Here are some thought/ramblings about Exodus. Enjoy.

Many argue whether or not the accounts in Exodus are real: the enslavement of the Hebrews, the plagues, the death of first-born Egyptian sons, the parting of the Re(e)d Sea (some scholars believe that the sea the Hebrews crossed was full of reeds, a marshy area that caused the chariots of the Egyptians to get stuck). Some can’t deal with the idea that such a loving God would kill innocent children to “prove a point.” Cross referencing Egyptian history records, there’s no account that any of these happened, including a slave revolt. Many have given a number of reasons that the Hebrews’ escape from Egypt is hogwash.

Whether or not it happened is, in essence, is of no importance. What those stories show us, however, is that God’s divine plan for mankind exceeds anything we could imagine and He would go to MANY great lengths to redeem us — from those who oppress us and even ourselves.

Exodus 9:16 says, “This is why I have let you live: to show you my power, and to make my name resound through all the earth.” How can we apply this to our own encounters with a proverbial “Pharaoh”? When God redeems us, it is for that very reason: so He may be glorified and His name made great.

Sometimes, we find that people don’t believe the miraculous things that were done on our behalf by Him. Car accidents where your car was crushed completely but you got out without a scratch, still-born babies who were suddenly revived, barren wombs that produced multiple births without the help of fertility drugs… miraculous occurrences that were unexplainable.

Some of my friends and classmates determined that God is narcissistic, desperately desiring the praise and glory for all good things that happen to us. The Hebrews’ encounter with Pharaoh had nothing to do with Moses, Aaron, or the burden of proof that such things happened in the land of Egypt. It had everything to do with God’s insatiable desire for all to understand (friend or foe) that He’d do anything for His people — including you and me.

I challenge you to take hold of this idea that God desperately wants to save and redeem us — from the oppressor and even ourselves. He wants to orchestrate our lives in such a way that only He could receive glory for what has occurred. He wants to make us free to live and not be so concerned about long-standing traditions and tales. What has He done in YOUR life? That, my friends, is the true burden of truth.

On the Chase,

Alisha L. (The Seminarian)