Summary
The Book of the Exodus in the Old Testament is the great story of God’s redemption of his people out of Egypt to be his servants. Exodus carries forward the story of God’s redemptive plan from the seed first planted in Genesis, which sprouted and grew into a seedling through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The beginning of the book of Exodus makes it very clear that God’s redemptive plan is continuing, and that Exodus continues that story. It gives us hope to rely on God in troubling times, like these current days, because it reminds us that God is still working out his plan of salvation. In the first seven verses we see a reminder of God’s sovereign hand, a reminder of God’s provision, and a reminder of God’s covenant promises.
Our passage explained
v1-4
The book of Exodus begins by repeating the names of the sons of Jacob, oddly enough reminding us of God’s sovereign hand. In verses one to four we read “these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.”
The purpose of repeating these verses is to remind us of God’s storyline so far. After calling Abraham to Canaan, God blessed Abraham with a son of the promise, Isaac, who in turn gave birth to Jacob. Jacob, after fleeing Canaan for his life due to stealing the birthright and blessing from his older brother Esau, returned to Canaan with children and possessions.
Jacob eventually moved south to Egypt with eleven of his sons and other family, at God’s command (Genesis 46:2-4). This was part of God’s sovereign hand, as he ordered events by sending Joseph (Jacob’s other son) to Egypt years before to save his family when a famine in the region arose. These verses tie back to Genesis 46:1-8, showing that God was planning events to make the nation of Israel a mighty people (Gen 46:3), as promised to Abraham (Gen 12:1-4).
v5-7
This opening passage also reminds us of God’s provision. In verse five we read that “all the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.” Joseph was already in Egypt because God had sent him there to become (basically) Prime Minister of the country and shepherd it through a time of famine. While his brothers had committed evil by selling him into slavery, God meant it for good (Gen 50:15-21).
Joseph’s position in Egypt allowed for his family to come and settle in Egypt, in the region of Goshen (Gen 47:1-6). There, God’s people were given the privileged duty of looking after the Pharaoh’s cattle and livestock. God’s people were preserved from the famine in that part of the world, and blessed with favourable treatment by Pharaoh because of the high regard that he held Joseph.
In the land of Egypt, God’s people began to experience the blessing of God’s covenant promises. In verses six and seven, it states that “then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.”
Our passage applied
Joseph and his brothers died, but the covenant promises God made lived on and began to be fulfilled. Those described as the sons of Israel in verse one are described as a people in verse seven. The people greatly increase in number in the land of Egypt, just as God promised Abraham that “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Gen 12:2). They fulfil God’s commandment at Creation to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:26-28).
This promise ultimately finds its fulfilment in Christ (Gal 3:16), and in everyone who trusts in Christ for salvation. God’s promises to Abraham were fulfilled as a son became a family, which became a people. Ultimately, that people brought forth Christ, the promised son in whom all the nations of the world, including us, are blessed.
As the world shuts down to try and control the Covid-19 pandemic and we lose control of much of what we could easily do before, this passage reminds us that God is still in control and working away. God saved his people in a day of great famine, and caused them to flourish and prosper. Whatever happens in the coming months, our eternal life is secure in God, and we can walk forward in confidence that God keeps his promises.
God is still working out his salvation plan. Perhaps this present crisis may be a way in which God softens hearts to the Gospel, especially in lands with hardened soil like ours. We do not have to fear the future like non-believers, because we know God is in control of everything, executing his plans. God still reigns, provides, and keeps his promises today. Even the uncertain is certain to God, executing his will according to plan.
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