THE EXODUS

This journey follows ten readings of the book of Exodus, the founding narrative of Israel: a slave people in Egypt who leave, cross the sea, receive a law at Sinai and arrive at the edge of the promised land. The historical date of the exodus is debated among scholars, and for that reason the journey reads the text for the message it carries, not as chronology.

The route begins in Exodus 1, with a new king who did not know Joseph and the Hebrew midwives who refuse to kill the boys, and in Exodus 2, with Moses fleeing to Midian. Exodus 3 brings the burning bush and the divine name, «I AM WHO I AM» (3:14), and 4:10-17 Moses's argument that he does not speak well, answered with Aaron's help. The plagues and the Passover follow (chapter 12), which Paul takes up in 1 Corinthians 5:7 by calling Christ our Passover, and the crossing of the sea (chapter 14). In the wilderness, the manna of Exodus 16 is read with Deuteronomy 8:1-5.

The second half deals with Sinai: the covenant of chapters 19 and 24, the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20, which Jesus sums up in Matthew 22:34-40, and the tabernacle, described in chapters 25 to 31 and built in chapters 35 to 40. The last reading, Numbers 13:25-14:9 with Joshua 1:1-9, shows the people before the promised land, divided between fear and trust. At the end you will be able to tell the story in order and explain why the Passover and Sinai are the two pillars of Israel's faith.