Thutmose III’s ruthless son Amenhotep II (1450-1425 B.C.) fits the description of the Pharaoh in Exodus. Perhaps Amenhotep II’s firstborn died in the tenth plague because the son who succeeded him, Thutmose IV (1425-1412 B.C.), was not his firstborn. In the 15th century B.C., Egypt stretched from Africa to Asia. Mesopotamia heavily influenced Egyptian culture, though the Egyptians developed their own unique writing style. Science flourished. Egypt’s medical knowledge was so advanced that it was not improved upon for many centuries, and even the Greeks modeled their god of medicine after an ancient Egyptian physician. The gold produced in Nubia spread Pharaoh’s fame the world over. Egypt received so much tribute from other nations and had so many foreign slaves that the king no longer employed Egyptian men in public works, building projects, or even military service; this fueled their reluctance to let the Hebrews go. These slaves probably lived better, more comfortable lives than in their home countries, for Egypt was not only the most powerful nation of the time but also the most civilized. These were the cultural and intellectual comforts the Hebrews left behind when they headed out into the wilderness.As its name suggests, the theme of Exodus is the Israelites’ movement from slavery in Egypt to independence in the wilderness, and the establishment of their religion and culture. The book tells how God begins to fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by leading their descendants to the Promised Land. Today, Exodus reminds us that God will lead us if we follow Him. Just as He led the Israelites out of slavery, so He frees us from our bondage to sin. Sometimes a lesson to be learned requires that we experience the wilderness before settling in the Promised Land. In Exodus God presents His eternal Law, which we cannot keep of our own volition. But as we let God change our hearts, “Thou shalt not” becomes not so much a command as a promise.