The word "exodus" means going out, and it is essentially an escape story. All escape stories are exciting and interesting to read, and the book of Exodus is no exception. Here we have the account of the greatest escape in human history. A military expert has sat down to work out the kind of problems facing this escape. You realise that there were probably over two million people – men, women, and children – to say nothing of thousands of animals. They lived in the most forti¿ed country that the world had then seen. Its borders were held by rows of fortresses. The book of Exodus is not just an escape, it is an elopement. For it is the story of a runaway marriage, the true story of a covenant made between God and his people. God said: "Let my people go that they may come and serve me." It is not just to be saved from Pharaoh, but to be saved to God. This is the story of the book of Exodus – how they began the journey that was to lead to the land of blessing.