Epic Struggle between the Prophet Moses and the Pharaoh Ramses - Essay Example

Reaction Paper on Hebrew Bible (Exodus 5-12). Introduction: This is a reaction paper about the epic struggle between the prophet Moses and the pharaoh Ramses. Moses, on the instructions of Jehovah pleading for the freedom of his people__ the children of Israel __ and the stubborn insistence of the king Ramses not to allow them freedom form four hundred and three years of bondage. The object of this paper is simple first, to summarize the primary text; second, the historical background that backs and in some instances does not support the text; third, to identify the aspects that are meaningful and why they are so; and four, to identify the aspects that are problematic and whereof this problem stems from. The paper concludes with a comprehensive survey of all the textual facts, anomalies and discrepancies. Summary: The chapters 5 to 12 of the Hebrew Bible are mainly concerned with the record of miraculous happenings that result because of the pharaoh time and again not keeping his promise to Moses to grant them freedom to pray to Jehovah in the wilderness. Writer 2 It is his pride and unbelief that leads to the occurrence of the ten plagues that visit the Egyptians one after the other and culminate in the death of the first born among the Egyptians but still the pharaoh is unrepentant and according to Jehovah is destined to destruction of his people and himself. His wise men and sorcerers enact the miracles that are performed by Moses but even they are fully convinced that they are not dealing with some odd magician, but instead some supernatural power at work on behalf of Moses. They are convinced that the power or force that backs Moses is beyond them, and they stand no chance but the pharaoh’s heart and mind by the knowledge of the Lord God are hardened against the truth and the righteous. Faith, especially in the Hebraic and the Islamic tradition, is pure and simple blind belief in Jehovah and Allah, so either you possess it or you do not there are no two opinions about it. But for the sake of the unbeliever Jehovah manifests himself through the miracles to open up the eyes of the unbeliever but all to no avail as far as the pharaoh is concerned. The Twelfth chapter is concerned about the feast of Passover and how to avoid the wrath of Jehovah. Historical Background: It has been a topic of heated debate that the account of Bible is historically accurate. This is the traditional view. The opposing view is that the text is not historically correct, not because Bible is a holy book but exactly for that fact because Bible is a religious testament, concerned more with leading the men to good and righteousness and abstain from evil. The historical background is that for four hundred and thirty years the Israelites were oppressed and kept in utter bondage. Writer 3 The miraculous events that take place, though cannot be verified what can be easily sifted through the annals of other historical record that has been recovered, discovered and unearthed by the researchers. A very important testament, that verifies the miraculous happenings recorded in the Hebrew Bible, of an age and time, specifically of Exodus is (revealed word of Allah), that is the Holy Quran. The story narrated in the Hebrew Bible and the Holy Quran agrees most of the important instances. The whole Surah Al-Baqarah (this title literary translated into English as “The Cow”), the longest chapter of the “Holy Quran”, accurately records the history and the travails of “Bani-Israel” (the Israelites) including the events mentioned in Exodus (5-12). It is mentioned on many occasions in the Holy Quran that the Israelites are the most beloved people of Lord God or more accurately Allah (3-52). According to “Historiography and Self-definition: Josephus, Luke-Acts and Apologetic Historiography”, an authoritative book on the Exodus considers and proves it as “general history” as opposed to monograph or antiquarian history (Brill, 1992). Similar viewpoint is held by the authors of “A Survey of Israel’s History” (Wood & O’Brien, 1986, p.98). Meaningful Aspects: The meaning aspects of the Hebrew Biblical text under scrutiny are: One, undisputed presence of Lord God may the name given to him be Jehovah according to the Jewish tradition and Allah according to Islam. And not only his mere presence but his oneness, omnipotence, omnipresence and his complete control over the destiny of man and beast. Writer 4 Two, the God given free will to man. And after that it is left up to him and his understanding; knowledge or ignorance to accept the supreme sovereignty of God. No less than ten times the pharaoh was asked through Moses and his brother Aaron to set the Israelites free and no less than seven times he agrees to fulfill his promise but does not. Three, pharaoh’s insistence on being right, his stubborn obstinate pride even in the face of inevitable defeat, destruction and to be more precise annihilation of his people and himself. These to me are some meaningful aspects of the text. Problematic Aspects: The problematic aspects of the text under scrutiny are: One, if Jehovah is as powerful as he is painted to be why he prolongs the misery of the Egyptians on the one hand and that of the Israelites on the other? Two, why and how were the pharaoh’s sorcerers able to enact the first three miracles? In a sense implying that the Egyptians had knowledge to control natural forces and phenomena albeit through evil and ungodly means. Three, why were the chosen and beloved people of God__ Israelites__ kept in dire servitude and bondage for over four hundred years? Conclusion: The conclusion reached during research and writing of this research paper is that the monumental event Exodus, historically did take place, but the human mind and the natural sciences and the science as a whole needs a lot of time to unravel these recorded mysteries. I Writer 5 am sure that not in our lifetime but generations later the events recorded in the Hebrew Bible will be validated and their veracity confirmed. Writer 6 Work Cited Ali,Mohammad. Translation of the Holy Quran. (Lahore: Anjuman-i-Ishaat-i- Quran). 1928. Print. Brill, E. J. Historiography and Self-definition: Josephus, Luke-Acts and Apologetic Historigraphy. (Leiden: E.J.Brill). 1992. Print. Miller,J.M & Hayes, J.H. A History of ancient Israel and Judah. (Louisville: The West Minister John Knox Press). 1986. Print. Wood,L.J & O’Brien, David. A Survey of Israel’s History, Revised and Enlarged Edition. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan). 1986. Print. Smith, M.S. God in Translation: Deities in Cross-Cultural Recognition in the Biblical World (Grand Rapids: Wm.B.Eerdmans Publishing). 2010. Print. Read More