St. Louis, Missouri— The Book of Exodus is a riveting drama filled with twists and turns guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats—and the drama has real implications for readers today. In Deliver Us: God’s Rescue Story in Exodus, author R. Reed Lessing brings readers into the drama, while clearly showing that the rescue story found in Exodus is our rescue story today.

“The genius of Exodus is that God places us into its grand narrative,” writes Lessing. “He wants us to say, ‘Yes, and.’ ‘Yes, I experienced a traumatic childhood. Yes, I have deep insecurity. Yes, I wrestle with a lack of self-worth and the fear of failure . . . and God has rescued me from my past, brought me out of bondage to sin through Holy Baptism, and now leads me to the promised land, even as He daily provides everything I need in Christ Jesus…As baptized believers in Jesus, we’re part of a bigger story—the exodus story. God invites us to rewrite our well-rehearsed stories, adding to them His gifts of redemption and new life.”

“Whether he’s explaining the ten plagues or the Ten Commandments, Dr. Lessing holds the reader’s attention throughout with dynamic prose,” writes Rev. Christopher Kennedy, author of Grace under Pressure: Responding Faithfully to Stress. “Like a pastor preaching to his congregation, Dr. Lessing uses life applications hit to the bullseye. With Deliver Us, Dr. Lessing expertly bears witness to the God who delivers us!”

In Deliver Us, Lessing offers readers a lyrical combination of Bible commentary and devotional reflection, applying Biblical truth to our lives today. Through study of Exodus, readers will

  • discover more about seeing Christ in the Old Testament through His presence, predictions, and patterns;
  • see how God reveals His name and character to His people; and
  • understand the similarities between our deliverance and the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt.

For more information on Deliver Us, to arrange an interview with the author, or to order the book, please visit books.cph.org/deliver-us or contact Erica Sontag, CPH Public Relations Specialist.

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About the Author

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing serves as a professor of theology and ministry at Concordia University St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also the university’s director for the Center of Biblical Studies. Reed has authored books in the Concordia Commentary series, including Isaiah 40–55, Isaiah 56–66, Amos, Jonah, and Zechariah. He is also the author of Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah and the coauthor of Prepare the Way of the Lord: An Introduction to the Old Testament.

Praise for Deliver Us

Read or better yet, reread this book! Lessing’s alliterative, energy-infused style compels the readers to see their story in the story of Moses. Filled with stinging Law, glorious Gospel, and imaginative application, Deliver Us informs, instructs, and inspires all who desire to better understand Exodus, the most important book of the Old Testament. Like few others can, Lessing mines the depth and breadth of the text and delivers caches of precious gems for scholarly and “average” Christ-followers alike. Ultimately and most importantly, Deliver Us delves into the depth of Yahweh’s story and points us precisely to Jesus’ story, becoming a prayer of mercy for all whom our gracious God calls to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

—Rev. Dr. Brian L. Friedrich, president, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

In Deliver Us, Reed Lessing takes the reader on a compelling journey through the Book of Exodus. With remarkable skill in handling God’s Word, Dr. Lessing relates the Exodus events to the backstory of Genesis, highlights psalms that recall God’s saving acts in Exodus, and most importantly, reveals how Exodus anticipates Christ. Whether he’s explaining the ten plagues or the Ten Commandments, Dr. Lessing holds the reader’s attention throughout with dynamic prose. Like a pastor preaching to his congregation, Dr. Lessing uses life applications to hit the bullseye. With Deliver Us, Dr. Lessing expertly bears witness to the God who delivers us!

—Rev. Dr. Christopher Kennedy, senior pastor, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, School, and Child Care, San Antonio, Texas

With Deliver Us: God’s Rescue Story in Exodus Dr. Lessing gifts the Church with a refreshing review of Exodus that is creative and intensely interesting.  He handles this second book of Scripture with a pastor’s heart and a biblical scholar’s expertise.  With abundant illustrations, he again and again effectively applies Exodus to the Church and to individual believers of the twenty-first century.  Those who read his book will gain new insights into and have a greater familiarity with Exodus.  

—Dr. Walter A. Maier III, professor of exegetical theology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana