Moses here, but were not detailed in his writing until the next chapter and chapters following). NOTE: vv3,7-8,12,16-18.

3.ECCLESIASTICAL: THE TABERNACLE (DIVINE WISDOM) -
25:1-40:38.

A.Must be more significant than we sometimes seem to think:

1.There is more Scripture given to it than to any other single subject.

2.At least seven times we read of God’s solemn charge to Moses that he build the Tabernacle according to the pattern (Ex 25:9,40; 26:30; 27:8; Num 8:4; Ac 7:44; Heb 8:5).

B.25:1-31:11, The exact pattern for the Tabernacle to be built in the wilderness (Freewill offerings; The furnishings; The great tent itself; The altar; The courtyard; Garments of the priests; Elements of the Tabernacle ministry are described). NOTE: 25:1-9.

1.Then the Tabernacle was God’s dwelling place; The church is His dwelling place now - Eph 2:21-22.

2.Only the High Priest went into the Holiest of all, and he only after proper preparation -- that which God indwells is unspeakably sacred - cf 1Cor 3:16! There is no true worship or fellowship without reverent recognition of this. What a sacred privilege and responsibility!

C.31:12-18, Particular instructions about importance of the Sabbath to Israel.

D.32:1-33:23, The building of the Tabernacle was delayed by Israel’s sorry lapse into idolatry while Moses was in the mountain.

E.34:1-35, The Covenant was renewed; The Tables of stone were replaced.

F.35:1-3, Another Sabbath regulation is stated.

G.35:4-40:33, Construction of the Tabernacle and its furniture.

1.Note the Tabernacle furniture (complete in seven articles): ENTER by means of sacrifice and washing...

INSIDE see: sustenance, illumination, and supplication...

FINALLY, “passing through the veil into the Holy of Holies, we see that most sacred gold-covered acacia chest, the ark, speaking of covenant relationship between God and His people; and, above it, on the lid, the mercy seat, with the two cherubim, one at each side, facing each other and touching their outstretched wings above the mercy seat and the shekinah fire which burned just over it -- the blood-sprinkled, shekinah-lit mercy seat speaking of intercession in the very presence of God, and of the very life of God imparted.” -- J. Sidlow Baxter, EXPLORE THE BOOK, page 104.

2.40:19-33, This is a summary which names the seven articles of Tabernacle furniture.

3.Much space is given to the priesthood, and to the seven articles of dress; All of which perhaps can be seen, by careful study, to be representative of some spiritual blessing we now have in Christ.

H.40:34-38, Book closes with an account of how the Lord guided the Israelites’ travel with cloud by day and fire by night.

I.How could 3 million people be provided with 1,000 tons of food daily? With 3 million gallons of water in the desert?

J.“You see, Moses believed in God, and God was going to take care of these things for him. Let us take courage, we have the same God. We think our problems are so big. Remember what God can do! Just team up with God, and your problems will be in His care. Let Him run your life, and as the old song says, HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.” -- Author of this (and two preceding points) Unknown.

**EXODUS IN THREE WORDS OR SIX WORDS:

EXODUS ----- LAW ----- TABERNACLE

(POWER) (HOLINESS) (WISDOM)

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS TO THE BIBLE:

1.Shows GOD is in control of the nations for the sake of achieving His purposes.

2.EXODUS exposes the falsehood of idolatry; Reveals Yahweh as infinitely superior to the “gods” of paganism.

3.Shows the Hebrew Nation as the Chosen People of God for the fulfillment of the promises God made to Abraham (ALL of them are now fulfilled).

a.Beginning of life as a new nation - cf 12:2

b.Beginning of new liberty - 13:3.

c.Beginning of new fellowship - 12:14 cf 24:11.

d.Beginning of new assurance - 6:7-8.

e.The Gospel of Christ is all of this to us - Jn 3:5; Gal 5:1; 1Jn 1:3; Rev 2:7.

f.The Book shows the foolishness and sinfulness of resisting Jehovah - 5:2; 9:13-16.

g.Thus an early indication in history that evil systems and false religions will finally be destroyed.

4.It teaches that obedience to God continues to be necessary for redeemed and set-apart people.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS:

1.God did not forget His promise to Abraham in Gen 12:3; 22:18.

2.There are no Messianic prophecies, but many types/pictures:

a.MOSES: Prophet, Lawgiver, Deliverer, Mediator - Deut 18:18.

b.PASSOVER: The Sacrificial Lamb points forward to the Lamb of God - Jn 1:29; 1Cor 5:7.

c.SEVEN FEASTS: Each one of these feasts may suggest some aspect of the ministry of Christ.

d.THE EXODUS: Death to old alliance, identification with the new - 1Cor 10:1-2; Rom 6:1-6; cf Rom 6:17-18 with Ex 14:30.

e.MANNA AND WATER: Jn 6:31-35,48-63; 1Cor 10:3-4.

f.TABERNACLE: See the beauty, the holiness, and the glory of God; All are reached through the blood of sacrifice.

g.HIGH PRIEST: Heb 4:14-16; 9:11-12,24-28.

3.THE EXODUS from Egypt is the standard of power in the Old Testament -
Mic 7:15.

4.JESUS CHRIST is seen to be the standard of power in the New Testament - Eph 3:19-21.