Truely Epic


Exodus 4-11

I began this quest through Exodus as an attempt to refresh myself with the Old Testament.  Throughout college and seminary I loved my Old Testament classes.  I have over the last eight years taught through the lives of many of the people in the Old Testament (OT).  My favorite study that we did in OT class was through the Kings of the OT.  A few months back I finished teaching through Genesis.  I then began to read through various epistles and and books at the end of the New Testament.  Finally, I sat and thought about how long it had been since I studied through the OT.  Here I am in Exodus.  I am loving it.

My current problem is reading Exodus without pictures of Charlton Heston and the Prince of Egypt drifting through my head.  It is amazing how imprinted those visuals are in my brain.  I am working primarily from the Bible and several OT historical background books that I have in my library.  Now my difficulty is moving at a timely pace and not digging the chapters to death.

One of my pet peeves is overused words.  The current overused word that I hear all the time is "epic."  I have heard this word in reference to games, movies, music, famous people, stunts, viral videos, food, clothing, books, pranks, pictures, toys, guys and girls, and much more.  Yes, I know that by definition these things can be beyond the usual or be impressive in quality (just as "epic" is defined).   But, I appreciate the use of a variety of other words available in the English language.  (amazing, delicious, phenomenal, gorgeous, beautiful, impressive, outstanding, shocking, and side splitting to name a few) 

I say all of that to explore these chapters of Exodus.  These chapters delve into the ten plagues that are sent upon Pharaoh and Egypt.  As I read these simple descriptions I try to imagine what it would be like to go though those plagues.  I try to understand what God is saying through each one.  What would it be like as a Jew to witness these things happening to your neighbors?

As I imagine these plagues and the stand off between Pharaoh and God the word that resonates through me is "EPIC."  I go back to Exodus 5:2 when Pharaoh responds to Moses and Aaron's request with, "And who is the LORD that I should listen to him and let Israel go?  I don't know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go."  Pharaoh's challenge is extended and God accepts.  God then allows Pharaoh to continue with his sin drenched hardened heart.  He then begins his process of chiseling away at Pharaoh's stone cold heart.  The scale of these plagues astounds me. 

God grabs his megaphone and proclaims his power, greatness, and sovereignty to Pharaoh.  Through each plague he decimates the god's of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.  Khnum the guardian of the Nile and Hapi the spirit of the Nile are shattered when the Nile turns to blood.   The god's and goddesses' that take the form of cattle are crushed with the plague of the livestock.  The sun god's are broken by the extreme darkness that passes over the land.  Finally, God strikes directly at Pharaoh who is worshiped at a god himself and Osiris the giver of life by sending the destroyer to kill the firstborn sons of Egypt.  These things broke the spirits of Pharaoh and his people. 

The other powerful message that God proclaims is his immense unending love for his people.  Those months in Egypt had to be chilling.  God used Moses, a man who was afraid to stand and speak.  Truly if God is before us than who can ever stand against us.  Several other situations in the OT get me excited like this passage.  I think of Joshua and Jericho, Elijah vs the prophets of Baal or the repentance of Nineveh.  Israel's departure from Egypt was only accomplished by the hand of God.    

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