The word “exodus” means “going out.” It refers to a time when the enslaved descendants of Abraham are released from their bondage and “go out” from Egypt, returning to the land promised by God to Abraham.
Exodus is basically in two parts: a narrative and a set of regulations.
The narrative details their enslavement and emancipation, along with Moses’ work – as directed by God – to win their freedom. This is found in chapters 1 through 19 and in 32 through 34.
The second part, chapters 20 through 31 and 35 through 40, is a meticulous, and at times, tedious account of the instructions God gave his people, through Moses, on how to live and worship God.
This includes regulations highlighting God’s holiness and conditions through which his sin-prone people can approach him.
The authorship of Exodus is attributed to Moses, who, as the central human figure in this book, stood up to the pharaoh and led the people out of Egypt to the promised land.
A succinct and effective overview of Exodus is found in Acts 7:17-44 as part of Stephen’s defense before the council.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.