EXPOSITION OF EXODUS
EXODUS - means “to depart” or “to come out”. It has special reference to the “coming out” of Israel from the land of Egypt.
AUTHOR - Moses (see notes on Genesis)
DATE OF COVERAGE
1. Between the close of Genesis and the opening of Exodus are 3 1/2 centuries.
A. At the close of Joseph’s prominence, 70 people (Hebrews) settled in Egypt.
B. 430 years later, the 70 had grown to 600,000 men over the age of 20. (Ex. 12:37; Num. 1:45,46)
C. As only the men of Israel were numbered, this means that including women and children there were about 3,000,000 souls.
D. This figure represents almost one half as many Jews as Egyptians in the land of Egypt. The Egyptian population of that time was about 7,000,000. (cf. Ex. 1:7,9-10)
2. Of actual coverage: 145 years, from the death of Joseph to the giving of the Law; i.e., from about 1635 to about 1490 B.C.
3. Of writing: about 1491-1451 B.C.; during the 40 years in the wilderness.
VITAL STATISTICS
1. Key word: Redeem (10 times) (6:6; 13:15; 21:8; 34:20)
2. Theme: Redemption (15:13; 19:4)
A. The price of redemption in Exodus was the blood of an innocent lamb (the Passover Lamb).
B. The price of our redemption is “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. (I Peter 1:18-20)
3. Key Verse: 12:13
DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK
1. BONDAGE (chs. 1,2)
A. Here we have the sad condition and circumstance of the people whom God would eventually redeem. (ch. 1)
B. Events
1) Birth of Moses (2:1-4)
2) Adoption of Moses (2:5-10)
3) Renunciation of Moses (2:11-14)
4) Flight of Moses (2:15)
5) Marriage of Moses (2:16-22)
C. Israel’s awful suffering
1) Disturbed them
2) Purified them
3) Unified them
4) Disenchanted them
2. REDEMPTION (3-15:21)
A. Here we see God coming down in grace to deliver Israel, and we see how redemption was accomplished.
B. Events
1) Call of Moses (3:1-4:17)
2) Moses returned to Egypt (4:18-31)
3) Conflicts with Pharaoh (5:1-12:30)
4) Israel emancipated (12:31-15:21)
C. Life of Moses summarized
1) For forty years he thought he was somebody.
2) Then he spent forty years learning that he was a nobody.
3) During his last forty years he discovered what God can do with a nobody.
3. EDUCATION (15:22-18:27)
A. Here is begun the spiritual education of Israel; all these events were designed to teach them absolute dependence on God.
B. Events
1) Marah and Elim (water) (15:22-27)
2) Wilderness of Sin (manna) (16:1-35)
3) Rephidim (water from the rock) (17:1-7)
4) Amalek defeated (17:8-16)
5) Jethro’s visit to Moses bearing “fatherly advice” (18:1-27)
C. Note: “Elims” generally follow the “Marahs”; and God’s love will sweeten the Marahs it does not remove.
4. CONSECRATION (19:1-24:18)
A. Here we are taught that the Redeemed must do the will of the Redeemer, and must consecrate themselves to His service. For His redeemed ones, a Divine rule for faith and conduct is provided.
B. Events: The Giving of the Law
1) The Ten Commandments (moral) (ch. 20)
2) The Judgments (social) (21:1-23:13)
3) The Ordinances (religious) (23:14-24:18)
C. Why the Law was given
1) To provide a standard for righteousness (Psa. 19:7-9)
2) To expose and identify sin (Rom. 3:20 & 5:20)
3) To reveal the divine holiness (Lev. 11:44)
4) To bring men to Christ (Gal. 3:24)
5. WORSHIP (25:1-40:38)
A. Here we learn that redeemed ones must be worshipping ones; and must only worship in God’s appointed way.
B. Events: the detailed giving of the ceremonial law (religious)
1) Instructions regarding the contents of the Tabernacle (chs. 25-27)
2) Instructions regarding the priesthood (chs. 28-29)
3) Instructions on the use and services of the Tabernacle (chs. 30-31)
4) Instructions regarding the construction of the Tabernacle (chs. 35-40)
C. This is a very rich section. Since God designed everything about the Tabernacle, every article is important.
TYPOLOGY OF THE BOOK
(Types are pictures, object lessons, by which God taught His people concerning His grace and saving power. An O.T. type answers to a N.T. anti-type.)
1. Israel in bondage - our condition before salvation
2. Egypt - the world, in which we walked before salvation
3. Pharaoh - a type of Satan (in his oppression of Israel)
4. Israel’s cruel bondage - the tyrannical dominion of sin over its captive
5. Moses, the Deliverer - Christ, the Captain of our Salvation
6. The Passover Night - the security of the believer under the blood
7. The Exodus - our deliverance from the bondage of sin
8. Crossing the Red Sea - our union with Christ in His death and resurrection
9 Wilderness Journey - the experiences of the Christian pilgrim throughout his earthly walk
10. The Tabernacle - the excellencies and glories of Christ
CONCLUSION
The book begins in darkness and gloom, yet ends in glory; it commences by telling how GOD CAME DOWN IN GRACE to deliver an enslaved people, and ends by declaring how GOD CAME DOWN IN GLORY to dwell in the midst of a redeemed people.