Remember Your Exodus Story

Sand squishes around your feet. But you have no fear of sinking in. To your right and left stand towering walls of water—instead of crashing down, they stay suspended. You cautiously stick your fingers into one of these strange aquatic mounds.

There you are, walking in the middle of a parted Red Sea! Millions of Israelites travel with you, all their earthly possessions in tow…

An invaluable tool of Bible study is to make its stories live. To meditate on them. To envision details of sight, smell and sound. To turn them into anamorphic widescreen “movies of the mind.”

This exercise allows you to better understand how God thinks and His power—as well as learn the lessons this Living Book contains.

Yet there is one story that God wants you to remember more than any other, at least by sheer number of times it is mentioned and fully recounted: the Exodus story.

The following phrase, or a variation of it, can be found some 57 times in the Old Testament: “I am the Lord your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Ex. 20:2).

Over and over, God inspired the story of ancient Israel to be recorded—leaving slavery in Egypt, wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and finally entering the Promised Land.

When the Israelites were about to enter Canaan, Moses restated what occurred. The Levites retold it just after the Feast of Tabernacles in Nehemiah 9. Psalm 78 recounts it in full, all 72 verses of it. So do Psalms 105 and 106. The Exodus also features heavily in chapters 135 and 136. There are also allusions to it in Psalm 66, 77, 136…

It does not stop there. In one of the first recorded New Testament sermons, the deacon Stephen detailed how Moses was raised up to lead Israel out of bondage. Even more, a prophecy in Micah 6:4 reveals a future time that God will remind Israel: “For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of servants; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

Exodus, Exodus, exodus!

Why is this story such a central focus in God’s Word?

Loving Parent

Think of your parents. There are likely certain words of wisdom they told you over and over, until you grew sick of them: “Manners make a man.” “Life comes in cans, not in cannots.” “Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.” You likely have a few of your own.

The point of these sayings is to instill important principles in you. To make sure you never forget the life lessons they contain.

God the Father is no different. What He wanted Old Testament Israel to never forget was that He brought them out of Egypt. He saved them at the Red Sea. He protected and blessed them during the 40 years in the wilderness. And He led them into the Promised Land.

The reason God emphasized this repeatedly was not to brag, rather it was so that the Israelites would remember one thing: His Way works, the world’s does not!

This same lesson applies to us today. It is why the apostle Paul wrote: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers [ancient Israel] were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea” (I Cor. 10:1).

We are not to be ignorant of the Exodus story. Paul then lists many details about ancient Israel for us to consider.

Here is how Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek word translated “ignorant”: not to know through lack of information. It can also mean to ignore through disinclination.

There are a couple ways to be “ignorant” of this story. One is to never have studied it thoroughly—lack of information. If any of us are in this camp, make it a point to roll up your sleeves, open your Bible to Exodus 1, and start reading! Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy also detail the story—as well as many other places this article has already mentioned. Fascinating, specific details of this narrative are scattered high and low throughout God’s Word. It is up to you to mine them out and glean the lessons from them.

A worse form of ignorance comes from disinclination. This word means a dislike, lack of desire, and unwillingness. May this be none of us!

In I Corinthians 10:6, Paul revealed why this Bible account was so important to Christians. He stated that the ancient Israelites were “our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

We should look at the Exodus story—the incredible miracles and the failures of those who lived through it—and take to heart the vital lessons it contains.

Collective Meaning

After Paul warned Christians to not be ignorant of the story of the ancient Israelites, he continued to explain why. Verse 2: “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

The Israelites were “baptized” when they crossed the Red Sea. This monumental event provides a symbolic type of our baptisms.

This analogy can be taken further. Ancient Israel’s physical journey parallels the spiritual conversion process. They left Egypt, as the Christian leaves the world—“spiritual Egypt.” They were in bondage, we were slaves to sin (Rom. 6:6). Israel was “baptized” unto Moses, just as we were submerged and became part of “spiritual Israel,” the Church. As the Israelites were led by God through the wilderness to the Promised Land, God guides our lives now as strangers and pilgrims on the Earth (Heb. 11:13), and we will enter the Kingdom later.

The lessons to be gleaned from this expansive Bible story are myriad. Some of them are dire warnings. Others are inspiring and faith-building. Depending on where you are in the conversion process, the account of Moses leading ancient Israel—all its twists and turns—will speak to you a little differently. This richness of meaning shows God’s incredible genius, and we should remember this tale year-round.

However, there is one time annually we are commanded to dig even deeper into this story. In fact, Paul wrote I Corinthians during this specific time.

Notice chapter 5: “Know you not that a little leaven [sin] leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Paul was writing in the spring around the time of Passover and “the feast.” The feast in conjunction with the Passover is, of course, the Days of Unleavened Bread. God’s command to keep these days “forever” can be found in Exodus 12:17.

How much of an emphasis does God put on reviewing the Exodus story during this time?

Before taking the Passover symbols of bread and wine (I Cor. 11:23-25), we are commanded to thoroughly examine ourselves (vs. 27-28)—where we are doing well, where we can improve. (Later, you will see the Exodus story can greatly help in this endeavor.)

Then, on the Night to Be Much Observed, we commemorate the Israelites looting the Egyptians and leaving the country with a high hand (Ex. 11:2). This observance occurs on the night beginning the 15th of Abib, which begins the first annual Sabbath. An extra-special meal allows us all to stop and discuss what occurred on this night. Yet, instead of solely focusing on Israel leaving Egypt, we are to also remember how God brought us out of the world’s sinful ways.

The seven Days of Unleavened Bread follow. This ties to how Israel left Egypt in haste, which meant their bread did not have time to rise—hence unleavened bread. Today, we also eat unleavened bread each day for the entire week (Ex. 13:6-7), symbolizing living a life free from sin, which is spiritual leaven. Leading up to this time, we also remove all physical leaven from our properties as God commands (12:15, 19-20).

Of all God’s annual Holy Days and observances, only one is tied so heavily to ancient events and contains such deep meaning for Christians.

The seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles is close. That week-long festival can represent God’s Kingdom on Earth, but Leviticus 23:43 reveals another reason for it: so future “generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

Yet another Exodus connection!

Individual Meaning

Every spring, leading up to and during the Days of Unleavened Bread, think deeply on your Exodus story. Go back in your mind before you were called into God’s truth and still in spiritual slavery.

How did you fill your life with meaning? Perhaps you were addicted to your career. There may have been a deep obsession with classic cars or designer clothes. You may have tried to help others to feel fulfilled but always felt something was lacking. Your deeper purpose for life was vague and undefined—if you had one at all. You drifted through the years and took events as they came.

Then it all changed. You learned the true nature of God—and you could prove He exists! The basics of prophecy became clear and you understood the modern identities of the lost tribes of Israel. God’s Word came to life, and it felt like it was written directly to you.

At that time, you also began to obey God’s commands about the Sabbath, tithing, dietary laws, and so on. Remember the clear blessings that came from this obedience!

Yet these were also faith-building times. You had to come to grips that you were wrong about a great many things throughout your life. You may have lost your job over your observance of the Sabbath. There were likely tensions with family and friends because they did not understand why you were changing your life.

Think of all the monumental events—the blessings and miracles, as well as the humbling moments—that occurred as you headed toward baptism. Meditate on the excitement of that time.

Calling Process

The entire experience of learning God’s Way is typed by Israel coming out of slavery. The account shows God demonstrated His power and might in Egypt by 10 supernatural plagues.

Yet Exodus 6-7 show that Israel did not listen right away. They had to be shown their way was wrong. This is also so often the case with those learning God’s truth!

Because Israel did not immediately accept God’s authority, He began a series of 10 plagues. Interestingly, the first few affected Egyptians and Israelites alike.

As you reflect on your calling, what trials and tests did you have to go through to more fully accept what you were learning?

The first plague was the Nile turned to blood: “And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt” (7:21).

Then came the plague of frogs. The creatures swarmed the whole nation, including where the Israelites lived. Having thousands upon thousands of slimy amphibians constantly underfoot, both indoors and out, would have been bad enough—but imagine trying to sleep at night with them chirping, bellowing and clicking!

Soon, the Egyptian king wanted it to stop: “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that He may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord” (8:8).

But pharaoh quickly changed his mind once the frogs died: “…when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said” (vs. 15).

For Christians, coming out of spiritual Egypt is not easy. They decide to swim against the current. And it is not a trickling stream—more like a Class V rapid!

The next plague was lice: Everyone in Egypt was affected, yet pharaoh continued to stubbornly refuse.

To put it mildly, Satan is not happy when individuals begin to live God’s Way. He wants to hold onto his slaves, who are steeped in his selfish get way of life.

Back to the story. Until this point, pharaoh’s court magicians were able to mimic God’s miracles in a small way. But this changed with the lice: “And the magicians [tried] with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God…” (vs. 18-19).

Next came swarms of flies. God further wanted to show His might. He made sure that none of the insects went into the land of Goshen where the majority of Israelites lived: “And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies” (vs. 24).

In chapter 9, a “grievous murrain” (disease) was sent upon the animals of the land. Yet God spared Israel. Then there was a plague of boils and then hail mixed with fire (probably started from lightning strikes).

Keep your personal parallels in mind! Think of the protection and blessings poured out on you as you learned to live God’s truth.

With the plague of hail, God gave a warning to the Egyptians. Those who heeded saved their animals and servants.

Following this were swarms of locusts that ate the crops in the field and then a thick darkness that covered the land. Only Israelites had light in their homes.

All of these plagues utterly decimated Egypt. Who would want to live there after all these horrific events? Similarly, as we came to understand God’s Way, spiritual Egypt became less and less appealing. Soon, it became a stinking, smoldering ruin in our minds.

In Exodus 11, the last plague was on the firstborn. The eldest offspring of both man and beast were killed, while the Israelites were protected because they kept the Passover and followed God’s instructions.

When you were called, you began to understand the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and that any human righteousness you had was as “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). You also learned that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice allowed your sins to be forgiven. The shed blood of the Old Testament lamb was a type of the shed blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

This knowledge led you to repentance and baptism for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28). We already saw this act is typed by Israel passing through a parted Red Sea.

Each of us has a unique “Exodus story.” It was an exciting time. There was zeal to study and pray—and you were careful to follow God as fully as possible. Allow those memories to reinvigorate you!

Yet, just as our conversions did not stop at baptism, the Israelites’ story did not stop at the Red Sea.

Sobering Example

Paul’s warning to not be “ignorant” of ancient Israel’s actions (I Cor. 10:1) should tower in our thinking. Read verse 11: “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

These ensamples are supposed to instruct us—even correct and admonish us. Note the shortcomings of ancient Israel in verses 6-10. They…

• lusted after evil things (Num. 11:4, 34).
• quickly fell into idolatry (Ex. 32:4, 6).
• committed fornication (Num. 25:1, 9).
• tempted God (Ex. 17:2; Num. 21:5-6).
• complained and murmured against Moses (Ex. 16:2; Num. 16:11, 41).

How quickly and often the Israelites fell into sin is almost laughable. It can seem like we could never do the same. Yet take verse 12 to heart: “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Paul started the chapter by stating all the things the Israelites had going for them. In verses 1-4, they all walked through a parted Red Sea, ate manna that came from heaven, drank water from a rock—not to mention that they witnessed what happened in Egypt. They saw God present every day in a pillar of cloud/fire, yet they still fell short.

How much harder is it for us? We see none of these things!

Continue along this line of thinking. Israel could not easily get back to Egypt. They may have yearned for it, but walking a hundred-odd miles to reach it would not be easy. Spiritual Egypt is much easier to get back to. Family and friends not living God’s Way are a phone call away and false religion is all around us. Speaking against authority is a constant from news media.

Worse yet, the internet means we can return to sinful actions with a few taps or clicks. Every form of lust, greed, covetousness and vanity is right there, 24/7.

Let us all take heed lest we fall!

Inspiring Example

Our current journey as strangers and pilgrims on this Earth is difficult (Matt. 7:14). The Exodus story teaches us this. Yet we have something the stiff-necked, stubborn Israelites did not: God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

While the “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38) witnessed God’s power, those in the Church today have it working in their lives! We may not physically see the Red Sea parting, a pillar of fire, or manna from heaven, but those monumental events pale in comparison with the spiritual miracles happening in our lives. The Spirit is the only way we can overcome sin.

This brings out the greatest lesson of the Exodus account: We cannot do it ourselves. Our willpower and determination alone will not get us into God’s Kingdom. Rather, we must rely on—and be filled with!—God’s Spirit at all times. Otherwise, we too risk being “overthrown in the wilderness” (I Cor. 10:5).

The apostle Paul was not the first person to say the Israelites were to be our example. Notice this in Psalm 78: “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us” (vs. 1-3).

What follows in this chapter is a parable, a story imbued with lessons. Guess what almost the entire thing focuses on? The Exodus!

Verse 7 explains why: “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”

Keeping God’s incredible miracles in mind will help you be more confident in His Way—and help you more fully keep His commands.

This entire chapter proclaims God’s multitude of “marvelous things” (vs. 12) and “wondrous works” (vs. 32) performed for the Israelites. It lists them all out. Make these events real to you! If you truly do this, you will not forget as did ancient Israel.

Thank God that He has called you out of spiritual Egypt and is guiding you through the wilderness of this life.

Read the companion Psalms 105 and 106. Both start with “O give thanks unto the Lord.” What follows are retellings of the Exodus. In your prayers, thank God for the many lessons you can learn from these stories found everywhere in the Bible. Thank Him that He has recorded examples of His might. Thank Him that the same power works within you.

Whenever meditating on the Old Testament Exodus story, or your personal one, remember the God you serve. Allow Psalm 77 to guide you: “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Your work, and talk of Your doings…Who is so great a God as our God?” (vs. 11-13).

Finally, verse 14: “You are the God that does wonders: You have declared Your strength among the people.”

Leading up to and during the Days of Unleavened Bread, never forget all the places your Creator has shown His strength in your life. Year-round and always, remember: You serve a God of wonders! Allow this priceless knowledge to spur you forward to our Promised Land—the Kingdom of God—which is just over the horizon.