The story of the Exodus is one of the most powerful accounts in all of Scripture. It begins with the people of Israel enslaved in Egypt, suffering under Pharaoh’s harsh rule. Their cries rise up to God, and He hears them. This is the moment when God reveals Himself not as a distant deity, but as the Lord who enters into human history to save His people.
God calls Moses, a man once raised in Pharaoh’s court, to lead the Israelites to freedom. At the burning bush, God reveals His holy name — “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) — and commands Moses to go to Pharaoh with the words, “Let my people go.” When Pharaoh refuses, God sends a series of plagues upon Egypt, showing His power over every false god and every form of oppression. Finally, through the first Passover — when the blood of a lamb marks the doors of His people — God protects Israel and breaks the power of Pharaoh.
As the Israelites flee, Pharaoh’s army pursues them to the Red Sea. There, God works a mighty miracle: He parts the waters, allowing His people to pass safely, then closes them again over their enemies. It is a breathtaking image of God’s deliverance — a moment that would forever define Israel’s faith. Through this, God not only frees them from slavery but begins to shape them into a covenant people, teaching them to trust and follow Him in the desert.
The Exodus is more than ancient history; it is a living symbol of salvation. For Christians, it foreshadows Christ’s saving work — the true Passover Lamb whose blood sets us free from sin and death. Just as Israel journeyed from slavery to freedom, we too are invited to walk with God toward the true Promised Land: eternal life with Him.
May we remember that the God who led His people out of Egypt still leads us today — from fear to faith, from bondage to freedom, from darkness to His marvelous light.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
