Expositors Quest

Exodus Introduction

  1. AUTHOR

Moses, the great lawgiver and deliverer of Israel. Moses was the great leader who led Israel from Egyptian bondage and through the wilderness wanderings.

1.The internal evidence of Scripture—Scripture itself—strongly points to Moses being the author of Exodus. The force of this claim can be clearly seen by simply glancing down through the following Scriptures.

a.The Old Testament points toward Moses being the author.

  1. Exodus 17:14
  2. Ex 24:4
  3. Ex 24:7
  4. Ex 34:27
  5. Numbers 33:1-2
  6. Deut 31:9
  7. Joshua 1:7-8
  8. Joshua 8:31
  1. The New Testament points toward Moses being the author.
  1. Mark 7:10
  2. Mark 12:26
  3. Luke 2:22-23
  1. Jesus Christ himself said Moses was the author
  1. Mark 10:4-5
  2. Luke 24:44
  3. John 5:46-47
  4. John 7:19

2.The external evidence also strongly points to Moses being the author of Exodus.

a.Tradition—both Jewish and Christian tradition—has been unanimous in holding that Moses is the author of Exodus. In fact, tradition is strong, very strong, that Moses wrote the entire Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

b.Archeology also points to Moses being the author. The author certainly lived during the day when Exodus was written. What shows us this? The facts we find in the Pentateuch, facts describing such matters as...

•customs
•conduct
•geography
•history / •events
•places
•names

F.B. Huey says this:

"Archaeological discoveries have confirmed the accuracy of customs, events, and names that are found in the Pentateuch and suggest that the author was not writing hundreds of years after the event."

3.The qualifications of Moses point to his being the author of Exodus.

a.Moses had the education to write Exodus. He was well educated in "all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22). Moreover, he was obviously well prepared by God to take both the written and oral testimony of his forefathers and write Exodus.

b.Moses was well acquainted with all that happened in the Book of Exodus. He knew all about Egypt, Midian, the desert, and the Sinai Peninsula. He knew all about the customs, conduct, geography, events, places, and people. He knew because he was there.

c.Moses had the time to write Exodus. He lived and walked through the desert with the Israelites for forty years, forty long years. In forming the slaves into a nation of people, he was bound to know the importance of recording their history for future generations.

d.Moses was God's appointed deliverer, the founding father of the nation Israel. Moses was a man of destiny, a man appointed by God to take a worn out body of slaves and form them into a nation of people. In building the nation, he was bound to record the events and history of the Israelites.

Just think for a moment: being the great deliverer of Israel, it would have been most unusual—so unusual it would have been foolish—for him not to record the events and history of what was happening. In fact, keep in mind, he was building an impoverished body of people into a nation. He knew this. It would be must unreasonable to think Moses was not recording the events for posterity, to help give structure—building blocks, a foundation—to the nation

In addition to all the above, if we believe that God inspired ("breathed") the Holy Scriptures, one fact comes to the forefront: God would have led men from the earliest days of human history to record His plan of redemption. Therefore, to the believer, there is no question: God appointed men from the very beginning of human history, appointed them to write the Holy Scriptures. And as they wrote, God inspired (God breathed) the words of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16).

As seen, the evidence is strong: Moses wrote the great Book of Exodus. No other person has ever been suggested that can rival Moses. It would be difficult to reject all the evidence that points to Moses and suggest that some unknown, nameless person wrote Exodus. The only reasonable and honest conclusion is to say what Scripture indicates: Moses wrote Exodus.

II. DATE

Probably some time between 1446-1406 B.C.

1.Moses lived 120 years (Deut. 34:7).

2.Moses spent 40 years in Egypt (Acts 7:22-23).

3.Moses spent 40 years in Midian (Exodus 2:15).

4.Moses spent 40 years leading Israel through the wilderness experiences (Deut. 8:2f).

Now, we know with some accuracy when Moses lived: 1 Kings 6:1

The fourth year of Solomon's reign was about 966 B.C.; therefore, Moses led Israel out of Egypt around 1446 B.C. (480 years before Solomon's 4th year as king (NIV Study Bible, p.2, 84). Based upon this information, Moses' life would be dated as follows:

⇒Moses in Egypt 1526-1486 B.C.

⇒Moses in Midian 1486-1446 B.C.

⇒Moses leading Israel through the wilderness 1446-1406 B.C.

Moses had access to the records and writings of Israel, and he personally led Israel through their wilderness wanderings. Moses unquestionably wrote at least four books of the Pentateuch during this period: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Genesis was either written during the same period of wilderness wandering or during Moses' latter years in Egypt or during his forty years in Midian. Apparently, he did what many great men have done down through history, he kept a diary of the events and compiled his notes into the various books as he found time. Remember, as the future prince of Egypt, Moses would have been taught the importance of writing and recording history.

Note two other significant points:

1.Moses was spiritually mature during the wilderness wanderings. He had the spiritual maturity necessary for the Holy Spirit to inspire him to write Exodus.

2.It was during the wilderness wanderings that God dealt with Moses time and again face to face (so to speak). God is the real Author of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, in the final analysis, the name of a human author has little if any bearing upon the value of the Scripture. Knowing the name of the human author is of secondary importance.

III. TO WHOM WRITTEN

Israel in particular and the human race in general.

1.Exodus was written to give Israel a record of its history and law and to instruct the people how they were to live and serve and worship God.

2.Exodus was written to all people of all generations...

•To give us an example and warning about how not to live.

1 Cor. 10:11

•To teach us so that through the Scripture we might be encouraged and have great hope.

Romans 15:4

IV. PURPOSE

There are at least three purposes for the Book of Exodus.

1.The historical purpose: to give the Israelites a permanent record of their history and law and a record of how they were to serve and worship God. Historically, Exodus was written...

a.To teach Israel their God-given purpose, the very reason God had chosen them to be His people (Exodus 1:1-22).

•To teach Israel that there was only one living and true God, one God who had created and purposed all things (Isaiah 43:10-13).

•To teach Israel its roots, that they had actually been chosen by God Himself through Abraham, appointed to be the chosen line of God's people.

•To teach Israel that the promised seed, the Savior, was to be sent into the world through them. They were the chosen line through whom God was going to save the world. Salvation—the promised seed—was to come through Israel.

•To teach Israel that they were to receive the promised land, the land of Canaan, and that God would be faithful to His Word and give them the promised land.

b.To always remind Israel of their glorious deliverance from slavery to Egypt, glorious deliverance by the mighty hand of God (Exodus 2:1-13:16).

c.To teach Israel the great laws upon which their nation was to be built and governed (Exodus 19:1-40:38).

d.To teach Israel how they must believe and follow God...

•in facing and conquering the trials and enemies of life.

•in seeking after the promised land (Exodus 13:17-18:27).

e.To teach Israel how they were to serve and worship God (Exodus 19:1-40:38).

2.The doctrinal or spiritual purpose:

a.To teach that the great promise of God, the promise of the promised seed, did take place: a great nation of people were born of Abraham's seed, the people who were to give birth to the promised seed and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Exodus 1:6-7).

b.To teach the wonderful nature of God, the great doctrines of...

•God's love, mercy, and grace (Exodus 3:7-10; Exodus 6:5-9).

•God's power and sovereignty (Exodus 1:1-18:27).

•God's justice and judgment (Exodus 7:8-14:31; Exodus 17:8-16).

•God's faithfulness (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

•God's salvation and redemption (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

•God's holiness (Exodus 3:1-10; Exodus 19:1-40:38).

•God's care, guidance, provision, and protection (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

c.To teach that salvation is based solely upon the blood of the lamb: that a person must be covered by the blood of the lamb...

•to be delivered from judgment.

•to begin a new life.

•to be given the hope of the promised land (a symbol of heaven) (Exodus 12:1-13:16; cp. Hebrews 11:13-16, 24-29).

d.To teach the law of God and to make a covenant—an agreement—with man to keep His law (Exodus 19:1-40:38).

e.To teach the terrible depravity of man, the true condition of man's heart...

•that man is a sinner, a transgressor of God's law.

•that man spurns God time and again, no matter how good God is to him (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

f.To teach the desperate need of man for a mediator: that man desperately needs a mediator to approach God for him (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

g.To teach the service and worship of God: to spell out how man is to serve and worship God (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

h.To teach the absolute necessity of the Priesthood, that man needs a High Priest, a Mediator, an Intercessor, to represent him before God (Exodus 1:1-40:38).

3.The Christological or Christ-centered purpose: to teach that certain things point to Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world:

a.That the great deliverer Moses pictures the need of man for a great Deliverer, a Deliverer who can save man from the world (Egypt) and its enslavements and from the judgment to come.

(Deut. 18:15).

b.That the Passover lamb pictures the need of man for the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

(John 1:29).

c.That the shed blood of the lamb without blemish pictures the need for man to escape the judgment of God by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Hebrews 9:13-14; cp. Romans 5:8-9).

d.That the manna, the bread from heaven, pictures the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Bread of Life (John 6:32-33; John 6:48-51; John 6:58).

(John 6:35).

e.That the law of God and man's inability to obey God's law in all its points (perfection) pictures the great need of man for an advocate, an intercessor, a mediator. Jesus Christ is our advocate, and He is also the propitiation (the sacrifice) for our sins.

(1 John 2:1-2; cp. 1 Tim. 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15, 24; Hebrews 12:24).

f.That the priesthood of Israel and the high priest, Aaron, pictures the need of man for a perfect mediator, a perfect High Priest, who can approach God for man. The perfect High Priest is the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Hebrews 7:25-27; cp. Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14-15; Hebrews 9:11).

g.That the tabernacle— All features are symbolic of Christ, God's "portable temple" (Geisler)—pictures that man can enter God's holy presence only as God dictates, only through a prepared High Priest and Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Hebrews 8:1-2; cp. Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14-15; Hebrews 7:25-27).

V. SPECIAL FEATURES

1.Exodus is "The Great Book of Israel's Exodus." The word Exodus means "departure," "going out," exiting out," "a road out," or "a way out." The word Exodus is the Latin word translated from the Greek Bible "exodos." The exodus (deliverance, departure) of Israel is the greatest event in all the Old Testament, and it points to the greatest event in the New Testament, the cross of Christ.

2.Exodus is "The Great Book of Continuation." It continues the historical account of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. In fact, note Exodus 1:6-7, where a period of about 400 years is covered. Two brief verses cover the whole history of the Israelites from Joseph to Moses. The point is this: Exodus picks up where Genesis left off. Exodus continues the great history of redemption that God began to write in Genesis. Exodus is one of the most important books in all the Word of God.

3.Exodus is "The Great Book of Hebrew History." Nowhere in Scripture can the reader find such a detailed record of Israel's history. From sensing the pain and suffering of enslavement over to rejoicing for their great deliverance from Pharaoh's grasp, the reader is given an inside look at how the Israelites experienced life as the people of God. Being God's elect meant the Israelites needed to keep God's Law, and they needed to know how to approach and worship Him. The major events in the history of the Hebrew people are herein covered: their slavery, deliverance, wilderness experiences, receiving the Law and the instructions to build the Tabernacle.

4.Exodus is "The Great Book of Salvation, Redemption, and Deliverance." God is seen...

•saving His people from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:1-11:10).

•redeeming His people from the judgment of death through the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-13:16).

•delivering His people through the trials of the wilderness wanderings: delivering them through six terrible trials as they journeyed toward the promised land (Exodus 13:17-18:27).

5.Exodus is "The Great Book of God's Power and Sovereignty." God is the Lord of History. He is sovereign over history: the nations of this world and the affairs of men are ruled over by God.

•It was God's sovereign power that chose one man, Abraham, to give birth to a whole new race of people, a race who was to be God's witness to the world.

•It was God's sovereign power that caused Abraham's family of seventy plus people to be enslaved so they could multiply into a population of over two million. If they had not been enslaved, they would most likely have scattered and never stayed together as one race of people, not all two plus million.

•It was God's sovereign power that launched the plagues of judgment upon Egypt and rescued the Israelites from slavery.

•It was God's sovereign power that protected and provided for His people during their wilderness wanderings.

•It was God's sovereign power that gave the law and the worship instructions to Israel and began to mold them into a nation.

6.Exodus is "The Great Book of Hope." For over four-hundred years, Egypt had become Israel's home. When they first came to Egypt, they came at the invitation of Pharaoh and lived in Goshen. Now, another Pharaoh who did not know nor remember Joseph ruled them with an iron fist. The promised landseemed to be only a distant dream, void of any reality. For the Israelites, life had become hopeless. But God still had a plan, a covenant, a promise to keep. In a land where hope was non-existent, hope took the form of a baby who floated down the Nile River in an ark. That baby grew up to be God's vessel of hope. As an adult, Moses became the physical embodiment of Israel's hope. Moses' leadership provided the basis for hope in:

a.God's great faithfulness and deliverance (Exodus 1:1-22).

b.God's ability to send a deliverer (Exodus 2:1-7:7).

c.God's power over Pharaoh's power (Exodus 7:8-11:10).

d.God passing over them in judgment (the great Passover) (Exodus 12:1-13:16).

e.God's supernatural guidance by day and by night (Exodus 13:17-22).

f.God's provision of food and water (Exodus 13:16-18:27).

g.God's protection from their enemies (Exodus 17:8-16).

h.God's promise to take them to a special place, the promised land (Exodus 3:8).

7.Exodus is "The Great Book of Liberty and Freedom." The reader sees how an entire race of slaves were set free: how they were given the glorious rights of all men, the right to life, liberty, and justice for all. The reader sees how God set His impoverished people free and formed them into a nation.

8.Exodus is "The Great Book Covering a Nation's Birth." The birth of Israel occurs in Exodus. God is seen taking a family of seventy people and causing them to multiply into a population of over two million, all within a period of about 430 years. And most of the growth took place while they brutally enslaved by Egypt. Exodus shows God taking this body of impoverished slaves, delivering them and forming them into a great nation of people, a nation governed by the laws given by God Himself.

9.Exodus is "The Great Book of Law." The laws that were to take an impoverished group of slaves and form them into a nation are given in Exodus. Moreover, the great law that God gave to govern all men, the Ten Commandments, is covered in Exodus. Exodus covers...

•the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-26).