Overview Article
What does it mean to be in a relationship with God, the ultimate being in the universe? How does one establish that relationship? What is that relationship like, and what does it take to stay in it? These are questions that people around the world have been asking since the beginning of time. The book of Exodus provided the ancient Israelites with answers to such questions, revealing not only what was required of them in a relationship with God, but also what God had graciously done to make that relationship possible.
Key People, Places, and Terms
People 77
Places 34
Key Terms 106
Themes
The Plagues 17 The main purpose of the plagues in Egypt was not to rescue the Hebrew people from Egyptian oppression. If rescue was the goal, one big miracle would have been enough. The plagues intended to show who God is to Israel,... Hardened Hearts 15 The book of Exodus often mentions that the Lord caused Pharaoh to act stubborn or "hardened Pharaoh's heart" ( Exodus 4:21 ; 9:12 ; 10:1 , 20 ; 11:10 ; 14:4 , 8 ). These statements can be difficult. Did God make Phara... The Cloud and Fire 13 When Israel was in the wilderness, God guided them with a pillar of cloud and fire. The pillar appeared to the Israelites immediately after the first Passover, when they left Egypt ( Exodus 13:20–22 ). The pillar had... God’s Covenants 7 The word "covenant" (from the Hebrew word berith ) means "bond." A covenant is a binding relationship based on a commitment that includes promises and duties. The covenant relationship requires faithfulness and enable... Suffering in Following God 7 Sometimes, people urge others to accept Jesus Christ because they promise that he will solve their problems. Yet, Jesus did not promise to solve all problems. He often warned people to think about the cost of followin... The Glory of God 7 Glory in the Old Testament means something different than in English. In English, it often describes something temporary, like a sunset or last year's winning team. The Hebrew word for glory means what is "heavy" or "... The Tabernacle 6 The tabernacle was a portable sanctuary where God lived among the Israelite people. From the beginning of creation, God's plan was to share his life with humans and allow people to have a close relationship with him.... Holiness by Relationship 6 Holiness refers to God's transcendent nature and moral purity ( Leviticus 10:3 ). God is completely set apart from everything else. God is pure, perfect, and greater than all. But we are limited creatures who sin. So...
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The Cross and Passover 6 At the start of John’s Gospel, John the Baptist introduced Jesus as "the Lamb of God” ( John 1:29 , 36 ). This phrase might refer to the sacrificial lamb killed daily in the temple ( Exodus 29:38–46 ). Or it might ref... The Central Sanctuary 6 God wanted people to worship where he had chosen to put his name. For Israel, this was first the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. God is transcendent (above all things) and omnipresent (present everywhere... What Is Good 5 Micah 6:8 , a famous and often memorized verse, answers questions from people who became confused and had lost their moral and spiritual direction. The people of Israel wanted to know how to please the Lord. In a soci... Symbolic Numbers 5 Numbers in Scripture have often led people to strange conclusions. Understanding ancient number symbolism can help us interpret the Scriptures better. Yet, this symbolism is not precise. We must be careful when using... Death 5 Humans are mortal, and death is the natural end of life on earth ( Psalm 90:1–6 ). Human identity began when God breathed life into the dust of the earth and made a man ( Genesis 2:7 ). This state reverses at death wh... Biblical Law 4 Biblical law is more than lists of rules. It is a system of what God expects about belief and behavior. If people follow it faithfully, they will receive God's greatest blessings. Keeping the law is essential for life... Darkness and Light 4 Darkness means there is no light. There was no light until God commanded it to appear. He then separated light from darkness ( Genesis 1:2 , 4–5 , 18 ). The ninth plague he sent against Egypt was three days of deep da... God’s Faithfulness to His People 4 God made a special agreement (called a covenant) with the people of Israel. It included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (see Deuteronomy 28:1–68 ). Many years later, after King Solomon dedicated th... God’s Glory with His People 4 In ancient Israel, God's glory was especially visible at the main holy places built for him. When the Israelites finished building the Tent of Meeting, "the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" ( Exodus 40:34–35 )... The Written Word 4 During the prophet Jeremiah’s crisis at his public trial on the temple grounds, friends saved his life ( Jeremiah 26 ). Yet, King Jehoiakim killed the prophet Uriah and tried to arrest Jeremiah. Would this end Jeremia... The Passover 4 The feast of Passover became a central part of Israelite religious practice. This festival celebrated God's rescue of the Hebrews from Egypt and his protection from the final deadly plague. God wanted it observed ever... Pure Worship 3 From the start of God's relationship with Israel, he provided ways for their worship of him to be pleasing to him ( Exodus 20–40 ; Leviticus 1–8 ). One of the Lord's main goals for his people is to guarantee they offe...
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Outline
Use of Exodus in the New Testament
Quoted 60 times across 12 New Testament books
Total quotations 60
Connected books 12
Most-connected book Acts 15
Most Echoed Across the New Testament
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
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