Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament, in the section of the Bible that we call the Pentateuch, which contains the five books of the law.
Exodus means ‘going out’ or ‘going up’. Exodus is about the story of Israel and their redemption from slavery. In this book, God calls himself by a new name, Yahweh, which means ‘I am who I am’. The Jews treat this name as sacred and will not pronounce it.
Yahweh is seen here as the liberating God, as he initiates the liberation of His people from their slavery in Egypt.
Yahweh makes a covenant with his people, and this covenant was very much central to the fabric of the new life and social order they were creating. The exodus from Egypt is the highlight of the Israelite and Jewish history. No other image has the same powerful meaning for the Israelites as does the Exodus. For the Christian it sets down in embryo God’s plan to offer salvation through the ‘blood of the Lamb’ that we know in the New Testament to be Jesus Christ.
To tell Israel the purpose of her redemption and of God’s demands upon her.
Traditionally authorship has been assigned to Moses.
The people of Israel.
Scholars disagree about the dates of Exodus, but the majority agree that Moses crossed the Red Sea or the ‘Sea or Reeds’ in 1275 BC when Rameses II was Pharaoh.
The Exodus story starts in Egypt and it continues as the people journey towards the Promised Land.
The Exodus from Egypt is the supreme example of God’s supreme favour to, and deliverance of, his people. God’s provision is evident throughout the long journey of his people to the Promised Land.
“God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM. That is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (3:14)
“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (15:11)
What new revelation of God, the one whose name is ‘I AM who I AM’, do I receive as I read the story of His people being liberated and guided?