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The Title simply means EXIT in Greek … and it
tells of the Israelites Exiting Egypt after years of bondage.
The Author is Moses … not JEPD as the Liberals
claim.
The Value of the book is seen in further
references made to it in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Law are basic
to the rest of the Bible story. The Book of Hebrews, for example, cannot be understood without some grasp of
the latter portion of these chapters.
Chapters 1-13
..In Egypt. ( What God did !)
Chapter 14-40 …
In the Wilderness. ( What God Required !)
The Problems.
* Critics claim there are no secular or archaeological proofs of these events. Maybe so , maybe not. Archaeologists are divided on this issue. In any case , Nations record their victories, not their defeats. And the God of Israel defeated Egypt at this time.
* The Date of the Exodus is still hotly debated.
Most evangelicals put it around 1450 B.C. Other evangelicals (and all
liberals) suggest a date about 200
years later.
* The Predestination of Pharaoh ! Wow ! Did God
really harden his heart so he could not submit to God’s command ? Yes … but
wait! First he hardened his own heart ( Exodus 5:1; 8:15; 8:32 …) then he
sinned once too often and from then on we read “ The Lord
hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”(9:12; 10:1;10:20) The same sunshine that melts
butter hardens clay. Pharaoh had a choice and decided to make his heart like
clay ! So yes ! it can be said God hardened it!
* The various miracles. The ten plagues were
directed against the so-called gods of Egypt. They worshipped the sacred Nile ,
the various insect gods, the Sun god …etc.
It is true that sometimes our God used natural means to accomplish the
miraculous. The Red Sea, for example was parted by a “strong east wind” ( Ex.
14:21) But it was miraculous
that it took place at the very moment Moses raised his rod !
* The Route of the Exodus. Numerous suggestions
have been made as to the identification of Mount Sinai. The popular tourist attraction may not be
the correct site !
* The Number of Israelites. Scholars suggest anything from over 3 million to 100,000. This is because the Hebrew alphabet had no
vowels … and “ lph” could mean
“thousand or “family group” depending on the vowels inserted. Thus the “ six hundred thousand” of 12:37
could also be translated as “ 600 family groups” or “tent groups” …
*The Name of God !! In Exodus 6:3 God tells Moses
his Name ( “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” … again depending on which vowels are used, )
and that this name was not known to the earlier patriarchs. Yet this Name
appears previously in Genesis 15:1,
17:1; 18:1) etc. ( translated “LORD”)
It might well be explained by the fact that Moses writing
the story of Abraham 500 years later
uses the Name by which he ( Moses )
knew God … even though it was
not known to Abraham.
Maybe the LORD will have a better explanation of these
problems when we get to Glory !!
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Fifteen incidents in the Life of Moses will reveal
the story line of this Book of Exodus.
(1) The Hidden Infant … (2:3) . Some years after
the deatyh of Joseph a new Pharaoh has arisen who makes slaves of the
Israelites. A death penalty is pronounced on male infants. Moses is hidden in a
basket on the Nile.
(2) The Egyptian Prince. ( Acts 7:21-22) Discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter , Moses
grows to manhood in the royal court.
(3)The Impetuous Patriot ! (2:11-12) He slays an
Egyptian who was mistreating an Israelite. And has to flee to Midian.
(4) The Gallant Defender. (2:16-17) Here he
rescues some Jethro’s daughters from ruffians … and marries Zipporah.
(5) The Reluctant Spokesman (Ch. 3-4) Commanded to
return to Egypt and confront
Pharaoh, Moses offers five excuses
why he cannot obey !
(6) The Miracle Worker. (Ch 5-11) A series of ten plagues sweep Egypt. After
the Passover ... the plague of death ... the Israelites leave Egypt.
(7) The Faithful Deliverer. (14:13-14) Moses leads them to, and through, the Red
Sea.
(8) The Prophetic Song-leader. ( Ch. 15) Moses
leads the nation in a song of praise to God !
(9) The Burdened Leader. (16:2; 17:3) The Israelites murmur against the harsh
conditions of the wilderness.
(10) The Wise Listener. (18:24) Moses is willing to take advice from Jethro
and delegate some of his responsibilities.
(11) The Law Giver. At Mnt. Sinai God gives his law to Moses who passes them on to
the nation.
(12) The
Appointed Architect . ( Ch. 25-31) God also gives Moses specific
instructions concerning the building of a Tabernacle.
(13) The Angry Judge ( 32:25-28) At Moses
command,3000 sinful Israelites are slain by the Levites !
(14) The Fervent Intercessor (32:30-32) Moses
prays for Israel … even willing to perish himself if they might be spared .
(15) The Obedient Builder. (Ch.40:18-19) Moses
erects the Tabernacle.
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CHRIST IN EXODUS … There are many types herein of the Lord Jesus.
He is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinth. 5:7); He is our Manna
… Bread from Heaven ( John 6:30-35);
He is our Smitten Rock from whom the water of Salvation
freely flows ( John 7:37) ;He is our Sabbath .. wefind our rest in Him (
Coloss. 2:16-17) The Tabernacle speaks
of Him in numerous ways; likewise the High Priest and his garments…
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Then told by Lord
at burning bush to set His people free;
There were ten
plagues, then out they went … across the dry Red Sea,
Got laws and
Tabernacle … that bless-ed they might be !
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