I recently published a post about how to read the book of Genesis, so you might be wondering what makes Exodus different from Genesis. While it is true that both books were written by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it is also true that both books are historical narrative, there is one major difference between the books: Moses was an eye witness to everything in the book of Exodus except for chapter 1 (the events leading up to his birth) and part of chapter 2 (his birth).
By verse 11 in chapter 2, Moses is a grown man, so everything else that happens in the following chapters is told to us from the perspective of experience.
Moses Shares His Experience in Exodus
Moses gave us a first-hand account of committing murder.
He experienced the burning bush that was not consumed.
He heard the voice of God telling him to go back to Egypt.
Moses argued with God about his qualifications.
He witnessed his staff turning into a snake and picked the snake up by the tail.
It was his hand that turned leprous and then was healed.
Moses stood in the throne room of Pharaoh and threatened him with the plagues.
He faced the anger of the Israelites who blamed him for their extra work.
Moses heard the great cry in Egypt when the first-born children died.
He was the vessel God used to part the Red Sea.
He was the one who struck the rock, providing water for the Israelites.
Moses walked up Mt. Sinai and communed with God.
It was Moses who received the Ten Commandments from God Himself.
He heard God’s promise of a land for the Israelites.
He received all of God’s instructions for how His people should live and worship.
Moses pled with God on behalf of the idolatrous Israelites.
He got to see the remnants of God’s glory.
It was his face that shone after spending time with God.
Moses led the Israelites in making everything to God’s specifications.
The fact that Moses was an eye-witness to these things doesn’t affect the credibility of the words (he was, after all, writing what the Holy Spirit told him to write), but it does affect the style of the writing. While Genesis may seem to jump around and miss details, Exodus is told in a more cohesive way. It is easy to follow along with the Israelites as Moses shares the details.
It is incredible to think that Moses experienced the things he wrote down. I often think experiencing just one of the things on that list first hand would be life-changing, and he got to experience all of them. But that is not the point of the book of Exodus.
Exodus Is about God
Even though Moses is giving us a first-hand account, the book of Exodus is not about Moses. It isn’t about the Israelites or the exodus, either. The book of Exodus is about God.
God saved Moses from the Nile river and Pharaoh’s wrath.
God showed up in the burning bush that was not consumed
God gave Moses instructions and encouragement as He called Moses to be the means by which He freed His people from captivity.
God rebuked Moses for questioning His plan.
God made the staff turn into a snake and back into a staff, and He made Moses’ hand leprous only to heal him.
God used the plagues to demonstrate His power above the gods of the Egyptians.
God was patient with Pharaoh, giving him chance after to chance to obey.
God showed his favor to the Israelites by confining the plagues to the Egyptians.
God demonstrated his mercy toward the Israelites, who by faith obeyed His instructions for the passover.
God followed through on His threats to Pharaoh when he refused to submit.
God showed up as a pillar of cloud and fire to guide and protect the Israelites.
God stopped the waters of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass on dry ground.
God caused the waters to cover and drown the hosts of the Egyptian army.
God turned bitter water into sweet water and brought water from a rock.
God provided food for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness.
God met Moses on Mt. Sinai and gave him the Ten Commandments.
God showed mercy to the Israelites when they worshipped the golden calf in sending a plague rather than annihilating them all.
God protected Moses as He passed by him.
God not only gave Moses detailed instructions, but He also empowered workers with supernatural talents to accomplish the tasks.
If you had printed out this post, I would instruct you to draw a big X through the first list. While Moses’ experiences are awe-inspiring, do not let them distract from the goal of the book: to know God. It is important for us to see God’s full character, and the book of Exodus shows us many facets. He is loving, merciful, and gracious, but He is also holy, jealous, and just.
When Proverbs 1:7 tells us the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, we should not down play or reject the term “fear.” Yes, God is our father and our friend, and we are co-heirs with Christ, but we should never forget that God is holy and requires holiness from us, as well.
The book of Genesis is chock full of amazing history! In it we learn the stories of creation, the flood, the origin of the Jewish nation, the coat of many colors, and so much more. But sometimes these stories can seem disjointed, out of order, or lacking in detail.
Some of the narratives raise questions they never answer, like where did Cain get his wife? Sometimes they seem to speed through the story, like when it relates the birth of all of Jacob’s children in a short chapter. And other sections seem to come out of order or go back to a previously mentioned detail, like in the account of the creation of mankind.
Genesis Is a Historical Narrative
When we read the book of Genesis, it is important to remember that this is not a first-hand account told as the events unfold. The stories of creation, the fall, Noah’s ark, the Tower of Babel, and even the covenant God made with Abraham were passed down from generation to generation orally until Moses wrote them down for the Israelites during their long trek through the wilderness. Moses gave us the necessary information to understand the point of the story, not to know every little detail pertaining to it.
While this doesn’t affect the credibility of the book (Moses was chosen and inspired by the Holy Spirit to write down these exact words), it does affect the style. We have grown accustomed to a narrative style that keeps things in order and explains the details. But can you imagine how long the Bible would be if that is how it was written?
Genesis Is Not a Textbook
It is also important to realize that Genesis is not a history book, nor is it a science textbook. It contains history, and it contains science, but it is not meant to be read for the sake of gaining knowledge. It is interesting, however, that the archaeological community continues to find artifacts that support the historical narrative of Scripture, and the scientific community regularly “discovers” things the Bible has already told us. But that is a topic for another time.
Moses wrote down exactly what God knew we needed to know, and he left out exactly what God knew we didn’t need to know. So, while it can be fun to follow a rabbit trail and do the math to figure out exactly how many years passed from the time of creation to the flood (I’m a nerd, I know), don’t get so wrapped up in the missing information that you can’t learn what God wants to share with you.
Genesis Is about God
When we read the book of Genesis, we need to remember, first and foremost, that the Bible is a book about God. The purpose of the whole Bible, including Genesis, is to teach us who God is. When we read the Bible for that purpose, our perspective changes.
When we read Scripture to discover more about God, it teaches us more about us, too. When we see ourselves in light of who He is, we recognize who we are. While we are God’s image bearers, we are also sinful creatures. This is demonstrated through the people in the stories of Genesis. While it is tempting to put different characters on a pedestal and want to be like them, Scripture doesn’t sugar-coat their stories, and it allows us to see all of the pitfalls and temptations they faced as well as their victories.
So, as you approach the book of Genesis, do so with the intent to know God. What does the story of creation tell you about God? What does the flood teach you about His character? What does His covenant with Abraham tell you about who He is? Our goal should be to fall deeper in love with Him while we read the fascinating stories included in Genesis.
I recently watched a debate on Instagram Live that boiled down to discussing the authority of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus. I’m not sure what made me stop and watch, but I’m glad I did.
One of the participants, let’s call her Jane, made an interesting statement. While discussing the inspiration and inerrancy (no errors) of Scripture, Jane said she loves the Bible, but her god is “bigger than a book.”
This was reminiscent to me of a statement in William P. Young’s book The Shack. One of the characters in his book says, “Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book. Especially an expensive one bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that guilt edges?” (For a full review of the book The Shack, click here.)
On the surface, these statements sound good. Who wants to worship a god who is limited to a book? But that’s just it—He’s not limited by a book; He makes the book limitless!
Who put God in a book?
First, it’s important that we make something very clear: Man did not put God in a book. God chose the written word as the medium by which we get to know Him. He chose the men who penned His Word. And He chose the very words that were written. He did all of this with us in mind. As our Creator, He knows how best to communicate with us.
As a result, the Bible isn’t an ordinary book. The Bible was written by some 40+ men over a period of 1,600 years, and yet has a common thread woven through its entirety. Its pages contain God’s beautiful love story as He pursues us and gives us the means to participate in a relationship with Him.
This is what the author of Hebrews says about the Bible:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
No other book does what the Bible does. And anyone who spends time in the Word can tell you it is life-giving and life-changing.
Why is the Bible different?
What makes the Bible different from other books is the fact that it is inspired by God. It was literally breathed out by God to the men who wrote it down. However, Jane argued that the inspiration the writers of the Bible received was no different than the inspiration an artist feels before he creates a work of art.
While it is true that our only measure of beauty comes from God and, therefore, beauty in art has a shadow of inspiration, it is not the same inspiration of Scripture. Artistic inspiration is not equal to divine inspiration. Art doesn’t speak to everyone. Different types of beauty appeal to different people. But the word of Scripture is universal.
If this is a struggle you have been facing, I urge you to spend time in the Word. Many have set out to disprove Scripture only to be changed by it and embrace it once they really studied it. If you need some direction for Bible study, I invite you to download my free workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own.
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If you want to know more about how it was determined if a book was inspired and, therefore, it was included in the canon of scripture, I recommend you listen to the second season of Phylicia Masonheimer’s podcast Verity. Click here to check it out. (And when you’re done with season 2, go back and listen to season 1 because it is fire, too!)
How would you define an idol? Having grown up in church, I know all of the stories about the Israelites and their idols: the golden calf, the foreign gods, even Dagon, the idol that bowed down to the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 5). When we think of idols in this context, we would claim not to worship idols.
But idols don’t have to be crafted with our hands. An idol is anything that takes your attention off of God, anything that keeps you from your time with God. In this context, sleep can be an idol, TV can be an idol, and, dare I say it, food can be an idol.
Did you realize your “quiet time” can become an idol, too? It seems contradictory because your “quiet time,” your time in the Word, isn’t taking your focus off of God, right?
Oh, but it can!
It’s all too easy to spend time in the Word just so you can check it off your to-do list, post a pretty Instagram picture with your coffee and your colorful pens, or hit a goal you’ve set for yourself. The motive behind your devotional time can be pulling your focus off of God.
When I allow perfectionism to keep me from the Word because I think I have to have the prettiest space or the right Bible or the perfect pen or the best mug for my coffee, I am making my quiet time an idol.
When the reason for my time in the Word is to reach a goal or check it off a reading plan, I’ve lost focus of the purpose.
When I use my “quiet time” as an excuse not to face my responsibilities, or I wear it as a badge of honor so others can see how spiritual I am, my “quiet time” has become an idol.
Spending time in the Word should be a time of worship when we focus on knowing God more intimately.
So how do I avoid creating an idol out of my devotional time?
Realize that God’s expectation is that you will come to Him as you are. You don’t have to get your ducks in a row, clean up your act, or get your house in order to spend time with Him. Think about it this way: what are your expectations of your kids before they come to you? Do they need to clean up? Do they need to look or act a certain way? Would you reject them if they didn’t? Of course not! If my son wants a hug from me as he’s walking off the baseball field after a grueling double-header in the heat of summer, he gets that hug! Why then do we think God has expectations of us before we come to Him?
If you realize you are distracted and having a hard time focusing on what you’re reading, stop. Figure out what the problem is and fix it, or come back to your reading later in the day when you can be more focused. Minimize distractions as best you can, but be flexible and have grace. While you should have a plan, it shouldn’t be too rigid. You are developing a relationship, not simply trying to be more productive with your time.
Litmus Test
A great question to ask yourself is if you couldn’t tell anyone about your devotional time, would you still do it? I’m not encouraging you to keep your study to yourself—we need community and accountability—but if all of that was stripped away, would you still spend time with Him? If you know your answer to this question is “yes,” then your devotional time is really about your relationship with the Lord.
If your answer right now would be “no,” don’t quit. Giving up won’t solve the problem. Refocus. Repent, ask forgiveness, and realign.
If you need help with your time in the Word and want to learn to study it for yourself so you don’t have to depend on someone else to tell you what it means, download my free 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own Workbook.
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If you would like to read more blog posts like this one, click here.
I recently finished reading through the Bible for the year. And, yes, I’m proud of it! I have read the Bible through four or five times in my lifetime, and one of those times was in 90 days! That was really fast!
Every time I read through the Bible I learn new things, and something different captures my attention. I make new connections and deepen my understanding. And God always shows me something I have missed before.
This time, for example, I fell in love with the book of Daniel. Daniel’s relationship with God, in spite of his surroundings and his circumstances, is incredibly inspiring. Daniel’s prayers are beautiful, and his faith is overwhelming.
There are so many benefits to reading through the Bible:
You get an over-arching picture of the Word of God.
You connect events, characters, and places that you have learned about before as separate stories.
You discover passages that touch your soul in a way you never expected.
You have a daily plan that keeps you showing up to your time with the Lord.
…just to name a few. Every believer should commit to reading through the Bible at least once in her life. You could do it very quickly, say in 90 days, or you could take three years or longer to get through it. It is a commitment you won’t regret keeping!
Though I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through the Bible this year, I won’t be doing it again next year. Here is why:
I love lists, and I found myself battling my tendency to read the passages just to be able to check them off.
I enjoy diving deeper into Scripture, and I found that, by the time I finished my passage for the day, my day and all of its tasks were pushing in on me.
I had to continually check my motives. Why was I doing this? Was it just to be able to say I did it or was I really growing my relationship with God?
Whether I am reading through the Bible, studying a passage on my own, or doing a Bible study and gleaning from someone else’s wisdom, the goal is always to grow a deeper relationship with the Author of this love letter.
If you have not read through the Bible, I encourage you to commit in 2020. There are a plethora of reading plans out there. You can read from Genesis to Revelation. You can read it chronologically, or you can mix it up. Many Bibles come with a reading plan in the back.
If you need accountability, I’d love to provide it. Let me know if you’re making the commitment, and let me cheer you on!
We live in a time when every kind of knowledge is at our fingertips. We can order a book on kindle and have it in seconds. We can google any phrase and immediately know who said it. We can research a topic and come up with millions of “hits.” Before we know it, we can be down the rabbit hole filling our minds with useless, if not harmful, information.
Gone are the days when Biblical principles governed our education and political systems. We can no longer assume that the shows played on a kids’ channel will be appropriate. Even books published by Christian organizations can’t be blindly trusted. So how do we navigate this ocean of information? We must filter it.
But, in order to filter the information, we must first have the filter. I spent so much of my life as a Christian thinking that was all I needed. I was saved, so nothing else was too important. I knew the Bible stories, I could recite the books of the Bible (only in Spanish, though, and I still revert back to that), and I could give you all of the Sunday school answers. But when it came to the day-to-day decisions, I relied on the knowledge I had accumulated, most of which was not filtered through the lens of Scripture.
I wanted to be someone to whom people came for advice. I wanted to give godly counsel. I found myself frustrated because even I recognized the advice I was giving was worldly (and I am so thankful it was rarely heeded!). Then everything changed.
I started studying my Bible and really pursuing the application of Scripture. I don’t have it all figured out yet (it won’t happen this side of Heaven), but God’s Word has changed me. I am more confident in my decision-making. I pray with others rather than giving them advice. I am often overwhelmed by the answers the Holy Spirit gives me to my kids’ tough questions.
I am still walking this road, and I would love for you to join me! I have created a course, Captive Thoughts, that lines out practical steps to recognize God’s voice, bear His image, and renew your mind. If you would like more information about the course, you can reach out to me, or click this link.
