Exodus
03.02.22
And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites… (Exodus 3:7, 8)
“Is there in all of history a more amazing spectacle than the Exodus?—a more august and solemn revelation of God than at Sinai?—a more significant piece of architecture than the Israelite Tabernacle?—a greater human figure than the man Moses?—a more influential national epoch than the founding of the Israel theocracy? All these are found in this second book of Scripture.” [J. Sidlow Baxter]
The Book of Exodus refers of course to the dramatic departure of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt after a sojourn of 430 years. It was written by Moses as the eyewitness to all but the first thirty-two verses. He is the central figure in the book as it traces much of his life.
Exodus covers a span of about 215 years. The key word in this book is ‘redeem,’ found nine times. It is a book of redemption and deliverance.
There are three basic sections of the book. First, that which deals with the exodus experience. Second the giving of the Law by God to Moses. Third, God’s instructions for and the construction of the Tabernacle.
Most everywhere one looks in this book, Christ can be seen.
First, Moses is a picture of Christ in two ways. He is the one who delivers his people Israel from the captivity of Pharaoh. Jesus alone can deliver us from the power of Satan. Second, he is the mediator between Jehovah and Israel, just as Christ is the only Mediator between God and mankind.
The Passover clearly points to the Lord Jesus. The blood placed on the doorposts by the trusting Israelite pictures the blood of Christ that can alone atone for our sin. He shed His blood on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin. When God saw the blood, the Scripture testifies that He passed over the house and His judgment was satisfied. When John the Baptist first encountered Christ, he pointed to Him and declared, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Each of the seven feasts that were ordered as part of the ceremonial law points to our Lord. We will look at these more closely when we overview the book of Leviticus. .
Our blessed Lord is seen in the manna. The daily provision of this bread from heaven for the children of Israel points to Christ as the Bread of Life.
Jesus is seen in the tabernacle and each of the articles of furniture. The Tabernacle was the center of the life of Israel. It portrayed Christ in so many ways: the furniture, materials and the sacrifices (Heb 9:1-10:18)
The stricken rock pictures Christ slain for our sins. Moses was punished for hitting the rock a second time, for Christ died once for all. (1 Corinthinas 10:1, 2).
Finally, Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. By faith we can enter boldly into the Holy of Holies for He has torn the veil in two. You can find rest, forgiveness and eternal security in Him. (Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:11, 12, 24-28)