Where the book of Genesis ends, Exodus begins--namely, with the death of Joseph in Egypt. Moses continues his inspired narrative of the children of Israel in this second book of the Bible, although now he is both a witness and central figure (which was not the case in Genesis). Moses was born sometime around 1520 B.C., and the book was thus recorded sometime before 1400 B.C. Where Genesis covered over 2000 years of history, most of Exodus covers 2 years (i.e., the last year before the Israelites leave Egypt and the first year of their journey).

Exodus means "road out" or "going out", and the book details how the Hebrew people escaped bondage in Egypt and journeyed to Sinai, where they would receive the Law from God and therein enter into a covenant with Him as His people.

This book is a connecting link in that it shows the transition from one family into 13 sub-tribes into a great nation. This is in accordance with one of the promises God had made to Abram in Genesis 12. Jehovah always keeps His word! What began with one promised son (Isaac) had grown to a large family and would soon explode into a population of millions of people! Israel became a great nation in the book of Exodus. The rest of the Bible tells of the other aspects of the promises to Abram: namely, their reception of the Promised Land and the blessing the Seed (Messiah) would bring to all the world.

Exodus records Moses being raised up as a deliverer (savior) of the Israelite people. He would be their lawgiver and liberator (as Christ would be over 1400 years later; cf. Deut. 18:18ff). There are a total of 613 laws given in the Pentateuch for the Hebrew people, and many of them are found in Exodus (including the "ten commandments"). The book also contains great detail regarding the tabernacle (materials, construction, etc.), which is itself a shadow of many aspects of Christianity.

The book points to Christ because He:

• Like Moses, delivers people from bondage.
• Like the Passover lamb, was sacrificed to save people from death.
• Like Aaron, is the High Priest.

Although there are numerous practical lessons that could be stressed from this great book, a few of the most significant lessons come to mind:

• God is in control and He will bring about His will for mankind (not even a powerful Pharaoh can stop Him!).
• God's love caused Him to give the Law, and people who love Him will obey whatever divine law to which they are amenable.

As we launch into this textual study of Exodus, it is our desire that you would study along with us as we all endeavor to grow in grace and knowledge before the Lord (cf. II Pet. 3:18).