I. The Story of Redemption: Chapters 1-13:16
A. The Need for Redemption Chapter 1
B. The Human Deliverer Chapters 2-4
C. The Exaltation of the Divine Redeemer. Chapters 5-11
D. Redemption by Blood Chapter 12
E. Redemption by Blood Remembered Chapter 13:1-16
II. The Results of Redemption Chapters 13:17-34
A. Divine Guidance Chapter 13:17-22
B. Salvation (Deliverance) Chapter 14[1]
C. A Joyful Song Chapter 15
D. Divine Supply of Needs Chapters 16-17:7
E. Victory Chapter 17:8-16
F. Wisdom Chapter 18
G. Obedience Chapters 19-24
H. Worship Chapters 25-31 & 35-40
I. Glorious Separation Chapters 32-34
This outline has become the structure that forms the entire basis for my study of the book of Exodus. As I proceed through the study of the book, I adhere to the outline because I believe that it reflects the flow of truth through the book remarkably. But I am not a slave to my outline. If, as I study, I come to see that my outline is inadequate, I am free to modify it.
*I include the outline once again so that the reader may reference it while reading the remarks about Section 1 of the book below.
As you can see, the book of Exodus naturally divides into two major sections. The first section is from chapter 1 through the sixteenth verse of chapter 13. This section contains God’s first clear and complete revelation of all the details about redemption.
Chapter 1 reveals in very powerful terms the deep need for redemption for Adam’s race, pictured through the Egyptian slavery of the Hebrews. These details need to be given appropriate consideration, since God has seen fit to provide them to us. Failure to adequately grasp the deep need for redemption that characterizes Adam’s race results in us devaluing God’s perfect provision of redemption through His Son.
Chapters 2-4 focus our attention on God’s provision of a human deliverer (Moses). Here we receive God’s revelation of how He goes about intervening in human affairs in order to fulfill His redemptive purposes. This portion of the first section can be studied fruitfully by continually asking how these same truths apply to what God is currently doing in the Church Age.
Chapters 5-11 turn our attention fully to the Exaltation of God Himself, as the mighty Redeemer of His enslaved people. In these chapters we are given the revelation of God bringing terrible plagues upon Egypt. The entire sequence of events described here combines to identify the mighty power of the True God, as contrasted with the weakness and foolishness of the Egyptian deities. This presents all human beings then present with a clear-cut choice.
Chapter 12 finally reveals the foundational underlying quality of blood redemption making all the difference between men, when the blood being supplied reflects the blood of the True God-ordained Redeemer pictured in the Passover Lambs. The blood of the lambs was the only difference between the Egyptians and the Hebrews.
Chapter 13:1-16 then closes out this first powerful section by establishing forever a memorial of blood redemption because it alone enables the perfect God to relate to a fallen people.
[1] This is where I felt the need to modify Mr. Sells’ outline. He had chapter 14 included with the Story of Redemption, labeling it “Redemption by Power.” I see it as Salvation, which is a direct result of Redemption, and not a form of Redemption. For more on this see Appendix A.