The Foundation of the Nation of Israel.

Notes for Wednesday night Bible Study October 21, 2009

The Torah or Pentateuch as a whole is concerned with the establishment (or the foundation) of the Kingdom of God on earth.  To do this the Book of Genesis details the origin of the people who become the "people of the exodus."  Such people are in a sense the first citizens of the Kingdom of God on earth.  The Book of Exodus picks up where genesis leaves off and moves from "beginnings to foundation" showing the details of the origin of the people of Israel as a nation.

Some of the details in Exodus are:

1. Group consciousness is formed.  The Israelites were related by blood to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; they shared much of the same common historical and religious traditions; and their expereinces as a people progressively moved them to form a unified group.
2. Unifying experiences.  The oppression of forced labor and the execution of male children; the revolt against Pharaoh led by Moses and Aaron; the 10 plagues; the exodus; the miracilous passage through the Red Sea would be used by God (much like He did with Jacob's wrestling with the angel) to be unifying experiences that would stamp an indelible mark upon the Israelite soul.
3. System of Leadership.  Israel was ruled by God through His vicars, who would call His people to obedience and observance of worship and the Law.
4. The Promised Land.  The divinely appointed people would have a divinely appointed homeland that would be unique.

An important point that starts to develop from the Book of Exodus is that God's love for Israel is never a "political love" such has Pharaoh's and Kings would have; rather God's love is free and gracious.