Getting a Perspective on the Book of Exodus

In the church I attend, I teach a Sunday School class to a group of older adults. Our usual procedure is to take a book of the Bible and work our way through it during the months of September through May. (We don't meet as individual classes during the summer months.) In that way, we have gone through Genesis and Revelation in recent years, as well as doing a study of the life of David focused on the books of I and II Samuel.

During this last year, the class studied the book of Exodus, taking a chapter at a time and highlighting the important events and persons. Exodus contains many different subjects, from the calling of Moses to lead the Israelites out of their Egyptian captivity, the working of God to "encourage" the Egyptian ruler to release them, the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the way God cares for their physical needs, and the giving of rules and a place of worship. Rather than asking my students to commit the narrative flow of the book to memory, I decided to highlight the main events, persons, and subjects.

On the last day of the study, I led the class through an overview of the book. I had already thought of several aspects of the book that began with the letter "P." As the discussion ensued, with class members tossing out words that occurred to them, it was almost amusing to see how many parts of the book could be summarized in some way with words beginning with that letter. Here are the main ones that came from me and from class members.

Preeminent Deity of the Book: God
Plot of the Book: The Release of God's People
Person of the Book: Moses
Place of Preparation for Moses: The land of Midian
Protest of Moses when God calls: "I can't do it; get someone else"
Pharaoh: Egyptian Ruler
Problem of the Israelites: Slaves in Egypt
Plagues: Method Used by God to Free Israel
Passover: The Feast to Recall the Release:
Provision from God for the People: Manna, Water, Quail, Guidance
Precepts and Principles (the Law): God's Rules for the People:
Personal & Property Issues: Elements of the Law
Plans for the Tabernacle: Where the People can Meet God
Poles: The Way to Carry the Ark
Pillar of Fire and Cloud: God's way of guiding the people
Propitiation (Mercy) Seat on the Ark: The place to sprinkle the blood of sacrifice
Priesthood: The mediators between God and the people

As you study and/or teach Exodus, you may find other ways to remember or highlight the book.