Summary:
Week 6 tells how God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt through Moses, revealing His power and mercy. Pharaoh’s defiance brought plagues that exposed Egypt’s false gods, and the Passover lamb’s blood looks forward to the one, Jesus, who saves the whole world—the true Lamb whose sacrifice delivers from sin and death. God parted the Red Sea, leading Israel safely through and destroying their pursuers, a picture of salvation through faith. In the wilderness, He provided manna and water from the rock, pointing ahead to Jesus as the Bread of Life and the Living Water who sustains His people on their journey to freedom.
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Bible Reading, Mapping, & Notes
I know the section below looks long at first glance, but it’s a surprisingly quick and easy read. And good news — this is the longest reading in the entire narrative.
Jesus in the story?
Shadows, Types and Appearances
Exodus 3:2–6 (The burning bush)
When the Angel of the LORD appears to Moses in the burning bush, the text presents a divine figure who speaks as God, receives worship, and declares His holy name. Many interpreters see this as a Christ‑disclosure—a pre‑incarnate appearance of the Son—because He mediates God’s presence while remaining distinct from the Father. In this moment, Moses encounters the same divine Person who will later take on flesh and reveal God fully in Jesus Christ.
Exodus 5–11 (The Plagues)
The plagues display God’s judgment on false gods and oppressive powers, foreshadowing Jesus’ victory over the spiritual forces of evil. Pharaoh’s hardened heart mirrors the world’s rejection of Christ, yet God’s power breaks through to redeem His people. The final plague sets the stage for the Passover lamb—an unmistakable pointer to Jesus, whose blood shields His people from judgment and brings deliverance not just from slavery, but from sin and death itself.
Exodus 12 (Passover Lamb)
The Passover lamb is one of Scripture’s clearest foreshadowings of Jesus. A spotless male is chosen, slain, and its blood applied for deliverance from judgment. This pattern anticipates Christ, the true Lamb of God, whose sacrificial death brings redemption and whose blood secures the salvation of all who trust in Him. Passover sets the template for the gospel: rescue through the blood of a substitute.
Exodus 13:21–22 (Cloud by day and fire by night)
The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night is a visible manifestation of God’s presence, guiding and guarding His people through the wilderness. This theophany anticipates Jesus, who later declares Himself the Light of the World and the One who leads His people into truth and life. As the pillar never leaves Israel, so Christ promises to be with His people always, guiding them on their journey.
Exodus 16; John 6:48–51 (Manna from heaven)
God provides manna to sustain Israel in the wilderness, but Jesus later reveals its deeper meaning by declaring, “I am the Bread of Life.” The manna points to Christ as the true heavenly provision—spiritual nourishment that gives eternal life. Just as Israel depended daily on manna, believers depend continually on Jesus, the One who satisfies the deepest hunger of the human soul.
Exodus 17; 1 Corinthians 10:4 (The smitten rock)
When Moses strikes the rock and water flows out to save the thirsty people, Paul identifies this rock as Christ. The image is profound: the One who would be struck for our sins becomes the source of living water for His people. The wilderness miracle reveals the gospel pattern—life flowing from the suffering of the Savior, sustaining His people on their journey.