And in many ways, exodus is the covenant bookits the rules, the history, and the contract all wrapped up into one you probably remember abrahams covenant with god from genesis. It has its own quirks, subtleties, and superweird moments. The overall theme of exodus is redemptionhow god delivered the israelites and made them his special people. During this time, israel experienced physical prosperity and increase 1. The book of exodus tells the epic story of god delivering israel out of slavery in egypt, leading them in the desert, giving the law at mt. Israels legal traditions and institutions also have exodus origins. What are the main themes in the book of genesis in the bible. To know the story of exodus and gods people is to recognize it as our own. The historical setting is that of israel encamped at the base of mount sinai. In fact, two of the best commentaries on this pivotal old testament book are very recent publications.
These are the names of the israelites who went to egypt with jacob, each bringing his family members. In first book of the pentateuch, the book of genesis, the israelites had come to live in egypt in the land of goshen during a famine due to the fact that an israelite, joseph, had become a high official in the. In a 1996 guide to the best commentaries, derek thomas wrote. Exodus 1 niv bible these are the names of the sons of. Alec motyer the message of exodus the bible speaks today, 2005. Tere fredericks actually, according to a jewish website i found, the events of the exodus were basically true, only the ships name was changed. Moses was one of the greatest heros in the bible and is still alive in heaven today. The book of exodus details gods call to the people of israel to get up and leave their position of slavery in egypt. Preach on topics including pharoahs reign, moses leadership, deliverance, and the defining of gods identity, redemption, law, and people. Leadership resources training staff recently spent time together studying the book of exodus. 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. Im white and famous how bout an introduction helping you escape reality is my function idolized criticized and despised at the same time destroy lives with one line like the illest battle rhyme im loved by my haters hated by my lovers the sole subject of investigations undercover so powerful i infiltrate governments have. The message of the book of exodus may be determined on the basis of the previous considerations discussed up to this point. Then joseph died, and all his brothersthat whole generation.
The english name exodus comes from the ancient greek. It is worth noting that the english titles of many biblical books are derived from greek and latin because these were the two major translations of the hebrew old testament for christians. He is particularly well known for his extensive work of the book of isaiah. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the rational bible. For example, the entirety of the book of exodus shows that god delivered the israelites from egypt not simply to give them freedom, but to bring them to mt. Also, the arabs as depicted in the book, not all but a goodly number, as still today. The message, characters, and themes of the book of exodus in. Thankfully, the situation has changed in the last twelve years, and there are a number of good commentaries on exodus from which to choose. By the end of the book, israel is again in serviceto its sovereign lord in the service of worship. Sinai, and records the construction of the tabernacle. Tradition holds that moses wrote the book of exodus. Exodus is an international publishing phenomenon the towering novel of the twentieth centurys most dramatic geopolitical event. He used events from exodus and numbers to illustrate that gods people can and sometimes do fail in their new relationship with god.
He dispels confusion about chronological questions, explores the authors use of poetry, and more. Leon uris magnificently portrays the birth of a new nation in the midst of enemies the beginning of an earthshaking struggle for power. Exodus morality meant giving justice to the weak and the poor. 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 since exodus continues the sacred story of the divine promise to israel begun in genesis. The book of leviticus takes place within the larger context of exodus 19 to numbers 10. For example, there is the famous song of victory recorded in the fifteenth chapter. He was the central figure of the book and an eyewitness of its primary events. We saw that god knows everything, when he told moses exactly how pharaoh was going to respond. 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. Media referencing the book of exodus exodus amazing facts. The covenant is more than just an agreement between god and the israelites. God rescues and delivers his people as he guides them into the unfamiliar desert. It is an epic saga, and in it lies the key to understanding so much of the bible.
Fretheim says that it is not a historical narrative in any modern sense, instead its primary concern is theological. There is a famine of really good commentaries on exodus. The following is a brief presentation of approximate dates of events in the book of exodus. 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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The original purpose of exodus was to help the people of israel understand their identity as gods special people, and to learn about their covenant obligations to him. However, the fact that more than half of exodus is taken up with these things should alert us to the fact that they are central to the message of exodus. Exodus shows us gods way of delivering sinful people 1 corinthians 10. 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. Under alec motyers expert guidance, we explore the terrain of exodus, weigh its themes and view our own lives and times through its timeless lens. Chapters 118 narrate the history of the egyptian bondage, the exodus from egypt, and the journey to mount sinai under the leadership of moses. The global message of exodus the continued story of redemptive history. In addition to the themes other educators have provided, these are two others which emerge in the old testament book of exodus. Israels exodus from egypt must be understood as the unique event that it was within the history of redemption.
Aside from a few key texts and wellknown thoughts, exodus is not commonly recognized as a sermonic gold mine. Exodus definition is the mainly narrative second book of canonical jewish and christian scripture. Jun 19, 2008 this is now the first commentary on exodus to which i turn. Central to these events are the ten ominous plagues that moses sends upon egypt, which increase in severity as pharaohs heart hardens. Introduction to the book of exodus learn religions. Why the exodus was so significant my jewish learning. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and i am concerned about their suffering. Exodus records more miracles of god than any other book in the old testament. The message, characters, and themes of the book of exodus in the context of the new testament part 1. Prepare your messages on gods word in exodus with sermon outlines or an entire sermon series. Book of exodus overview insight for living ministries. 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 exodus is traditionally ascribed to moses, but modern scholars see its initial composition as a product of the babylonian. Exodus, the liberation of the people of israel from slavery in egypt in the th century bce, under the leadership of moses.
Alec motyer has written a large number of books and commentaries over the course of his career. Aside from a few key texts and wellknown thoughts, exodus is not commonly recognized as. Also, the arabs asmore actually, according to a jewish website i found, the events of the exodus were basically true, only the ships name was changed. Just as the fire of god burned the bush but did not consume it, so the wrath of god was poured out on the. Even after the israelites experienced the exodus and the miraculous bread and water in the desert, they rebelled against the very one who had delivered them. 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. Why the book of exodus matters for your life core christianity. The main theme of exodus is the lords selfrevelation in faithfulness, grace. Exodus salvation for israelites, foreign residents, animals, and even land deut 5.
The god who came down to deliver his people from egypt in the person of moses exod. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The book of exodus and its messagein his theory of forms, the philosopher plato proposes that the objects and situations encountered in the mundane world are often indicative of a higher and fuller reality. 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. Im white and famous how bout an introduction helping you escape reality is my function idolized criticized and despised at the same time destroy lives with one line like the illest battle rhyme im loved by my haters hated by my lovers the sole subject of investigations undercover so powerful i infiltrate governments. Offering a thorough exegetical and homiletical analysis of each passage of exodus, garrett investigates all the major events mentioned, discussing their significance for the interpretation of the old testament as well as their message for todays church. Its name comes from greek and latin and means departure, which reflects the central theme of the book. The book of exodus shows that the god of abraham is the only true god of all the earth. Reuben, simeon, levi, and judah, issachar, zebulun, and benjamin, dan and naphtali, gad and asher. There are many great themes and doctrines taught through exodus and many areas for application for us 3,000 years later after the coming of the.
Preaching from the book of exodus, under motivation of the january bible study emphasis in 1978, will undoubtedly provide that precise experience for many preachers. Exodus comes from a greek word meaning exit or departure. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. 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. Last week, we looked at some of the reasons why god is the source of our boldness. So i have come down to rescue them from the hand of the egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey. The lord draws us out of our sin and draws us into relationship with him.
The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes. The book of exodus holds an esteemed place in the old testament, and the shadow of its influence reaches as far as revelation, where an abundance of themes from exodus echo off its pages. Below are some brief notes about how many exodus themes fit into the whole of the bible. It is from this creation that god has a special relationship with man, and in genesis specifically.
A substantial exegesis of that passage is worth many pages. 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. 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. The message, characters, and themes of the book of exodus. 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. 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. Its hebrew title, shemoth names, is from the books opening phrase, these are the names.
The story of the exodus is told in the books of exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy, the last four of the first five books of the bible also called the torah or pentateuch. This summary of the book of exodus provides information about the title. The book of exodus and its message in his theory of forms, the philosopher plato proposes that the objects and situations encountered in the mundane world are often indicative of a higher and fuller reality. Commentary on the book of exodus by matthew henry old. The book of exodus was written between 1440 and 1400 b. 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. Like a recurring theme in a piece of music, sometimes its presence takes. The book of exodus continues the story of the redemptive history that god began in the book of genesis.
The exodus became the first event that was used to date the construction of israels solomonic temple. The heart of this book is the passover, after 9 plagues had been sent on israel the passover angel was sent. Jacob and his family entered egypt about 430 years before the exodus 12. Its themes are a major part of the psalms and the old testament prophetical books. Moses was the author of the book of exodus exodus 17. Jun 18, 2011 that song letsgetfree made was easily my fav. Exodus is a latin word derived from greek exodos, the name given to the book by those who translated it into greek. In gods timing, the exodus of the israelites from egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for abrahams descendants genesis 15. God created the origins of the world and man itself. Our sermon ideas on exodus will help you preach a powerful message on god delivering his people from bondage. Sep 23, 2012 what is the message of 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. 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.
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