What would you say is the main message of the Book of Exodus?

This text is from a letter written by David Gooding in 2002.

Now, I never was a theologian, nor am one yet. If I venture a few remarks, they will be of the sort that will make theologians smile—I hope with sympathy—and give me credit for trying, if for nothing else.

The book seems to me the book of the revelation of the name of God. The key to Moses' deliverance of Israel from their captivity in Egypt was, in great part, to declare the name of God to them.

The book's counterpart in this respect in the New Testament is, surely, the Gospel of John, where our Lord explicitly says that his method of delivering his disciples from the world has been to declare the name of God to them: 'I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. . . I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known' (John 17:6, 26).

It seems to me, therefore, that the very opening words of the book of Exodus, 'These are the names . . .', introduce a companion theme. Every main section of the book deals with the revelation of the name of God to Israel; but in two of the main sections we have the corollary, the presentation of the names of Israel before God, as the high priest bears these names on his breast as he goes into the holy place. Theologically, that seems to me to be one of the main messages of the book.

Ever yours truly in Christ,