Background on Exodus

  • The promise
    • First given to Abraham
  • The covenant
    • Given to Abraham = Genesis 17
    • Permanent for his descendants
    • Birthright passed to successors of subsequent generations: Isaac, Jacob (Israel)
  • The generations
  • Humble arrival in Egypt
    • As a slave – sold by brothers
  • Joseph’s ordeal
    • Refuses Potiphar’s wife
    • Jail time
  • Joseph’s triumph
    • Dreams
    • Promotion
    • Purpose
  • Family joins
    • Out of hunger
    • Joseph “master” of food
    • Revealed to his brothers and father
  • Nation’s treatment
    • Israel given Goshen, treated well
  • Dating of Exodus
    • Several dates speculated
    • Exodus even denied by some
    • Most accepted date – 1446 BC
  • Support for the 1446 BC date
    • Primary source is I Kings 6:1
      • Solomon’s reign began about 970 BC
      • 480 BC + 970 BC – 4 = 1446 BC
    • Also, Acts 13:17-20

Pharaohs of Exodus

  • Consider the following:
    • Psalms 83:3-4
    • Proverbs 10:7
    • God does not name Pharaoh
    • Egypt would not name Israel
  • Contrast of Pharaohs
    • Genesis 47:5-6
    • Genesis 47:11
    • Exodus 1:6-11
  • First Pharaoh (time of Moses’ birth)
    • Thutmose I or Amenhotep I
    • Both capable of issuing infanticide decree
  • Pharaoh of the plagues
    • Amenhotep II
      • 7th Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty
      • His successor (Thutmose IV) not the “true heir” (not firstborn son)
      • Firstborn would have died in tenth plague
  • Answer could be “D – None of the above”
    • Consider Psalms 9:5-8
    • Also Psalms 109:15
    • It was normal for names and events to be blotted out
      • Not flattering to Pharaoh
      • Not convenient to his self-perceived glory

Who wrote Exodus?

  • Exodus 17:14
  • Numbers 33:2
  • Exodus 24:4 (Exodus 20:21 – 23:33)
  • Exodus 34:27 (Exodus 33:11 – 34:26)
  • Familiarity with the ways and facts of Egypt – Acts 7:22
  • Mark 12:26-27 (Exodus 3:6)
  • Sounds like Moses is the author of Exodus

Was the Exodus real?

  • Our faith says yes
  • Many say no
    • No direct archaeological evidence
    • No direct writings
  • Indirect evidence is there
    • Circumstances
      • Influx of Hyksos (Semites) some 400 years previous
    • Buildings requiring intense labor
      • Innumerable slaves working to build a treasure city
      • Bricks with too little straw
    • Records – not all the bad news was destroyed
      • Hapi (god of Nile) making waters undrinkable
      • Kermit (god of fertility) released frogs
      • Osiris (corn) would not hold back locusts
      • Ra (sun) refused to shine
      • Pharaoh had no eldest son to succeed

Why?

  • Purpose of Exodus event
    • What was the point?
      • Goshen was nice
      • God defeated Pharaoh
      • Why not just stay
    • What was the promise?
      • Did it include a “where”?
      • Could He have given them Egypt?
  • Remember the promise – Genesis 12:1-9
  • Repeated Acts 7:2-5

Impact of Exodus

  • God made Israel into a nation
    • Laws
    • Leadership
    • Led them to a country
  • Nations would fear the God of Israel
  • Exodus 15:14 – “The peoples have heard, they tremble”
  • Remember Rahab? Joshua 2:8-11
  • Constant reminder of God’s lovingkindness toward Israel
  • Much of Chapter 13 reminds Israel during the Passover
  • Feast of Unleavened Bread – Exodus 23:15
  • Joshua 24:6; Judges 2:1; I Samuel 12:8; I Chronicles 17:21; Haggai 3:16