Snoopy Examines Exodus

[Mendalla]

I wrote a story a couple years ago about an Egyptian widow. Her husband died as part of a pharaoh's army that died in a flood while pursuing a rebel prince. She even remarks that had she known she would lose him, she would have told pharoah to let the prince and his "slave followers" flee. Sound familiar? Yeah, it was an Easter egg as they call it and a few readers caught it.

 

[Mystic]

In 1882 a British general/ scientist, Alexander Tulloch, witnessed the replication of the parting of the Reed Sea in a lake adjacent to the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were enslaved:

The Red Sea Crossing Evidence, A Miracle Repeated

In 1882 Egypt, a British general and statistician, Alexander Tulloch, chronicles firsthand evidence for the parting of the Red Sea. Without trying, he authenticates the possibility of the Red Sea miracle with eyewitness testimony. The Red Sea parted for a second time and a trusted scientist...

byfaith.org

 

[GordW]

The version I heard was this was about the crossing of the sea and the death of the Egyptian army.

My understanding of the story is that the weeping of the Egyptians covers everything from the final plague to the crossing of the Red Sea

 

[paradox3]

Bible Gateway passage: Exodus 15:1-18 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Song of Moses - Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him; my...

www.biblegateway.com

Moses and the Israelites sing to God. It is a hymn of praise to a warrior God who has destroyed the enemy. A mighty God among other Gods.

Some of the verses are quite beautiful & comforting and may seem familiar.

The Lord is my strength and my might and he has become my salvation.

In your steadfast love, you led the people whom you redeemed. You guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

The Lord will reign forever and ever.

(Verses 2, 13 and 18)

 

[paradox3]

Snoopy's Snappy Review: Exodus 15: 1-18

So tempting to take certain verses out of context, isn't it?

 

[Jaebius]

Bible Gateway passage: Exodus 15:1-18 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Song of Moses - Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him; my...

www.biblegateway.com

Moses and the Israelites sing to God. It is a hymn of praise to a warrior God who has destroyed the enemy. A mighty God among other Gods.

Some of the verses are quite beautiful & comforting and may seem familiar.

The Lord is my strength and my might and he has become my salvation.

In your steadfast love, you led the people whom you redeemed. You guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

The Lord will reign forever and ever.

(Verses 2, 13 and 18)

What a great reflection on the hymn of praise from Moses and the Israelites. These verses capture the essence of God’s steadfast love. It’s comforting to be reminded of how God leads His people, guiding them with His strength to a place of peace.

The picture of God as our rescue's powerful. Knowing that His love's constant can bring immense hope. The declaration that “The Lord will reign forever and ever" reminds us of his eternal Kingship.

Thank you for sharing these verses. They're indeed uplifting, offering reassurance. May we all find solace in God’s steadfast love

 

[paradox3]

Agreeing with your analysis Brother @Jae

All the same, we are extracting a certain message from a victorious battle hymn. Do we still see God as a mighty warrior?

 

[Jaebius]

Agreeing with your analysis Brother @Jae

All the same, we are extracting a certain message from a victorious battle hymn. Do we still see God as a mighty warrior?

The Christian nationalists in the States do. They see God as a mighty warrior who fights for their cause and protects their nation. Their view springs from that they believe America has a special divinely ordained role in the world. Too many of them also see former President Trump as a Messiah figure.

Holding those views has, I believe, done them more damage than good.

Viewing God primarily as a warrior, they justify their use of force in ways that are contrary to Jesus's teachings. This has lead to "Christian" actions that are really about asserting dominance

 

[Mendalla]

Viewing God primarily as a warrior

Which is, really, a very old (even outdated some might say) pre-Christian view of god(s). Warrior gods who are invoked and appeased in preparation for battle or in celebration of victories are common in many pre-Christian cultures. Even in the early Israelite culture. Look at how the Bible portrays God's support for the conquest of Canaan or the various wars of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

 

[Mystic]

The Song of the Sea (15:1-18) is ancient enough to be close to the period when oral tradition was still fresh and close to the events of the Exodus:

"The Song of the Sea is noted for its archaic language. It is written in a style of Hebrew much older than that of the rest of Exodus. A number of scholars consider it the oldest surviving text describing the Exodus, dating to the pre-monarchic period.<a href="Song of the Sea - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a><a href="Song of the Sea - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a> An alternative is that it was deliberately written in an archaic style, a known literary device.<a href="Song of the Sea - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a> As such, proposed dates for its composition range from the 13th to the 5th century BCE.<a href="Song of the Sea - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a>

A study by Rabbi Joshua Berman<a href="Song of the Sea - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a> found that the Exodus sea account is an appropriation of the Kadesh Poem of Ramesses II, based on a close textual analysis of both works. Berman asserts that the appropriation could have deliberate satirical intent, as part of an ideological battle with Ramesses II. Berman notes that the Kadesh illustrations also include an appearance of an Ark of the Covenant and Tabernacle which are in fact an Egyptian mobile altar, which traditionally were also golden boxes with winged Isis and Nephthys facing each other, and a space for a god's cartouche to be seated between them."

 

[paradox3]

Snoopy learns something new every day.

Did not know that the Song of Moses was the Song of the Sea.

 

[Jaebius]

Snoopy learns something new every day.

Did not know that the Song of Moses was the Song of the Sea.

Yes, it should have been the Song of the Em

 

[GordW]

Snoopy learns something new every day.

Did not know that the Song of Moses was the Song of the Sea.

I have often suspected that verses 19-20 are holding a memory that maybe it was really Miriam's song in the first place but later tellers thought that Moses needed to get the prime credit. I think of it as the song of Miriam myself

 

[Mystic]

I have often suspected that verses 19-20 are holding a memory that maybe it was really Miriam's song in the first place but later tellers thought that Moses needed to get the prime credit. I think of it as the song of Miriam myself

OT scholars have argued for your suggestiion.

 

[paradox3]

Bible Gateway passage: Exodus 15:19-21 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. The Song of Miriam - Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and...

www.biblegateway.com

Today's reading gives us the song of Miriam, the prophet who was Aaron's sister. She took a tambourine In her hand and the women followed her with tambourines & dancing.

She sang to them of the Lord's triumph. Horse and rider he has thrown into the sea!

 

[paradox3]

Snoopy's Snappy Review: Exodus 15: 19-21

A joyful scene is painted in two short verses!

Sometimes Snoopy (an aspiring writer as you may know) envies these biblical authors.

 

[Jaebius]

Bible Gateway passage: Exodus 15:19-21 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. The Song of Miriam - Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and...

www.biblegateway.com

Today's reading gives of the song of Miriam, the prophet who was Aaron's sister. She took a tambourine In her hand and the women followed her with tambourines & dancing.

She sang to them of the Lord's triumph. Horse and rider he has thrown I to the sea!

What an uplifting passage! Miriam’s song powerfully reminds us of the joy we can express in our faith. Her celebration with dancing reflects a deep rejoicing in God’s triumph.

It’s inspiring to see how the women followed her lead, united in their praise. This moment of collective joy's a testament to the unity that can be found in shared belief. May we all find moments to celebrate the victories and blessings in our lives

 

[paradox3]

Agreeing with Brother @Jae here. It's a wonderful little story. Rather poignant when you consider the hardship that lies ahead.

 

[Jaebius]

Agreeing with Brother @Jae here. It's a wonderful little story. Rather poignant when you consider the hardship that lies ahead.

Yes, that's true, P3. Miriam's celebration powerfully reminds us of joy even in the face of impending challenges. It’s meaningful to think about how she found hope in her faith, knowing the hardships that awaited her. Thank you for sharing this reflection

 

[unsafe]

Miriam had a gift of prophecy it seems as she is called a prophetess ---she actually leads the Women in the song and dance which exalts God in praise and worship for Protecting them and bringing them to victory over their enemies --

Here we see the Joy in the Lord that is expressed here for their deliverance ----

When you have dynamic Faith and trust in God your Hope for the future remains steadfast even as you pass through dark water ------

Darkness comes when the Light disappears -----we are to keep our Faith Light on and trust that God will do as he says so that our Hope for the future remains bright -----

Miriam did what all true Christians are to do -----Praise and give Thanks to God for bringing them to safety and freedom so that He gets the Glory for His mighty deeds showing His Grace and Mercy to all of His flawed Human Creation -----

Time and Time again in the Old Testament God Shows His Agape --Grace and Mercy to His Chosen Nation who grumble ---and rebel against Him -------and all Christians should be in Awe of just How Great and Wonderful life can be when we have Faith ---Trust and Hope in Him ----