Welcome back to our second book of the Bible Summary, Exodus.
Consisting of 40 chapters, the word, “Exodus” in Greek means, “Exit,” and that is exactly what it is. Ironic the second book of the Bible means exit, while the first means beginning. But, after what we left in Genesis, it isn’t surprising.
Left Behind In Chains
If you recall, Joseph helped Pharaoh prepare for the seven years of famine that were coming. When famine happened, people had to give up items, anything they had to their name, and eventually themselves becoming a slave.
Ch. 1 begins with an explanation the Israelites have grown in number, and under a Pharaoh who did not know who Joseph was. In fact, the number of God’s people made Pharaoh fear them. So he appointed task makers and put everyone to work, building pyramids. Pharaoh also desired the male babies to be killed. Despite efforts of midwives to save baby boys, there became an order for male babies, two and under, to be cast into the river.
Moses | People Are Remembered
Ch. 2:01-10 The bloodline of the Levites is the priesthood in the Old Testament. It begins here. A man of the Levi household found a wife, and they had a son. He was beautiful, and she hid him for three months.
But he couldn’t stay hidden forever. The mother placed the baby in a small ark of bulrushes, hiding him in the reeds. HIs sister stood nearby and watched.
Eventually, Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe, and she discovered the hidden baby. The girl approached and explained she knew the mother who could nurse the baby. An agreement was met between Pharaoh’s daughter and the mother. The baby would be nursed till weaned off by his mother.
Moses then becomes the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, with the name meaning he was drawn from the water.
Ch.2:11-25 It isn’t explained, but by the time Moses was fully grown he was aware he was a Hebrew. Therefore, it was hard on him seeing his brothers being beat. In fact, one day, after an Egyptian beat a Hebrew, when no one was looking, Moses killed him.
Fearing he was found out, he fled to Midian. It was true, Pharaoh had sought to kill him.
For many years, Moses found sanctuary in Midian. He became a shepherd, got married, and had children. It wasn’t until after the king of Egypt had died, the children of Israel groaned because of their bondage.
And God heard their cry.
Great I AM
Ch.3 He didn’t know this would be the day everything would change for him. Moses was tending a flock, near the mountain of Horeb. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire (Ch.3:02)
God begins to talk to Moses, explaining He has heard the cry of His people. God will deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians. He wants Moses to go to Pharaoh.
Moses is taken aback. Who is he to do such an incredible feat? But it isn’t him, it’s God who will deliver. God reminds him of this. Telling Moses that He is the great I AM.
He tells Moses to gather the elders, they will believe him.
God is prepared for what will come. He knows Pharaoh will not listen, therefore, God will stretch His hand against Egypt.
God Gets Angry
Ch. 4 Moses is still in disbelief the people of Israel will believe. God gives him a staff to show signs. As a matter of fact, God didn’t give Moses one, not two, but three different signs to show the people of Israel what Moses said was true.
- The staff to turn into a serpent
- Putting his hand inside his robe, and drawing it out, it would become leprous. Putting it back, and drawing out again would be healed.
- Pouring water on dry land will turn into blood.
Ch. 4:10-14 Moses still is unsure. He isn’t a good speaker. He is slow of speech and of the tongue, some say this meant he had a stutter. God says, “So what, who do you think made the mouth of man?” He tells Moses, He will be with him.
But isn’t enough for Moses. He still wants God to send someone else.
God finally gets angry, but still encourages him. Aaron, Moses’ brother, will be his spokesperson. He speaks well, he will go with Moses.
They journey to the elders as told, and the people believe.
More Problems For The Hebrews
Ch. 5 Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh, and tell him that God demands, “Let my people go.”
Pharaoh doesn’t know who God is and doesn’t care. In fact, he increases the load of work. This only causes more problems for Moses. People become disheartened.
5:22, Moses goes back to God, and like us, he is confused. He questions God’s plan.
6:01-02– God reminds Moses, “I am the Lord.”
Plagues 1 through 9
Ch. 7 -10 God was not lying when He told Moses He’s got this. We begin Chapter 7 with instructions from God to Moses. Approach Pharaoh, and have Aaron’s staff turn into a snake.
They went to Pharaoh and did exactly as told by God. But Pharaoh had his wise men replicate the same, his heart continued to harden and God and His people. (Ch. 7:09-13)
Well…God may have said in the last book (Genesis) that He would not flood the earth again, but He certainly was not done showing His power.
The Plagues 1-9
(Ch. 7:14-25) Plague 1– Waters Turn to Blood -After Pharaoh refused to free God’s people, Moses uses the staff to touch the water, while Pharaoh is in the water. It turns to blood. Fish die, river smells horrid, and Egyptians loathe to drink water.
(Ch. 8:01-15) Plague 2– Frogs – Pharaoh refuses again, Aaron stretches his hand over the river, frogs rise up from the river, covering the land, the people, and everything in it. But the magicians were able to replicate the frogs with their enchantments. After the frogs left, Pharaoh was relieved, therefore hardening his heart even more.
(Ch. 8:16-19) Plague 3– Lice – Aaron strikes the dust of the earth with his rod, and it becomes lice on animal and man. Only this time, the magicians could not replicate this. They admit, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh continues to harden his heart.
(Ch. 8:20-32) Plague 4– Flies– Pharaoh again refuses to free God’s people when Moses goes to him. God sends swarms of flies on the Egyptians, but the Hebrews were spared.
(Ch. 9:01-07) Plague 5– Livestock Diseased– Pharaoh again refuses to free God’s people. God strikes of all the livestock of the Egyptians, but not the Hebrews. Pharaoh’s heart continues to harden.
(Ch. 9:08-12) Plague 6– Boils – Moses takes ashes and scatters it towards the heavens, in the sight of Pharaoh. It causes boils to break out on man and beast. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils. Pharaoh’s heart continues to harden.
(Ch. 9:13-26) Plague 7- Hail – Pharaoh again refuses to free the Hebrews. Moses stretches his rod toward heaven. God sends thunder, hail, and fire. The Hebrews are spared. 9:27 Pharaoh admits he sinned, but his heart is still hardened.
(Ch. 10:01-20) Plague 8- Locusts – Pharaoh again refuses to free the Hebrews, after being approached by Moses and Aaron. 10:07 Pharaoh’s servants begged Pharaoh to reconsider. Even the Egyptians were aware something was different, and this God of the Hebrews was indeed mighty and powerful. Moses went out and stretching his hand over Egypt, an east wind entered throughout the land. By morning, locusts were everywhere. Pharaoh admitted his sin, but God continued for his heart to be hardened.
Fun Fact: These locusts were not normal, and scripture says there will never be a kind of them after. They covered the face of the earth to the point the ground was darkened.
(Ch. 10:21-29) Plague 9- Darkness – Moses was told to stretch his hand out toward the Heavens. Darkness entered throughout the land of Egypt, yet light shined down on the Hebrews.
Meaning Of Passover | Early Symbolism of Christ
Ch. 11 & 12 In Ch. 11, Moses is told by God to warn Pharaoh if he does not let the Hebrews go, the firstborn of every Egyptian family will die. It should be no surprise, Pharaoh continued to harden his heart.
Ch. 12 Begins instruction for Passover. What should really be focused on here is the symbolism that death is coming, and God spares the Hebrews. Moses is told to have the blood of a lamb on the door of every Hebrew household, and God will pass over the home. This is an early indication of what Jesus will do for us. He takes the sin and saves us from death.
Ch. 12:29-30 Plague 10- Death of Firstborn In the night, God strikes the firstborn, and Pharaoh awakes to a great cry in Egypt. All Egyptian households held the dead.
Exodus
Ch. 12:31-42 As God said Pharaoh called to Moses and Aaron. He told them to leave. Take their flocks and their people. Like God said, Egyptians urged the Hebrews out of the land, giving them items as well.
Fun Fact: The dough the people brought with them was unleavened, thus the tradition for Passover.
In between Summary
The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Ch. 13: 01-10
The Law Of The Firstborn – Ch. 13: 11-16
Despair and Hope At The Red Sea
Ch. 14 Seeing Pharaoh and his army charge after them, the people became discouraged. They say it would have been better to stay in Egypt. (Ch. 14:10-14) But Moses tells them (NIV) “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”
14:19-20 The Angel of the Lord put a cloud over them, hiding them from Pharaoh and his armies. For the Hebrews there was light, but the Egyptians were given darkness.
14:21-24 Moses raised his hand and the waters rose forming a wall. Allowing God’s peoples to walk through dry land. God also sends a pillar of fire down and troubles the army from advancing.
14:27-31 Once everyone has crossed, Moses again raises his hands and the waters come down. The Egyptians are defeated. The Israelites fear God and believe Moses.
Ch. 15:01-19 Moses sings a song of praise to the Lord.
But the journey does not stop here. No, in fact, due to the immense complaint against God, this is only the beginning for the Israelites.
Stayed tuned for part 2.
~ T. R. Noble
(Images from Pexels)
Inside Cup 
Great Summary
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So very good 😊
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Thank you! These posts have definitely been somewhat challenging and draining to write. But every single time God has spoken to me and applied the stories to my life.
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You have put a lot of time and thought into them that’s for sure. God will bless you many times over for serving him this way.
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Thank you! Sometimes, I get get discouraged, but your words, other commenters, and God’s hand have shown me I believe He wants me to do this.
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