Did You Know?

Moses was hidden in a basket among the reeds of the Nile River as a baby to escape Pharaoh's decree.

This event is recorded in Exodus 2:1-10, with Moses later found and raised by Pharaoh's own daughter. His name is explained in the text as relating to the Hebrew word for 'drawing out,' since he was drawn out of the water.

God spoke to Moses through a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames.

This encounter took place at Mount Horeb, also called the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1-4), where God commissioned Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. God revealed his name to Moses at this moment as 'I AM WHO I AM' (Exodus 3:14).

God sent ten plagues upon Egypt to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites.

These plagues, described in Exodus 7-12, included water turning to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally the death of the firstborn. Each plague targeted specific aspects of Egyptian society or religion.

The final plague, the death of the firstborn, led directly to the institution of Passover.

The Israelites were instructed to mark their doorposts with lamb's blood so the plague would 'pass over' their homes (Exodus 12:12-13). Passover remains one of the most significant annual festivals in Judaism, commemorating the exodus from Egypt.

Moses parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground.

This dramatic event is recorded in Exodus 14:21-22, with the waters returning to drown the pursuing Egyptian army (Exodus 14:26-28). The crossing is commemorated in the 'Song of Moses' in Exodus 15.

God provided manna, a bread-like substance, to feed the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings.

Manna appeared each morning on the ground, and the Israelites were instructed to gather only enough for each day, except before the Sabbath (Exodus 16:14-26). This provision continued for the full 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35).

Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.

The commandments are recorded in Exodus 20:1-17, covering duties toward God and toward other people, including prohibitions against idolatry, murder, theft, and false witness. According to the narrative, they were inscribed on two stone tablets by God's own hand (Exodus 31:18).

Moses broke the original stone tablets of the Ten Commandments in anger over the golden calf.

Upon descending Mount Sinai and finding the Israelites worshiping a golden calf, Moses smashed the tablets (Exodus 32:19). God later instructed Moses to carve new tablets, which were inscribed a second time (Exodus 34:1-4).

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.

This extended period, described throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, resulted from the Israelites' disobedience and lack of faith after spies reported on the land of Canaan (Numbers 14:33-34). An entire generation, except for Joshua and Caleb, died before entering the land.

The Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary constructed by the Israelites according to detailed divine instructions.

Detailed plans for its construction are given across Exodus 25-31, and its actual building is described in Exodus 35-40. It served as the central place of worship and sacrifice for the Israelites until the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem centuries later.