I think for today, we will take some of the notes from the Nelson Chronological Study Bible and read through them. There is some great information contained in his notes and we can learn a lot from it.

The Egyptians idea about death and the afterlife emphasized preserving the dead body from decay (Gen.50:26). The climate of Egypt is very dry, and the Egyptians were able to preserve bodies by drying them completely. This they did by burying them in natron, a naturally found combination of baking soda and sodium carbonate. This must be where we got the idea to preserve things with salt.

The Rise of A Unified People: (1500-1200 BC)
In the book of Exodus we will see how God miraculously delivered His people from the hands of the strongest nation of that day. These dramatic events would forever be proof that the Israelites ere God's chosen people.

The Exodus marks the beginning of Israel as a people. The patriarchs were, at most, an extended family, rather than a people. More such families undoubtedly moved to Egypt either because of famine, or because of the migrations of peoples all over the Middle East.

When a dynasty of strong pharaohs returned to power, these "foreigners" were oppressed and put to forced labor. The escape of a large band of these slaves under the leadership of Moses was a new beginning for the Israelites. Their experiences in the years of wandering in the wilderness--along with the great covenant ceremony at Mount Sinai--began to mold them into both a distinct religious entity and the nucleus of a nation. Their entry into Canaan and the struggle to maintain a separate identity in the face of cultural and religious temptations strengthened their sense of being a people.

Tomorrow we will begin the book of Exodus in which the Hebrews exodus from bondage in Egypt is the defining event both in Israel's emergence as a nation and in the shape of that nations faith. The book of Exodus devotes about equal space to the events and to the ensuing covenant. The first half (chapters 1-19) tell the history from Moses' birth through the Exodus itself up to Israel's climactic encounter with God on Mount Sinai.

The second half of the book (chapters 20-40) consists mostly of God's instructions to His covenant people--both general, like the Ten Commandments, and specific, like the instructions for building the tabernacle, Israel's tent shrine. It is no denial of the divine origin of the covenant to note how it is couched in the language and customs of its day. It is interesting to note that the covenant's emphasis on one God was preceded by the failed reforms of Akhenaten. Or again, the pattern for the giving of the covenant in Ex. 19-24 follows a very common Hittite treaty pattern, beginning with a prologue and continuing with a list of expectations (chapters 20-23), then concluding with a ratification ceremony (chapter 24).

Tomorrow we will begin the study of the book of exodus. I've read through it already (during my study of the tabernacle) in the last two months. It is very exciting to see God's hand of protection and guidance as the Israelites flee Egypt and attempt to occupy the land that God had promised to them.
Come and travel with me through this exciting book.