THE BOOK OF EXODUS By E. L. Bynum © by Tabernacle Baptist Church LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION AND ISRAEL IN BONDAGE Memory Verse: Exodus 1:14 Lesson: Exodus 1:1-22 I. INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS A. The Author. a. The Holy Spirit the author. 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” b. Moses the human writer. i. The testimony of Exodus – 24:4; 34:27 ii. The testimony of Joshua – Joshua 1:7-8 iii. The Testimony of Christ – Mark 12:26 “And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” Luke 20:37, Luke 24:27, 44 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” B. It’s Place In The Old Testament Canon. MOSAIC HISTORIC POETIC PROPHETIC Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah Exodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah 1 Leviticus Ruth Proverbs Lamentations Numbers 1 Samuel Ecclesiastes Ezekiel Deuteronomy 2 Samuel Song of Sol. Daniel I Kings Hosea 2 Kings Joel I Chronicles Amos 2 Chronicles Obadiah Ezra Jonah Nehemiah Micah Ester Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi C. It’s Place In The Pentateuch. a. The first five books were written by Moses and they are called the Pentateuch. b. It is evident that these five books form one narrative. The first Hebrew word of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy is a conjunction. It is a conjunction, such as our “and,” and is used to connect the narrative to the previous book. c. The first six verses of Exodus tie it effectively to Genesis. D. The Purpose Of Exodus. a. Exodus means “going out” or “the way out,” and thus it describes Israel’s “going out” of Egypt. b. It is the book of redemption. i. It records the redemption of Israel from Egyptian bondage. ii. It teaches that redemption is necessary, if a person is to have a right relationship with a holy God. iii. It teaches that a redeemed people must be constantly cleansed from defilement, in order to have fellowship with God. iv. According to W. H. Griffith Thomas, it presents redemption in three aspects. 1. The Source and Instrument of Redemption — God through Moses (chapters 1 to 6). 2. The Need and Fact of Redemption — Bondage and Passover (chapters 7 to 12). 3. The Outcome and Object of Redemption — Salvation, Separation, and Service (chapters 13 to 40). 2 E. The Types of Exodus. a. The person types. Moses and Aaron types of Christ. Hebrews 3:1-2 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” b. The place types – Egypt a type of the world and the Red Sea a type of power. c. The thing types – Lamb—redemption by Christ. Herbs—discipline. Pillar—protection. Manna—bread of life, Christ. Rock—Christ. Tabernacle—the presence of God. d. The history type – 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11 “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” F. The Outline of Exodus. (J. Sidlow Baxter) a. The Exodus – Chapters 1-18 i. Projected – Chapters 1-4 ii. Obstructed – Chapters 5-11 iii. Effected – Chapters 12-18 b. The Law – Chapters 19-24 i. Commandments. (Moral). ii. Judgments. (Social). iii. Ordinances. (Religious). c. The Tabernacle – Chapters 25-40 i. Designed – Chapters 25-31 ii. Delayed – Chapters 32-34 iii. Completed – Chapters 35-40 II. ISRAEL IN THE LAND OF BONDAGE – Verse 1-22 The events between the death of Joseph and the call of Moses and their deliverance from Egyptian bondage seem to have been around 198 years. A. Israel In Egypt – Verses 1-6 a. These verses form a connecting link with Genesis – Verses 1-6 b. The names of the Israelite households – Verses 1-5. How did they get there? They came with Jacob the carnal man, not Israel the spiritual man. c. The termination of that generation – Verse 6 3 B. Israel’s Multiplication And The Resulting Bondage – Verses 7-14 a. Their great increase – Verse 7; Genesis 12:2; 15:5-6; 22:16-18 b. A new king’s evaluation of them – Verses 8-9. He knew not Joseph and he greatly feared their might. Why did they stay so long in Egypt? i. They suffered because they mistreated Joseph. Matthew 23:32 “Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.” 1 Thessalonians 2:16 “Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” Numbers 32:23 “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” ii. The iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full – Genesis 15:16 iii. In order for Israel to multiply and be strong – Genesis 46:3 iv. That they might gain the good wisdom of Egypt and not the bad. Acts 7:22 “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” c. He did not trust their loyalty – Verse 10. Their number included 600,000 men. d. He determined to suppress their numbers and strength by bondage – Verse 11. The world always hates the people of God. John 15:18 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” Proverbs 12:10 “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” e. The more they were afflicted, the more they increase – Verse 12. Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” 1 Corinthians 1:19 “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” f. Their affliction increased without accomplishing the desired results – Verses 13-14 C. Pharaoh’s Attempt To Destroy The Males – Verses 15:22 a. The midwives ordered to kill the male babies – Verses 15-16. b. The midwives’ disobedience – Verse 17; Proverbs 21:30 “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.” The king’s command was wrong and they were right to disobey. i. Jonathan refused to kill David, as his father Saul ordered – 2 Samuel 19:1-5 ii. The three Hebrew children disobeyed Nebuchadnezzar when he demanded they worship the golden image – Daniel 3:18 “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” 4 c. The Apostles disobeyed the Sanhedrin when they commanded them not to preach in the name of the Lord Jesus – Acts 4:18 “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” d. The king rebukes the midwives – Verse 18 e. The explanation of the midwives – Verse 19 f. God’s blessing on the midwives – Verses 20-21; 1 Samuel 2:30 “but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour.” g. The king’s cruel command to all the people – Verse 22 D. Lessons From This Chapter. a. God’s power — increase of Israel. b. God’s purpose preservation of Israel. c. God’s plan severe discipline for Israel. d. If Pharaoh’s plan had been successful, then he would have destroyed Israel and there could have been no Bible, and no PROMISED SEED. There would have been no Christ. Satan tried this many times, beginning with the murder of Abel – Exodus 14; 2 Chronicles 21:4, 17; 22:10; Esther 3:6, 12, 13; Matthew 2:13-18 Study Questions 1. How many chapters does Exodus contain? 2. What is the meaning of Exodus? 3. Who is the Author of Exodus? 4. Who was the writer? 5. If the writer was not Moses, how does this affect the word of Christ? 5 LESSON 2 GOD PREPARES A DELIVERER Memory Verse: Exodus 2:10 Lesson: Exodus 2:1-25 Moses is the towering figure of the Old Testament, as Paul was in the New Testament. “The life of Moses presents a series of striking antitheses. He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyed unlimited wealth. He was the leader of armies, and the keeper of flocks.