Examine the central message of the book of exodus

The book of exodus is probably the singlemost important old testament book for the christian to know and understand as background to the new testament. The lines of gods revelation of himself that were drawn in the lives of individuals in genesis come together in this book in a more complete and clearer. The central doctrine of the book of exodus is redemption, but this is not formally expounded, rather is it strikingly illustrated, in earliest times, god, it would seem, did not communicate to his people an explicit and systematic form of doctrine. Top 5 commentaries on the book of exodus ligonier ministries. Gods initial call to moses included an explanation of gods work. The book of exodus is the story of god rescuing the children of israel from egypt and forging a special relationship with them. What did the law mean when it referred to a lasting ordinance. Exodus in greek means way out, this book indeed describes the way out god made for the children of israel to be set free from there bondage in egypt it is a book of redemption. The hebrews, from the words with which it begins, call it veelle semoth. The book of exodus was written between 1440 and 1400 b.

The book of exodus, in addition to being one of the most dramatic narratives in the bible, is also full of macrocodes and other cryptic devices embroidering the presentation of. Introduction to the book of exodus learn religions. Between these poles, moses is called, gods name is revealed, israel is delivered, the law is given, the plan of the tabernacle is unveiled, and all is nearly. In fact, when he lets you go, hell eagerly chase you out of here. Sep 23, 2012 what is the message of the book of exodus. Honest weights and measures, interestfree loans to the poor, leaving part of the crops in the field for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, treating the alien stranger as a native citizen these are all applications of the exodus principle to living in this world.

Continuing the history of israel from the point where the book of genesis. The title exodus comes from the septuagint, which derived it from the primary event found in the book, the deliverance from slavery and exodus or departure of the israelite nation out of egypt by the hand of yahweh, the god of their. This summary of the book of exodus provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of exodus. Genesis was the prelude when yahweh prophesied the exodus to abraham four hundred years before it occurred gen. You probably remember abraham s covenant with god from genesis. The analysis of the text of exodus suggests that a possible subject for this book is the constituting of israel as a nation separated to yahweh. Aaron is a central figure in the traditions about the exodus, though his role varies in importance. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. There are several significant themes in the book of exodus. On the contrary, the land of israel is a central theme and. The second scroll of the pentateuch, also referred to as the second book of moses. The book of exodus details gods call to the people of israel to get up and leave their position of slavery in egypt. Exodus morality meant giving justice to the weak and the poor. The frequency of references to exodus by various biblical writers, and even jesuss own words, testify to its importance.

The book of exodus, in addition to being one of the most dramatic narratives in the bible, is also full of macrocodes and other cryptic devices embroidering the presentation of gods program of redemption. Ancient egypt and the barren wilderness form the essential backdrop to the drama which unfolds in the second book of the bible. The experience of slavery that breaks and crushes slaves does not destroy free people. There is a famine of really good commentaries on exodus. Tell every man to ask his neighbor and every woman to ask her neighbor for all their silver and gold jewelry.

You can find the best commentary on exodus for you using the tools on the right side. Its hebrew title, shemoth names, is from the books opening phrase, these are the names. The book of exodus is the story of israels deliverance from egyptian tyranny, and its establishment as a nation. The book of leviticus takes place within the larger context of exodus 19 to numbers 10. Apart from the philological notes and translation, this commentary includes a formcritical section, looking at the growth of the tradition in its previous stages. Your credit card wont be charged until the trial period is over. History and faith the tales of genesis were a mixture of myth, legend, distant memory, and search for origins, bound together by the strands of a central theological concept. And as a result of all of that, when we take a look at the book of exodus, israel is asking. This morning, we are looking at a man named moses and his encounter with god. The levites side with moses and kill three thousand of the other israelites. Exodus salvation for israelites, foreign residents, animals, and even land deut 5.

The book of exodus is the second book of the bible, it describes the israelites deliverance from. God is in the process of equipping each one of us uniquely for the tasks that he has assigned to us. The book of exodus is especially important to christians because christ fulfilled its great themes. Nov 17, 2008 the old testament book of exodus is a crucial piece in the big picture of gods redeeming love for his people. This summary of the book of exodus provides information about the title. So if you want to understand any other book of the old testament, youll need a basic understanding of what. Moses finally appears before pharaoh, who speaks what i think is the central question of the book of exodus. Exodus introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. It tells the story of israels continued struggle with sin and obedience. God the savior, the companion and the indweller, who will not fail those who so often fail him. Taking a pioneering approach to commentary writing, brevard childs gives an entirely original treatment to the book of exodus. The book of exodus the second book of the pentateuch is called exodus, from the greek word for departure, because its central event was understood by the septuagints translators to be the departure of the israelites from egypt.

The exodus marks the real beginning of the history of israel as a people and a nation. Watch our overview video on exodus 118, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Did the israelites in the book of exodus cross the red sea or the reed sea. In fact, two of the best commentaries on this pivotal old testament book are very recent publications. As free people relive the exodus, it turns memory into moral dynamic. God rescues and delivers his people as he guides them into the unfamiliar desert. He was the central figure of the book and an eyewitness of its primary events.

Departure, that is, of the israelites out of egypt. The title exodus comes from the septuagint, which derived it from the primary event found in the book, the deliverance from slavery and exodus or departure of the. No book therefore will more repay careful study, if we wish to understand the central message of the new testament, than. Its hebrew title, shemoth names, is from the book s opening phrase, these are the names. It contains the stories of enslavement and liberation, of revelation and wanderings, of belief and apostasy. Secondly, as we begin to study exodus we must understand that much of this book is classified as historical narrative. Alec motyer explores the character of god through his covenant promises and persistent faithfulness to the people of israel. And in many ways, exodus is the covenant bookits the rules, the history, and the contract all wrapped up into one. Childs addressed this failure in his critical theological. Despite all of this, god chose them for a special role and sticks with them.

Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Ultimately only through gods divine guidance and leadership can we escape our slavery to sin. Thus the book of leviticus is a kind of parenthesis within the ongoing story of redemptive history, placed there to explain israels specific obligations within the mosaic covenant. Israels slavery is a picture of mans slavery to sin. Aug 05, 2016 the exodus is simultaneously the escape of the people of god, the israelites from egypt, the land of slavery they exit out of slavery into the promised land. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Now a man of the tribe of levi married a levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

Spread over the books of exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy, it tells the myth of the enslavement of the israelites in ancient egypt, their liberation through the hand of their tutelary deity yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and their wanderings in the wilderness up to the borders of canaan, the land their god has given. The english name of the book derives from the septuagint greek use of. Although the book describes all 12 tribes, it is much more likely that the. Since the key way to remember the exodus is reenactment, the event offers itself as an ongoing experience in human history. The exodus and the giving of the law at mount sinai was gods supreme act of intervention on behalf of his chosen people. Commentary on the book of exodus by matthew henry old. The first impression one may receive in passing from a re view of egyptian religion to the doctrine of god in the book of exodus is the glut of materials. Explain the themes and theology in the book of exodus.

It is at this point of change that the book of exodus begins it will tell of the fashioning of israel, the people of gods choice, the nation that god needs. The nature and intent of that divine work set the agenda for moses work and through him, the work of gods people. This is one of the most basic messages of the book of exodus. The book of exodus shows that the god of abraham is the only true god of all the earth. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. It describes one of the key episodes in the history of salvation. The book exodus is one of the great books of the pentateuch and of the whole bible. Apr 16, 2019 the pentateuch refers to the first five books of the bible genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. Third, well summarize the original meaning of exodus. Exodus, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. Genesis is the book of creation exodus is the book of redemption.

The disclosure of god in the book of exodus develops from a distant deity of an oppressed people in egypt to one in intimate relationship with the people of israel on their way to the promised land. Check out these retro videos from encyclopedia britannicas archives. A substantial exegesis of that passage is worth many pages. The english name of the book derives from the septuagint greek use of exodus to designate the deliverance of the israelites from egyptian bondage and their safe. For instance, the book of genesis is the book about creation. Essayists in the latest edition of the southern baptist journal of theology examine various aspects of the second book of the bible, with southern professors peter j. And then centuries later hosea records gods words, out of egypt i called my son, looking back on the event. Log in get started home study guides bible book of exodus. The message of the book of exodus may be determined on the basis of the previous considerations discussed up to this point. List of books and articles about book of exodus online. The covenant is more than just an agreement between god and the israelites.

Exodus, the liberation of the people of israel from slavery in egypt in the th century bce, under the leadership of moses. This sermon is from exodus chapter 12 and is about the passover, final preparation for the exodus and the perfect sacrifice. As we look at this passage, we want to remember that just as god called moses, he also calls us to tasks that he has designed for us. The book of exodus begins more than four hundred years after joseph, his. Exodus 2 niv bible now a man of the tribe of levi married. These five books form the theological foundation of the bible. He almost certainly wrote it during the 40 year wondering period. In gods timing, the exodus of the israelites from egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for abrahams descendants. The plagues demonstrated the futility of worshiping false gods. The first verse stands separate from the whole, as an introduction, and at the same.

Exodus 1 the message msg 1 15 these are the names of the israelites who went to egypt with jacob, each bringing his family members. The lord made sure that the egyptians were kind to the. Most of the books of the bible have one great overriding, dominant thing. A major thesis of the book is that the exodus happened exactly as it is recorded in scripture.

Chapters 118 narrate the history of the egyptian bondage, the exodus from egypt, and the journey to mount sinai under the leadership of moses. By the end of the book, israel is again in serviceto its sovereign lord in the service of worship. Exodus is the second book of the pentateuch the five books of moses, and its where we find the stories of the ten plagues, the first passover, the parting of the red sea, and the ten commandments the book gets its name from the nation of israels mass. The main theme of exodus is the lords selfrevelation in faithfulness, grace. In gods timing, the exodus of the israelites from egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for abrahams descendants genesis 15. The second book of moses is called exodus, from the greek word exodos, which signifies going out. Exodus records more miracles of god than any other book in the old testament. The second book of the pentateuch is called exodus, from the greek word for departure, because its central event was understood by the septuagints translators to be the departure of the israelites from egypt. Some of the ideas come from preach for a year, by roger campbell and commentaries too numerous to mention. For example, there is the famous song of victory recorded in the fifteenth chapter.

Exodus is the book which speaks of the physical and spiritual birth of israel as a nation. Israels legal traditions and institutions also have exodus origins. In the book of exodus, god is the essential worker. Israels exodus from egypt must be understood as the unique event that it was within the history of redemption. But thirdly, consider with me that through the plagues, god demonstrates to us that sins have consequences.

Leon uris magnificently portrays the birth of a new nation in the midst of enemies the beginning of an earthshaking struggle for power. Moses goes back up the mountain to intercede for the israelites. Why the exodus was so significant my jewish learning. You have made my bible study more understandable and clear. While all of the events recorded in sefer shemot take place outside of the land of israel, this does not mean that eretz yisrael is unimportant in this book. The book continues the story of the ancestors of israel in egypt, now grown in number to a large landless population enslaved by the pharaoh. It has its own quirks, subtleties, and superweird moments. The english name exodus comes from the ancient greek. In exodus, israel begins as an enslaved people, in service to egyptian taskmasters. Exodus 11 ceb god announces the final disaster the.

The book of exodus follows a sustained narrative beginning first with the life of moses, a hebrew raised among egyptian royalty, before showing how god used moses to deliver the hebrews from. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes the israelites deliverance from slavery in egypt through the hand of yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and the subsequent divine indwelling of god with israel. Book of exodus overview insight for living ministries. Jun 19, 2008 in a 1996 guide to the best commentaries, derek thomas wrote. Additionally, other biblical books refer to the law of moses joshua 1.

Location and geography are central to sefer shemot. A theological goldmine results, impacting the concepts and theological ideas of the rest of the old testament. The exodus became the first event that was used to date the construction of israels solomonic temple. God will fulfill the promises he has made to the patriarchs despite reluctant leaders, opposition from the israelites, opposition from the greatest superpower in the world at that time egypt, and the doubt and disbelief and disobedience of the israelites. Explores a number of basic issues related to what exodus meant when it was first written and. The exodus narrative is the central event of the old testament. The moses series expository preaching through exodus. The second half of the book tells of the covenant that was established between god and israel at sinai and promulgates laws for the ordering of israels life. Two authors examine biblical history for clues about faith. Thankfully, the situation has changed in the last twelve years, and there are a number of good commentaries on exodus from which to choose.

God announces the final disaster the lord said to moses, ill bring one more disaster on pharaoh and on egypt. It records the beginning of the national life of israel and the covenant that god made with the israelites through moses at sinai. In addition to the themes other educators have provided, these are two others which emerge in the old testament book of exodus. God used the plague to reveal himself and make himself known. Once again, one of the great certainties we see with the book of. It is a complex story which gives rise to many crucial questions. First of all we must recognize that exodus is a book of profound theology. For the most part, both jewish and christian tradition credit moses with primary authorship of the pentateuch. And in many ways, exodus is the covenant book its the rules, the history, and the contract all wrapped up into one you probably remember abrahams covenant with god from genesis. The next step is to enter your payment information. What did the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night signify. Through the story of israel we are exposed to an unquenchable fire. However, god also directed the people through the godly leadership of moses.