Few events in human history have had a more significant impact than the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt. Few books of the Bible are more foundational to the rest of Scripture than the book of Exodus. And few texts are more relevant for our day than Exodus, if we’re willing to listen to what it says.

Exodus teaches us about the character of God – a God who is faithful to His covenant promises. A God who hears His people, sees His people, and knows His people. A God who is. A God who delivers. A God who is holy. A God who is near.

Exodus teaches us about ourselves – how we are loved by a faithful God amidst our unfaithfulness. How we are prone to wander and quick to forget. How we are His people, and all that means for us.

Exodus teaches us about God’s miraculous deliverance – bringing Israel out of slavery in Egypt by His mighty hand. This event echoes throughout all of Scripture, pointing forward to an even greater deliverance that would come in an even greater exodus, as Jesus led his people out of slavery to sin by His mighty hand.

Exodus teaches us about how to live as God’s people – called to holiness because we have been loved and delivered by our faithful God. Our obedience does not earn nor merit His salvation; our obedience is in response to it.

And Exodus teaches us about the purpose of life – to worship God, dwell with God, and follow God.

In these ways, this book provides us with the foundation to know God, ourselves, our world, and our purpose.

We are going to spend a year (or so) in Exodus, and will divide it into four parts. First, we will see in chapters 1-6 the God who hears. Then, in chapters 7-19, we will see the God who delivers. Next, in chapter 20, we will zero in on the God who is holy, and finally, in chapters 21-40, we will learn about the God who is near.

You will notice, I hope, how all of it is designed to teach us about our God. He hears, He delivers, He is holy, and He is near. If we as a church can come to know and believe those four truths in deeper ways over the coming year, we will be much better for it.