T H E     B O O K   O  F    E X O D U S

B y :    A .    W i l b e r t    S .  D i a n o n ,    S D B

 

A)  SUMMARY:

 

 The family of Israel went into Egypt because Joseph invited them to stay near with him while the famine was still ravaging. In Egypt, the life of the Hebrews was originally peaceful and abundant until a new king of Egypt arose. The growing population of Israel threatened him so much so he planned to suppress them by any means. He burdened them with too much work and enslaved all the men. The king treated them harshly and decreed all the baby boys to be thrown into the river.

 

It was in this time that Moses was born from the tribe of Levi. His mother had hidden him in a basket, which was placed on the river to float. Incidentally, the daughter of the king went to the river to bath. Fortunately, she found the baby Moses in the basket. The princess was very kind to the baby that she even let Miriam, the baby’s sister, baby-sit the infant for her. Eventually, the boy was brought to the palace where he grew up.

 

The young Moses empathized the plight of his brother Hebrews and defended their cause.  He even killed an Egyptian in their defense. Unfortunately, his crime surfaced and he had to escape to Midian for safety. There in Midian, two events happened in his life: he married Zipporah, daughter of Reuel (or Jethro), and he encountered God in Sinai. It was then he knew that God called him to lead his people out of Egypt.

 

Moses went back to Egypt, with Aaron his brother as his spokesman to the pharaoh. He asked pharaoh to free Israel so that they could worship God in Sinai. However, as God had said, pharaoh was adamant in letting them go. To make his point, God sent ten plagues that devastated the whole Egypt and its people, except the Hebrews. It was in the last plague, which was the death of all first-born that forced the king to give them freedom.

 

The Exodus event was a very memorable event for all Israel. It was in this time that they instituted three feasts in honor of this event: the Passover, the feast of the Unleavened Bread, and the feast of the Tabernacles. Added to this commemoration, the first-born sons became very special as they were to be offered to God as reminiscent of the slaughter of the first-born of the Egyptians. At last, the king banished them out of Egypt. In their part, their wandering began. They started from Succoth, them to Etham and then to the nearby Sea of Rheed.

 

Back at Egypt, the king changed his mind and brought his forces to pursue Israel. The Egyptians found them near the sea. At the sight of the vast army of the pharaoh, the Israelites were terrified. But God assured them of protection through the mediation of Moses. God divided the water of the sea into two, and the people of God crossed in safety. When the enemy saw what happened, they, too, tried to pursue them. However, the sea went back to its normal course and engulfed the whole army of the pharaoh. In that memorable event, the Israelites were completely freed from the clutches of the king. They wandered around the desert, experiencing every kind of difficulties and hardships. But God was always with them. God provided them food (manna and the quails), water, and deliverance from their new enemies.

 

When they reached Sinai, Moses led the people in offering sacrifices to Yahweh. There, God made a covenant with his people. Therefore, it was in Sinai where God handed the Decalogue to Moses and all the laws about how to treat ones neighbors. God also gave Moses the detailed instructions on how to make the sanctuary with all its elaborately crafted materials fit for a sacrificial offering to God.

 

However, the Israelites broke the covenant right after. They manifested it by worshiping a golden calf. God intended to punish them severely. However, Moses interceded for the people, so much so God did not carry out the punishment he would incur upon them.

 

In the end, Moses did what Yahweh had instructed him – both the laws and the instructions for the making of the sanctuary and its corresponding vessels and instruments. The Israelites in their part continued their journey in the desert knowing that Yahweh was with them as their protection.

 

B) SCHEMATIC OUTLINE FOR THE BOOK OF EXODUS:

 

“THE ISRAELITES WAY FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM”

 

STAGE 1: THE LIFE AND THE CALL OF MOSES

 

1)      Problem: Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites (1: 8-22)

2)      Solution: The birth of Moses (2: 1-10)

3)      Predilection of Moses for his people (2: 11-22)

4)      God calls Moses to lead His People (3 – 6: 1-30)

 

STAGE 2: PRE-DEPARTURE EVENTS OF THE ISRAELITES

 

1)      God sends 9 plagues over Egypt through Moses and Aaron (7 – 10: 1-29)

2)      God commanded Moses to proclaim the death of the first born and to celebrate the Passover and the feast of the Unleavened Bread  (11 – 13: 1-16)

 

STAGE 3: THE DEPARTURE FROM EGYPTAND THE DEFEAT OF THE  EGYPTIANS

 

1)      Moses leads the people out of Egypt (13: 17-22 – 14: 1-4)

2)      Pharaoh attacks Moses and the people but failed (14: 5-31)

3)      Moses and Israel sing a song in honor of Yahweh (15: 1-21)

 

STAGE 4: THE WANDERING EXPERIENCES OF ISRAEL IN THE DESERT

 

1)      God provided them food and water for their sustenance and protection from their enemies - Amalekites  (15: 22-27 – 17: 1- 16).

2)      Moses meets Jethro (18: 1-12)

3)      Moses appoints judges for the people (18: 13-27)

 

STAGE 5: THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES

 

1)      Moses prepares the people for the Covenant (19: 1- 25)

2)      Yahweh gives the Decalogue and other laws and priestly instructions for the furnishing and the building of sanctuary to Moses (20 – 31: 1- 18; 34: 10-35).

3)      Moses breaks the tablets of the Law, symbol of Israel’s apostasy (32: 1-35)

4)      Moses intercedes God for the people and the people renew the Covenant (33 – 34: 1-9).

5)      Moses carries out God’s instructions on the furnishing and building of the sanctuary (35 – 40: 1-38).

 

 

C) REFLECTIONS:  THE ‘MOSES’ OF EXODUS IN MY LIFE:

 

First of all, I would like to view the Book of Exodus as a book about the providence of God over his chosen, Israel, as being led by Moses to worship Him in Sinai. Moses is pictured here as the man who is faithful to God with a great concern about his fellow Israelites. Come to think of it, he had secured a successful life in the palace. Yet, he gambles everything just to save a fellow Hebrew. That must be an indication of his love for his brothers!

 

I commented on this because Moses for me is a gentle and kindly man. He is man who has an extraordinary relationship with God. He is very close to Yahweh, as if God is his father. One of the traits of Moses that I admired most is his spontaneous relationship with God. Notwithstanding that he had conversed with God in Sinai, he has the guts to throw away the first tablets of the law, which was written by God himself. When the people complained to him of many things as if all the blame should be put on him, he easily approaches God, presents his dilemma over his mission, and pours out his heart to Him. He does not think twice whether or not God would punish him for complaining. For him, conversing with God is something special but still an ordinary act for him to do. It is as easy like a son presenting his difficulties and problems to his father.

 

In contrast to him, the people would not dare to see God for fear of death. That shows the people’s mentality that God for them is a God who is far over somewhere. He is ready to strike those who dare to come to Him.

 

Nevertheless, inspite of the people’s attitude of stubbornness, Moses had a heart for them. He heard all there complains and was very concerned of them. The figure of Moses has a deep impact on me as a Christian and as a consecrated person. Moses ought to be my ideal person in the way of relating to God. However, Moses is not just an important person for me. As Christians, we see Jesus as the new Moses, giving us the new Law and showing us the great love of God. As Moses is for the Jews, so is Jesus for all Christians. If Moses was in deep colloquy with Yahweh, Christ has a great trust with ‘Abba’. As a disciple of Christ, I should not only to see Moses as a religious person; I should also imitate Jesus, the new Moses.

 

D)  GUIDE QUESTIONS:

 

1)      What is the main theme of the Book of Exodus?

2)      How did Yahweh call Moses?

3)      How did Yahweh free the Israelites from the slavery in Egypt?

4)      How do Israelites celebrate the Passover and the feast of the Unleavened bread?

5)      What are the wondrous interventions God made for the Israelites in the desert?

6)      What are the elements of the Covenant between God and Israel?

7)      What are the laws in the   Decalogue?

8)      Give at least 10 laws towards relating to one’s neighbors.

9)      Give at least 10 instructions about the building of the sanctuary and its furnishings.

10)  What is the image of God according to the Book of Exodus?