The Basics: A Brief Overview of Exodus
The Basics course is designed to help brothers and sisters in Christ, who have a desire for a brief study over each of the books of the Bible. While being more than just a timeline, it is designed to give a person a more realistic overview of the entire Bible. As well as pointing out different highlights along the way. Imagine riding in a car and seeing exit signs for a town. Each sign gives a brief glimpse of what is inside, while if you wanted to thoroughly investigate the town you would have to take the exit. This series is a collected work of the books of the Bible while continuing to drive past each of the exits. I would encourage you to take any exit and allow the Lord God to direct your path to where He would guide.
The Bible is written into 66 different books. Each one unique on its own but designed to be with its other collected works.
Cautionary Note: This work is not to argue for the authenticity of the Bible nor is it to argue over the mechanics of how God used man to write His Words. This is designed as an overview for someone to review the book in passing. Nevertheless, we here at Mill House Ministries believe that the Bible is without error and was written by God, through His divine attributes, through man.
These overviews are sequenced in the below fashion. Each overview is designed to flow in unison.
1. Introduction
2. Who wrote it
3. When did they write it
5. Key topics
6. Key sections
7. Books that interact with each other
8. Analysis of the Book
As previously stated, if you find yourself drawn to one of these books, please take the time and see what God is wanting to show you in that book.
BASICS COURSE: EXODUS (Pentateuch)
INTRODUCTION:
The second book in the Bible was written by the Prophet Moses. You could say he is the oldest, most well known, and well written historian to ever be published. Pentateuch is the collected work of the first five books of the Bible. The term Pentateuch literally means “Five Books.” Jewish scholars identify this book as one of the five books of “The Law.” Exodus literally means “to leave” or “to exit,” it is the literal exit of the Jewish people from Egypt. The time frame between Genesis and Exodus is roughly 400 years based on Genesis 15:13, “God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 but I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.” This book is that account, we last saw the small family in Genesis and now we see the rise of a nation. In Genesis the stakes of man’s salvation were high, but in Exodus God takes it to a whole other level! God picked His nation, and even gave the enemy 400 years to prepare the land to fight back against the coming Jewish nation. Yet with the power of God, nothing is impossible. Simply put, Exodus is the incredible story of how the world fails through two groups to keep Israel in Egypt and out of their promised land. Inside human history, Exodus is God on the move. His actions are awe inspiring and terrifying all in the same moment, His love an ever present symbol of a coming Messiah.
WHO WROTE IT:
Moses is the son of Amram and Jochebed, he lived as an adopted son to Egyptian royalty. After murdering an Egyptian, he fled to the wilderness. There God called to him in a burning bush. He was than commissioned to lead the Jewish nation out of Egypt and into the promised land that God had ordained. He would lead them until his death, but unfortunately never into the promise land. He talked with God like a friend. Exodus 33:11a “So the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” Moses is considered to be one of the greatest people in the Bible, and is even mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 as one of the greats in the faith.
WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:
Moses lived during the time and was a witness to the events of Exodus, he was called forth by God to write down the events which he saw. Not only was he instrumental in the book as a main character, but he was also blessed to write down what God told him to when recording the book from God’s Holy and all knowing perspective. According to famed author and Bible theologian Don Stewart, Moses lived during the Late Bronze Age around 1550 to 1200 B.C. We know that Exodus was written during this time frame.
KEY TOPICS:
What is interesting about the book of Exodus, is that nothing comes to a close in Exodus. While it is called “The leaving”, they never fully arrive in the promised land. The book however, does have some impactful aspects that need to be addressed. In Exodus we have the beginning of the feasts, the symbols of what Jesus Christ would literally fulfill centuries later. Topics that can be found in the book are, Feudalism, racism, abortion, adoption, agriculture, man’s power, God’s power, Satan’s power, sin, holiness, deliverance, Nephilim, occult, warfare; and finally as well as most importantly, a coming savior Jesus Christ.
KEY SECTIONS:
The book is easily dissectible into parts with chapters 1-11 describing the deliverer being prepared for the Jewish people. Chapters 12-14 is about how God delivers His people from the hands of Egypt. Chapters 15-18 is the Jews marching around Mt. Sinai. Chapters 18-24, the Law is given. Chapters 25-40 is how the Tabernacle and the specific instruments that would go into the Tabernacle were created.
BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:
Exodus can be seen as a close second to Genesis for being connected to the other books of the Bible. However, unlike Genesis, which has a strong connection to the book of Revelation, Exodus could be argued as being connected to Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This connection actually finishes the first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch. However, Exodus can also very much be connected to the New Testament, what is first referenced in Exodus is finalized/materialized in Jesus Christ with the Gospels, as well as discussed in Romans.
ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:
In Genesis, we see how God formed creation for Himself. In Exodus, we see how He formed Israel for Himself. Matthew Henry wrote, “There [Genesis] creation of the world in history, here [Exodus] the redemption of the world in type.” God is revealing the stage of just how He is going to save the World and those who are willing to accept the Lord and God, Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry would later on go to say, “There are more types of Christ in this book than perhaps in any other book of the Old Testament…The way of man’s reconciliation to God, and coming into covenant and communion with him by a Mediator, is here variously represented’ and it is of great use to us for the illustration of the New Testament, now that we have that to assist us in the explication of the Old.” Exodus establishes the foundation for Judaism, this book cultivates the very roots of what it means for a Jew to be a Jew; and pointing to the very real reason each one of us, no matter if Jew or Gentile, need Jesus Christ. Within my own review of the book of Exodus, I am continuously brought back to a coming day which the nation of Israel will once again be in a position where they will have to rely on God in such a majestic manner for their very survival, known as Jacob’s trouble/The Tribulation. The book of Exodus shows us Godly power in a Godless land, God’s final plague against Egypt was so severe that even Israel needed protection from what was coming. Thus the “Passover” would come about, not soon after this the passing through the Red Sea would happen. Through a literal interpretation, God exemplifies the Savior Jesus Christ and how He would save. Finally, Exodus should be summarized plainly and seriously, as a historical book of God’s will overpowering the foolishness of man and the deviousness of Satan. This book is a great reminder of how awesome God is, but how real He takes sin and the reason why we need Jesus Christ.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL