Congratulations! If you go by word-count, you just finished the second longest book in the Bible. Just a little factoid to encourage you to give yourself a little pat on the back. Okay, that’s enough…we have to get started with Exodus.
Intro to Exodus
By way of an introduction, the CSB Study Bible gives us the following FOUR STRONG MESSAGES conveyed by the Book of Exodus. Let’s keep them in mind as we read:
1. The LORD God: God revealed himself to Moses and Israel as Yahweh, “I Am Who I Am.” This covenant name for God carries profound meaning and affirms the power, authority, and eternal nature of God.
2. Redemption: The Israelites prayed for deliverance and God responded. God worked through his servant-leader Moses, but he did it in such a miraculous way that it was obvious that God was at work. The Israelites could not save themselves; rescue was all the work of God. The Passover was established to serve as an annual reminder of God’s work on their behalf.
3. Law: The law of God is encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, God’s absolutes for spiritual and moral living. The law is divided into two sections: the civil law— the rules that govern life in the community— and the ceremonial law— the patterns for worship and building the tabernacle.
4. Tabernacle: God gave specific instructions on how the tabernacle was to be built, but its significance is in what it represented— God dwelling among his people. He was specifically understood to dwell in the holy of holies, inaccessible to the average Israelite. The tabernacle points ahead to the moment when Christ removed the veil of separation, giving all believers access to God. In the NT, believers become the tabernacle, for God doesn’t just dwell among his people; he dwells in them.
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Holman Bible Staff. CSB Study Bible (p. 88). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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