Tied Together: A One-Year Journey Through the Bible | Day 17 | January 28, 2026

 

Introduction to Exodus

The book of Exodus picks up right where Genesis left off. Years have passed since Joseph brought his family to Egypt to escape the great famine, and a new Pharaoh has come to power—one who doesn't remember Joseph or the great things he did for the nation. The Israelites, now numbering an estimated two million people, have been forced into slavery. Fearing their growing numbers, Pharaoh decrees that all Israelite baby boys be killed.

One Israelite woman from the tribe of Levi hides her baby for three months, then places him in a basket among the reeds along the Nile. This child is Moses, and he's discovered and raised by Pharaoh's own daughter. When Moses grows up and witnesses the oppression of his people, he tries to solve the problem his own way—but a man dies, and Moses flees. God then steps in and solves the problem in His own perfect way, giving us some of the greatest miracles recorded in Scripture: God speaking through a burning bush and the dramatic parting of the Red Sea.

Like Genesis, Exodus was written by Moses. Its title means "to exit" or "to depart." The book contains 40 chapters that divide naturally into two halves. The first half tells the story of God rescuing His chosen people from slavery and bondage. The second half describes God forming a new type of relationship with these people. In many ways, Exodus is about rescue and relationship—both things God continues to do today.

But this relationship looked different than what we experience now. There was no Jesus to cover the sins of the people, and they were not holy enough to come into God's presence on their own. God had to lay out a plan to create that relationship.

First, He cared for their physical needs. He gave them a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them, water from a rock to drink, and bread from heaven to eat. This bread was called manna—white like coriander seed and tasting like wafers made with honey. Interestingly, "manna" doesn't mean bread; it actually means "what is this?" When the people grumbled that bread from heaven wasn't enough, God sent quail.

After three months, they arrived at Mount Sinai—the same place where God first spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Here God established a covenant with His people: "If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." The Israelites accepted, saying, "We will do everything the Lord has said."

God then gave Moses the Ten Commandments and continued with many more laws—613 in total. It's important to understand that the purpose of these laws was not to condemn the people. As Paul explains in the New Testament, we would not know what sin is without the law. God was setting a standard of righteousness He knew we could not keep, helping us recognize our need for a Savior.

Despite witnessing God's incredible deliverance and power, the Israelites broke the commandments almost immediately and began worshipping other gods. This becomes a recurring theme throughout Scripture—God's chosen people repeatedly failing, worshipping unworthy things, yet receiving grace and another chance.

God instructed them to build a tabernacle—a portable tent where His presence would dwell among them. Because the holy God Himself would enter this structure, Moses received extremely specific instructions about how to build it, what to place inside, and how to approach it. God also commanded them to build the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden chest overlaid with gold. Inside it were placed the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod (signifying God's miraculous power), and a pot of manna (reminding them of God's provision). The lid, called the Mercy Seat, featured two golden cherubim facing each other with wings stretched upward. This was the place where God and man would meet. Moses devoted fifteen chapters to these instructions, and when the tabernacle was finally completed, the presence of God filled it.

Exodus doesn't directly point to Jesus, but it foreshadows His ministry beautifully. Moses leads his people out of bondage and redeems their lives, just as Christ would do. The book describes the Passover, and we know that when Christ is crucified, He becomes the Passover Lamb. The tabernacle—a dwelling place for God—symbolizes what believers now carry within themselves. Exodus teaches us that God cares for His people and calls them for a purpose, and it reminds us that redemption has always been at the heart of His plan.

Scripture:

Exodus 1