Exodus
From Warren Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament
Name:
In the Greek language, exodus means “the way out”. It describes Israel’s bondage in
Egypt and the wonderful deliverance (or “way out”) that God gave them. One of the key words in Exodus is redemption,
since “to redeem” means “to set free.” The book presents many pictures of our salvation through Christ. The word
exodus is used in two places in the NT:
- Luke 9:31 (“decease”), where Christ’s redeeming work on the cross is the
theme; and
- 2 Peter 1:15, where “decease” means a believer’s “death.”
In other words, there are three exodus experiences in the Bible
- Israel’s deliverance from Egypt;
- Christ’s deliverance of the sinner through the cross; and
- the believer’s deliverance from the bondage of this world at death.
Author:
There is no reason to doubt that Moses wrote this book. The
unity of the book suggests that there was one author, and the eyewitness accounts indicate that
the author was present at those events. Christ affirmed the Mosaic authorship of the book (John 7:19: 5:46–47).
Purpose:
Genesis is the book of beginnings; Exodus is the book of redemption.
It records the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and presents the basic historical facts about the origins of
the Hebrew nation and its religious ceremonies. These accounts are also pictures of Christ and the redemption
He purchased at the Cross. There are many types and symbols of Christ and the believer in Exodus, especially
in the tabernacle furnishings and ceremonies. Exodus also records the giving of the Law. It would be impossible
to understand much New Testament doctrine apart from an understanding of the events and symbols in Exodus.
Types:
There are several basic types in Exodus:
- Egypt is a type of the world system, opposing God’s people and trying to keep them in bondage.
- Pharaoh is a type of Satan, “the god of this world,” who demands worship, defies God, and thinks to
enslave God’s people.
- Israel is a type of the church—delivered from the bondage of the world, led on a pilgrim journey, and
protected by God.
- Moses is a type of Christ, God’s Prophet.
- The crossing of the Red Sea is a picture of the resurrection, which delivers the believer from this
present evil world.
- The manna pictures Christ the Bread of Life (John 6).
- The smitten rock is a type of the smitten Christ, through whose death the Holy Spirit is given.
- Amalek is a picture of the flesh, opposing the believer in the pilgrim journey. The key type in
Exodus is Passover, picturing the death of Christ, the application of His blood for our safety, and the
appropriation of His life (feeding on the lamb) for our daily strength.
Moses and Christ:
Here we could list many comparisons and one major
contrast between the two, since Moses is a wonderful picture of Jesus Christ.
In his offices, Moses was
- a prophet (Acts 3:22);
- a priest (Ps. 99:6, Heb. 7:24);
- a servant (Ps. 105:26, Matt. 12:18);
- a shepherd (Ex. 3:1, John 10:11–14);
- a mediator (Ex. 33:8–9, 1 Tim. 2:5);
- and a deliverer (Acts 7:35, 1 Thes. 1:10).
In his character, he was
- meek (Num. 12:3, Matt. 11:29),
- faithful (Heb. 3:5),
- obedient, and mighty in word and deed (Acts 7:22, Mark 6:2).
In his history, Moses was
- a son in Egypt and was in danger of being killed (Matt. 2:14ff),
- but was providentially cared for by God.
- He chose to suffer with the Jews rather than reign in Egypt (Heb. 11:24–26, Phil. 2:1–11).
- Moses was rejected by his brothers the first time, but received the second time; and, while rejected,
he gained a Gentile bride (picturing Christ and the church).
- Moses condemned Egypt, and Christ condemned the world.
- Moses delivered God’s people through the blood, as did Christ on the cross (Luke 9:31).
- Moses led the people, fed the people, and carried their burdens. The contrast, of course, is that
Moses did not take Israel into the Promised Land; Joshua had to do that.
- The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17).