Friday, 14 February 2014

Exodus - an Outline

During my reading according to the 2 year Bible Reading Programme, I've had many a busy day during the last two weeks.  I still read the chapters.  It is impossible not to notice the high significance of the liberation and Exodus, the rebellious responses, the broken resolutions and God's grace in wanting us exclusively as His.  Totally mind-blowing.  After 400 years of silence, and abundance of God-revelation to Moses, within a period of 6 months miracle upon miracle, the great rescue against all odds, the blood on the doorposts and then the camping out at Mount Sinai.  God's voice, God's very presence and once again, to say the least, a torrent of God-communication, instructions and making His will known.

 But....I still wanted to get a handle on Exodus in the form of an outline, so that, hopefully with saner weeks ahead I can start from the third section of Exodus and try to get some kind of insight into God's plan for fellowship with Him.  I presume fellowship with others as well.
Author: Moses was the author of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 17:14;24:4-7;34:27).

Date of Writing:The Book of Exodus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:
  • The word “exodus” means departure. 
  • In God’s timing, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt ....marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 15:13), and the beginning of the fulfilment of the covenant promise to Abraham.
  • The Fulfilment...
  1. that his descendants would  live in the Promised Land, 
  2. that would also multiply and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3,7). 
  • The purpose of the book may be expressed as 
  1. tracing the rapid growth of Jacob’s descendants from Egypt 
  2. to the establishment of the theocratic nation in their Promised Land.
Brief Summary:
Exodus begins where Genesis leaves off as God deals with His chosen people, the Jews. 
It traces the events from the time Israel entered Egypt as guests of Joseph,
until they were eventually delivered from the cruel bondage of slavery.

A.   Chapters 1-14 
  • describe the conditions of oppression of the Jews under Pharaoh, 
  • the rise of Moses as their deliverer,
  • the plagues God brought upon Egypt for the refusal of their leader to submit to Him, 
  • and the departure from Egypt. 
God’s sovereign and powerful hand is seen in
  • the miracles of the plagues
  • the deliverance of the Israelites, 
  • the parting of the Red Sea,
  • and the destruction of the Egyptian army.
B.    The middle portion of Exodus is dedicated to the wandering in the wilderness and the miraculous provision by God for His people. 

But the people continually grumbled and rebelled agains God even though 
  • He gave them bread from heaven,
  • sweet water from bitter, 
  • water from a rock, 
  • victory over those who would destroy them, 
  • His Law written on tablets of stone by His own hand, 
  • and His presence in the form of pillars of fire and cloud.
C.    The last third of the book describes 
  1. the construction of the Ark of the Covenant 
  2. and the plan for the Tabernacle 
  3. with its various sacrifices, altars, furniture, ceremonies, and forms of worship.
Foreshadowings: 
  1. The numerous sacrifices required of the Israelites were a picture of the ultimate sacrifice, the Passover Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. 
  2. The night of the last plague on Egypt, an unblemished lamb was killed and its blood applied to the doorposts of the houses of God’s people, protecting them from the angel of death. 
  3. This foreshadowed Jesus, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19), whose blood applied to us ensures eternal life. 
Salvation Application:
The Mosaic Law was given in part to show mankind that they were incapable of keeping it. 
We are unable to please God by law-keeping; therefore, 
  • Paul exhorts us to “put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).