Bible 101: Lesson 3

Exodus

Exodus is a Greek word which is composed of two parts, ek, “out” and hodos, “road”. The book of Exodus describes the departure of the nation of Israel from their bondage in the land of Egypt. Centuries before, the Patriarch, Jacob, had brought his extended family to Egypt to avoid starvation (see Gen. 46:1-27). Because of a shift in political power, the descendants of Joseph and his brothers fell into slavery, but they became quite numerous. The emphasis in Genesis upon one family gives way in Exodus to a focus upon the nation of Israel. They are slowly shaped into a people who are in a covenant relationship with God.

The main theme of Exodus is redemption. Everything mentioned in the paragraph above can be seen to be a type of the Christian life. We are all in bondage to sin. We originally get into sin because we have needs that we feel we cannot fulfill in any other way, but it soon controls us. Our life becomes complicated and finally we need a rescuer to come and deliver us. That rescuer is the Passover Lamb of Exodus 12. His blood on the doorposts of our life causes the death sentence for sin to “pass over” us, and we are led instead into freedom and restored relationship with God. Moses is also a type of Jesus Christ.

Exodus is divided into two main sections. The first is historical, Chapters 1-19, and the second gives the regulations which are to govern the nation of Israel in its covenant with God.

Messianic Prophecies in Exodus

Lamb slain for us
OT References: Ex 12:1-11; Is 53:7
NT Fulfillment: Jn 1:29-36, 19:36; 1 Cor 5:7-8; Rev 5:6-14, 7:14, 21:22-27, 22:1-4

No bone broken
OT References: Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20
NT Fulfillment: Jn 19:36

Firstborn son sanctified
OT References: Ex 13:2; Num 3:13, 8:17
NT Fulfillment: Lk 2:23