The story of Exodus in 1,000 words or less and please forgive us if we went over! Let’s dive in!
Exodus unfolds like a powerful long story rooted in the heart of Africa and traces the journey of the descendants of the patriarch Jacob from enslavement to liberation.
The Enslavement: Generations after Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, his people, the sons of Eber and more closely, the sons of Jacob, have become numerous. However, a new Pharaoh arose, possibly a Canaanite or Cushite sat on the Egyptian throne. He knew and/or cared nothing of Joseph. This Pharaoh observed that the sons of Eber (called Hebrews) numbers in population growth made them a threat. He enslaves them, imposing harsh labor and cruel oppression on their vibrant communities. Yet, the more the Egyptians oppress them, the more the children of Eber and Jacob multiplied.
The Birth of Moses:
In the midst of this suffering, a son of Jacob, from the house of Levi, named Moses was born. His mother, determined to save him from Pharaoh’s decree to slaughter all newborn Eber boys, placed him in a basket and sets him afloat on the Nile River. The basket drifts into the hands of Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own. Raised in the opulent Egyptian palace, Moses grew up in a world of privilege. But, he remained deeply connected to his people. His own mother became his nanny, so Eber and even the Abram, Isaac, and Jacob culture was deep in his spirit and veins.
Moses’ Call: As an adult, Moses witnessed the injustice faced by his fellow brothers, the sons of Eber and Jacob and he intervened on an occasion when he encountered an Egyptian beating a Jacobite worker. In his anger, he killed the Egyptian and fled to the desert, where he found refuge in the land of Midian. There, he married Zippora, the daughter of a priest, and began a new life as a shepherd. His new life took a dramatic turn when he experienced a burning bush on Mount Horeb (Sinai).
The bush while ablaze was unconsumed; it turns out the bush was the presence of the Almighty. This is the same Almighty who commissioned Moses to lead the House of Jacob, the sons of Jacob and Eber out of Egypt. In this, the Almighty gave His name to Moses. He stated, I AM THAT I AM, or in modern-Hebrew it is Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. However, scribes dismissed this name and replaced it with Yahweh and even more modern, Jehovah.
The Plagues:
With divine power bestowed upon him, Moses returned to Egypt. Once there, he demanded that Pharaoh release the house of Jacob or collectively, the house of Eber (called Hebrews). Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, and he refused. This sets off a series of astonishing plagues. It started as the Nile turns to blood, frogs overrun the land. Then lice and flies plague the people, livestock die, and boils afflict the Egyptians. Hail, locusts, and darkness follow, each plague a manifestation of divine wrath and a challenge to the Egyptian gods. The final and most harrowing plague is the death of the firstborns of the Egyptians. The house of Jacob and Eber were spared by marking their doors with lamb’s blood, an act that become known as the Passover.
The Exodus: Pharaoh, overwhelmed by the devastation, finally relents, and allowed the Jacobites to leave. Under the cover of night, the people set out from Egypt. They were guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, symbols of the Almighty’s presence and guidance. They journey towards freedom, carrying with them the rich heritage and hope of their ancestors.
The Sea: Their escape was nearly thwarted when Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them with his army. The House of Jacob (and Eber and all people, a mixed multitude that followed Moses and his people) found themselves trapped between the advancing Egyptians and the Nile River (written as the Red Sea in the KJV scriptures). In a moment of divine intervention, Moses stretched out his hand, and the waters parted. It created a path of dry land. The sons of Eber cross safely, but when the Egyptians followed, the waters return, engulfing Pharaoh’s chariots and soldiers. Pharaoh’s military were finished in the sea, ensuring the release and independence of the Jacobite people.
The Covenant at Sinai:
The children of Jacob arrive at Mount Sinai, where Moses went up the mountain to receive divine laws and instructions. There, the Almighty gave him the Ten Commandments. It was inscribed on tablets of stone, and outlines the covenant that will govern the people’s relationship with Him and with each other. The commandments established principles of justice, worship, and morality, setting the foundation for the nation’s laws and customs.
The Golden Calf: While Moses was on the mountain with the Almighty, the people grew restless and demand a visible deity. They create a golden calf at the permission of Moses’ brother Aaron and begin to worship it. They did this completely forgetting the Almighty Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh who just delivered them from bondage. Moses descended in anger, shattering the tablets in anger and dismay. After interceding for the people and punishing the offenders. He returned to the mountain to received new tablets, reaffirming the covenant.
Building the Tabernacle: As they journey through the wilderness, the sons of Eber and Jacob were commanded to build a tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where the Almighty’s presence would dwell among them. The tabernacle is crafted with intricate artistry and rich materials. It reflected the people’s devotion and the divine grandeur of the Almighty that guided their journey.
The Journey Continues:
The book concluded with the tabernacle completed and consecrated. The Divine presence filled the tabernacle, and symbolized the Almighty’s ongoing commitment to the house of Jacob and those attached to them. With the tabernacle as their center, the sons of Jacob continue their journey through the wilderness, their faith and resolve strengthened as they move towards the Promised Land, the land of Canaan.
In this retelling, the story of Exodus emerges as a dynamic and vibrant narrative of liberation. Also of divine intervention, and the molding of a covenant, embodying the resilience and spirit of a people chosen and destined for greatness.
