BibleProject | Redemption in the Biblical Storyഉദാഹരണം

Redemption Out of Exile

Just like God redeemed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, centuries later, he will redeem a different Israelite generation from exile and captivity in Babylon.

In the book of Isaiah, we see God promising to rescue Israel from exile and deliver them through waters without being harmed and through deserts without being thirsty (Isa. 43:1-7, 48:20-21). That language sounds like the exodus. Israel passed safely through the waters of a sea and into a desert, where God provided for their thirst (see Exod. 14:21-22, 15:24-27, 17:1-7).

The same God who carved a path through the deadly waters of the Red Sea, which Isaiah envisions as a raging sea dragon, will also make a way for his people out of life-threatening exile in Babylon (Isa. 51:9-11).

Notice how God’s redemption for people includes freeing them and also forgiving them for the poor decisions that led to exile in the first place. God says that, like a vanishing mist, their wrongdoing will be removed (Isa. 44:22). He’s inviting them back into loving relationship with him—to return to him as family members.

The redemption-from-exile theme continues into the New Testament, where followers of Jesus see themselves like captive Israelites in Babylon, as sojourners experiencing the pain of oppression in exile while turning to God in Christ for rescue (1 Pet. 2:9-12).

Reflection Exercises:

• How does Isaiah use the exodus story to describe what God will do for Israel in Babylonian exile? Why do you think Isaiah uses this particular story?
• Today’s video emphasizes the idea that humanity’s current experience in exile is ultimately self-imposed. How does the video describe the way Jesus leads people out of exile?