When was the last time you felt intimidated? Maybe it was at work, being asked to share your thoughts in front of a group of coworkers, or stepping into a new workplace on your first day. Maybe it was gameday, lining up against the competition, realizing—despite all the pep talks—you’re completely outmatched. Or perhaps you were spending time with your grandchildren, and they asked for help with math or science homework, leaving you with that sinking feeling of being in over your head.
Intimidation. It’s an experience we’ve all had. And for many, that feeling can come up when they encounter the Bible—particularly a book like Exodus.
The book of Exodus is massive. It spans 40 chapters, contains over 1,200 verses, and more than 32,000 words. If its size doesn’t intimidate you, its story might. Rivers turning to blood, swarms of frogs, a burning bush, golden calf worship, a sea splitting in two, and blood painted on doorposts—it’s a mix of drama, mystery, and the surreal. It’s easy to wonder how any of that could possibly relate to life today.
So why should we care about a book like Exodus? Here are two reasons:
1. Exodus Helps Us Understand God’s Story
The first verse of Exodus says, “These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family.” It begins by listing names, but what’s most striking is how the story starts in Hebrew. The first word is “And.” This detail doesn’t come through in most English translations, but it’s there in the original text.
Why start a book with “And”? Because Exodus is a continuation of a larger story—a sequel to Genesis. The Bible isn’t a random collection of fables or moral lessons. It’s one cohesive narrative, made up of 66 books, written by 40 authors across centuries, all telling a unified story. To truly understand that story, we need every part of it, including books like Exodus.
Yet many of us gravitate to familiar sections of the Bible—Proverbs, Psalms, or the New Testament—while avoiding the Old Testament. It can feel distant, confusing, or even bizarre. But skipping parts of the story robs us of its depth and richness.
Imagine starting the Harry Potter series at book five. You’d get the gist of the plot, but you’d miss the context, the backstory, and the emotional weight of key moments. The same is true of the Bible. Skipping the Old Testament makes it harder to fully grasp the significance of the New Testament.
As theologian Greg Beale puts it, “The storyline of the Old Testament is the foundation for the message of the New Testament. Without understanding the Old Testament, it is impossible to fully grasp the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes in Christ as portrayed in the New Testament.”
Exodus, in particular, plays a pivotal role in that foundation. The name itself means “going out,” and it tells the story of God’s people being delivered from slavery in Egypt and heading toward freedom and a promised future. It’s a narrative of rescue, liberation, and restoration—themes that resonate throughout the Bible and find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
2. Exodus Helps Us Understand Our Story
Every one of us has a story. We’re all navigating life’s twists and turns, trying to make sense of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. The book of Exodus provides a template for understanding those journeys. It’s what some call a “master story”—a narrative that mirrors the human experience and sheds light on our own lives.
Exodus can be broken into five key movements:
- Restriction: The story begins with God’s people in Egypt, a word that literally means “restriction” or “narrow place.” They’re oppressed, living far from the flourishing life God intended.
- Desperation: In their suffering, they cry out for relief, longing for freedom from their bondage.
- Liberation: God intervenes, displaying His power and faithfulness. Through a series of dramatic events, including the parting of the Red Sea, He leads them toward freedom.
- Restoration: God renews His covenant with the people, showing them how to live in their newfound freedom by giving them the Ten Commandments.
- Rebellion: Despite God’s faithfulness, the people turn away. They complain, worship a golden calf, and resist the very God who delivered them.
This cycle—restriction, desperation, liberation, restoration, rebellion—is not just the story of Exodus; it’s the story of humanity. It’s the story of us. We’ve all experienced seasons of restriction, where life feels narrow and stifling. We’ve known desperation, crying out for change. We’ve tasted liberation, seen things get better, only to fall into rebellion when we’re not careful. And through it all, we’re met by a God who restores.
This is why the Exodus narrative has been retold and adapted in countless ways throughout history. The English Puritans saw themselves on an Exodus from the “Egypt” of England in their pursuit of religious freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. invoked the story to inspire the civil rights movement, famously declaring, “I’ve been to the mountaintop… And I’ve looked over and seen the Promised Land.” Even modern Hollywood draws on this framework, from the rebellion against the Empire in Star Wars to the fight against Thanos in The Avengers.
The story resonates because it’s universal. It reminds us that we’re not alone in our struggles, that there’s hope for liberation, and that life’s journey—while messy—is headed somewhere meaningful.
Reflecting on Your Journey
So where are you in your own Exodus journey? Are you feeling restricted, stuck in circumstances that feel beyond your control? Are you desperate for a breakthrough, longing for change? Or perhaps you’ve experienced liberation but find yourself in need of restoration—a reminder of how to live in the freedom you’ve been given.
Taking time to reflect on these questions can be transformative. Life moves fast, and it’s easy to lose sight of where we are and where we’re headed. The story of Exodus invites us to pause, take stock, and remember that life is a dynamic journey, always unfolding.
Oxford theologian Alister McGrath said it well: “The Exodus tells our story. Each of us has a personal journey to make, from our own Egypt to our promised land. We have left something behind in order to make this journey. We have had to break free from our former lives in order to begin afresh.”
Exodus is more than just an ancient tale. It’s a mirror, reflecting the journey of every person—a journey from bondage to freedom, from despair to hope. And in understanding this story, we gain new insight into our own.
This post briefly summarizes a sermon I recently delivered at Wabash Friends Church. You can watch or listen to the entire sermon here: