Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted. I'm already done with Exodus; it went by fast. If you are following the plan we are now into Leviticus. This post will discuss Exodus as a whole. Since I'm covering an entire book I will only focus on the passages I bookmarked while reading. The first thing I bookmarked was 4:24, "One the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him." The next verse basically points out that it was because his son was not yet circumcised, but then his wife hurriedly did the job with a flint knife so God decided to leave them alone. I just wanted to know if there was any warning before this, because it didn't really seem like it. Though, I guess I was also somewhat surprised his kid wasn't already circumcised, so idk. Still, it seemed to come out of nowhere in the reading. I just found it interesting because here God has Moses going to Egypt to free His people, and He almost thwarted His own plan by killing Moses. Intense.
Footnote on the plagues here; I just read something introducing an idea I had not thought of before. Apparently some scholars see the plagues as a form of warfare against the gods of Egypt. Each plague confronting a different Egyptian idol. For example, the plague on the Nile River opposed the Egyptians' river god, the plague of darkness attacked Ra, the sun god, the plague on livestock countered the sacred bull, etc. I think this is a pretty neat observation and makes the individual plagues much more significant.
Ch. 12 seemed to get a lot of bookmarks, so I shall discuss that now. 12:23, "For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the door frame, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down." NLT. Death angel (NLT), the destroyer (NIV, ESV, KJV). This death angel/destroyer interests me. Is this God controlling a grim/the grim reaper figure? Is death an actual angel that works for God? Death, as an actual being...forgive me, now I'm just thinking about the TV show Dead Like Me... But, it does seem to be an actual being that God has control over. Is it morbid if I think this is cool? I guess it makes sense. Something/someone actually bringing about death instead of it just happening; it's an interesting concept. And is this always the case with death, or just when God wants to bring about death on His new time table such as in Exodus? Hmm, must not think too much on this.
To finish with Ch.12, I can't help but wonder if we are suppose to continue the celebration of Passover as Christians. Most Christians do not, and it is reserved for Jews, but why don't we? In 12:17 It talks about it being a permanent law for us, and that we are to celebrate the day from generation to generation. In 12:24 it says, "Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants much observe forever". Rob likes to say it is because we are not Israelites. But, there are other references that state foreigners that join the Israelites are to adopt their customs. Which leads to a whole new set of questions on what we are to follow today and what no longer applies. Oy vey! Now, my student bible has some insight into the passover bit it seems, with some commentary. I think I will quote it and let you take from it what you will.
"Much later, Passover night would take on an even broader significance. During one particular Passover feast, as thousands of Jews were bringing their choice lambs to Jerusalem, one man was selected as the Passover lamb for all humanity (1 Corinthians 5:7). The words "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (12:13) came to convey a whole new meaning. Today, though Jewish people still celebrate Passover, most Christians do not. Rather, that ceremony has been incorporated into a new one called the Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper, with Christ representing the Passover lamb. Although much of the ceremony's content has changed, one thing has not. The Lord's Supper, too, memorializes a time of pain and of bloodshed, a time of freedom and deliverance. It, too, was God's act alone. He gets the credit." (The Student Bible NIV, Zondervan).
I tried to indent this quote since it was so long, but blogger doesn't seem to let me format very well, sorry. We aren't fancy here. Okay, so maybe for the Passover, we have turned it into the Lord's Supper being the focus. But, then I wonder about the seemingly obsessive nature of God insisting the bread not have yeast. Not just here with the Passover, but many other parts of Exodus and Leviticus talk about yeast being bad. So then I start wondering about that! I guess I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing, but sometimes it's hard to figure out what that is.
Okay, you know what. No one is going to read this because I always write wayyyy too much. I have decided to stop here at Ch. 12 and make this a two parter. What was I thinking covering a whole book in one post? Maybe one day I will get my blog caught back up with where I am in the reading lol. Love you all!
"Celebrating" Passover seems to me like a relic of the Old Testament way-of-thinking. Which makes total sense for Jewish people. The issue I have is that it seems like celebrating a bunch of Egyptian deaths. And these days, Christians aren't so much into "celebrating" the deaths of our enemies. As Jesus said, we now are meant to "turn the other cheek" instead. That seems healthier.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wish God had gone all-out and targeted every single Egyptian deity individually with a torrent of plagues. I would've liked to see the plague of doggies that was unleashed upon Bast.
I've now caught up on your blog! Hooray!
Thanks for reading Doug!
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