1:28), which reminds us of the bigger story so far. This phrase is a deliberate echo of the blessing God gave humanity back in the garden (Gen. For now, we will focus on the first half, in which centuries have passed and the Israelites “were fruitful and multiplied and filled the land” (Exod. The book also has a second half that takes place at the foot of Mount Sinai. So the family lived and grew in Egypt as a safe haven for many years.Īfter a few hundred years, the story of Exodus begins.The word “exodus” refers to the major event that takes place in the first half of the book, Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Abraham’s grandson Jacob and his family of seventy made their way down to Egypt, where Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, had been elevated to second in command over Egypt. Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and it picks up the biblical storyline right where Genesis left off.