The word ‘Exodus’ in Greek literarily means ‘going out’. After the
death of Joseph and the influential personalities including the Pharaoh
who knew about the settling of Jacob’s 70-man family in Egypt, arose a
new Pharaoh who was intimidated by the growth rate and magnitude of the
Hebrew race at that time. Consequently, the Israelites were subjected
to slavery and intense suffering in the hands of the Egyptians on the
orders of the new Pharaoh.
The book of Exodus is essentially about the redemption of the Jewish
nation. It vividly describes how God brought the children of Israel out
of bondage and slavery in Egypt. The redemption also brings them into a
special relationship with God who makes them His own purchased
possession and peculiar treasure. The manifestation of God’s power in
the deliverance of His people and their eventual birth and emergence as
a nation are the main themes in the book of Exodus.
Moses was the Jewish prophet used by God to fulfill this divine purpose
of deliverance. His birth, training in the house of Pharaoh and while
in exile in Midian and call, were happenings in the first 80 years of
Moses’ life. Moses’ encounter with the Burning Bush at the Mount
signaled the birth of his ministry, the beginning of the redemption of
the Israelites and the Exodus.
During the oppression in Egypt, Moses was born and as God will have it,
he was raised in Pharaoh’s house. An unfortunate incident made him go
on exile in the land of Midian.
However, his encounter with God made
him return to Egypt courageously with a divine mandate for the
redemption of God’s people and a message from God to Pharaoh to that
effect. Aaron was chosen by God as his right-hand man.
The Egyptians wouldn’t let go so God had to afflict them with series
[10] of plagues and institute The Passover to keep the Israelites safe
from the plagues. The people left Egypt, crossed the Red Sea and after
lots of complain and acts of rebellion God provided manna and water for
the people. God was with them in the battle with the Amalekites. At Mt.
Sinai, God through Moses gave the Israelites the 10 Commandments and
later, various moral statutes were given to the people.
A tabernacle was built as a sanctuary of worship for the lord God and
Aaron and his sons were the priests. Moses went up Mt Sinai and before
his return, the people through Aaron made a golden calf and worshipped
it. Moses intercedes for the people but that did not stop God’s
punishment. Moses was later shown the Lord’s glory and the covenant was
renewed. With God’s direction and Moses’ supervision the tabernacle is
constructed and erected with resources given freely by the people of
Israel.