Exodus Intro
Intro
The books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers continue the story of how God formed the nation of Israel to play a special role in his plans for the whole world. When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God came to them and worked powerfully through Moses to deliver them. At Mount Sinai, God revealed his laws to Moses, including the Ten Commandments, and confirmed his covenant with the young nation. Israel built a “tabernacle,” or “tent of meeting,” so that God could live among them. The people then traveled through the wilderness to the land of Canaan.
The boundaries between the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers are not sharply drawn. The key structure throughout the books relates to the various places the Israelites stopped on their journey. Each location is noted, and the events at each one are described. The key location is Mount Sinai; the second half of Exodus, all of Leviticus, and the beginning of Numbers describe what took place there. Leviticus specifically contains the laws and regulations the Lord gave to Israel. Numbers reports how the people were organized into a fighting force and moved toward the promised land.
Numbers reaches back across Leviticus and Exodus and repeats the phrase that structures Genesis: This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses (Num. 3:1). Appropriately, we hear this phrase for the twelfth time as the twelve tribes are being organized into a nation. Near the end of Numbers the prophet Balaam says to Israel, May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed. This recalls God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis, I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse. These references show that together these books tell a single story of the beginning of God’s redemptive work in the world.
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Exodus Intro: NIV
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Exodus Introduction
Introduction
The book of Exodus continues the story of God and the people of Israel. God formed the people of Israel to be a special nation. The nation of Israel would be a special part of his plan for the whole world.
Exodus is the story of Abraham and his family who came after him. These people moved to Egypt when there was a famine. They became slaves there. But God was still with them in Egypt. He chose a man named Moses to be their leader. God worked powerfully through Moses to bring these people out of Egypt. They traveled through the desert to Mount Sinai. Then God gave his laws to Moses. The Ten Commandments were part of the laws given. God also told the Israelites how they should worship him. The Israelites built a holy tent so God could live among them.
While the Israelites were at Mount Sinai, God repeated his special promise to them. God promised that he would be their God and that they would be his chosen people. This story of how God saved Israel became a pattern for how he will save people again.
The book of Leviticus follows Exodus. Leviticus continues the story of God and the people of Israel. Most of this part of the story takes place around Mount Sinai. God wanted his people to live holy lives. And he wanted them to be separate from the nations around them. God wanted Israel to be a new kind of people in the world. So God gave the Israelites laws and directions on how to live holy lives. These laws and commands also directed their worship. God gave these laws and commands to Moses. He wrote these rules, laws and commands so the people would remember to be faithful.
The book of Numbers follows Leviticus. It also continues the story of God and the people of Israel. God wanted his people to live holy lives. But they did not obey God’s laws and commands. So the Israelites had to wander in the desert for 40 years. They had to wait to enter the land God had promised them.
Numbers is the story of the Israelites in the desert. It is about their adventures during those 40 years. And it is about how God continued to provide for their needs. God was faithful to his special promise to them.
The book of Numbers brings together ideas from Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus. Together these books tell the story of the beginning of God’s saving work in the world.
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.