Both slaves and slaveowners used the traditional biblical story of the Exodus to not only form their respective identities but also to define their purpose in America.
The motif of the Exodus was first used in American history in 1630 by John Winthrop, aboard the Arabella in his famous sermon "A Modell for Christian Charity".
In this sermon Winthrop introduced the idea that the Puritans, had inherited the divine covenant first given to the Hebrews, making them New Israel.
[1] In this understanding, slaveowners were "to reach the pinnacle of perfection and to carry liberty and the gospel around the globe.
[2] The Exodus narrative not only became an instrument of hope for the enslaved, but also allowed them to make sense of their situation and provided a blueprint for their deliverance.