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The People of God have grown through Abraham’s family. God has been faithful in keeping his covenant, and blessing each generation with more children. During the 400 year gap between Genesis and Exodus, God’s people have become large and powerful. The Egyptians see this as a threat so they enslave the people. From being trapped in Egypt to being trapped in the wilderness, we see God’s people struggling through this period of history. Since the beginning of time and the fall of humanity, God has had a plan to reconnect with his people. Even still it would be a long time until Jesus comes, we see that ever interaction, each promise, and each leader, God reveals himself a little more and bring his people one step closer to Jesus.

During Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, God prepared His people to become a nation and taught them to rely on Him. Finally it’s time to have a home again in the promise land. After 30 years of battles, Israel has conquered every kingdom in Canaan, but they have left many of the local people living alongside them. For the next 325 years, God’s people will experience cycles of disobedience, punishment, confession, and restoration: They forget God and worship idols; God allows an enemy to punish them; they cry out to God for deliverance; God sends a judge to same then; they return to obeying and loving God… Then the whole process starts over again and again and again. Each leader got chosen to free the people, was a foreshadow of the unlimited leader, savior and redeemer Jesus. The judges’ work points to Jesus by giving the people a glimpse of what Jesus will accomplish as the ultimate Redeemer and Savior of all.