Summary of Exodus
By Johannes Brenz
I’m translating a brief overview of the books of the Bible written by Johannes Brenz (1499–1570) for the weekly devotional. Here’s what Brenz has to say about Exodus:
Exodus, the second book of Moses, contains a splendid sermon on the Christ to come, and how He shall preach and teach among the people of Israel, which is described in Exodus 33–34. In the other parts or places of this book, wherein the redemption of the Israelites from Egypt is recounted, and how the laws or Ten Commandments were given, as well as how both the spiritual and earthly rule or state were composed, ordered, and established, it may perhaps seem as though something else were undertaken in this book other than that Christ alone should be described therein. But if one contemplates it more diligently, it turns out that this entire book named Exodus is chiefly directed to this end, that therein Christ may be brought forth as the Lord of the Christian Church or of the people of God. For the Israelites were freed and brought under laws, ordinances, and governance (which is described in Exodus) for this purpose: that they might be a people among whom the promise of Christ might be preserved through public preaching and divine worship, and that the people would truly and certainly know from which lineage Christ would come. What do the Ten Commandments do other than look to Christ? As St. Paul says, “Scripture has concluded everything under sin (which takes place chiefly through the Ten Commandments) that the promise might be given through faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.” And soon after, “The Law became our teacher to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified and made godly through faith.”
And what shall I say of the Passover lamb, the Levitical priesthood, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat, the other external ordinances, and divine worship, which are instituted and described in Exodus? For everyone well knows that these things all belong to this end, that Christ the Lord should be recognized and revealed from them. Thus, it is unnecessary to indicate these things further in this place. The end to which this Book of Exodus is directed, therefore, is nothing else than that through it we should learn to recognize Christ.
Johannes Brenz, Kurtzer Begriff und Inhalt der gantzen Heiligen Schrifft (1552)
Lucas Cranach the Elder, Moses and the Pillar of Cloud (c. 1530)