Ralph Porter

© 2002

Author and Date

    Author--As with Genesis, Mosaic authorship dates Exodus in the fifteenth century B.C.

    Events--While the background information begins with the entrance of Jacob and his sons into

        Egypt in 1876 B.C., the majority of the events occurred in a period of eighty years, from about

        1526 to 1446 B.C.

Background

    Exodus begins where Genesis ends.

    Jacob's family is in Egypt, under the protection of the Pharaohs. There they remained and

        multiplied for about four hundred years.

Purpose and theme

    Genesis described the origin of Israel. It traced the beginnings of the universe, man, sin, the

        nations, and finally, the people of Israel. It tells how and why Israel came into existence. It

        also explains how Israel came to be in Egypt at the time of the Exodus.

    Building on that foundation, Exodus describes the birth of Israel as a nation.

        *     God controls history even in that pagan land, and uses circumstances there to make Israel

                    into a nation.

        *     God causes their growth from a family of seventy men, to a nation of 600,000 men, not

                    including women and children.

        *     God strengthens them to the point where even powerful Egyptian rulers fear them.

        *     God uses their suffering to unite them, so that together they might take possession of the

                    promised land and defend its borders.

    Exodus describes how God brought Israel out of bondage and established them as His people.

        *     God redeemed them and thereby made them His own.

        *     God gave them a covenant which would govern their relationship with Him and with one

                    another.

        *     God provided them a place where they might enjoy fellowship with Him and worship Him

                    for His demonstrations of love.

    Purpose

        *     That Israel, having become aware of where she has come from, might realize her debt to

                    God and need of dependence on Him.

        *     This awareness should cause them to trust, serve, worship and obey Him.

        *     As Israel voluntarily submitted to God's authority over her, she would thereby bring glory 

                    to God.

    What are some practical lessons God wants us to learn from Exodus?

The Birth of a Nation: Purchased by God                                                Ralph Porter

Ralph Porter

Author and Date

    The Mosaic authorship of the entire Pentateuch continues as a basic assumption which affects

        Exodus.

    Date

        Author--As with Genesis, Mosaic authorship dates Exodus in the fifteenth century B.C.

        Events--While the background information included in the introduction begins with the 

            entrance of Jacob and his sons into Egypt in 1876 B.C., the majority of the events 

            described occurred in a period of about eighty years, from about 1526 to 1446 B.C.

Background

    Exodus begins where Genesis ends.

    Jacob's family is in Egypt, under the protection of the Pharaohs. There they remained and

        multiplied for about four hundred years, until they were strong enough to be considered a 

        threat to Egypt itself.

    Although many unresolved questions remain concerning the specific details of Egypt's history at

        the time of Moses, some conservative scholars place Moses' ministry in the eighteenth dynasty

        of Egypt. An attempt to reconstruct some of the history of the period produces interesting

        insights into the biblical narrative.

    Joseph served as administrator in Egypt during the twelfth dynasty. As long as that Pharaoh, or 

        his descendants, lived, they would have continued to honor those who had served them so 

        well. However, in 1786 B.C. that dynasty fell (90 years later).

    Internal conflict developed and the competition continued until the Hyksos took over. The 

        Hyksos, Semites from western Asia, controlled the Delta area and established the capital of

        Egypt in Avaris, which was later renamed Rameses.

    The Hyksos had no reason to honor Joseph's descendants since he had done nothing for them.

        Since they were a relatively small part of the population, Israel's rapid growth became a threat

        to their continued existence. Thus they began to enslave the Israelites in order to keep them

        under control. This condition existed for various generations.

    After more than 150 years of Hyksos domination, Ahmose established the eighteenth dynasty in

        1567 B.C. Although the Egyptians were back in control and could have again honored the

        descendants of Joseph, after so many generations, no one remembered his role in their history.

        All they could remember was this useful population of Semitic slaves. Thus they continued to

        abuse Israel.

    A later descendant of Ahmose, Tutmose I, ruled Egypt from 1528 to 1508 B.C. Moses was born 

        in 1526, during his reign.His daughter, probably Hatshepsut, found Moses hidden in a basket 

        and protected him from her father's decree. This is especially significant inasmuch as she was

        the only child of Tutmose I and his official wife. She later married a weaker, sickly son of

        Tutmose I, who died shortly after taking the throne. Since they had no son, the logical 

        candidate was the son of a lesser wife who was only ten years old when his father died.

    Hatshepsut was a strong person and soon took control of the throne. A potential threat existed 

        that her adopted son might be given precedence over the son of another woman, if she had 

        the chance.

    Moses undoubtedly posed such a threat. However, after 21 years of domination by her, Tutmose

        III took independent control of the throne. His resentment for her is probably reflected in his

        response to Moses when given an excuse. Tutmose III was a great king and accomplished

        great things for his country. Moses waited nearly forty years in the wilderness for his death.

    The next Pharaoh, Amenhotep II (1450-23) was also a strong king. He was a military man, and

        known for great accomplishments during his early years. However for some reason not

        explained in historical documents, Amenhotep is not reported to have conducted any military

        campaigns in the last twenty years of his reign. This of course would be a logical result of the

        military loss suffered by the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

    The story of the rise to the throne of Tutmose IV reports that he was not the firstborn son of

        Amenhotep II, but was promised the throne by the gods. This account also corresponds to the

        biblical record.

    It is against this foreign background of suffering and slavery that God liberates His people and

        prepares them for national life as His people.

Purpose and theme

    Genesis described the origin of Israel. It traced the beginnings of the universe, man, sin, the

        nations, and finally, the people of Israel. Through Genesis we learn how and why Israel came

        into existence. Where their enemies came from. We also find in it the explanation of how 

        Israel came to be present in Egypt at the time of the Exodus.

    Building on that base, Exodus describes the birth of Israel as a nation.

        *     It explains how God controlled history even in that pagan land, and used circumstances

                    there to make Israel into a nation.

        *     Their growth is traced from a family of seventy men, to a nation of 600,000 men, not

                    including women and children (= about 2.5 million people!).
        *     God strengthens them to the point where even powerful Egyptian rulers fear them.

        *     He uses their suffering to unite them, so that together they might take possession of the

                    promised land and defend its borders.

    Exodus describes how God brought Israel out of bondage and established them as His people.

        *     He redeemed them and thereby made them His own.

        *     He gave them a covenant which would govern their relationship with Him and with one

                    another.

        *     He provided them a place where they might enjoy fellowship with Him and worship Him

                    for His repeated demonstrations of love.

    Purpose-The book was written that Israel,

        *     having become aware of where she has come from, might realize her debt to God and

                    her need of dependence on Him.

        *     This awareness should cause them to trust, serve, worship and obey Him.

        *     As Israel voluntarily submitted to God's authority over her, she would thereby bring glory

                    to God.

Organization

    Exodus demonstrates two distinct, yet related, bases for organizing its structure. The book is 

        easily organized on the basis of the geographical elements in the story.

•     The account begins in Egypt 1-13:16

•     Following their liberation from Egypt, their travels to Sinai are described   13:17-18:27

•     The remainder of the book is dedicated to revealing the events which occur at Sinai 19-40

    At Sinai, the most important events are related to God's revelation of Himself and His instructions

        for His people. Thus the nature of the story changes radically after their arrival at Sinai.

         1.     First half of book concentrates on historical events which occurred, both in Egypt and 

                    on the road to Sinai  1-18   The REDEMPTION of God's People

         2.     Second half, while also historical in nature, places emphasis on the revelation of God, or

                    His legislation for His people   19-40   The REVELATION of God to His People.

Argument

I.     Redemption of God's people   1-18

    A.     Liberation from Egypt   1-13:16

        1.     Justification for liberation   1

                In order to demonstrate the need for God to redeem His people from Egypt, Moses 

                first describes the conditions under which Israel was living in Egypt.

            a.     Their multiplication   1:1-7

                    He begins by describing again Israel's entry into Egypt. From a small group of 

                    seventy, at the time of Joseph's death, the nation multiplied and filled the entire land 

                    of Egypt. God's blessing on them was evident even in a pagan land.

            b.     Their oppression   1:8-14

                    A new king who owed no debt to Joseph took over Egypt's throne. As he saw 

                    Israel's rapid growth, he became frightened by the threat they posed to him. This 

                    may be an indication that his was a minority government, ruling only by superior 

                    power. In any case, he was frightened by the threat they posed and used oppressive

                    tactics to keep them under control.

            c.     Their elimination 1:15-22

                    In spite of the oppression, Israel continued to multiply.

                    Finally, the king decided that the only recourse was obligatory birth control. He 

                    ordered the midwives to kill all Hebrew males at birth. The midwives, however, 

                    because of their respect for God, protected the Hebrews Their protection of God's

                    people resulted in blessing for them, just as God had promised Abraham.

                    Pharaoh tried again, decreeing that all male Hebrew babies should be thrown into 

                    the river. Such oppression and murder of God's people required God's intervention 

                    to protect His people from extermination.

        2.     Preparation for liberation   2-7:7

            a.     The deliverer     2-4

                    God began to prepare for the liberation of His people by sending a deliverer who 

                    would be raised in Pharaoh's own home.

                (1)     His birth   2:1-2

                (2)     His preservation   2:3-10

                (3)     His choice   2:11-14

                        As time passed, Moses was forced to choose between his royal inheritance as 

                        son of Pharaoh's daughter, or his natural people, Israel who continued in bondage

                        Upon witnessing the abuses against his own people, he made his choice to 

                        identify with Israel (2:11-14).

                (4)     His escape to Midian   2:15-25

                        Knowing that word of his decision would soon reach Pharaoh, Moses escaped 

                        before Pharaoh could hurt him. During his long stay in Midian, the Pharaoh died. 

                        In the meantime, Israel's suffering continued. After many years of such 

                        suffering, God's time to free His people arrived. At last they were ready for the

                        deliverer (2:23-25).

                (5)     His encounter with God   3-4:17

                        God appeared to Moses and told him that He was about to rescue Israel from 

                        the Egyptians. While Moses was excited about God's plan and desired to see the

                        deliverance of Israel, he did not think he could do the job. Thus he began to make

                        excuses (3-4).

                (6)     His return to Egypt   4:18-28

                (7)     His meeting with the elders of Israel   4:29-31

            b.     The mission   5-7:7

                (1)    Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh   5:1-21

                         Eventually Moses gave in and went. Following their meeting with the elders of

                        Israel, Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh (5:1-21). They announce to Pharaoh 

                        that Yahweh has sent them to ask for Israel's release so that they may worship 

                        Him (5:1). Pharaoh responds in contempt, "Who is this Yahweh that I should 

                        obey Him?" In the chapters that follow, Pharaoh will find out Who Yahweh is!

                (2)    Moses' complaint before God   5:22-6:12

                (3)     Moses' family record   6:13-27

                (4)     Moses' spokesman before Pharaoh   6:28-7:7

        3.     Realization of liberation   7:8-13:16

            a.     Pharaoh's question answered 7:8-12:51

                     When Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh, the basic issue at stake was 

                    that reflected in Pharaoh's earlier question; "Who is this Yahweh that I should 

                    obey Him?" By means of the supernatural evidence given, Pharaoh is about to find 

                    out who Yahweh is.

                    The evidence given would demonstrate the authority of Yahweh, as well as that of 

                    His messenger. The miracles make it apparent that this is a conflict between 

                    Yahweh and the gods of Egypt.

                    In spite of the clear demonstration of God's power and authority, Pharaoh rejects 

                    the messenger of God and His message. Thus his heart is hardened and his 

                    kingdom and family are judged by God.

                    While the Passover was to be a judgment against Egypt, it also served as a test of

                    Israel's faith and obedience to God. Israel would be delivered from the judgment, 

                    but only if the people were obedient to conditions commanded by God. God was in 

                    control and their redemption was to be on His terms (12:1-13).

            b.     Israel's commemoration established   13:1-16

                    After describing the events of the first Passover and its implications for Israel, 

                    Moses explained the procedures God established to remind them of His work in 

                    their behalf.

                        The firstborn was considered God's   (1-2)

                        They were to celebrate Passover every year to remind them.   (3-10)

                        They were to pay God to redeem the firstborn.   (11-16)

    B.     Journey to Sinai   13:17-18:27

            After describing God's act of redemption, the author describes their journey from Egypt to

            Mt. Sinai. The trip can be divided in 3 logical phases:

        1.     To the sea   13:17-14:14

            a.     Israel's route   13:17-22

                (1)     Long route chosen   17-18

                (2)     Joseph's bones taken   19

                (3)     Pillar of fire given   20-22

                        God did not leave them to find their own way through the desert. He went 

                        ahead of them to guide them (13:20-22). They had a continual reminder of His

                        presence with them. This reminder would also serve as a basis to be sure of His

                        protection in difficult circumstances.

            b.     Pharaoh's pursuit   14:1-9

                (1)    God's plan   1-4

                (2)    Pharaoh's intent   5-9

                        In spite of the plagues which had revealed Yahweh's superiority to Pharaoh 

                        and the gods of Egypt, Pharaoh hadn't surrendered. When he stopped to think 

                        about what he had done, he suddenly realized that he was in trouble. Thus he 

                        went after Israel (14:1-9).

                        God's plan was to draw the armies of Pharaoh into a trap. By the destruction 

                        of the armies of Egypt, His superior power would be demonstrated and He 

                        would receive glory.

            c.     Israel's fear   14:10-14

                (1)    People's complaint 10-12

                         By any human standard, the Israelites didn't have a chance. Pharaoh was 

                        convinced that he could easily overpower them. The Israelites were also 

                        convinced of their hopeless situation. They were terrified (14:10-12).

                (2)     Moses' promise   13-14

                        Moses responded to them with a promise (14:13-14). If they would just be quiet 

                        and watch, they would see God's hand at work. God would fight for them. They

                        would never again be troubled by these Egyptians.

        2.     Through the sea   14:15-15:21

            a.     God's promise   14:15-18

            b.     God's provision   14:19-22

            c.     Egypt's pursuit   14:23-25

            d.     Egypt's destruction   14:26-28

            e.     Israel's salvation   14:29-31

            f.     Moses' song   15:1-18

            g.     Miriam's song   15:19-21

        3.     To Sinai   15:22-18:27

                Although Israel should have been convinced to trust Yahweh and to submit to His rule

                forever, the effect was short-lived. As they continued into the third phase of their 

                journey, from the sea to Sinai, new tests of their faith caused new doubts and new

                complaints.

            a.     Bitter water sweetened   15:22-27

            b.     Food shortage solved   16

            c.     Water shortage supplied   17:1-7

            d.     Enemy defeated   17:8-15

            e.     Overload redistributed   18

II.    Revelation to God's people   19-40

         After three months of travel, Israel arrived at Sinai where God revealed to Moses two

        important parts of His plan for His people. He gave them the law which would reveal to 

        them God's standards of conduct for His redeemed people. He also gave them the plans for 

        the tabernacle so that they might worship Him and enjoy fellowship with Him.

    A.     The law of God revealed to His people   19-24

        1.     Israel's covenant relationship with God defined   19-20

                Having brought Israel out of Egypt to be His own people, God had to reveal to them 

                the basis for their conduct before Him. That basis is His covenant relationship to them

                which he first defines briefly.

                God has chosen them to be His. He has cared for them and drawn them to Himself.

                Therefore, they should respond to His love by submitting to His authority over them 

                and obeying the regulations established in His covenant. Such conduct will distinguish 

                His people from the other nations of the world. If they live by His standards, God will 

                care for them and bless them.

                In order to make clear and to facilitate their recall of the laws God has established, 

                He summarizes them in ten basic commandments which they are to obey (20:1-17).

                    These commands speak specifically concerning their relationship to Him, as their 

                    God (1-11), and concerning their relationship to other people (12-17).

                The revelation of God's greatness frightens the people. Moses uses this fearful 

                reaction as a basis to warn them The fear of the Lord should serve to keep them from

                sinning (18-21). Such a great God ought not be taken lightly.

        2.     Israel's social relationship with men regulated   21-23:9

        3.     Israel's religious regulations established   23:10-19

        4.     God's angel to lead them   23:20-33

                God promises to send His angel before them to protect and to guide them. If they will

                listen to His direction and submit to Him, God will give them victory over their enemies.

                Little by little He will give them control over the land. They are to recognize only Him 

                and make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land nor their gods.

        5.     God's covenant confirmed   24

    B.    The way to God revealed to His people   25-40

            While on the mountain, God gave Moses the second major revelation for the life of His

            people. He revealed the plans for the tabernacle by which they might learn the proper 

            way to worship and to approach their God.

            The preceding section demonstrated the separation between God and man. Only Moses 

            was allowed to approach God. Now God reveals His plan to dwell among men. The plan

            begins with God, who desires to dwell among men. The provision is described from God

            toward man. It allows for man to draw near to God, but only on His terms.

        1.     Plan described   25-31

        2.     Plan delayed   32-34

            a.     Disobedience manifested   32:1-6

                    At a time when Israel should have reached a spiritual peak, while Moses was on 

                    the mountain receiving God's law, they disobey God and cause a delay in His 

                    program for them. Rather than wait for Moses, the people become impatient and 

                    make their own gods. They make a golden calf and call this god, whom they worship

                    their own way, "Yahweh."

            b.     Judgment decreed   32:7-10

                     God tells Moses what the people are doing and threatens to destroy them (7-10). 

                    God offers to start over with Moses and make a nation from his descendants.

            c.     Intercession received   32:11-14

                    Moses rejects God's proposal and intercedes for God's people (11-14).

                     Moses reminds God of his covenant promise to be faithful to Israel. God accepts

                    Moses' message and restores His people.

             d.     Judgment enacted   32:15-35

                    Although God is willing to forgive Israel and fulfill His covenants to her, He must 

                    first punish those who have been disobedient (15-35).

                    Moses returned from the mountain to see the sad scene. As he witnessed what 

                    was happening, he became angry. He threw the tablets down and broke them. This

                    action may have been for the purpose of protecting the people, since it was the 

                    tablets which were the basis of the condemnation of their acts. He also destroyed 

                    the calf they had made.

            e.     Separation threatened   33:1-6

            f.     Presence promised   33:7-17

                    Moses refuses to go unless God goes with them (14-16)

            g.     Revelation requested   33:18-23

                    Moses has talked to God face to face but now he wishes to see Him and to know 

                    Him completely.

            h.     Covenant reconfirmed   34:1-35

                    Having resolved the problem caused by Israel's disobedience and having received 

                    God's promise to accompany them again on their journey to the land, the covenant 

                    is again confirmed to Israel.

        3.     Plan completed   35-40

                After the people saw God's compassion and forgiveness revealed in the reconfirma-

                tion of the covenant, the time came to go to work on the tabernacle.

                Upon completion of the task, the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (40:34-38). 

                This was the climactic event.

Exodus reveals an exciting part of God's plan. In it the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants is fulfilled in their experience. God delivers His people from bondage in Egypt, makes them into a great nation, teaches them to follow His directions and trust Him, provides all their physical needs, instructs them in the conduct He expects from His children in the midst of a pagan world, and, finally, reveals to them the way to fellowship with Himself. The book concludes in triumph. God now dwells in the midst of His people, revealing Himself to them daily. The people of God are now prepared to move into the land He has promised them, to claim the possession, and to enjoy fellowship with their God in the land He has given to them.

Practical Lessons

    1.     God controlled history to make Israel into a nation.

                He controls history today also--even in pagan lands.

    2.     God bought His people and brought them out of bondage.

                He bought us, too, in order to free us from sin's bondage.

    3.     God expects His people to submit to His authority over them.

                *     To realize our debt to Him.

                *     To realize our dependence on Him.

                *     To submit to His authority in our daily lives.

    Write down some practical lessons God wants us to learn from Exodus.

    What should you do about them?