The Second Book of Moses Called
EXODUS
Author: Traditionally Moses
Date: About 1400 B.C.
Theme: Deliverance
Key Words: Deliver, Sacrifice, Sign,Tabernacle, Sanctuary
Author. Moses, whose name means “Drawn Out,” is the central figure of Exodus. He is the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus is traditionally attributed to him. Four passages in Exodus lend strong support to Moses’ authorship of at least most of it (17:14; 24:4, 7; 34:27). Through various events and face-to-face encounters with God, Moses received the revelation of those things God wanted to be known. Then, through the process of Holy Spirit inspiration, Moses communicated this revealed information to the Hebrew people both orally and in written form.
Date. Conservative tradition dates Moses’ death sometime around 1400 B.C., so the Book of Exodus was likely compiled during the forty years preceding, while in the wilderness.
Background. Exodus is the continuation of the Genesis account, dealing with the development of a small family group of seventy people into a large nation of millions. For 430 years the Hebrews lived in Egypt, most of the time in bondage. Exodus records Moses’ development, Israel’s deliverance from their bondage, their trip from Egypt to Mount Sinai to receive God’s law, and His instructions on the building of the tabernacle. It ends with the construction of the tabernacle as a dwelling place for God.
Content. The Book of Exodus can be divided into three major sections: the miraculous deliverance of Israel (1:1–3:16), the miraculous journey to Sinai (13:7–18:27), and the miraculous revelations at Sinai (19:1–40:38).
Section one (1:1–13:16) opens with the Hebrews being oppressed in Egypt (1:10–14). Like any group under restraint, the Hebrews complained. Their complaint was made known not only to their captors, but to their God (2:23–25). God heard their plea and put in motion a plan to deliver them. He accomplished this deliverance through selecting a prophet named Moses (3:1–10).
Deliverance did not occur instantaneously; it was a process. A considerable amount of time and ten plagues were used to gain the release of the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s grip. The plagues accomplished two important things: first, they demonstrated the superiority of the Hebrew God over Egyptian gods and, second, they brought freedom to the Hebrews.
The second division recounts the miraculous journey to Sinai (13:7–18:27). Four major events occur in this section. First, the Hebrews witness God’s miraculous delivering power (13:7–15:21). Second, they experience firsthand God’s ability to provide for His children (15:2–17:7). Third, they receive protection from their enemy, the Amalekites (17:8–16). Fourth, ruling elders are established to keep peace among the people (18:1–27). These four major events teach one major concept: God had His hand on the lives of His special people. Since they witnessed His presence and knew the way God worked in their behalf, they could adjust their lives to His way in order to continue receiving His blessings.
The final section deals with the miraculous revelations at Sinai (19:1–40:38). God’s deliverance of the people is for the specific purpose of developing a covenant people. This section has three major components. First is the giving of the Ten Commandments and those instructions that explain in great detail how these commandments are to be expressed in the lives of God’s covenant people (19:1–23:19). The results of living outside this covenant structure are demonstrated by the incident involving the golden calf (32:1–35). Second are instructions concerning the building of a tabernacle and its furniture (25:1–31:18). Third is the actual construction of the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the dwelling of God’s presence in the completed structure (35:4–40:33).
Personal Application. The first concept to be gleaned from the Book of Exodus is that God blesses those who remain in a covenant relationship with Him. He is their God and they become His holy people.
Second, God explains in great detail what is acceptable to Him.
Third, God delivers those who find themselves in bondage. The deliverance may not come instantaneously, but it will come to those who wait and make preparation for His deliverance. That deliverance is based upon obedience to God’s expressed will and upon moving when He says to move. The children of Israel had to wait until after the Passover meal and the angel of death had passed over; after that, God gave the command to go. Thus, we also must wait, but be ready to move when God commands.
Christ Revealed. Moses is a type of Christ, for he delivers from bondage. Aaron serves as a type for Jesus as the High Priest (28:1) making intercession at the altar of incense (30:1). The Passover indicates that Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slain for our redemption (12:1–22).
The “I AM” passages in John’s Gospel find their primary source in Exodus. John states that Jesus is the Bread of Life; Moses speaks of the bread of God in two ways, the manna (16:35) and the showbread (25:30). John tells us that Jesus is the Light of the World; in the tabernacle the lampstand serves as a never-failing light (25:31–40).
The Holy Spirit at Work. Oil in the Book of Exodus symbolically represents the Holy Spirit (27:20). For example, the anointing oil is a type of the Holy Spirit, which is used to prepare worshipers and priests for godly service (30:31).
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22, 23. A parallel list can also be found in Exodus 34:6, 7, which lists the attributes of God as being merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, truthful, and forgiving.
The most direct references to the Holy Spirit can be found in 31:3–11 and 35:0–36:1, when individuals are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become great artisans. Through the enabling work of the Holy Spirit, these individuals’ natural abilities were enhanced and expanded to perform needed tasks with excellence and precision.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
EXODUS
Author: Traditionally Moses
Date: About 1400 B.C.
Theme: Deliverance
Key Words: Deliver, Sacrifice, Sign,Tabernacle, Sanctuary
Author. Moses, whose name means “Drawn Out,” is the central figure of Exodus. He is the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus is traditionally attributed to him. Four passages in Exodus lend strong support to Moses’ authorship of at least most of it (17:14; 24:4, 7; 34:27). Through various events and face-to-face encounters with God, Moses received the revelation of those things God wanted to be known. Then, through the process of Holy Spirit inspiration, Moses communicated this revealed information to the Hebrew people both orally and in written form.
Date. Conservative tradition dates Moses’ death sometime around 1400 B.C., so the Book of Exodus was likely compiled during the forty years preceding, while in the wilderness.
Background. Exodus is the continuation of the Genesis account, dealing with the development of a small family group of seventy people into a large nation of millions. For 430 years the Hebrews lived in Egypt, most of the time in bondage. Exodus records Moses’ development, Israel’s deliverance from their bondage, their trip from Egypt to Mount Sinai to receive God’s law, and His instructions on the building of the tabernacle. It ends with the construction of the tabernacle as a dwelling place for God.
Content. The Book of Exodus can be divided into three major sections: the miraculous deliverance of Israel (1:1–3:16), the miraculous journey to Sinai (13:7–18:27), and the miraculous revelations at Sinai (19:1–40:38).
Section one (1:1–13:16) opens with the Hebrews being oppressed in Egypt (1:10–14). Like any group under restraint, the Hebrews complained. Their complaint was made known not only to their captors, but to their God (2:23–25). God heard their plea and put in motion a plan to deliver them. He accomplished this deliverance through selecting a prophet named Moses (3:1–10).
Deliverance did not occur instantaneously; it was a process. A considerable amount of time and ten plagues were used to gain the release of the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s grip. The plagues accomplished two important things: first, they demonstrated the superiority of the Hebrew God over Egyptian gods and, second, they brought freedom to the Hebrews.
The second division recounts the miraculous journey to Sinai (13:7–18:27). Four major events occur in this section. First, the Hebrews witness God’s miraculous delivering power (13:7–15:21). Second, they experience firsthand God’s ability to provide for His children (15:2–17:7). Third, they receive protection from their enemy, the Amalekites (17:8–16). Fourth, ruling elders are established to keep peace among the people (18:1–27). These four major events teach one major concept: God had His hand on the lives of His special people. Since they witnessed His presence and knew the way God worked in their behalf, they could adjust their lives to His way in order to continue receiving His blessings.
The final section deals with the miraculous revelations at Sinai (19:1–40:38). God’s deliverance of the people is for the specific purpose of developing a covenant people. This section has three major components. First is the giving of the Ten Commandments and those instructions that explain in great detail how these commandments are to be expressed in the lives of God’s covenant people (19:1–23:19). The results of living outside this covenant structure are demonstrated by the incident involving the golden calf (32:1–35). Second are instructions concerning the building of a tabernacle and its furniture (25:1–31:18). Third is the actual construction of the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the dwelling of God’s presence in the completed structure (35:4–40:33).
Personal Application. The first concept to be gleaned from the Book of Exodus is that God blesses those who remain in a covenant relationship with Him. He is their God and they become His holy people.
Second, God explains in great detail what is acceptable to Him.
Third, God delivers those who find themselves in bondage. The deliverance may not come instantaneously, but it will come to those who wait and make preparation for His deliverance. That deliverance is based upon obedience to God’s expressed will and upon moving when He says to move. The children of Israel had to wait until after the Passover meal and the angel of death had passed over; after that, God gave the command to go. Thus, we also must wait, but be ready to move when God commands.
Christ Revealed. Moses is a type of Christ, for he delivers from bondage. Aaron serves as a type for Jesus as the High Priest (28:1) making intercession at the altar of incense (30:1). The Passover indicates that Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slain for our redemption (12:1–22).
The “I AM” passages in John’s Gospel find their primary source in Exodus. John states that Jesus is the Bread of Life; Moses speaks of the bread of God in two ways, the manna (16:35) and the showbread (25:30). John tells us that Jesus is the Light of the World; in the tabernacle the lampstand serves as a never-failing light (25:31–40).
The Holy Spirit at Work. Oil in the Book of Exodus symbolically represents the Holy Spirit (27:20). For example, the anointing oil is a type of the Holy Spirit, which is used to prepare worshipers and priests for godly service (30:31).
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22, 23. A parallel list can also be found in Exodus 34:6, 7, which lists the attributes of God as being merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, truthful, and forgiving.
The most direct references to the Holy Spirit can be found in 31:3–11 and 35:0–36:1, when individuals are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become great artisans. Through the enabling work of the Holy Spirit, these individuals’ natural abilities were enhanced and expanded to perform needed tasks with excellence and precision.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
