People have traditionally ascribed the book of Genesis to Moses. However, most scholars date the writing of the book to several centuries after the death of Moses. Likely the stories within Genesis were originally passed down through oral tradition until there came a time that the Hebrew people needed to be reminded of their creation and family story. The purpose of Genesis is to show God’s interaction with the world. It begins with the first creation story. Think of it as the wide angle lens – a broad view of God bringing everything into being. Then there is a second creation story that begins in Genesis 2:4. The wide-angle lens is gone and replaced by a telephoto lens, as the story zooms in on God’s creation of humanity. The story starts with God creating a world, then humanity, then continues as God creates His people. As you read Genesis, take notice of the many mistakes that our spiritual ancestors made and God was still faithful. The other important theme of Genesis is the intentionality of God to have relationship with humanity – from creating them in His image to continuing to work in and through them despite their shortcomings. 

The book of Exodus recounts the great epic of our faith. From bondage to freedom, orphans to redeemed, the people of God experience the mighty work of God, who delivers them from oppression and sets them free to live a full and faithful life.

The book of Exodus is connected to the first five books of the Bible, often known as the Pentateuch or the Books of Moses. Although they appear as separate books in our Bible, the story is interwoven throughout these first five books of our Bible. Exodus recounts God’s mighty act of salvation as first He calls Moses to service, an act of redemption itself. God then uses Moses to lead the Hebrew people out of slavery and into the wilderness, where God will work to form them into His “treasured possession” a “priestly kingdom and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6) They receive the law, the foundational teaching that shapes God’s community. (Exodus 20)

Exodus not only recounts the great story of deliverance from slavery in Egypt, but it also reveals much about God. In this powerful story God reveals His name, “I Am.” (Exodus 3:14) God reveals His gracious character as His compassion and strength frees the slaves and leads the people to new life in a promised land where God will dwell among the people. Exodus ends with the building of a Holy Tabernacle. Exodus is the story of God’s mercy. Those who were once captives now live a new life where God’s love is law and God Himself dwells among the people.

We encourage you to begin your Bible reading time by reciting the month’s memory verse and then the daily Bible reading. Reflect on the reading – did it raise questions or confusion; did it inspire you or warm your heart? Then, to live in a spirit of gratitude, write down three things for which you’re grateful. Finally, close your devotional time in prayer. While you might not feel the same way each day, the ongoing discipline of having a daily devotional time will have lasting impact on your life and certainly deepen your relationship with God.