Agere Sequitur Esse

Exodus

Book of Exodus

Notes.. .

. ..Introduction. By Moses in the wilderness during a time of wandering across the Sinai peninsula between 1450 and 1410 for the purpose of recording Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the development of Israel as a nation. People include Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Jethro, Aaron, Joshua, and Bezalel. This book includes more miracles that any other OT book.
. ..Themes. Slavery, Rescue and Redemption, Guidance, Ten Commandments, and Nation of Israel.
. ..Outline. “The Israelites remained in Egypt for 430 years. From the status of an honored and welcomed guest from about the 1800 BC they had been demoted to the level of a feared foreign element (William Seay 2019, L2 17:45–18:04).
. ..Application. “Exodus centered our attention on an act of deliverance by Yahweh, the only living God who is ruler over nations, individuals, kings, slaves, people, land, sea, history, and nature” (Seay 2019, L2 32:02–32:19).
. ..Timeline. Moses was born about 1530. The burning bush, Moses returns to Egypt, the Red Sea is crossed, the ten commandments are given to Moses, the tabernacle is consecrated, and priesthood are established in 1450.

Introduction. 12:50 – It was written by Moses. It was written between 1450 and 1410 BC; approximately the same time as Genesis. The purpose of was to record Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the development as a nation. It was written in the wilderness during Israel’s wandering somewhere in the Sinai peninsula. Just as in Egypt, while once highly favored, they are now slaves who are about to be set free. Key people are Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Jethro, Aaron, Joshua, and Bezalel. Some of the special features in Exodus are that is relates more miracles than any other OT book and containing the ten commandments.

Themes. 14:32 – There are five major theological themes. (i) Slavery. The Israelites were slaves for 400 years. The pharaoh cruelly oppressed the Israelites who prayed to God for deliverance from pharaoh’s oppression. (ii) Rescue and Redemption. God rescued Israel through Moses’s leadership and mighty miracles. The Passover celebrates Israel’s escape from slavery. (iii) Guidance. God guided Israel out of Egypt by using the plagues and Moses’ heroic courage. (iv) Ten Commandments. God’s system of law had three parts: (a) The ten commandments was the first part that contained the absolute spiritual and moral life. (b) The civil law was the second part that gave people rules to manage their lives. (c) Ceremonial law was the third part that gave them patterns for building the tabernacle and regular worship. (v) Nation of Israel. Was to be the source of truth and salvation for all the world. His relationship to His people was loving yet firm. The Israelites had no schools, governors, mayors, or police when they left Egypt, but God had to instruct them in their constitutional law and daily practices. He showed them how to worship and have national holidays.

Outline. 17:25 – The Israelites remained in Egypt for 430 years. From the status of an honored and welcomed guest from about the 1800 BC they had been demoted to the level of a feared foreign element. From a pharaoh who elevated Joseph to second in command, the Egyptians eventually had a pharaoh who did not know Joseph in Exod 1:8. This resulted in the pharaohs not having the same regard. Living in the north-east part of the country in the Nile delta area called Goshen, the Israelites were at the doorway where foreign armies would enter Egypt to conquer, rape, and pillage. The non-Egyptian rules say the Israelites as a threat to their national security, so the Egyptians saw a need to change their Hebrew status and stop their population growth. As a result, the Hebrews were discriminated and oppressed.
In order to keep their religion and heritage intact from the ancient Egyptians, although Israel had its shepherding heritage and faith in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Hebrews were faced with a sophistical culture and enticing religious system. Deities abounded in Egypt where there was a god for just about everything. Religious pluralism flourished from the sacred Nile to the sun god. From sacred baboons to the pharaoh who considered himself to be a god. There were sacred beetles and bulls. All forms of life took on mystical and magical properties. Music and ceremony were beautiful and attractive. Temples were furnished and attended by numerous priests and priestesses who administered magnificent rituals. All of Egyptian life was saturated and regulated by religion. Everyone in Egypt had to pay homage to pharaoh. People could be put to death for not paying homage. It was considered sacrilegious and treason.
How do people maintain their own simple faith in an unseen God with no big ceremony or system of priests in a situation like that in Egypt? When a faith teaches covenant and promise, how long can a people believe it when they become subjugated to others? How do enslaved people keep believing in their God when they are not the victors? These are some very pertinent questions.
The Israelites has several options. (i) Through the centuries, they could have given up their uniqueness and their faith in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and could have become just like the Egyptians. Unquestionably, some did. Some must have converted to the victorious god of their adopted land. (ii) They could have held onto the God of the fathers and let Him be one of many gods. They could believe and worship Him without denying the existence of the other gods. (iii) The third option was monotheism. By living apart from the main culture in Egypt in their own slavery, they could keep their traditions and customs alive. It is likely that there were Israelites in all three categories when Moses arrived. In such a religious situation, God called Moses to serve. It is difficult to know the precise dates but was certainly no earlier than c. 1450 BC and no later than c. 1250 BC. Egypt was at its zenith in military power and political glory. The pyramids were over 1000 years old. Engineering, architecture, and medicine were all advanced. Two powerful pharaohs had ruled during this era. It was suggested that these were Ramses and Ramses II. With God given gifts, a great mind, courage, a rich heritage, and life transforming experience at the Burning Bush, Moses sought to bring a new concept to the covenant making and covenant keeping God of their fathers to an oppressed people. Some of them must have wondered if He even existed at all considering their seemingly helpless state of existence. Moses faced significant challenges convincing his own people that they should leave Egypt. The pharaoh presented an even greater challenge. Moses overcame, opposition, resentment, misunderstanding, and all the problems associated with leading a slave people through some of the most desolate land on earth. He faced rebellion and apostasy to receive the most significant code of laws the world has ever known. He would become the most influential person for the Hebrew people of the entire OT.
Exodus would remind them of when they entered Canaan and in later years how the God of the fathers delivered them from bondage and how He kept His promise to Abraham and coveted them in Sinai and tabernacle in their midst. It would remind them that He was a holy God who demanded first placed in their lives. There should be no images or idols. It would remind them of His power to cause plagues and divide the sea, bring water from a rock, and shake a mountain with His awesome presence. Because He mightily delivered the Israelites, He had the right to demand their utmost loyalty and their obedience.

Theological conclusions. 26:38 – there are six. (i) God is the covenant maker and keeper. When people fail to keep their part of the covenant, He will forgive is they repent and are willing to renew it. (ii) God is Lord of history. He is a living God. He is not only the God of personal meditation and individual belief but also the one who introduced himself by the personal name Yahweh to Moses. He is Lord over nations and nature, land and sea. He introduced Himself to the Egyptians as a plague and victory at the sea. He revealed Himself and worked in history to carry out His purposes. God wanted His people to become a kingdom of priests revealing His greatness to all nations and handing down the witness of His saving deeds to all generations. (iii) God is compassionate deliverer of the oppressed. Exodus also shows God to be loving, gracious and compassionate. Not only was God almighty or El Shaddai, but a God of awesome power. He cared for His people who groaned and cried in Egypt and responded to their prayers by delivering them from bondage. He is a redeeming God. Adherence to the Passover rituals as recorded in Exodus served as an annual reminder that their God was mighty in His deliverance. They would have their theology shaped by the facts of history and not by speculation. (iv) God calls and uses committed leaders. Not only did Abraham and Moses make their contributions, but also Jethro. The lead a people through a desert hand help them develop into a nation of people with an identify and purpose is one of history’s greatest success stories in leadership. It demonstrated what God can accomplish through dedicated and faithful leadership. (v) God is holy and demands righteous living. Exodus depicts God as holy; and as such, He demands that His people be holy also. The ten commandments brilliantly show what peoples relationship to God and others should be. True religion must include both. God is jealous and will not allow any gods or idols. Ethical and moral living are a result of our relationship to God. (vi) God cares about worship and dwells among His obedient people. Exodus also teaches us that He cares about worship. He gave instructions about the design and building of the tabernacle that was created in the center of the camp to symbolize His central existence within our lives, but it was His presence that made the real difference. The great God was not a distant god but chose to tabernacle with His people. God was there. He was present. He was in their midst.

Application. 31:56 – Exodus centered our attention on an act of deliverance by Yahweh, the only living God who is ruler over nations, individuals, kings, slaves, people, land, sea, history, and nature. It shows what He can do through and with the life of just one person. He acted in history to reveal Himself and to redeem His people. He is neither a myth of pagan superstition nor a figment of fictious idle speculation. He is Lord of history and has a purpose for His people. This realization shaped ancient Israel’s theology and influences our theology today. The God who acted in history to deliver Israel from Egypt is the same God who acted in history during the roman empire and the person of Jesus Christ to redeem us today. We are slaves to sin and He sets us free by His grace and power. It was no accident that Jesus chose to use two elements of the Passover to institute the Lord’s supper. Both observances symbolize death and deliverance. Both symbolize man’s plight and God’s mighty deed of love and redemption. Exodus leads us to recognize that people are oppressed today; and, it leads to recognize that God cares and is working to redeem them by opening their hearts to His call and be willing to obey Him whenever and wherever He wants us to serve. Exodus leads us to understand that He is still a covenant making and keeping God. He leads us to accept the fact that our part of the covenant means being obedient in trusting God to lead, guide, and provide as we follow Him in our daily walk. A holy God calls for a holy people. We must thank God for His commandments and providing for His Word to be put into written form. Exodus shows us that Gods demands ethical conduct and patient treatment for the dispossessed, helpless, and needy. To know that God is just and will punish sin. Exodus leads us to live lives of intercessory prayer for simple people. Exodus leads us to know that God was and still is a compassionate, gracious, and forgiving Lord. Exodus leads us to know that God will meet with His people when they gather to worship. Exodus places God at the center of our lives as One who is to be received with great gratitude and humility. He will deliver us from the power of bondage in sin.

Timeline. 36:00 – The birth of Moses around c. 1530 BC. In c. 1450 BC, many important events took place; such as the burning bush when God spoke to Moses, the time when Moses returned to Egypt to plead with the pharaoh to release his/His people, the time of plagues, crossing of the Red Sea, giving of the ten commandments, and setting up of and consecration of the tabernacle and establishment of the priesthood.

Ref.

Seay, William. 2019. Old Testament Theology [MP3]. Andersonville Theological Seminary (ATS). Camilla, GA: ATS