Of What Should the Exodus from Egypt Remind Us?

Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land—the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders.” (Deuteronomy 29:2–3)

Today’s big question: Of what should the Exodus from Egypt remind us? 

God’s message of salvation is clear in every book of His Word. It is difficult to read one book of the Bible without seeing God’s overwhelming saving grace toward His people.  The account of the Exodus from Egypt is no different, and there are many events which display God’s saving grace in action. In fact, Moses called all Israel together before entering the Promised Land to remind them of the significance of God’s saving presence with them. 

Moses first reminded Israel of the things that God did in the land of Egypt. They would have remembered the account of Joseph, and how he brought his family to safety through the drought, thus protecting the promise to Abraham. They would have remembered the mistreatment by the Egyptians, but also the plagues and the provision of Moses as a leader. They would have remembered the Passover with the significance of the lamb’s blood on their doorposts as the sacrifice bringing them safety from God’s judgment. This points directly to the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). They would have remembered God’s providence in parting the waters and crushing the Egyptian army giving chase. All of these memories from Egypt would give them a great account of the saving grace of God toward a disobedient and unworthy people, and point them to the coming promised Seed.

Moses also reminded them of God’s signs and wonders in the desert. The festivals, feasts, tabernacle, the law, and, of course, the sacrifices—all pointed to God in their midst, as well as their inability to keep the law as a sinful humanity, and their need for the one great sacrifice to come. All around them and along the way, the Israelites also witnessed the nations of non-believers that would reject God and remain under His judgment.

The consistency of the message of sin, sacrifice, and Savior was as consistent for Moses as it is for us today. Moses might not have understood who the coming Messiah would really be, but he too received God’s grace through faith, and participated in Christ’s atoning sacrifice through those things which pointed to His coming.

Today’s big idea: the Exodus from Egypt is a reminder of our exodus from judgment through Jesus Christ.

What to pray: pray that we don’t take God’s salvation for granted, and that we always remember what He has done for us.