Spring 2026            Exodus 1:1—12:42

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Introduction  

At the close of the book of Genesis, God’s chosen people—the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—have migrated to Egypt. In the opening chapters of the book of Exodus we learn how the Israelites’ status in Egypt changed from welcomed guests to that of slaves toiling away on Egyptian building projects. Given severe oppression at the hands of the Egyptians, the question arises as to how God’s earlier promises to his people will be fulfilled. Among other marvelous promises, the Lord had pledged to Abraham that his descendants would be delivered from enslavement in a foreign land (Gen 15:13–14). The story we will consider this spring recounts the fulfillment of that promise.

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The first step is the raising up of a leader. Rescue will be a great theme in this book, and before anything else can happen, the human agent of Israel’s rescue must himself be rescued. God saves Moses even in infancy. Forty years later God commissions a reluctant Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Before Moses can take on this role, however, he must have a direct encounter with the Lord himself. At the burning bush, the Lord reveals his name to Moses: I Am Who I Am.The point is that Yahweh will be the one doing the rescuing. Moses must recognize that he is but God’s servant.

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The rest of our text for this spring recounts the long-drawn-out clash between Yahweh and Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s arrogance is such that it takes Ten Plagues before he will bow in the face of Yahweh’s superiority. Not only does Pharaoh release Israel from bondage, but the Egyptians even shower God’s people with expensive gifts as they depart in haste (exactly as promised in Gen 15:14).

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Throughout the Old Testament, few themes are repeated as often as this one: “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” In fact, few themes have greater importance in the Bible as a whole. Israel looked back to this pivotal event, but the event itself also points forward. The exodus foreshadows God’s ultimate rescue of his people from slavery to sin. The blood of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, stands in our place and protects us from God’s righteous judgment. “Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor 5:8).

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Schedule  

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Apr 19:    Exodus 1                   Now there arose a new king over Egypt.                     Nathaniel Jackson

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Apr 26:   Exodus 2                  I drew him out of the water.                                                  Stefan Matzal

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May 3:    Exodus 3                   The bush was burning but not consumed.                  Nathaniel Jackson

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May 10:   Exodus 4                  Who has made man’s mouth?                                               Stefan Matzal

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May 17:   Exodus 5:1–6:1          Let my people go!                                                          Nathaniel Jackson

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May 24:  Exodus 6:2–7:7        I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel.               Stefan Matzal

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May 31:   Exodus 7:8–8:19      This is the finger of God.                                                Nathaniel Jackson

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Jun 7:     Exodus 8:20–11:10    Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also.                          Stefan Matzal

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Jun 14:    Exodus 12:1–28        Your lamb shall be without blemish.                                     Stefan Matzal

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Jun 21:    Exodus 12:29–42     Go out from among my people!                                           Sam Benjamin

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Jun 28:                                     Topical                                                                                     Stefan Matzal

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The Eldership: April 2026