The Writings of Exodus

Picture Moses as an old man, sitting on a rocky hill watching his people finally prepare to enter the land that God promised to their family hundreds of years before.  Moses knows that this is a very special time for the Israelites and that God is showing them again how much He loves them.  But Moses knows that people have a short memory.  When challenges arise they quickly forget the goodness of God. Moses knows that he must write down what God has revealed and done for his people, so that future generations have a record of all that has happened.   

Moses begins his story by reminding the Israelites that they are part of Jacob’s family.  This links them to the promise that they will one day return to a land that God has given them.  As Moses recounts the horrible years of his people’s oppression under Pharaoh, I wonder if he wrote with tears streaming down his face.  Not only were the Israelites treated cruelly and worked ruthlessly but Pharaoh had ordered the death of all their young boys.  As he writes of his own birth, I wonder if Moses was in awe of his mother’s courage, his sister’s wisdom and his step-mother’s compassion as they all played their parts in God’s good plan. 

Yes, Moses is writing the story of his own life.  But he resists the temptation to make himself the hero. Instead, he highlights his weaknesses and failings and tells us that the real champion is his faithful and holy God.  Moses wants to use this whole book to tell of God’s character and his relentless desire to be in close connection with his people. 

What was Moses feeling as he recounts the story of the burning bush or the moment when God first revealed his name, Yahweh.  This name means that God is present with his people.  With hindsight, Moses knows that this has been proven again and again.  As Moses writes about confronting Pharaoh (his wicked step-grandfather),  and especially as Moses records the details of the final plague that God sent,  did he reflect on the very unique way, the blood of the Lamb, that God used to provide a way for people to be saved.   God showed that he loves justice and mercy.   Moses may not know that these events point to Jesus but he does know that these are events Israel can never forget.  One day they will all come to the fullness of knowledge. 

As an old man, Moses recalls the joyful shouts of the Israelites when they were finally free from slavery!  He writes of the incredible displays of God’s power as they escape through walls of shimmering water and see Pharaoh and his army destroyed!  He can still sing every line from the deliverance songs!  Maybe his mouth waters as he recalls the taste of the delicate food God rained down from heaven!  There was much to be thankful for, but Moses recollects with sadness that the Israelite people grumbled at every small challenge.  They were ungrateful.  They lost hope.  They forgot God’s goodness and authority so quickly. 

When God invites the Israelites into a promise of relationship with him at Mt Sinai, all hope is restored.  The Israelites agree to be faithful to God and in return they will be his chosen people.  They are to show God’s character to people from all other nations.  Like the promise God made with Abraham in Genesis, Moses knows this is significant for the generations to come.  God follows this up by giving his people ten commandments and a set of detailed laws that describe how he is to be worshipped and how people should treat one another.  

Moses still cannot believe what came next!  The people break their agreement with God and almost bring God’s judgement on themselves.  How can the people still be so rebellious?  How can they be so short-sighted?  Moses remembers his feelings of utter devastation.  The Israelites have received so many chances. Decades were wasted in the wilderness.  God could rightly turn away from them.  But God delights in showing mercy and is forever faithful.  Not only does God restore the promise but in another great act of love, God decides to dwell among his people. 

As Moses finishes writing the book of Exodus, and reflecting on all that had come to pass, I wonder whether a sigh escapes his lips or a smile creeps across his wrinkled face – will the future generations repeat the mistakes or will they learn from them?  And more importantly, did Moses wonder if there was something far deeper and greater to the story of Israel’s freedom than even he knew?