The Stuff You Didn't Know You Didn't Know Part 1

Exodus Within Its Own Culture

Summary:

We started class with The Bible Project’s video on Exodus 1-18. I encouraged the class to look up the other 3 Exodus Summary videos they have on YouTube. They also released a podcast series on Exodus earlier this year available on their website.

Ancient Cultural Context

Every work exists within its own cultural context. The Bible’s context is not 21 st century America. It references the popular culture of Its day. We covered several ancient Egyptian mythologies from hundreds of years before the Exodus that match key details in the Exodus story. The story of Horus in the river closely mirrors Moses’ being placed in the river by his mother. The wax crocodile had many similarities to Moses’ staff turning into a serpent. The Night/Day of the Slaying of the Firstborn is referenced in some cryptic funeral texts generations before the Exodus. Setne Khamwas and Nanefer-ka-ptah mentions river-parting stories very reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea. God used stories that already existed in Egyptian mythology to get His point across.

Date of the Exodus

The date of the Exodus is a common debate among Bible scholars. Conservatives usually land on 1446 BC with more liberal scholars suggesting a date in the 1200s BC. The exact date varies from theory to theory. We discussed pros and cons of either position and stressed that, at end of the day, both positions can be defended from the Bible. It should not become a separation issue of calling someone a Bible-denier if they think one date is more probable than another.

Exodus within the Biblical Narrative

The Bible is presented as a story, and stories are best in large chunks. If you watch a movie in 15 minute segments, you’ll surely miss some of the overarching connections by the time you finish it. Starting at Genesis 1, we summarized the story of the Bible up to the point of Exodus 1. Ever since humanity chose to define good and evil on their own terms in the Garden, God has been on a quest to reunite our realms. In the second half of Genesis, He chose to do that through one ethnic family beginning with Abraham. A few hundred years later, we end up with Joseph in Egypt. Four hundred years pass, and Israel has become slaves in a foreign land. They’re hurting and wondering what happened to the promises they’d heard about a God who loved them. If you have ever been in a spot where God felt distant or you could not see how His plan for you was working out, you’ll find Exodus a relatable story full of encouragement for your situation.

Next Week:

How to (and not to) interpret the book of Exodus