EXODUS
The Story of Redemption
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A Cinematic Introduction
The story of Genesis closed with the family of Jacob finding refuge in Egypt. Four hundred years have passed. The small family has grown into a great nation, the Israelites, but their prosperity has turned to peril. A new Pharaoh, who does not remember Joseph, sees their numbers as a threat. The Israelites are enslaved, crushed under the weight of forced labor, their cries rising to a heaven that seems silent. Exodus is the story of how God hears those cries. It is the epic tale of a nation's birth, a dramatic rescue from the most powerful empire on earth, and a journey into the wild unknown to meet with the God who would make them His own. It is a story of liberation, law, and the longing for a promised land.
Part I
The Cry and the Commission
The Rise of a Deliverer
From a Basket to a Burning Bush
In a desperate attempt to curb the Israelites' growth, Pharaoh commands that every newborn Hebrew boy be thrown into the Nile. One mother, Jochebed, defies the order. She places her baby, Moses, in a waterproof basket and sets him afloat among the reeds. He is discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's own daughter. Moses grows up a prince of Egypt, but he never forgets his true identity. After killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, he flees into the desert and becomes a humble shepherd for forty years. It is here, in the wilderness, that God appears to him in a bush that burns but is not consumed. God reveals His name—"I AM WHO I AM"—and commissions Moses to return to Egypt and lead His people to freedom.
Part II
Let My People Go
The Duel Between God and the gods of Egypt
The Ten Plagues
Moses, along with his brother Aaron, confronts Pharaoh with God's command: "Let my people go." Pharaoh's heart is hard, and he refuses. What follows is a devastating series of ten plagues, each a direct assault on the so-called gods of Egypt, demonstrating the unrivaled power of Yahweh. The Nile turns to blood, frogs and gnats swarm the land, livestock die, and boils afflict the people. Hail, locusts, and darkness descend upon Egypt. With each plague, Pharaoh's defiance grows, and his heart becomes harder.
The Passover and the Exodus
The final plague is the most terrible. God warns that the angel of death will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn son. He provides a way of escape for the Israelites: the Passover. Each family is to sacrifice a lamb without defect and paint its blood on the doorposts of their home. When the angel of death sees the blood, he will "pass over" that house. That night, a great cry goes up in Egypt as every firstborn dies, from Pharaoh's son to the son of the lowliest servant. Broken, Pharaoh finally commands the Israelites to leave. An entire nation, over a million strong, walks out of Egypt, plundering their former masters as they go. Their 430 years of slavery are over.
✨ “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
— Exodus 12:13Part III
The Journey to Sinai
Miracles in the Wilderness
The Parting of the Red Sea
Pharaoh regrets his decision and pursues the Israelites with his army of chariots, trapping them against the Red Sea. With the Egyptian army closing in and no way forward, fear grips the people. But Moses declares, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today." God parts the waters of the sea, and the Israelites walk across on dry ground. When the Egyptian army follows, God releases the waters, and the entire army is destroyed. This miraculous deliverance becomes the defining redemptive event for the nation of Israel, remembered for all generations.
Provision in the Desert
As the Israelites journey through the harsh wilderness, their faith is tested. They grumble against Moses for lack of food and water. Yet, God provides for them miraculously. He sends quail and a sweet, bread-like substance from heaven called "manna." When they are thirsty, He commands Moses to strike a rock, and water gushes out. God is teaching His new nation to depend on Him for their daily needs.
Part IV
The Law and the Tabernacle
A Covenant Community
The Ten Commandments
Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai. God descends on the mountain in fire and smoke, and His voice thunders as He gives them the Ten Commandments. These laws are the foundation of the covenant God makes with His people, a guide for how to love God and how to love one another. They are the constitution for the new nation of Israel.
The Golden Calf and the Broken Covenant
While Moses is on the mountain receiving the Law, the people below grow impatient. They convince Aaron to build them an idol, a golden calf, and they worship it, breaking the first two commandments they had just received. God's anger burns against them, but Moses intercedes, pleading for mercy. The covenant is broken, but God, in His grace, renews it. This incident reveals the deep-seated sinfulness of the human heart and the constant need for a mediator.
The Tabernacle
The final section of Exodus contains detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle—a portable, holy tent. This was to be God's dwelling place among His people, a visible symbol of His presence. Every detail, from the altar in the courtyard to the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, was designed by God to teach the people how a sinful people could approach a holy God through sacrifice and priestly mediation. When the Tabernacle is finally completed and consecrated, the book of Exodus ends with a stunning climax: "the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34). The God who rescued them from slavery now dwells in their midst, guiding them on their journey to the Promised Land.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exploring the deep questions of Exodus.