The Book of Exodus

Exodus continues the narrative that began in the book of Genesis. Exodus refers to God's miraculous deliverance,or rescue of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to their departure from that land as God's chosen people.


Exodus was written to provide a lasting historical record of how God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and established them as His chosen nation. The book also provides a written revelation about God's covenant with Israel. Exodus is an important link in the process of God revealing Himself and His plan to people. That plan reaches its highest point in the New Testament through the person of Christ.


Five major features characterize Exodus. 1. It records the historical events surrounding Israel's birth as a nation. 2. It contains, in the Ten Commandments, a summary of God's moral law and righteous requirements for His people. These serve as a foundation for Biblical ethics and morals throughout God's Word in both the Old and New Testaments. 3. It is the main Old Testament book describing God's redemptive grace. It is an amazing picture of God's power in action. Exodus is an Old Testament picture of how God supernaturally rescues His people from bondage of sin, satan and the world. 4. The entire book is saturated with a majestic revelation of God including His glorious attributes; His lordship over history and all rulers; His covenant relationship with a people who trust Him as Savior; His purity, justice and righteousness as revealed in His moral law and judgments; and His worthiness to receive worship as the almighty God who also dwells with His people. 5. Exodus emphasizes that what, why and how of true worship that should come from individuals who have a personal relationship with God.


Many situations and events throughout Exodus are prophetic symbols of the relationship God offers us under the new covenant. The first Passover, the Red Sea crossing and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai are to the old covenant (or Old Testament) what Jesus' death, resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost are to the new covenant (or New Testament). Some of the things in Exodus that are "types" or symbols of Christ and His work in the New Testament are: Moses, the Passover, the Red Sea crossing, the manna, the rock and water, absolute moral obligations of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament are requirements for new covenant believers as well.