Exodus Overview:
With
the turn of a page we will time travel more than 400 years! Tradition states
that Moses wrote this book, and all evidence seems to agree that he is the
author. Many believe that the Exodus took place around 1446 BC, while others believe
it was closer to 1290BC. According to my NIV introduction to Exodus, this book
lays the foundation for critical theology because God reveals his name, his
attributes, his redemption, his law, and how he is to be worshipped.
In
this book God raises up a mediator, Moses, who liberates God’s people from
bondage, initiates the earthly kingdom for God’s chosen people, and establishes
the royal home where God lives among them.
The key verse is probably Exodus 29:45
"They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of
Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God."
What
do you think the various sons of Jacob thought as he blessed them? Not many of
those blessings were positive. According to the Baker Commentary on the Bible,
this chapter is especially hard to translate. Reuben is denied his traditional
inheritance as the oldest son because of his transgressions with Bilhah. Simeon
and Levi are left out because of their killing rampage in Shechem. But despite
Judah’s immorality (sleeping with Tamar, who he thought was a prostitute), he
is not denied. He and his descendants are named as royalty, and there is a
clear description of Jesus as the eternal king. Joseph received the greatest
blessings, and I was surprised to see Benjamin’s blessing wasn’t very positive.
Blessings
were given by the patriarch of the family and usually related to fertility,
wealth, and relationships with family and community. These were not presumed to
be prophetic messages from God, but they were taken very seriously and could
not be revoked. Often they were self-fulfilling.
Jacob
seemed to know that death was imminent. Perhaps he had been preparing these
blessings for weeks and was waiting for the right time. I wonder if he was
thinking of the blessings he had received from his father, those that were
meant for his brother, Esau?
Do
you wish you had a chance to receive a blessing that told you of your future?
Or is it better not to know?
Today’s
text jumps ahead perhaps hundreds of years to the enslavement of the Israelites
in Exodus. Lots more about that tomorrow!
TOMORROW’S
TEXT: Exodus 2:1 – 5:9
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