What a marvelous book Exodus is. Exodus gives us the story redemption, release from bondage, salvation. It seems to be the sister book to Romans. Exodus teaches the same basic message as Romans but in narrative form. In chapter one of Exodus we see that our great enemy is death and that we need saving from its clutches. Thus, we are moved to cry out to God.
In chapters 2-4 we see in Moses, a great picture of the promised Messiah. He is royalty and yet still one of us. We see Him make a victorious return, plundering our captor. In chapters 5-12, in the systematic defeat of Pharaoh and all his gods, we see the power of sin broken and destroyed. We also see salvation enacted by the awesome and miraculous power of God coupled with pure, unblemished blood properly applied. We see our greatest enemy, death, soundly defeated.
In chapters 13-40 of Exodus, we see the outworking of salvation. We see what is ours because of salvation. We see our inheritance in Christ. Chapter 13 shows us set apart for the glory and enjoyment of God. We also see ourselves being led by the Shekinah Glory. Chapter 14 shows YHWH, the covenant God, fighting for the new believer against the forces of darkness who desperately want the newly adopted child of God back. Chapter 15 shows the new believer singing a song of praise to his God. It also reveals a supernatural change from bitterness to sweetness. Chapter 16 shows God miraculously providing for the physical needs of His children. God provided food, water, clothing, sanctifying rest, and superior materials for the construction of the Tabernacle. In chapter 17, we see answered prayer and victory over sin in the form of Amalekites. In chapter 18, God provides strong and capable leadership for the community of believers. In a larger passage, chapters 19-24 give us rules to live by, including the Ten Commandments. In the middle of this passage, we are also given a look ahead at claiming our inheritance (the Promised Land). This passage reminds us that obedience to YHWH is necessary to properly enjoying Him and for claiming our inheritance.
The last 16 chapters of Exodus are basically a manual for worship. The construction of the Tabernacle, the clothing of the priests, the furnishings of the Tabernacle, teach us much about how unholy people can approach a holy God in proper worship. The book closes with the manifest presence of the Savior. Exodus 40:34-38,“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; 37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. 38 For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.” (NASU) And thus, Exodus ends with the glory of the Redeemer manifest among the Redeemed. God and man living in fellowship. God leading; man following. God leading; man responding in loving obedience. God providing everything needed for life and worship. This, nothing more and nothing less, is the Christian life.