Podcasts on Moses and the plagues in Exodus have been fascinating this week. I never knew the plagues were specifically tailored to show God's power over the Egyptian Gods (their worship of the Nile, frogs, scarab beetle, the sun (Ra), etc.)
I'd always assumed the Israelites were slaves and thrilled to get away, but in reality they were disappointed to leave their homes, delicious food and comforts. Many were probably as unfamiliar with "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" as the Egyptians were. And being uprooted out of obedience took a lot of faith. And maybe for many, they were just going along with what everyone else was doing because it seemed like the right thing to do. (Remember it wasn't too soon after they left they made a golden calf, resorting back to old Egyptian traditions when it seemed like "this new God" wasn't giving them what they wanted.)
It sounded a lot like 19 year olds going on missions. Sure, they want to be obedient, but leaving homes, family, friends and comfort makes one really question the importance. And I'd argue that a lot of 19 year olds also don't know God that well. Who is this God and is he really real? But I also think most would say the experience was uniquely responsible for spiritual experiences and understanding the nature of God in a way no other experience could give.
Also reading an fantastic book, "All Things New," by Terryl and Fiona Givens, describing the early Christian church and how through the centuries and influential reformers -- authors of the Nicene Creed, Augustine and Martin Luther -- changed the nature of God from a loving Heavenly Father to a disembodied, unfeeling, distant, and often vengeful, God.
Made me realize how revolutionary the 13 Articles of Faith would have been in Joseph's time.
Good stuff.
No comments:
Post a Comment