Recap of today’s Events

Lesallan August 30, 2024

Exodus Book Survey Discussion Response

Hi:

Thank you for your thoughtful response and kind words about my post. I agree that the Israelites’ behavior was truly puzzling, especially given the remarkable displays of God’s power they had witnessed. Despite encountering God directly, their decision to create the golden calf vividly portrays their ongoing struggle with faith and obedience.

This serves as a powerful reminder of the human inclination to question and resist, even in the presence of undeniable divine intervention. Referring to them as “stubborn” accurately emphasizes their inflexibility and hesitation to fully embrace God’s sovereignty. It is a sobering lesson for us today, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God’s direction, especially in the face of difficulties and unknowns.

Blessings to you as well!

Lesallan

Dr. D’souza:

In his article, Falk (2018) emphasizes the state of the evidence that supports the plausibility of the Exodus narrative. He points out that the presence of Semitic people in Egypt during the New Kingdom period aligns with the biblical account of the Israelites’ sojourn in Egypt. This evidence includes archaeological findings and historical records that indicate a significant Semitic population in Egypt during this time (Falk, 2018).

Additionally, Falk (2018) highlights that the name “Moses” is of Egyptian origin, further supporting the historical connection between Moses and Egypt. This detail suggests that the biblical writers were familiar with Egyptian culture and names, lending credibility to the narrative (Falk, 2018).

Falk also discusses the broader historical and cultural context of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, including the use of forced labor for large construction projects and the absolute authority of the Pharaoh. These elements are consistent with the depiction of the Israelites’ oppression and their eventual escape in the book of Exodus (Falk, 2018).

In summary, the state of the evidence presented by Falk (2018), including the presence of Semitic people in Egypt, the Egyptian origin of the name “Moses,” and the historical context of Egyptian society, all point to the plausibility of the Exodus narrative. These factors indicate that the ancient writer of Exodus was familiar with Egypt’s historical and cultural milieu, which supports the account’s reliability.

Blessings,

Lesallan

References:

Falk, D. A. (2018). The Egyptian Sojourn and the Exodus. In J. S. Greer, J. W. Hilber, & J. H.

 Walton (Eds.), Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament: Historical, Cultural, and Social

 Contexts of Ancient Israel (pp. 272–278). Baker Academic.

WK2 Moses in Historical Context Discussion

Hi all:

I appreciate your thought-provoking post! Your highlighting of the archaeological evidence that supports the historical accuracy of Moses and the events in Exodus is truly valuable. The reference to the “Victory Stele” and the city of Pi-Rameses provides compelling evidence for the biblical narrative.

I found your observation about the term “Pharaoh” quite intriguing. The cultural convention of omitting the names of adversaries in Egyptian records provides insight into why the Bible might not specifically name the Pharaoh. This context serves to connect historical accounts with biblical narratives.

Given the indirect nature of a large portion of archaeological evidence, how do you believe this affects the faith of those who place significant emphasis on historical substantiation for their beliefs? Do you think the amalgamation of biblical and archaeological evidence is adequate to bolster their faith? I’m interested to hear your perspective!

Blessings,

Lesallan