The book of Exodus continues the story where Genesis ends. God had previously told Abraham that his descendants would become slaves (Genesis 15:13). Exodus introduces us to their hardship in Egypt. God heard their cries, saw their suffering, and acted to rescue them. He would do this through Moses, a Hebrew who had grown up as an Egyptian and was living in exile after killing someone (Exodus 1–3).
Moses approached Pharaoh with God’s demand to let Israel go, but Pharaoh refused. Scripture describes his heart as hardened. At first glance, it might seem that God was entirely responsible for this hardening (Exodus 4:21–23). However, through my studies, I learned that Pharaoh was also responsible for the hardness of his heart. He had no regard for the God of Israel, and God used his hardened heart to reveal His glory.
God sent ten plagues, which some interpreters believe were directed against the gods of Egypt (Schnittjer, 2023, p. 186). These signs reveal God’s “mighty power, his uniqueness, and his faithfulness to his word” (Schnittjer, 2023, p. 191).
God’s Faithfulness Despite Israel’s Failures
After the Israelites left Egypt, the author quickly reveals that they were not without faults themselves. They repeatedly grumbled and complained against the Lord (Exodus 14:11–12; 15:24; 16:2–3; 17:2–3). Their deliverance was clearly not a reward for their righteousness. It was an expression of God’s faithfulness and mercy.
God would later make His holy presence dwell among these sinful people. At Mount Sinai, He gave them the Ten Commandments and provided Moses with further instructions (Exodus 20–40). Schnittjer (2023) identifies four purposes of the law: sanctification, morality, expressing God’s will, and living under His will and sovereign rule (p. 217).
The book of Exodus highlights God’s faithfulness. Hundreds of years earlier, He had promised Abraham that He would bring his descendants out of slavery. Despite all the opposition, God fulfilled His promise. It was not because the Israelites were righteous, holy, or prayerful. It was because of His grace and mercy.
It is easy to criticize the Israelites for being ungrateful and always grumbling, but I see that I am not too different from them. Sometimes, I overlook God’s mighty works and focus on small, insignificant things, failing to see His greater plan.
Yet He loves me. He died for me. He saved me. He is patient with me. He gave me His holy Word to guide my path.
Just as the Israelites owed everything they were to God, I owe everything I am to Him.
Lessons for Christians Today
Jesus as Lord
The Hebrew term for “lord,” ’adon or ’adonai, was used by the Israelites as a substitute for God’s name, Yahweh. The Greek term kyrios was later used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Jesus’ disciples also addressed Him as Lord or Master (John 20:28; 13:13).
However, this title came to express more than His authority as Master. It also pointed to His shared identity with Yahweh. He is one with God. He is the divine Master (Schnittjer, 2023, p. 182).
God’s Justice and Mercy
In Romans 9, the apostle Paul considers the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart within the wider story of Exodus. He concludes that God is not unjust and emphasises that no one deserves His mercy.
Both Pharaoh and the Israelites were hard-hearted (Exodus 9:15–16; 33:5). Yet God chose to deal with Pharaoh according to his sin and to show mercy to the Israelites. He would have mercy on whom He would have mercy and compassion on whom He would have compassion (Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:15–21).
God is just in both His wrath and His grace (Schnittjer, 2023, pp. 200–202).
Reference:
Schnittjer, G. E. (2023). The Torah story: an apprenticeship on the Pentateuch. Zondervan Academic.
