What was Israel’s situation at the opening of the book of Exodus?
At the opening of Exodus, Israel was in Egypt, having been brought there after Joseph was sold into slavery, and they had multiplied over 200 years. They were under the influence of Egyptian idolatry, and God was preparing to redeem them and fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Les teaches that Exodus is a book of redemption—buying back or paying the price for something once owned but lost. Israel was in Egypt because the brothers sold Joseph into slavery, and that sin precipitated their situation. They had been there over 200 years, multiplying, but were under the influence of Egyptian idolatry. God was about to redeem them, pay the price to bring them back to Himself, and fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by taking them into the land of the Abrahamic covenant.