Over the past fifteen years, Reed Lessing has served the church well with numerous books, especially volumes in the Concordia Commentary series, whose primary readership has been pastors and seminarians. Lessing’s latest work, Deliver Us, is cut from a different cloth, as it is written primarily to present the theology of Exodus to a lay audience. Though you will not find precise analysis of the Hebrew text or the narrative structure of Exodus within its pages, Deliver Us still teems with exegetical insight.
Lessing presents the people and events of Exodus as our story in the introductory chapter. A quick and cursory reading that sees our own struggles in the biblical text will pique the ears with the alarm of allegorism. Such alarm should not be sounded in this case. Lessing’s approach is akin to typology, though he does not delve into an extended discourse regarding typological exegesis. In typological fashion, he properly reads the text as christocentric. And because Exodus is about Christ and his redemptive work, it is also pro nobis—for us. As Christ delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage, so also does he deliver us. Indeed, Lessing’s contention is that Israel’s deliverance nearly 3,500 years ago is our deliverance because we are bound together with them. Such a catholic understanding of Israel/the church is foundational for the book and rightly so.
Deliver Us is packed with illustrations that are drawn from the author’s personal experience, along with historical events. The illustrations will prove to be memorable for the lay reader. The regularity of the illustrations prompts the book to sound much like a devotional, though the depth of content far surpasses what is typically found within devotionals. The rich theology and faithful handling of the biblical text in an accessible approach should give pastors confidence in recommending the volume to members as a substantial alternative to devotionals. That is not to say that pastors would not benefit from the book. It is refreshing to read a robust handling of Scripture that delivers the goods even without technical details. The format reminds pastors that sermons and Bible studies can be meaty while also lay friendly. Indeed, pastors who will be preaching on a text from Exodus or leading a Bible study series from Exodus will be well served by Lessing’s work, though they should still spend time in a close reading of the Hebrew text, appropriate commentaries, and other resources.
The one matter that I would have appreciated receiving greater attention is the tabernacle. The significance of the tabernacle is seen in the sheer narrative volume given to Yahweh’s instructions for the tabernacle and the construction of the tabernacle. The telos/goal of Exodus is seen in the closing scene of the book in which Yahweh fills the tabernacle. Thus, Yahweh’s desire to dwell among his people is of central importance to Exodus (and the rest of Scripture). Deliver Us does treat the tabernacle well, but it does not receive the same level of attention as the rest of Exodus.
Lessing has once again delivered a gift for the church. Accessible for the average laity, meaty enough for professional theologians, Deliver Us proves to be worth the reader’s time and attention.
Kevin Golden
Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis