1. The story starts with a stupid and cruel Egyptian pharoah and some very smart enslaved Israelite women, who save a bonny baby boy called Moses
2. We move rapidly to the early adventures of Moses and his running away from Egypt, resulting in marriage to Zipporah, the daughter of a Midianite priest called (perhaps) Reuel
3. Moses hears God
4. God teaches Moses some conjuring tricks, to help him prepare to impress the king - and then gets cross and tries to kill him - but Zipporah (whose father now seems to be called Jethro) saves him by circumcising their son
5. On return to Egypt, Moses' first talk with Pharaoh makes things much worse for the Israelites
6. None of the Israelites want to listen to Moses, even though he and Aaron come from the right family tree
7. Pharaoh's magicians can do all of the tricks that God taught Moses, so Pharaoh is unimpressed by him
8. In spite of frogs, lice and destructive bugs, Pharaoh continues to vacillate in his decision about whether or not to let the Israelites leave, he really doesn't want to let them go
9. More plagues rain down, and there's the threat of worse to come but God promises that the Egyptians won't be completely destroyed
10. God knows Pharaoh will not relent, but the signs keep coming in order that everyone will remember God's power forever
11. The final threat is made against all firstborn (human and animal), which will forever break the Israelites from Egypt
12. The night where death passes over the homes of the Israelites is breathlessly recounted, as it is simultaneously institutionalized in ritual
13. A reminder from God that the Exodus story is to be passed on to children forever, remembering also that all firstborn belong to God
14. The escape from Egypt scene; complete with impossible odds of success, high drama, and close shaves
15. Safely across the sea, Miriam gets out her battle tambourine and everyone sings of God's victory - until they get thirsty and the worrying about how they will survive in the wilderness begins...
16. Wilderness food and Sabbath instruction for a people who just seem to be too afraid to trust God
17. The Israelites demand water and fight another tribe, and once again God demonstrates power through Moses and his magical staff, providing both water and victory
18. Helpful Jethro (Moses' father-in-law) pops by and tells Moses that he works too hard and that he should delegate some of the work
19. After 3 months of journey, the people arrive at Mount Sinai and Moses gets them ready to see God appear, shielded by clouds, on the mountain top
20. Through Moses, God gives the people ground rules for right living and right worship
21. The law is laid out along lines of renumeration
22. Harsh but logical guidance is given for justice in common disputes
23. A few moral teachings and instructions for maintaining the 'set apartness' of Israel as they prepare themselves to move into the promised land which is occupied by others
24. Moses gets ready for an audience with God on the mountain
25. God's instructions for a bling altar
26. God's instructions for a very fancy worship tent
27. God's instructions for a portable altar, extensive drapery and eternal flame lamps for outside the worship tent
28. God's instructions for ornamental priestly robes for the line of Aaron, which includes the inscribing of the names of the twelve tribes on precious stones to be carried on their shoulders and over their hearts
29. God's instructions for priestly ordination rituals
30. God's instructions for holy smells and temple tithes
31. A reminder from God that Sabbath observance marks out people as belonging to God
32. Coming down from the mountain, Moses finds that slippery Aaron has encouraged idol worship - for which 3000 men pay with their lives
33. While the people are in disgrace, Moses continues to meet with God everyday in a tent outside of camp, seeking to know God better
34. After pleading their cause, Moses is able to reestablish the shakey covenant for Israel, and his face shines with the glory of God
35. The whole community is now excited about making the worship tent according to God's instructions, and everyone contributes generously
36. Thanks to the abundant generosity of the people, there is enough material to make the tent exactly to the design ordained by God
37. Bezalel, the craftsman, is in charge of making the ornamental material to the exacting requirements set down
38. Construction continues and a careful record is kept of the materials gathered and used
39. The long, elaborate and expensive project is completed - Moses is very happy!
40. Finally, Moses sets up the tent and altars, and God moves in
I felt very conscious while reading Exodus, that it is not my story to tell. Plenty of Christians over the years have interpreted Jewish history through the lens of their own tradition, and such practice is rightly frowned on today. This story is only of interest to me in that it would have been formational for Jesus and his disciples, and because imagery from it is peppered throughout New Testament writing. So skimming through this epic book was a disconcertingly straightforward task, whereas I expect to find treating the gospels in a similar manner much harder.
Some of the things I enjoyed in Exodus were the prominent role of women in moving the action forward and the steadfastness of Moses. I found it hard to picture the scene though; it's set in parts of the world I've never visited and I don't really find maps and encyclopedias very helpful for this, I begin to see why people like to visit the places where significant events happened.
Fear is a strong theme in this book. God is scary and Pharaoh is scary. Freedom is scary and hardship is very scary. The big point about that tent, that takes up so much of the book, is that it signifies the presence of God with the people. Something tangible, accessible and beautiful in a world where death and fear are daily realities which make it hard to believe and trust in God.
I made a specific note of the differences in the name of Zipporah's father as he seemed a significant character and I thought there might be an interesting story, but if there is one, I couldn't find it. It's a good reminder that this story is very very old. The fact that we have it available at all is a testament to the way the it's events had such a lasting impact on a nation of people that they worked to keep the story alive, making it relevant to successive generations.
A people were freed, and a covenant was established which forever after marked those people as belonging to God.