How Does Exodus Story Reflect Gods Presence Religion Essay

How Does Exodus Story Reflect divinity fudges Presence Religion riseIn many ways the level of Exodus Chapters 1-15 may be considered the constrict expla kingdom of Israel as a people. The book of Exodus opens with Israel harm oppressively as slaves in Egypt, but in the end of the story (Exodus 14-15), the hand of God repayed them through with(predicate) the Reed Sea to a crude life beginning at Mt. Sinai where they volition become Gods covenant people. 11 Bruce C. Birch, Walter Brueggeman, Terence E. Fretheim David L. Petersen A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament Nashville, TN Abingdom Press, 1999. P. 93Verses 16 sum up the history of Israel as a clan, as described more thoroughly in Genesis chapters 1250. These six verses remind us that all that is going to take g overnment agency in Exodus is directly related to what has gone before as described in Genesis. The curse of God in Genesis 3 included hard toil, which is surely the lot of Israel in Egypt. The salv ation of mankind, as promised also in Genesis 3, was through the birth of a child. So too it was through the birth of a child (Moses, Exod. 2) that God provided a tolerateer for His people. As men strove to provide themselves with security and significance by the building of a city and a tower, using bricks and mortar, so Egypt want to secure herself by forcing the Israelites to build cities with bricks and mortar (compare Gen. 11 with Exod. 114 51).Most importantly, this portion of the introduction to the book of Exodus (Exod. 116) links the exis xce and rapid growth of Israel as a nation to the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen. 1213), which He reiterated to the patriarchs (Gen. 2625, 24 281315). The close of the intelligence of Genesis anticipated the situation existing at the opening of the Book of Exodus. A numerous people had developed from the twelve word of honors of Jacob. The Land had been promised to Abrahams posterity to be occupied when a people sufficient to inhabit and take it was ready. Exodus is the account of the final stage toward that readiness. It is the book of the birth of twain special newss Moses, the son of a couple from the tribe of Levi (21-2), and Israel, the firstborn son of the Most High God.Having become a numerous people, God brings away a fledgling nation, created by His sovereign grace and cared for out of His persistent sleep together (11-1827). The Exodus from Egypt constitutes the birth of Gods Son-Nation (11-1521). Israel had been segregated in the land of Goshen as break away of the betoken plan for creating a unique people from the descendents of Abraham (Gen. 4628-34) and had become a basically homogeneous entity over the course of the 430-year lodge in Egypt. Harsh treatment by a Pharaoh unsympathetic to the children of Israel zip the crisis that would result in their expulsion from the womb of Egypt.Yahweh for his part provides and prepares his deliverer for the ultimate deliverance of the nat ion from Egyptian bondage (21-431). At this point the birth of the deliverer, Moses, becomes the focus of the book. Moses is cast out by his mother and then interpreted in by none other than Pharaohs daughter. As Egypt had been used providentially to care for the clan of Abraham so the King of Egypt would afford a Hebrew child the best that the country had to offer in terms of education and education (21-10). However, before Moses could lead Israel out of Egypt he himself had to experience shipping as he fled from a fearful Pharaoh until God is ready to deliver His people from under a hostile, oppressive king (211-417).Finally, Moses is appointed as Israels deliverer (31-417). The appointment of Moses to his task occurs in trip permit phases. All three stages were necessary in order to galvanize this 80 years superannuated man to act on behalf of the LORD God of his fathers (315). First, Moses is confronted with the holiness of Yahweh at the burning bush as the mountain of God (31-5). Secondly, Moses is asses of the loyal love of Yahweh for his people and called to participate in it (36-10). The third phase consisted of Yahweh dispelling four objections that Moses raises regarding his take in inadequacy for the task (311-417), each objection cosmos countered by whatever aspect of Yahwehs person or aim. Finally, Aaron is appointed as Moses Spokesman (414).By divine revelation God instructed Aaron to meet Moses in the wilderness (427). They met on the beatified mountain of God. Where Moses had to share the most recent events of his life, especially his understand with God at the burning bush, the commission he had been given to deliver Israel, and the part which Aaron was to play in it all. Together they both went back to Egypt to petition Pharaoh for the set down of Yahwehs firstborn Israel (418-31). This image underscores the fact that the nation of Israel already existed in relationship to God.The impact of Gods presence can be seen in the shown down of the ten plaques as well as the crossing of the Reed Sea. Upon Pharaohs first refusal to let Israel go Yahweh reveals his plans for judging unbelief and encouraging the faith of the Israelites (51-61). God was astir(predicate) to reveal himself in the characteristic embodied in the name YHWH. The purpose of the first encounter was realized, and life got tougher. However, Israel was not yet ready to take YHWH at his word (69). With Moses and Aaron already being stretched in their faith, the Lord reissues the control condition to go to Pharaoh and demand release for Israel (610-11). When they object, the Lord restates his expectations (613) along with an explanation of his dodge (628- 77). As one who stands in the place of God to Pharaoh (71) Moses will have a ringside seat to the struggle of the unbelieving heart. It is through the stubbornness of this Pharaoh that Yahweh will effect deliverance to Israel, and manifest himself to the whole nation of Egypt (74-5). Moses and A aron did respond to the revelation of Gods plan and submit to his command (76).In the turn encounter with Pharaoh Moses announces plagues against the land and its gods in order to secure Israels release (78-1029). The plagues against Egypt were miraculous interventions of the sovereign God of the universe. They were designed to demonstrate the uniqueness of the God of Israel and to deliver the people of Israel from their oppressive hosts. The whole pantheon of Egyptian gods, not least of which was the Pharaoh himself, was being shown to be impotent in the presence of the God of Israel. Finally, Moses last encounter with Pharaoh was the announcement of the plague of the death of all Egypts firstborn, along with the institution of the Passover (111-1236). The tenth part plague is set apart from the nine because it is the decisive act of legal opinion against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and also it would hold special historical and theological significance for Israel end-to-end thei r history through its association with the Passover (121-28). The Hebrews calendar would now name this as the first month (122). The feast would be an everlasting memorial of repurchase (1214) and would remind the nation that her oppressor had been judged for its unbelief (1223, 27).In addition the associated feast of unleavened Bread would remind them of their deliverance in haste from Egypt unto a extensive experience under the blessing of Yahweh. Redemption by blood (from the depravity of sin) on the night of Passover would be matched by redemption by business office (from the death of slavery) at the Reed Sea. As promised, the tenth plague is inflicted and the firstborn of man and beast dies (1229-30) forcing Pharaoh to comply with Yahwehs command, with the consent of the rest of the Egyptians (1231-36).Though the corporal exodus of the people is not really completed at this point, the narrative recounts the first movement of the nation (1237). Before resuming the actual ex odus narrative, redundant material is communicated, from the Lord to Moses (1243-132) and from Moses to the people (133-16) concerning the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, and the sanctification of the firstborn. These become the memorials of Israels redemption from Egypt.Having been sparred in the Passover by the blood of the lamb, Israel experiences the completion of her deliverance out of bondage by the power of God as he destroys the pursuing Egyptians (1317-1521) portraying him as a divine warrior (153) in their song of liberation.Finally, in assessing how God dealt with the characters in the narratives, He chooses Joseph to begin Israels migration to Egypt (Gen. 5019-20 Exodus 15) Pharaoh King of Egypt so as to demonstrate his sovereignty (18) Shiphrah and Puah to disregard the Pharaohs decree (115) Jochebed to birth Moses (22) fur him (23) and nursed him (29) Pharaohs daughter to adopt and raise Moses (25-10) Miriams to keep watch over Moses (24) Moses as Israels de liverer (310) Aaron as Moses spokesman (414) Zipporah, Moses wife to perform circumcision on their son to save Moses from the wrath of God (425-26) and Jethro, Moses father-in-law to confess that Yahweh is Supreme (189-12).The statement well-nigh God hardening Pharaohs heart is often characterized as unfair on the part of the Divine Sovereign with respect to allowing for repentance and faith (421 73 912). However, it must be observed that Pharaoh pugnacious his own heart at least seven times (713, 14, 22 815, 19, 32 97) before the Lord took similar exercise (912). Pharaoh was responsible for his own unbelief and therefore fell under the guiltless judgment of God. The Lords hardening of Pharaohs heart (after the monarchs unbelief was settled) served to heighten the judgment of the plagues so as to more effectively display His own power and majesty, which in the long run may have actually brought others to repentance._________________________________________________________________ ___________