Another Installment... Exodus and Mark..

Book of the Bible – Exodus Greek word – “Ek” mean “out” and “Hodos” meaning “road.” In other words, “The Road Out.”
Author - Moses
Date of Writing – Birth of Moses – Construction of the Temple 1525 – 1446 B.C.
Number of Chapters - 40
To Whom Written – All of mankind, specifically the Israelites.
Purpose of the Writing – To detail the birth pains of a nation so that the travails of that birth would never be forgotten.
My Personal Summary -

The beginnings of a nation are surely difficult with many obstacles to best and hurdles to clear. It was no different in the case of God’s Chosen people, Israel. This with one exception; Israel is a nation chosen by God Himself. God birthed this nation. God disciplined this nation. God raised this nation.

The nation of Israel began with a family of only 70 people yet today Israel, though a tiny nation measured in square miles is great in historical stature. The Book of Exodus details the reluctant leadership of the “rags to royalty to rags” humility of Moses. Exodus begins the account of the oppression of Israel by Egypt.

Following thereafter is the childhood of Moses life. Exodus; it can be reasoned, is a revelation of the calling of Moses by God Himself to demand the freedom of God’s people from Pharaohs rule. The forty-year journey through the wilderness ended up being a series of lessons taught by God to the wandering Israelites. The Book of Exodus concludes with the establishment of Hebrew culture and Law given by God.

Exodus feels much like an account of a high level of divine education at a tremendous cost. This cost would pale in comparison to the cost Jesus Christ the Messiah would pay for my sins, redemption. Neither my redemption, nor the Hebrew people’s redemption would come cheaply. Ultimately we need to fear God more than we fear anything else and God will do mighty things through our obedience.

Book of the Bible – Mark
Author - Mark
Date of Writing – A.D. 60-70
Number of Chapters - 16
To Whom Written – Romans and Gentiles, to the larger audience, us.
Purpose of the Writing – We are presented with Jesus of Nazareth as God’s Suffering Servant who redeemed the world.
My Personal Summary

One of my favorite characters of the Bible is John the Baptist. John the Baptist was uniquely bold in his call for holiness and repentance. John the Baptist’s message was one of dynamic obedience. He obeyed to death. Despite appearing crazy or as today we would call him, eccentric; John the Baptist told the story of a coming Messiah, One greater than him.
Though the death of John the Baptist was noted almost as a footnote he did what he was sent to do. John did not speak of the cross Yeshua would bear; however, he knew prophesy and inasmuch as knowledge is often mistaken to bring power, the Baptist knew his fate was set, and so forward he preached.
Jesus was human; He was baptized because His Father commanded it so. Jesus was human; He was tempted and yet did not sin. Jesus was human; He ministered and healed because the Father said to do so in His Name. Yeshua entertained controversy nearly everywhere He went because He was original. He was dynamic. He was Divine and yet human. He is God’s Son and though Mark takes us on a very succinct journey, he entices us often with his exhortation, “immediately.” I am reminded to act immediately upon the leading of God, to obey without delay.
Mark teaches the importance of placing your faith in Christ immediately. Jesus Christ is trustworthy with our faith because He trod the rocky path with grace and mercy, and truth to the death.