The God revealed in the book of Exodus is the loving Lord who at the
appointed time—and with His mighty actions—brought salvation and
deliverance to His people (Gen. 15:12–16). The exodus from Egypt
and the crossing of the Red Sea were pivotal and unique events—God’s spectacular
and marvelous acts. No greater or more glorious event ever happened in the history
of ancient Israel before the Cross. It is the gospel, but according to Moses.
God miraculously and repeatedly arose to demonstrate His care and protection for the
Hebrews, despite their constant backslidings. His mercy surpassed all their understandings
and feelings. With His outstretched arm, the Lord led His people to freedom. It was an
unprecedented act. This unexpected series of divine interventions was the beginning of their
renewed journey with God, a journey from Egypt to (eventually) Canaan.
Though Moses plays an important role in Exodus, this book is not about Moses but
about God—the God of love, truth, justice, freedom, and forgiveness, the God who ultimately went to the cross for us. By studying Exodus, we get a unique look at what our God
is really like.
And what is He really like? He is a God who was faithful to His people despite their
unfaithfulness. He was constantly for them, even when they were against Him. Again
and again, He showed them His mercy, bringing encouragement, correction, and divine
instruction. Leading them in the best possible way, He wanted them voluntarily, out of love
for Him and His character, to worship and obey, all for their own good.
The God of Moses is the God of relationships. The most important objective of God
was not to accomplish something or to fulfill an agenda; instead, His prime objective was
to create a meaningful relationship with His chosen people, Israel. He led them to Sinai in
order to establish this deep fellowship.
The apostle Paul teaches that what happened to God’s people in the past is an object
lesson for us so that we could learn from their mistakes
and faithfully follow the Lord today: “Now these things
happened to them as an example, but they were written
down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages
has come” (1 Cor. 10:11, ESV). These past events should
be a warning and a source of unforgettable instruction for
us now. We should read them, study them, and learn from
them, because no matter how different the circumstances,
the spiritual principles behind them remain the same.
Our plan for studying the book of Exodus during these
13 weeks is transparent. The book is divided into weekly
chapter readings of various lengths (divided thematically
for convenience): (1) Slavery in Egypt, the birth of Moses, and Moses’ first 40 years (Exodus
1, 2). (2) Commission of Moses (Exodus 3, 4). (3) Complications: when life becomes
worse (Exodus 5, 6). (4) The first nine plagues (Exodus 7–10). (5) The tenth plague and
the celebration of the Passover (Exodus 11, 12). (6) The liberation from Egypt, and the
Red Sea experience (Exodus 13–15). (7) The journey to Mount Sinai (Exodus 16–18).
(8) The gift of God’s covenant and the Decalogue (Exodus 19, 20). (9) God’s law applied
(Exodus 21–23). (10) The covenant confirmed and the blueprint of the tabernacle (Exodus
24–31). (11) The golden calf apostasy and Moses’ intercession (Exodus 32). (12) God’s
self-revelation and the radiant face of Moses (Exodus 33, 34). (13) The tabernacle built and
dedicated (Exodus 35–40). Each week we focus on key passages and events from indicated
chapters.
May our gracious Lord bless us as we study this pivotal book that reminds us of how
God wants to lead His people from slavery to freedom, from death to life, and from the
wilderness to the New Jerus
