Exodus Preview
The book of Exodus is foundational to understanding God’s redemption plan in the Old Testament, and really throughout the rest of Scripture. Exodus begins where Genesis left off. Joseph and all his brothers in that generation died. Abraham’s family were in Egypt, and they grew large after God promised it would grow large. They grew so big that they found themselves in slavery to the Egyptians. There was a new pharaoh in charge, who did not know about Joseph, and he saw the Israelites as more of a problem than a provision. The word “exodus” means exit, and the book is all about the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt and journey towards the Promised Land.
Exodus can be split thematically into two, with the first half covering the redemption from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-19) and the second half covering the revelation of the Law and God Himself to His people (Exodus 20-40). God reveals himself through His words and His works. Exodus is full of memorable stories that are referenced back to in the books of Scripture that follow. We see the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt through the plagues, the Passover, and the parting of the Red Sea. The Passover points to a future and ultimate “passover lamb” whose blood would cover God’s judgment towards sin. We see salvation through substitution. Later, God gives His people the Law at Mount Sinai, which was meant to reveal God’s holiness and man’s brokenness and regulate conduct and behavior. The three parts of the law are: moral, civil, and ceremonial. This instituted the Mosaic covenant which was a conditional covenant that God made with His people. If they believed and obeyed God’s commands, they would prosper. If they disobeyed, they would perish.
God also gives instructions for the Tabernacle, which is a tent where God would dwell with His people as they headed towards the land. The tent was divided with the outer courts, the holy place, and the holy of holies where the Ark of the Covenant was placed and God’s presence lived. This is the first time that God is dwelling or “tabernacling” with His people since the Garden of Eden. Each piece of the tabernacle is significant pointing to a need, a temporary provision, and a greater fulfillment to the coming Messiah. We can revel at the fact that through Christ, we have a righteous standing before God and His presence dwells within us!
The Exodus storyline points to a greater exodus where God will bring people out of slavery in sin into the abundant life found in Christ. The greater Moses and the greater redeemer is Jesus. Look for glimpses of God’s big redemption plan throughout the pages of this book!
Read Exodus 1
The Israelites Oppressed
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.
6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor,and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly.14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
Go Deeper
Exodus is a continuation of the storyline of Genesis. Genesis ends with the descendants of Joseph numbering seventy, and Exodus begins with that same number. This chapter starts telling us, “Here are the names of Israel’s children who went to Egypt with Jacob” (v. 1). This is repeating what we were told back in Genesis 46:8, which shows us Israel’s journey to Egypt. The book begins with a problem. There was a new Pharaoh in charge who did not know the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Pharaoh believed that God’s people were too many and too mighty, so he needed to find a way to keep them from increasing in number. It tells us that the Egyptians “made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly” (v. 14).
Pharaoh came up with a plan to tell the midwives to kill the firstborn of every Hebrew boy in the land. However, the midwives had a greater authority. It says the midwives “feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live” (v. 17). God blessed their obedience, and the people became even more numerous. The chapter ends with this order from Pharoah: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile but let every girl live.” We see the story continue in the next chapter and beyond as God preserves a Hebrew boy named Moses and raises him up to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt.
It tells us that the midwives feared God more than they feared Pharoah. What does it mean to fear God? Proverbs 9:10 says that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The fear of God leads to our obedience to Him as our ultimate authority. In our own lives, we will either choose to fear God or we will fear something else. While our decisions might not feel as costly as the one in this chapter, any decision that is made apart from God will similarly lead to destruction. Be reminded today that we can always choose obedience to God because He is trustworthy, and His commands are for our good.
Questions
- Why do you think these women were able to choose to trust God in the face of Pharaoh?
- What does it mean to fear God? What keeps you from fearing God?
- When is a time you feared God over fearing people?
Watch This
As we begin this study through the book of Exodus, check out this video overview of the first 18 chapters from The Bible Project!
10 thoughts on “Exodus 1 + Preview”
The midwives choice to save the baby boys never ceases to amaze me. I am amazed at their boldness. And I’m always struck that God honors their decision.
17 “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.“
I always love the stories of everyday heroes! Just ordinary people going about their job who are then suddenly called to acts of great courage. Go midwives!
Being set free by God to serve Him is the theme of Exodus.
Redemption: God delivers His people
Covenant: God claims His people
Worship: God dwells with His people
First we get to look at the redemptive story from bondage of God delivering His people.
Verse 6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
They did what God asked of them so He was blessing them
17 The midwives, however, feared God,
When we think of fear, we think afraid because of the boogie man is out to get us or that we will be thought about in a bad way. What I discovered when I read “The Awe of God” by John Bevere is what I believe is an accruate, what we should believe about a holy fearing God. The fear of God is be afraid, so very afraid to not be near Him, and it is a gift but it is the polar opposite of the fear of man. The fear of man is 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. The fear of God is the power, love and sound mind that He gives us to know Him more fully. If you havent read this book I highly encourage you to.
God as the sons of Israel did, I want to fear being away from You. God teach me more how to fear You in an authentic loving, You God, way. May I take pleasure in this fear. God help me in this journay to see with Godly goggles, hear with listening ears to Your Holy Spirit. Please help me to not read just for information but for transformation into Your Son’s image. Thank You God for the gift of fear from You. Thank You that is a way of protecting me from departing from You. Thank You that I do not tolerate sin but hate it. Why would I tolerate something that Jesus died to set me free from? God thank You for the examples You give in Your Word that I may learn from. God thank You for the minutes of this day, that I can see, think and say glorifing, honoring and thankful words. Thank You for all the amazing ways You surround me with. Thank You for me, choosing You in all the minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, Amy, fear only being away from God!
This message really encourages me, especially as I head to the polls today with a heavy and conflicted heart. The worst of rulers can reign — BUT GOD is still sovereign. God is in control. God has a perfect plan. God will always triumph.
And God continues to accomplish extraordinary things through ordinary people.
Oh, that I would be like those midwives! Lord, help me to resist evil and protect the innocent with whatever authority you give me!
It seems that killing of innocent lives has existed throughout the ages. From the time of pagan Pharaohs/kings to present day babies are seen as a threat and therefore disposable. Yet in a few chapters we will read God’s commandments of which this is addressed, “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). May we be like Shiphrah & Puah and show incredible courage and love for God by protecting the most vulnerable, the least of these, not merely in word only but by our actions.
The courage to walk in faith like Shiphrah and Puah out of obedience and Holy fear of God shows their passion and strength for humanity. The Holy fear of the Lord helps to keep us away from sin.
Romans 12:2 reads “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I love how the commentary shares how fearing the lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Wisdom simply put, is knowledge put in action is how I define it. So true. Many people know that putting god first, lying, stealing, cheating and worshiping money etc. are all bad things but they continue to not care and indulge themselves. Including me! But once a fear of god and importance comes into your life. Your ways are changed. You fear what god thinks more than the people around you & that’s when u become unstoppable. I use to be so entrenched to other peoples opinions but god has helped me grow out on that gradually. This is all a process!
I feared god today over people by talking off to my flight passengers next to me. They were really closed off people. I Shared and asked about faith. I got a closed off response did what I could. I was rlly uncomfortable but I know god calls me to talk about him to others.
Talking to. Not talking off lol
Love that you talked to the people on your flight today. Way to be obedient!