Background and Introduction to the Book of Exodus

The English name “Exodus” comes from the Greek word ‘exodos’ (ἔξοδος) in the Septuagint, meaning “going out.” Written by Moses in the wilderness in the 15th century BCE, it is the second book of the Pentateuch. Exodus is the central book of the Pentateuch, showing us the beginning of God’s redemptive work.

If you enjoy reading escape stories, you will love this book—it recounts the greatest escape in history. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, with no land, money, property, or weapons of their own. The successful escape of this massive group of millions of slaves from what was then a heavily fortified nation was a true miracle. After their escape, they needed to be reacquainted with their own heritage. Their leader, Moses, recorded the history of the Israelites for these former slaves so they would know their roots and their ancestors.

It is essential for us today to read the Book of Exodus. Without it, we cannot understand many of the signs of redemption in the Bible, such as Moses, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, manna, the rock that provided water, the Ten Commandments, the tabernacle, the high priest, and more. We also cannot truly understand much of the message in the New Testament. In Exodus, God first redeems the Israelites and then calls them to live holy lives. The first half of the book describes God performing miracles for them, demonstrating His grace. In the second half, God expects them to be thankful and to live and act according to His commands.

From the Old Testament era to the present day, God has never changed. The God of Exodus is our God, and we are His people. The way He treated the Israelites then is the same way He treats us today. Therefore, we need to understand this book. The difference is that we no longer live under the Law of Moses but under the redemption of Christ.

(Compiled and edited based on the Chinese Union Version and recordings from David Pawson’s “Unlocking the Old Testament” series.)