OVERVIEW:
The bondage of the Jews in Egypt; Moses’ birth and early life in Egypt; Moses’ flight into Midian; the burning bush; God commissions Moses and Aaron to deliver Israel; Moses’ return to Egypt.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
The word “exodus” means “the way out”. The book of Exodus is the story of Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. It should be noted, as we begin this portion of the Bible, that more column inches are given to the record of Israel’s exodus than any other thing in the entire Bible! It is the subject matter, not only of the book of Exodus, but the books of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and even into the book of Joshua! Why so much detail about one event? We are told why in 1st Corinthians 10:1-11: the exodus is not just a PORTION of Israel’s history—it is a PORTRAIT of the Christian life! God tells us that we’re given this incredible record of Israel’s history, so that the same thing that happened to them, doesn’t happen to us! (See 1st Corinthians 10:6, 11.) The sad reality is that for most believers, it does!
To help you “develop the pictures”, as we make our way through Israel’s exodus, keep in mind that:
- EGYPT is a picture of the world and sin. It will consistently stand for that which is in opposition to God and God’s people. Just as Egypt held God’s people in bondage in the Old Testament, it pictures the world’s system that seeks to hold us in bondage in the New Testament. (Ephesians 2:2)
- PHARAOH, the wicked king of Egypt, is a picture of Satan, the wicked king of the world’s system who exercises his will in taking God’s people captive. (2nd Timothy 2:26)
- ISRAEL is a picture of the individual believer. Please note that Israel is not a picture of the church! In Exodus 4:22-23, God plainly declares that “Israel is my son” and commands Moses to tell Pharaoh to “let my son go, that he may serve me.” In the New Testament, God reveals that as individual believers in Christ, we now possess the title, “son of God.” (1st John 3:2; John 1:12; Romans 8:14) Making the proper connection between Israel and the individual believer will keep us from “wrongly dividing the word of truth” (2nd Timothy 2:13), and misapplying God’s word to our lives.
- MOSES is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the deliverer of God’s people.
- AMALEK is a picture of the flesh, which constantly wars with our spirits as we seek to walk with Christ. (Galatians 5:16-17)
Keep in mind, as you read about Israel’s affliction in today’s reading, that the Jews had gone down to Egypt and lived off the best of the land. (Genesis 47:6) This luxury has now turned into sorrow and suffering. It is an inescapable principle of life: sin promises freedom and happiness, but in the end, it only leads to bondage and sorrow. Be constantly on guard against the “deceitfulness of sin”! (Hebrews 3:13; Romans 7:11; Ephesians 4:22)
As the Hebrews remained in bondage for 400 years(!), it seemed as if God was either unaware or unconcerned of their situation. They, no doubt, felt forsaken, and wondered why God had not provided their deliverance. Had they only remembered what God said in Genesis 15:13-16, they would have known that God had already prophesied that the duration of their bondage would be 400 years. During these years when it seemed as if God was doing nothing, He was actually preparing His people (Exodus 1), preparing the deliverer (Exodus 2-4), and extending incredible mercy by giving the wicked nations of Canaan time to repent (Genesis 15:16). When we feel that God is either unaware or unconcerned about our circumstances, we must remember that God is constantly at work in our lives for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29), even when we can’t see it with our physical eyes!
At 40 years of age, Moses determined that it was time to accomplish the mission for which he had been called—to deliver Israel! There was only one problem, however. It wasn’t GOD’S time! Exodus 2:12 says that Moses “looked this way and that.” Moses wanted to fulfill God’s calling on his life but he was walking by sight and not by faith. (2nd Corinthians 5:7) God had 40 years of training ahead for Moses in the land of Midian serving as a shepherd for his father-in-law’s flock before he would be prepared for the difficult task that lie ahead in shepherding God’s flock.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
Through MOSES as SHEPHERD and DELIVERER – Exodus 3:1, 11 (John 10:11-14; Hebrews 13:20; 1st Peter 5:4; Romans 11:26; Titus 2:14)
Note: Moses is one of the most perfect types of Christ in the entire Bible. Moses himself makes this declaration in Deuteronomy 18:15.
As the Great I AM – Exodus 3:13–14 (John 8:58; Hebrews 13:8)