Exodus

(i) Title – from Greek meaning “the way out”; Hebrew calls it shemoth meaning “names” from chapter 1:1

(ii) Purpose – Genesis closes with Joseph’s death, Exodus opens with Moses birth; 200 years separate the events; it begins with a ‘groan’ (chapter 2:24), ends with glory (chapter 40:34), and in between God’s grace brings a people to Himself; three main events are the Exodus from Egypt, giving the Law, and the erection of the Tabernacle.

(iii) Outline

– Ch’s 1-18 redemption, – Ch’s 1-11 preparation of people (Ch 1), Moses (Ch’s 2-4), Pharaoh (Ch’s 5-11)

– Ch’s 7-13 – Plagues

– Ch 12 – Passover

– Ch’s 13-14 – Pressing on

– Ch 15 – Praise

– Ch’s 16-18 – Provision

– Ch’s 19-40 – Revelation – Ch’s 19-20 moral law

– Ch’s 21-23 – Civil law

– Ch’s 24-40 – Ceremonial law

N.B. complaints, commands, and captains!

Complaints – Chapter 5:20-21 – Moses blamed for hardships

– Chapter 14:11 Moses blamed for no way out at the Red Sea

– Chapter 15:24 Moses blamed for no water (in Ch 15 after praise a punch)

– Chapter 32:1 Moses blamed for desertion

Commands – words ‘command’, ‘commandment’, or ‘commanded’ more than 50 times in Exodus (see Chapters 39-40) e.g. 39:1,5,7,21,26,29,31,32,42,43; 40:16,19,21, 23,25,27,29,32; Chapters 25-31 commandments proper on tabernacle; Chapters 35-40 commands obeyed.

“God’s method of saving people is through a man.” (p14, T. F. Knight’s God’s Wonderful Word). The man is saved first, then schooled (chapter 2) BUT slow (consider his excuses for opting out of service – chapter 3:11 – no ability; chapter 3:13 – no message; chapter 4:1 – no authority; chapter 4:10 – no eloquence; chapter 4:13 no real desire; D. L. Moody said once that Moses in the palace 40 years learning to be SOMEBODY – 40 years in the desert learning to be NOBODY – and 40 years more learning what God can do with a nobody (Moses the something / nothing discovers God is everything).