Some Obvious Shadows of Jesus in Exodus

by Terry Wane Benton

Exodus is rich in foreshadowing Jesus. A mark of divine wisdom is in the embedding of the shape and form of Jesus long before He arrived in the flesh, showing a wisdom too great for human wisdom alone to account for it. Moses is a lot like Jesus in his unusual birth, kings wanting their death in infancy, rising up to be shepherds from royal heritage, and leading people out of two different kinds of bondage. The comparisons are amazing!

1. The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) was an illustration of what Jesus would be for the world, a means of saving from bondage to Satan and sin. A spotless lamb dies so God’s people can live. Its blood shields them from judgment. Not a bone is broken. All of this and more is fulfilled in Jesus, the true Passover Lamb whose blood delivers from final judgment (John 1:29; I Corinthians 5:7). The deaths of the firstborn in Egypt broke the will of Pharaoh and caused him to release his grip on the Israelites and set them free. In contrastive typology, Jesus was the death of God’s firstborn that breaks Satan’s grip on human hearts and frees us from the power of the Accuser. Those who applied the blood of the lamb to their houses were safe from the death experienced in each household. The Passover was not just a story, but a foreshadowing of God’s plan in Jesus.
2. The Red Sea Deliverance (Exodus 14–15) was not just to show God’s power to deliver Israel, but to foreshadow the spiritual deliverance we can all have in Jesus. Israel is trapped between death and an impossible barrier. God opens a way where none existed, bringing His people through the waters into new life. Their enemies are defeated behind them. All of this showed the power and wisdom of God in foreshadowing a greater deliverance, fulfilled in Jesus, who brings His people through death into resurrection life and destroys the power of the enemy (Romans 6:3–4). Paul saw this “baptism into Moses” as a type of the real baptism into Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1f).
3. The Manna From Heaven (Exodus 16) was not just an interesting story but a mighty event that showed the power and care of God, which in turn illustrates the greater provision of spiritual manna for our spiritual journey. God provides bread from heaven to sustain His people in the wilderness. It is given daily, freely, and sufficiently. Israel lives by God’s provision, not their own strength. That is fulfilled in Jesus, the true Bread from heaven who gives life to the world (John 6:31–35). We must pick up our daily portion of heavenly manna in Christ to sustain us in our journey through our wilderness of life.
4. The Water From the Struck Rock (Exodus 17:1–7) foreshadows Jesus. The people thirst, and God commands Moses to strike the rock. Life‑giving water flows out to save the people. The rock bears the blow meant for Israel. This is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the Rock struck for our salvation, from whom the Spirit’s living water flows (I Corinthians 10:4; John 7:37–39). Refreshment for our journey is supplied in drinking the spiritual water that comes from Jesus and His smitten body. Drink it in if you would survive this journey through life.
5. Moses the Mediator (Exodus 32–34) is another typology of Jesus in Exodus. Moses stands between God and the sinful people. He intercedes, pleads for mercy, and even offers himself for their sake. Through him, the covenant is renewed, and God’s presence remains with Israel. But this is also fulfilled in Jesus, the greater Mediator who intercedes eternally and brings a better covenant (Hebrews 3:1–6; 7:25).

We could add many other parallels, such as the priesthood of Aaron, and every aspect of the tabernacle, and every animal sacrifice. It was all written to illustrate and teach us about Jesus. Truly, Moses was writing about Jesus (John 5:44). This is no coincidence! This is the finger of God!