OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 5

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY – 5

EXODUS - SHEMOTH

Exodus 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 

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The Book of Genesis took us from the creation of Adam (circa 4000 BC), to the death of Joseph (circa 1606 BC). 

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Exodus - The record of the enslavement of the Hebrews, the birth and rise of their deliverer (Moshe), and the amazing journey of the Hebrews out of Egypt, facilitated by the mighty hand of Elohim.  Circa 1600 - 1400 BC.

It is in Exodus (Shemoth) that we witness the story of the infant Moshe (Moses) being floated down the river in a basket to be found of Pharaoh's daughter.  While Moshe grows up in the lap of luxury and receives the best education and training the world can offer, his people's bondage was steadily made more severe.  At 40 years of age, Moshe seemed to understand that he was to set the Hebrews free from their bondage; but he made an untimely effort to help the Hebrews, committing murder in the process. After this untimely beginning, he fled the country into the land of Midian, where he remained for 40 years.  (Footnote: When the Holy Spirit speaks to us and says, “Go speak to that person,” or “Go help that person;” that is something to be done with instant obedience.  When He says, “I am going to use you to set your people free,” or some other “defining the nature of your ministry or calling” kind of declaration; you need to listen further to see what training is in store for you before you step out to fulfill His word to you.  There is a difference between obeying His word and fulfilling His word. Obedience to His instructions will eventually bring us to the place of fulfilling His calling for us. We would be mindful to take note from Moshe’s life how different those two things can be.)

During his years in Midian, Moshe confronted Elohim at the burning bush and IAUE revealed His name to man for the first time. 

Exodus 3:13 And Moshe said unto Elohim, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The Elohim of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And Elohim said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

15 And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, IAUE Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

 (The Scripture says that when Moshe returned to Egypt, he was the most humble man in all of Israel. THIS was the result of the much needed training to prepare the arrogant, superiorly trained adopted son of Pharaoh for the calling of the Hebrews’ savior out of the hand of Egypt.)

When Moshe returned to Egypt and reunited with his brother Aaron, they approached Pharaoh to demand that he permit the Hebrews to make a three day journey into the desert to make sacrifice and to feast unto IAYE.  Pharaoh’s response was that he did not know IAUE that he should regard obedience to His command something a king of Egypt should succumb to obey.  Because Pharaoh would not let the Hebrews leave their slave homes to go a three day's journey into the desert to sacrifice unto IAUE, ten plagues were brought upon the land which resulted in the humbling of the entire nation, and the exaltation of the name of IAUE.

Water turned into blood:  Ex 7:14-25

Frogs:  Ex 8:1-14

Lice: Ex 8:16-19

Flies: Ex 8:20-32

Destruction of all livestock by plague: Ex 9:1-7

Boils: Ex 9:8-12

Hail: Ex 9:18-29

Locusts: Ex 10:1-20

Three days of darkness:  Ex 10:21-29

Death of the firstborn: (Ex:11:1-12:30)

When IAUE was finished with him, Pharaoh understood why he should have obeyed when IAUE commanded him to let His people go.  (Each of the ten plagues was a direct assault against a prominent false god of the Egyptians.) 

The Passover was initiated during the last of these plagues; after which Pharaoh released the Hebrews from bondage.  Passover was the first of seven feast days instituted for the Hebrews to observe as a memorial unto IAUE.

The parting of the Red Sea may be one of the best-known of all the stories in the Tanak.  It marks the point of transition for the Hebrews: being delivered out of bondage; and being set upon a course to inherit the promised land.  It is after crossing the Red Sea that Moshe receives the Law, the Ten Commandments.  It is here that the tribe of Levi is separated unto the priesthood; and it is here, in the last half of the book of Exodus, that IAUE gives the instructions for building the Tabernacle of the Congregation.  He provided unique skills to the workers and craftsmen to follow His instructions to the letter.

There are several chapters devoted to the instructions for building every aspect of the Tabernacle; and several chapters devoted to the actual building of the Tabernacle with all its curtains, boards, and furnishings.  These chapters provide possibly the most detailed revelation in all of Scripture of the person and work of Yahushua as our Messiah and Savior. The instructions regarding the High Priest and the Levitical priests are also revelatory of who we are in Messiah as His “kingdom of priests” (1 Pet 2:9).

The book of Exodus closes on the inauguration of the Tabernacle (Circa 1461 BC), and an explanation that the Hebrews were to journey onward only when the cloud of Elohim “was taken up from over the Tabernacle.”  Otherwise, they were to remain encamped.