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The book of Exodus begins with Israel in slavery. The Egyptians
enslaved Israel after Joseph's death, fearing that Israel
would join forces with neighboring nations and defeat them.
Birth of Moses
Moses was born about four hundred years after Joseph's family
moved to Egypt. At the time of his birth, Pharaoh had commanded
midwives to kill all newborn Israelite boys.
Moses' parents saved him from death, disobeying the kings
command. His mother hid him in a basket among the reeds
of the Nile, three months after his birth. Pharaoh's daughter
found Moses and adopted him, raising him in all the splendor
of Pharaoh's house.
Moses in Midian
When Moses was forty years old, he tried to save an Israelite
from an Egyptian who was beating him. In the process, Moses
killed the Egyptian.
Pharaoh heard about Moses' actions and tried to kill him.
As a result, Moses fled to Midian where he lived another
forty years, until God commanded him to return to Egypt
and deliver the Israelites from bondage.
While in Midian, Moses worked for Jethro, a priest of
God. Moses married Zipporah, one of Jethro's daughters,
and fathered two children.
The Burning Bush
One day, while pasturing Jethro's flock, Moses saw a burning
bush. God spoke to Moses from the bush, commanding him to
return to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh.
Moses' message to Pharaoh, from God, was to let His people
go.
The Ten Plagues
Moses goes to Egypt, helped by Aaron, and tells Pharaoh
to let God's people go into the wilderness to worship. Pharaoh
hardened his heart and refused to let them go and worship.
To compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites, God sent
ten plagues upon Egypt: water to blood, frogs, lice, flies,
death of cattle, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of
the first born.
Preparing for the last plague, death of the first born,
God instituted the Passover. Israelites took a lamb and
put some of the blood on their doorposts. When God saw the
blood, He passed over that house and the firstborn lived.
After the death of Pharaoh's firstborn son, Pharaoh let
the Israelites depart from Egypt. But he soon hardened his
heart again, and sought to bring them back into slavery
in Egypt.
Crossing the Red Sea
The Egyptians pursed the Israelites to the Red Sea. It seemed
like the Israelites were trapped, and that Egypt would easily
enslave them again. But God parted the Red Sea and millions
of Israelites crossed the sea on dry land. After the Israelites
were safe on the other side, God confused the Egyptians
as they entered the dry seabed, and destroyed the army by
making the sea return to its normal state.
The Song of Moses
After God saved Israel from bondage in Egypt, Moses and
the Israelites sang a song to God, praising Him for delivering
them from Egypt.
In heaven, we'll sing the song of Moses, a song of praise
to God for saving us from sin, and for eternal life in heaven
(Rev. 15:2-4).
Amalekites Attack Israel
The Amalekites attack Israel from the rear while they are
in Rephidim, unprovoked by anything Israel had done, probably
taking advantage of the weakest of God's people.
As a result of the Amalekites' sin, God granted Israel
victory over them that day. And eventually, he ordered Saul
to utterly destroy them, annihilating the entire nation.
The Ten Commandments
Israel traveled from Rephidim to Sinai, where God gave them
the Ten Commandments, which are part of the Mosaic Law.
Today, we are not under the Ten Commandments or any part
of the Mosaic Law. God changed the law (Heb. 7:12). We live
under the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2).
The Golden Calf
Moses was on Mount Sinai forty days while receiving the
Ten Commandments. While he was gone, Israel made a golden
calf and worshiped it. Then, they tried to worship God using
the calf.
God was angry with Israel for their sin and planned to
destroy the nation. But Moses prayed for them and God relented.
Then, when Moses came down from the mountain and saw the
people's idolatry, he burned the calf, ground it up, spread
it over the surface of the water, and made them drink it.
Message of the Exodus
God always accomplishes His plan, no matter what man may
do. Our job is to worship and serve God, knowing He'll be
glorified in all He does, and knowing we'll be glorified
as His people.
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