Exodus Old and New

1. Exile Precedes Exodus: Humanity's Separation from God

Separated from Yahweh God, the fountain of life and being, humanity’s condition is one of death.

Loss of relationship. The Bible begins with humanity in fellowship with God, but rebellion led to exile from Eden, a loss of relationship with the source of life. This separation is not just a physical displacement but a spiritual death, a condition of alienation from God, the source of all peace, joy, and fulfillment. This loss of relationship also resulted in a loss of self, as humanity's purpose and significance were found in their connection with God.

Intensifying alienation. The narrative of Genesis 1-11 traces humanity's deepening separation from God, marked by increasing sin and violence. Cain's murder of Abel, the rise of cities as replacements for Eden, and the Tower of Babel all demonstrate humanity's attempt to find fulfillment apart from God. This eastward movement away from Eden symbolizes a growing disorientation and a loss of true purpose.

Exile's consequences. The consequences of this exile are profound, leading to fear, anxiety, depression, and restlessness. Humanity, created for fellowship with God, now seeks satisfaction in fleeting pleasures and carnal ambitions, squandering the divine gift of life. This condition of exile is the backdrop for the entire biblical story of redemption, highlighting the need for an exodus back to God.

2. Abraham's Life: A Blueprint for Exodus

In calling Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees, God was delivering an ancient Mesopotamian man, along with his wife Sarai, out of exile and initiating a relationship that would serve as the kernel for all humanity’s new life with God.

Exodus from Ur. God's call to Abraham to leave Ur was a deliverance from the exile of the nations, a reversal of the scattering from Babel. This call was not just a geographical move but a spiritual transformation, a forsaking of the past for a new relationship with God. Abraham's journey foreshadows the future exodus of Israel and the ultimate redemption of all humanity.

Exodus from Egypt. Abraham's sojourn in Egypt, marked by famine and deception, prefigures Israel's later enslavement and deliverance. God's intervention to rescue Abraham and his wife, along with the wealth they acquired, anticipates the plagues on Egypt and the plundering of the Egyptians by the Israelites. These events demonstrate that the exodus pattern was already at work in the lives of the patriarchs.

Vision of Israel's Exodus. God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, involving a bloody path between split carcasses, foreshadows Israel's exodus from Egypt. The pillars of smoke and fire passing through the path of death symbolize God's presence leading Israel through the sea. This vision confirms that Abraham's descendants would be delivered through death and brought into the promised land.

3. The Exodus: God's Glory Revealed Through Deliverance

True liberation is nothing less than restoration to the right relationship between the creature and Creator.

Knowledge of Yahweh. The exodus from Egypt was not just about political liberation but about revealing God's glory and character to the world. The plagues, or signs and wonders, were designed to demonstrate Yahweh's power over the gods of Egypt and to make his name known. Pharaoh's question, "Who is Yahweh?" is answered by God's mighty acts of deliverance.

Hardening of Pharaoh's heart. God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart was not arbitrary but served to amplify his own glory. By prolonging the plagues, God displayed his power and judgment, ensuring that both Egypt and Israel would know that he is Yahweh. This divine strategy also served to teach future generations about God's faithfulness and power.

Yahweh's incomparability. The climax of the exodus, the splitting of the sea, reveals Yahweh's incomparability. Israel's song by the sea declares, "Who is like you, O Yahweh, among the gods?" This knowledge of Yahweh's unique power and holiness is the central message of the exodus, intended not only for Israel but for all the nations.

4. Sea Crossing: A Battle Against Chaos and Death

The sea, as we will observe throughout this chapter, symbolizes death.

Creation and Re-creation. The sea crossing is presented as a re-creation event, echoing the creation and deluge stories of Genesis. God's wind divides the waters, creating dry land for Israel to pass through, just as he did in the original creation. The darkness and the sea symbolize chaos and death, while the emergence of dry land and the light of dawn represent new life and resurrection.

Egypt as Sheol. Egypt is portrayed as a symbol of Sheol, the watery abode of death. The Israelites' descent into Egypt and their subsequent ascent out of it are described using language that evokes the imagery of death and resurrection. The sea crossing, therefore, is not just a physical journey but a spiritual passage from death to life.

Slaying the Sea Dragon. The sea crossing is also depicted as a battle against the sea dragon, a mythological monster representing chaos and evil. God's victory over Pharaoh and the Egyptian army is portrayed as a slaying of this dragon, demonstrating his power over the forces of darkness and death. This imagery connects the exodus to the broader cosmic battle between good and evil.

5. Passover: Redemption Through the Blood of the Lamb

The Passover sacrifice therefore involved the idea of substitutionary atonement, with the animal’s death being in place of the firstborn Israelite son.

Substitutionary Atonement. The Passover lamb's sacrifice was a substitutionary act, with its death taking the place of the firstborn sons of Israel. This act of atonement was essential for Israel's redemption from the tenth plague, demonstrating that life is given for life. The blood of the lamb, applied to the doorposts, served as a sign of protection from God's judgment.

Purification and Consecration. The blood of the lamb also served as a means of purification, cleansing the Israelite households from sin and defilement. The eating of the lamb's flesh was an act of consecration, making those who partook of it holy. The Passover meal, therefore, was not just a memorial but a means of transformation and dedication to God.

Urgency of Departure. The unleavened bread and bitter herbs of the Passover meal symbolized the urgency of Israel's departure from Egypt and the bitterness of their bondage. This aspect of the feast emphasized the need for a complete break with the past and a commitment to the new life of freedom with God. The Passover was not just a historical event but a call to ongoing spiritual transformation.

6. Moses: Mediator of God's Covenant and Deliverance

Above all, no other man in the Old Testament era was nearer to Yahweh God, a relationship described as “face to face”

Forerunner of Israel. Moses' own deliverance through the waters of the Nile foreshadows Israel's deliverance through the sea. His experience of God's presence at the burning bush and on Mount Sinai serves as a prelude to Israel's encounter with God. Moses' life is a pattern for Israel's journey from bondage to covenant with God.

Mediator of the Covenant. Moses' role as mediator is highlighted by his continual ascent and descent of Mount Sinai, bringing God's word to the people and representing their response to God. He is the one through whom the covenant between Yahweh and Israel is established, and he is the one who reveals God's character and will to his people.

Intercessor for Israel. Moses' intercessory prayers on behalf of Israel demonstrate his deep love and concern for his people. He pleads with God to forgive their sins and to continue his plan for them, even when they have rebelled. Moses' intercession is a model for all who seek to mediate between God and humanity.

7. Cultic Exodus: Approaching God Through Sacrifice

The goal of the sacrificial system of Israel was restoration to God, the liturgy forming a journey into the heavenly presence of Yahweh God.

Threefold Movement. Israel's liturgy, as seen in the tabernacle and temple, involved a threefold movement toward God: purification, consecration, and communion. The purification offering cleansed from sin, the whole burnt offering consecrated the worshiper to God, and the peace offering provided a meal of fellowship with God. This pattern reflects the journey from exile to restoration.

Whole Burnt Offering. The whole burnt offering, where the entire animal was given to God, symbolized complete consecration and devotion. The ascending smoke of the offering represented humanity's return to God, a transformation from earthly to heavenly. This offering was central to Israel's worship and served as a means of propitiation.

Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement was a ritual reenactment of humanity's expulsion from Eden and its restoration to God. The high priest, as a new Adam, entered the holy of holies with the blood of atonement, reversing the exile and providing a pathway back to God's presence. This annual ritual underscored the need for continual cleansing and reconciliation.

8. Second Exodus: A Greater Redemption for All Nations

Rather than obliterating the differences among the peoples, he will create a beautiful selfless harmony among them, reconciling them to himself and to each other, creating a new humanity.

Beyond Political Liberation. The prophets foretold a second exodus that would surpass the first, not just in terms of political liberation but in spiritual transformation. This new exodus would involve a change of heart, a turning away from sin, and a restoration of relationship with God. It would be a deliverance from the bondage of sin and death.

Universal Scope. The second exodus would not be limited to Israel but would include all nations. The prophets envisioned a time when all peoples would stream to Mount Zion, drawn by the glory of Yahweh. This new exodus would reverse the scattering of Babel and unite humanity under God's rule.

New Covenant. The second exodus would be accompanied by a new covenant, where God would write his law on the hearts of his people. This new covenant would be characterized by a deeper knowledge of God and a more profound commitment to his ways. It would be a covenant of grace and mercy, not just of law.

9. The Servant: Embodiment of Israel's True Calling

The new exodus, so the prophets proclaimed, would far surpass the historical exodus out of Egypt.

Israel's Failure. The prophets recognized that Israel had failed in its calling as Yahweh's servant, failing to bring light to the nations. This failure led to exile and judgment, but it also created the need for a new embodiment of Israel, a true servant who would fulfill God's purposes. The servant is both a person and a representation of the ideal Israel.

Suffering and Vindication. The servant songs in Isaiah portray a figure who suffers unjustly, bearing the sins of others, but who is ultimately vindicated by God. This suffering servant is the key to Israel's redemption and the means by which God's glory will be revealed to the nations. The servant's suffering is not an end in itself but a means to a greater purpose.

New Exodus Leader. The servant is the leader of the new exodus, the one who will bring about the restoration of Israel and the gathering of the nations. He is the one through whom God's promises will be fulfilled, and he is the one who will establish a new kingdom of peace and righteousness. The servant is the hope of Israel and the hope of the world.

10. Jesus: The Passover Lamb and Source of New Creation

So with Israel’s exodus out of Egypt through Moses, God had established a paradigm, the pattern, for understanding the salvation of all his people, including Israel and the nations, through Jesus the Messiah.

Lamb of God. John's Gospel presents Jesus as the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice takes away the sin of the world. His crucifixion is portrayed as the ultimate Passover event, fulfilling the Old Testament types and shadows. Jesus' blood, like the blood of the Passover lamb, is the means of redemption and deliverance.

Resurrection as New Exodus. Jesus' resurrection is the new exodus, a passage from death to life, from the old creation to the new. His resurrection is not just a personal victory but the beginning of a new creation, a new humanity, and a new relationship with God. Through his resurrection, Jesus has opened the way for all who believe to experience the new exodus.

Gift of the Spirit. Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit is the means by which his people are united to him and made partakers of his new creation life. The Spirit empowers believers to live as children of God, to walk in his ways, and to participate in his mission of bringing salvation to the world. The Spirit is the power of the new exodus, transforming lives and renewing creation.

Last updated: January 21, 2025