The structure of Exodus

1.     Introduction

In the Old Testament, it's important to pay attention to the structure of the texts, and often even entire Bible books. This structure reveals their meaning. This is also the case with Exodus. This book aims to demonstrate that Israel needs a relationship with God, and that from there, God wants other peoples to know Him. And that this relationship is only possible through grace.
Exodus is not a chronological account of the history of the Exodus, but rather has a striking structure. This article will explain this in more detail. The striking thing is that it's not so much the law that is central, but rather God's grace.

2.     Structure

Exodus consists of three parts, each ending with a revelation from God.
The first part is Ex. 1-15. This part concludes with Moses' song by the sea. It celebrates God's power, which is greater than that of all other gods. The second part (Ex. 19-24) focuses on the reception of the Torah. This part concludes with the image of God's glory resting on Mount Sinai. Then we read about the construction of the tabernacle (Ex. 25-40). This part concludes with the cloud of God covering the tabernacle.

3.     Intermezzo (Ex. 15:20 – 18:27): Jethro's visit

Between the first and second parts are a few short stories related to the wilderness journey. This is all Exodus tells us about the wilderness journey. A dual story about water, namely Marah and Elim, and a dual story about food, specifically about quail and manna. And despite the fact that Israel consistently receives sufficient food and drink from God, they rebel again when there is no water at Horeb. Four times in this section, we read about the people testing God. And that is remarkable, considering the miraculous way in which God had delivered the people from Egypt. Despite this, there was no trust in God.
Then we read about the battle against Amalek. Only through the mediation of Moses was Israel able to achieve victory. And finally, Jethro comes to visit Moses, with his wife Zipporah and their two sons. This story holds the key to understanding the purpose of Exodus. For where we read of Israel testing God again and again, we see Jethro coming to the realization that there is only one God:

Ex. 18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods (…)

For the first time, we read that someone knows (Heb.: "yada") that God is greater than the other gods. This recognition is not present among the people of Israel, and we don't read this in the song of Moses either. But Moses' father-in-law does acknowledge it. This Midianite priest even offers sacrifices to the God of Israel. Incidentally: The Midianites were descendants of Abraham and Keturah, and it is therefore quite possible that Jethro served the God of Israel. This meaning of the word "know" ("yada") in the Bible goes much further than simply intellectual recognition. It indicates a relationship. A close relationship. Israel does not yet have that relationship with God, but Jethro does, and is therefore an example.
This intermezzo clarifies the purpose of the book of Exodus: to demonstrate that God desires a relationship with the people of Israel, one in which He is served and acknowledged as God. To illustrate this, history is described in three steps: the Exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law, and the construction of the tabernacle.
The stories of the battle against Amalek and Jethro's visit also clarify something else. The battle against Amalek is only won through the mediation of Moses. Not a single moment can be lived without it. And when Jethro asks Moses why he sits all day, the answer is: "Because the people come to me to inquire of God" (Ex. 18:15). Israel was God's people, but without Moses, the relationship would have been broken.

4.     Part One: The Exodus

We read about the purpose of the Exodus in the following text:

Ex. 6:5-7 Therefore say to the Israelites: I am the LORD. I will bring you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians. I will redeem you from their slavery and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment. I will take you as my people and will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as an inheritance—I am the LORD.

When we look at the Hebrew language used in Exodus, three words stand out in this section: "covenant," "knowledge," and "service." God has a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and therefore He will bring them to the promised land. He will accept His people so that they will know that God is their god. Then we read that the second purpose is that Pharaoh and Egypt will know that there is no god greater than the God of Israel. God will put an end to Pharaoh's service. These three key words are central to this section: covenant, knowledge, and service.
This section concludes with the Exodus, in which the blood on the doorpost saves Israel from the death of the firstborn, and the song of Moses. In it, we read that Israel recognizes God, but "knowledge" is not mentioned.

5.     Part Two: The Legislation

The second part begins with the reference to the Exodus:

Ex. 19:4-6 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you will be My treasured possession among all peoples, for the whole earth is Mine. You, then, will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.

The theme of the covenant is picked up from the first section. God wants the people to demonstrate that they are set apart and sanctified by God, and that they will therefore live as God intends.
The second section begins with Moses ascending Sinai. We must conclude that Moses received the law orally from God and passed it on to the Israelites. The middle section then includes a number of commandments, and this section ends again with Moses on Sinai. Moses then takes with him the two stone tablets on which God will write the Ten Commandments. This section thus forms a clearly defined whole: both at the beginning and at the end, Moses ascends Sinai.

6.     Part Three: The Construction of the Tabernacle

The third movement has a striking chiastic structure:

-       Building the tabernacle (Ex. 25:1 – 31:11)

-       Sabbath commandment (Ex. 31:12-17)

-       History of the Golden Calf, God's Appearance to Moses (Ex. 31:18 – 34:35)

-       Sabbath commandment (Ex. 35:1-3)

-       Building the tabernacle (Ex. 35:4 – 40:38)

In the middle, we read about the story of the golden calf. On the mountain, Moses is told that the people have made an idol and are worshipping it. The covenant, as established in the second part, is already broken before Moses comes down with the two stone tablets. Moses then goes down with the two stone tablets. Upon seeing the worship of the golden calf, he smashes them. After Moses has put things in order, he asks to see the glory of God. Then God appears to Moses, after Moses has made two new stone tablets.

Ex. 34:5-10 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And as the LORD passed by before him, He proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation.” Then Moses hastened and bowed his head to the ground and worshiped. He said, “O LORD, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please let the LORD go among us. For it is a stiff-necked people; but forgive our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.” Then He said, “See, I am establishing a covenant; before all Your people I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth or among any nation.” Yes, all the people among whom you sojourn will see the works of the LORD; for it will be awesome what I will do to you.

In the middle of this third section, about the construction of the tabernacle, it becomes clear that God desires a relationship with Israel, and that this is only possible through God's willingness to forgive. The tabernacle demonstrates that God desires to dwell in the midst of His people, but there remains a distance. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, and then only after sacrifices had been offered for the sins of the people and the sins of the high priest. Daily sacrifices were to remind the people that only through forgiveness is a relationship with God possible.
The language of the third section is striking in that two concepts from the first section are picked up again: "serving" and "knowing." The people will no longer serve Pharaoh, but only God. And the tabernacle demonstrates how God desires to be served. Furthermore, it is striking that in the second section, about the law, there is no mention of "knowing" who God is. But here in this section, we read that Moses and the people will know who God is.

7.     The lesson of Exodus

Exodus contains a message that extends far beyond simply telling a story. God has made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, he wants to free their descendants from Egypt and bring them to the promised land. He wants to put an end to their service to Pharaoh and give the people the freedom to serve Him alone. And God will ensure that the departure is preceded by tremendous signs in the form of the plagues. So that Israel will know that there is only one God, and Egypt will know this as well.
The effect, however, is disappointing. Time and again, the people fail to trust that God will fulfill His promise and bring them to the promised land. Lack of water and food leads to testing God and demonstrates their distrust of Him. Only through Moses is a relationship between God and His people possible.
To confirm the covenant, God gives His law. The people must keep this law to demonstrate their desire to honor God. But even this fails. Even before Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with the written law, the people violate the first and most important commandment: not to worship other gods.
In a powerful description of God's glory, Moses reveals that ultimately only grace can ensure that God will fulfill His promise. The blood smeared on the doorposts by the Israelites already pointed to this. And the daily sacrifices in the tabernacle also demonstrated that forgiveness is possible only through blood. God desires to dwell in the tabernacle among His people. But the starting point is not Israel's knowledge that there is only one God, nor the faithfulness with which they keep His law, but solely God's grace.

Bas Krins