Exodus 6 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Exodus 6 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Moses was born around 1591 B.C. and left Egypt at 40 years old (Acts 7:23).

• According to Exodus 7:7, Moses was 80 years old when he stood before Pharaoh as the representative of God.

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The terms “Israelites” and “Hebrews” are used synonymously. They refer to the descendants of Jacob’s family that grew into a large nation. During this period of history, the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians.

• Moses – A Hebrew who grew up in the house of Pharaoh. He fled Egypt in Exodus 2 and went to live in Midian. God used him to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

• Aaron – Moses’ brother. He was a descendant of Jacob’s son Levi.

• Pharaoh – The king of Egypt who defied the commands of the Lord.

WHERE:

• The events recorded in Exodus 6 happened in Egypt.

OUTLINE:

• GOD REMINDS MOSES OF HIS PROMISE TO FREE ISRAEL (6:1-13):

  • The Israelites were mad at Moses because Pharaoh had increased their burdens, so God appeared to Moses again and reassured him Israel would be delivered from Egypt by the power of God.

  • He told Moses He was the same God who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and promised to give them the land of Canaan.

  • Moses was to go back to the Israelites and remind them of this promise and tell them God was going to bring them out of Egypt with “great acts of judgement” on Egypt.

  • Moses obeyed but the Israelites didn’t listen to him “because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”

  • God told him to go back to Pharaoh and tell him to let the Israelites go, but Moses was disheartened by people’s unbelief.

• THE HEADS OF THE ISRAELITE NATION AND MOSES’ FAMILY (6:14-30):

  • The second half of this chapter lists the names of prominent leaders among the Israelites, as well as some details about Moses’ family.

  • The prominent leaders were primarily made up of the descendants of Jacob’s 3 oldest sons: Reuben, Simeon, and Levi.

  • Reuben’s sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

  • Simeon’s sons: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul.

  • Levi’s sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

  • Moses’ parent’s names are mentioned for the first time in Exodus 6, Amram and Jochebed (6:20). 

  • Moses’ and his brother Aaron were the grandsons of Levi through their mother.  

  • Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

APPLICATION:

• The great men of the Biblical story weren’t perfect people and didn’t always display great faith.

• Moses was discouraged when his own people turned on him.

• Rather than focusing on the words of his countrymen, he should have been focused on God’s promises.

• He fell into a mindset of despair brought on by other people’s unbelief.

• Always remember, the “great Bible characters” were men and women like us. They struggled with doubts, they were negatively influenced by ungodly people, and they occasionally made huge mistakes.

• That is why we look to Jesus as our greatest example. He lived the model life of constant confidence and trust in God.