EXODUS – BIBLE TEACHING Exodus is a Greek word meaning: Exit, departure, or going out, and is thus named because it records the departure of the nation of Israel leaving from Egypt after 430 years. The Big Picture of Exodus: Many years had passed and Jacob (Israel), Joseph and his children were dead. But their descendants (children‟s children‟s children) still lived in Egypt. A new Pharaoh made the people of Israel slaves. They prayed to God, and He answered them. God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and slavery. Background: the moment you turn the page, from the last chapter of Genesis to the birth of Moses, it is a nation. During the long period of about 280 years, a nation has developed. There were only 70 people who went down to Egypt, but when they left it had grown into a nation of about two million people. Theme of the Book: „Redemption‟ Redeem: In the Bible to redeem means, to obtain release by means of payment. Slaves were set free by the payment of a ransom (Exodus 21:32); apparently the standard price for a slave. Similarly, the ransom necessary to free sinners from the bondage of sin, was the death of Christ, through His blood. Outline of the Book of Exodus: Exodus 1: The slavery of God‟s people Exodus 2-4: The call of Moses to be the leader of God‟s people Exodus 5-11: The challenge for Pharaoh to release God‟s people (and the ten plagues) Exodus 12: The Passover for God‟s people – a picture of Jesus as our Savior Exodus 13-19: The Exodus of God‟s people from Egypt Exodus 20-24: The giving of the Law to God‟s people

Exodus 25-40: The building of the tabernacle by God‟s people Main people: Moses and Aaron. The families of Israel were becoming a nation. Author: Moses is the author of Exodus. Luke 24:27 and John 5:46 tells us that Moses wrote part of the Old Testament. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Moses wrote what he was/was not an eyewitness of. Moses was an eyewitness of most of the events that he recorded in Exodus. Moses probably wrote the book [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy] during the desert wandering (1446-1406 B.C.). Date: 1446 B.C. – (1 Kings 6:1) places the date of the Exodus 480 years earlier in “The fourth year of Solomon‟s reign” which was in 966 B.C. (Add 966 + 480 years =1446 B.C.)

Exodus 1: Exodus 1:1-4) The names of the 12 sons of Israel or Jacob who later became the 12 tribes of Israel. Exodus 1:5) Seventy persons total went or were in Egypt See Genesis 46:1-27. Exodus 1:6) The Death of Joseph (1805 B.C.) Exodus 1:7) Multiplied: the incredible growth of Israel‟s small family into a nation, God‟s promise to Abraham Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 15:5, 26:24; 28:14). Exodus 1:8) New King (background): This new pharaoh probably did not rule immediately after the death of Joseph. The language suggests a radically different or changed situation with a new ruling dynasty (a new family of rulers). Removed last three sentences Exodus 1:9-10) This new King was probably Ahmose I (1570-1546) He may have perceived the growing numbers of Hebrews as threat to them and their control over Egypt. Exodus 1:11-14) The new pharaoh made the people of Israel slaves to work hard labor in the fields, and making bricks and mortar. They were made from the Nile River and about twice the size of today‟s common bricks. Exodus 1:15) totally removed

Exodus 1:16-22) Kill all male babies: The Israelites [Hebrew‟s] continued to multiply in spite of their imposed burdens and forced labor. Pharaoh gave orders to kill [cast into the Nile River] all male babies at birth. Because the Hebrew midwives “feared God” they ignored his order. Since God was responsible for Israel‟s growth, no plan from Pharaoh would succeed. This is not the only time that Satan has used a leader to try to kill off the Jewish people. In the past few thousand years, he has tried a number of times, especially when Hitler killed millions of Jewish people in World War II.

Chapter 2: The early life of Moses Exodus 2:1) The parents of Moses were Amram and Jochebhed (See Exodus 6:20). They were from the tribe of Levi. Exodus 2:2-4) Moses is born in (1526 B.C.) in Egypt. This summarizes about 350 years of history. From the time Jacob moved down to Egypt (Genesis 46) to the birth of Moses in (Exodus 2:2). She hid the baby: for three months, she hid her baby because the Egyptian Pharaoh wanted all male babies to be thrown into the Nile River (Exodus 1:22). But when she could no longer hide him, she made a basket of papyrus reeds and, coating it with tar and pitch, put the baby into it and laid it in the reeds by the river‟s bank. His sister stood afar off to see what would happen next to the baby Moses. Exodus 2:5-10) Pharaoh‟s daughter: Moses was found and adopted by Pharaoh‟s daughter, Hatshepsut. She adopted Moses. Moses was educated in the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22) Scripture does not state the age at which Moses was permanently taken into the royal household, but Josephus says he was three. Apparently during the few years that Moses was in his Mother‟s care, he was taught to love and serve Jehovah. Officially, he was reared as Egyptian royalty. “Pharaoh‟s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:21-22). Moses was taught the best education in the world at that time. He would have learned three languages: Egyptian, Akkadian and Hebrew. Moses would also have learned mathematics, geometry, chemistry, astronomy and hieroglyphic writing (pictures representing words or sounds, used in ancient Egyptian writing). Moses probably received one of the best secular educations of anyone in the

Bible. With all the skills Moses had learned in Egypt, he had the ability to write the Pentateuch. One of the Pharaohs of the oppression was Thotmes III, who reigned from about (1504-1450 B.C.). For the first sixteen to twenty years of his reign, he was subservient on the throne to the Princess Hatshepsut (his older sister). He was too young to rule, so she “helped out” or “filled in” until he became old enough to rule by himself. Exodus 2:11-15) When the Pharaoh heard of it; he wanted to kill Moses, so Moses fled to Midian. The time would have been about (1485 B.C.) and Moses is forty years old (Acts 7:22-24). Moses life is divided up into three sections of forty years each. Forty years in the palace of Pharaoh, forty years in the desert of Midian and forty years in the desert with the people of Israel. The Pharaoh who wanted to kill Moses was Thutmose III, who was “co-reigning” with Hatshepsut. It was Pharaoh‟s daughter who adopted Moses, and made him the possible heir to the throne. Moses is thought to have been appointed to a high office in government of Egypt. Josephus says, he commanded an army in the south. Moses must have attained considerable power and reputation, and probably made Thutmose III somewhat afraid of Moses, especially growing up under the “big shadow” of Moses. Perhaps, Thutmose III could see a possible power struggle between him and Moses for the throne down the road. Maybe this is why Moses had to flee Egypt, because Thutmose III wanted to rule by himself. He had to get rid of Moses, and Moses killing an Egyptian was a good excuse to get rid of Moses. Thutmose III, is still considered King from (1504 – 1482 B.C.) though Hatshepsut “co-reigned” with him to 1482 B.C.). After Hatshepsut‟s death, Thutmose III ruled alone until 1450 B.C. At her death, Thutmose III liquidated the entire royal court and attempted to obliterate Hatshepsut‟s name from monuments in the land, and destroy all her statues. Spiritual Lesson A right time, and a wrong time: Moses knew that God had called him to be a deliverer for his people. So when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he killed the

Egyptian. Moses tried to deliver his people, but the only problem was, he was 40 years ahead of God‟s timing or clock. There are usually two different times or clocks in this world. Man‟s clock, and God‟s clock, and they are usually “set to” two different times. Sentence removed Forty years later, God did it “His Way”. A totally different way than Moses would have done it. Forty years later, Moses no longer walked in the flesh, but walked under the power and strength of God. Zechariah 4:6 says, “its not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord of Hosts”. Now instead of Moses being a deliverer for one Hebrew, Moses now delivered an entire nation. How much better it is when you do it God‟s way, at God‟s right time. In Ecclesiastes (3:1) it says, “to everything there is a season and purpose” (or specific points in time) that God wants to do something. This was God‟s time; He was about to do something. Moses time had now come. Exodus 2:16) This is one of the Hebrew babies: All Hebrew babies were circumcised on the eighth day. The Egyptians didn‟t circumcise their boys until about the age of 13 years old (Joshua 5:2-5) Exodus 2:18-22) For forty years, Moses undertook the life of a sheep herder in the Sinai area, thus gaining valuable knowledge of the topography of the Sinai peninsula, which later was helpful as he led the Israelites in that wilderness land for forty years. Exodus 2:23) The king of Egypt dies: probably Thotmose III who dies about 1450 B.C. This meant that Moses could return to Egypt, at the death of a Pharaoh, Egyptian authorities dropped all pending charges, even in capital cases (See Exodus 4:19).

Exodus 3-4: God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. He told Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the people out of slavery, and into the Promised Land (3:10). I am sending you to Pharaoh: probably Amerhotep II/14501425 B.C.) Exodus 3:8) Land flowing with milk and honey: Meaning the land was good for agriculture, herds and flocks. Much like the land is for farming today in the United States.

Exodus 3:9-10) Spiritual Lesson Don’t Give Up On the First Try: God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and deliver the people of Israel. But it didn‟t work out til the tenth try. When God tells you to do something, it may not work out the first time. Many times it doesn‟t. But keep trying, don‟t give up. It didn‟t work out for Moses until the tenth try, or the tenth plague. When it didn‟t work out the first time, Moses could have said to God, “but God, I though you told me to come here and do this, why isn‟t it working. Why aren‟t the doors opening up for me? Why isn‟t Pharaoh letting the people leave Egypt? Nine times Moses went before Pharaoh saying, “Let my people go, so that they may worship me”. Nine times Pharaoh said no to Moses.

Exodus 5-6: Moses asked Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh said no. Exodus 5: 1-9) Pharaoh: a type of Satan Egypt: Egypt is a type of the world Israelite: a type of Christian Ways Satan keeps us in bondage: 1.

More work and “busy work or things”: The Devil will try to keep you so busy, so you won‟t have time or very little time for God. It could even be “good busy work” for the church, or your church. Be careful it doesn‟t take the place of spending good quality time with God every day.

2.

Bondage of debt: You borrow money on your credit cards to buy clothes, maybe a car and other things you really probably didn‟t need. The Bible has much to say on the matters of money; which we need to pay attention to and obey. Proverbs 22:7 says, “The borrower is servant to the lender.” God wants you to be debt free, like me. You have more freedom to do what God wants you to do instead of worrying how you are going to pay note on your home or car that you probably shouldn‟t have brought in the first place.

3.

No time to “worship God”: worship includes a daily devotional life, meaning you spend time with God every day, not just once or twice a week at church. I think the church (the people) do not hear enough today about having a daily devotional life. They used to tell you, you needed it, now I rarely hear about it anymore.

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” We need to spend time with God every day, not one or two days a week (Psalms 1:2). If you are too busy to spend time with God every day, then I agree with you, you are too busy! Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy what God wants to do in your life. Yes, Satan is alive and well on planet Earth and “walks around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8) Satan wants to “steal your time with God, and “make you busy, with busy work or things. It might even be church things.”

Exodus 7-11: the ten plagues upon Egypt It is believed that the time period of the plagues spanned about 9 or 10 months. It is interesting to note, that each of the first nine plagues were directed at one of the gods of Egypt. God acted in judgment against the false gods and idolatry of Egypt. There were ten plagues in all. The Nile River turned to blood; the plague of frogs; the plague of lice; the plague of flies; the disease of the animals; the plague of boils on the people and animals; the plague of hail; the plague of locusts; the plague of darkness; and finally the plague of death to all the first-born sons. Exodus 7:7) Here it tells us that Moses was 80 years old. He left Egypt at 40 years old (Acts 7:23.30,36). He spent 40 years in the land of Midian. He would spend 40 years with the nation of Israel. Exodus 7-11) Let my People go (see Exodus 7:16) Yet the Lord told Moses what to expect (Exodus 3:19; 4:21-23). The ten plagues upon Egypt To overthrow the gods of Egypt: Each of the nine plagues was a rebuke to the idolatry of Egypt.

To punish Egypt: Egypt, who had put Israel into slavery, would now be punished. To bring forth the deliverance of Israel: The plagues finally broke down the stubborn resistance of Pharaoh, and secured their deliverance from Egypt, after the death of the firstborn. To pay all the back wages to Israel: the time they were slaves in Egypt, they didn‟t get paid. Now, just before they left Egypt, they plundered them (exodus 3:21-22; 12:36; Genesis 15:12-14). Exodus 7:8-12) Who‟s God or god is stronger? When we were kids, we used to say to other kids, “my dad is stronger than your dad.” In ancient times, it was important to know and see what God or gods were stronger and more powerful. Aaron and the magicians threw down the rods, turning them into snakes, but Aaron‟s snakes consumed those of the magicians, proving that “his God was stronger than the gods of Egypt.” Exodus 7:17-24) First plague, the waters of the Nile River turned into blood. It is interesting, that the first plague was upon the Nile River, maybe because of the order from Pharaoh to throw all make babies into it (Exodus 1:22). The Nile River was vital to Egypt‟s economy, and its bloodstreams. 1) The Nile River was the main source of drinking water to the Egyptians 2) They used the Nile River to irrigate their fields 3) Transporting of goods, up and down the Nile‟s „water highway‟ 4) Fishing in the Nile River. Exodus 7:16) Yet, the Lord told Moses what to expect. (See Exodus 3:19-20; 4:2123) When we are going through “dark times”, we must remember what God spoke to us in “the light” (Psalms 119:105).

Exodus 12: The Passover It meant the killing of a lamb or goat [a male] and putting the blood on the lintel and two side posts of the door. It‟s a type or foreshadowing of what Christ [who became our Passover lamb] would do at the cross. This is the clearest Old Testament picture of our individual salvation through faith in the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this chapter, Christ is the basis for calling Christ the Lamb of God. Christ our Passover and the many references to this crucifixion as the death of our Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). Jesus Christ is the Lamb that God would give as a sacrifice for the sins of not only Israel but also the whole world (John 1:29). In 1 Peter (1:8-19), Peter tells us, that we have been redeemed not by silver or gold, but by Christ‟s own blood. Exodus 12:40) We read the length of time they lived in Egypt was 430 years. They were in Egypt from 1876 to 1446 B.C. Our Biblical date can be supported by 1 Kings 6:1. The fourth year of Solomon‟s reign over Israel would be 966 B.C. (966 B.C. + 480 years=1446 B.C. - the time they left Egypt).

Exodus 13: Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt God guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The pillar (cloud and fire) signified the Lord‟s presence. It also protected Israel (See Exodus 14:19-20). It also served as a guide for Israel in her desert journeys (Exodus 13:2122; Numbers 9:15-23). Perhaps the “cloud cover” also served like a giant umbrella to keep the sun off them by day, and the fire at night to keep them warm. Exodus 14-15: Pharaoh chases after the Israelites After he realizes Egypt‟s loss with the departure of hundreds of thousands of slave laborers. All construction projects would be seriously disrupted. God protected the people, and drowned and killed all the Egyptians.

Exodus 20-23: The giving of the Ten Commandments and the civil law.

Exodus 25-40: The building of the tabernacle God gave His people directions for building and setting up the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a place where God might dwell among His people. In modern terms for today, the tabernacle was a "portable" church building that was a tent that could be moved around in the desert from place to place. The tabernacle was so well built, that

it served Israel for almost 500 years as the center of God‟s dwelling place on earth (1445-959 B.C.) until the time King Solomon built the temple (See 1 Kings 6:37-38).

Time Line for Exodus: 1876-1446 B.C. time in Egypt (430 years) 1876 B.C. Jacob moves his family to Egypt. This starts the 430 year period or stay in Egypt. (See Exodus 12:40-41) 1805 B.C. Joseph dies in Egypt. From Genesis chapter 46-50, is a 70 year period. From the time Jacob moves to Egypt, to the death of Joseph (1876-1805 B.C.) 1730 B.C. The Egyptian people are enslaved by the Hyksos. They conquered Egypt in 1730 B.C. and ruled Egypt from about (1730-1570 B.C.) 1570 B.C. Ahmosis I, overthrew the Hyksos rule. He is Pharaoh from (1570-1546 B.C.). Egypt is again under Egyptian control. 1876 B.C. – 1526 B.C. From the time that Jacob moved to Egypt to the birth of Moses (350 years). 1526 B.C. The birth of Moses. 1526 – 1486 B.C. Moses in Egypt. 1486 – 1446 B.C. Moses in Midian. 1446 B.C. Moses leads the people out of Egypt. 1446 – 1406 B.C. Forty years of wandering in the wilderness. 1406 B.C. Forty years of wilderness wandering end. 1405 B.C. Joshua and the Hebrew people enter into the land of Canaan.