Where did the name “Exodus” come from? Greek term exodos means “a going out” or “departure.” To help you remember the theme, just think of the word ‘exit’ and how it sounds like ‘Exodus.’ They could say, “We are the people of God—let’s exit-us out of here.”

Purpose of Exodus

• “The overarching theme of Exodus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs that he would make their descendants a great nation. This is carried out despite the opposition of the greatest superpower in the ancient world at the time, Egypt, and despite the unbelief and disobedience of the people themselves.”[1]
• In this book, we will see the nature of the slavery, how God rescues, and then how He sets up His people’s government and life as a people God has not forgotten. In the process, He promises them a land, a land promised to the patriarchs of old.
• Moses serves as the mediator of the covenant between God and His people.
• God is ever-present among His people, showing Himself in various places (burning bush, Mount Sinai) and also giving His commandments and instructions to His people—instructions they were perpetually neglecting.

Where is Christ in Exodus?

1. Christ is the “I AM” (Exodus 3:14, John 6:35, John 8:12; John 8:58; John 10:7; John 10:11; John 11:25; John 14:6; John 15:1). When Jesus told the Pharisees, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” He identified Himself as the one in the burning bush. The seven “I AM” statements reinforced various aspects of how Christ stands as the second Person of the Trinity.
2. Christ is the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). His sacrifice as the spotless Lamb was foreshadowed in Exodus 12. His blood was shed to spare His people from the angel of death.
3. Christ is the rescuer from slavery (Exodus 14-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-3; Revelation 15:3). As God rescued the people of israel from the slavery in Egypt, Christ came to rescue His people from a more evil slave, that of the dominion of sin! The Song of Moses that speaks of this salvation is repeated in Revelation 15 as a song that rescues us from the evil of the world today.
4. Christ is the bread from heaven (Exodus 16; John 6:32-35). God sent manna down from heaven; He also sent Christ who is the bread of life. Manna left you hungry, but Christ will forever nourish you and never leave you hungry.
5. Christ is the water from the Rock (Exodus 17; John 7:37-39; 1 Corinthians 10:4)
6. Christ is the Tabernacle/Temple (Exodus 26; John 1:14). Christ came to “tabernacle” among us (John 1:14). “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it in three days” (John 2:19). Christ is the Temple where…
7. Christ is the glory of God (Exodus 33; John 1:14-18). … the true glory of God dwells. In fact, Christ is that same glory of God (John 1:14-18). As the Temple was the place among the nations where God’s presence and glory was on display, Christ is the one among the nations and through His church where God’s glory is on display.

Yes, Christ is all the way back in Exodus. Glory to His name!

[1]The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 140.