I started my reading of Exodus (chapters 1-15). This is one of my favorite accounts in Bible history–the debut of Moses. So much so, that “The Prince of Egypt” was one of our family’s favorite go-to DVDs when my kiddos were younger! But, it’s been a moment since I actually went back to the Bible and reviewed the inspired account of what took place. The immediate takeaway that came to mind as I began reading was: “Wow! Even as adults we have got to be careful with what we let sit on the shelf of our minds.”
Seeing Moses early life story unfold on the TV screen, allows a beautiful narrative/visual of what took place…which makes it very easy to commit to memory–especially when you watch it over, and over again. And, although, I recognized early into the movie that there were many entertainment liberties being taken, over time of continuing to intake the movie version, those entertainment liberties became what my mind committed to memory. And, it was very clear as I was reading my Bible because the movie version was playing in my mind as I read! But, as I kept reading, I found that even more Hollywood liberties were taken than I initially remembered. The Biblical account that they relayed to families all over the world, was about 95% inaccurate…and THIS is the version kiddos all over the world have grown up with [including my own]. ***Now, mind you, as their Bible Coach, my kiddos were made aware of certain obvious skewed versions of the truth throughout the movie IN THE BEGINNING, but they have seen the movie more than they have read the account in the Bible and I did not go back and give them a refresher course each time.***
So, takeaway #2: The only reliable source for Bible History is the Bible. Even in their best efforts to promote Christian principles on a mass scale–the world is subject to only deliver a shadow of or even slightly skewed version of the truth…losing the richness and relatable aspects of the history for those whose history it actually is. Of the many things not depicted in the movie, I just want to highlight a few. Our children need to know:
1) Our history shows, that the cumulative mightiness/power of God’s people scares those in power that don’t have a relationship with him (as it did in Ex. 1:8-10). So, continuously forge and nurture strong relationships within your church family.
2) People in power using genocide to wipe out a demographic of people they feel threatened by, has been a strategic tactic since before the birth of Moses. Pharaoh’s initial attempt at stripping God’s people of their might, was by trying to infiltrate their unit. He used his power to command the midwives to commit acts of genocide–specifically, when they were delivering the babies of God’s people, if they saw it was a boy they were to kill it immediately during the delivery (Ex. 1: 15-16). To break us, those in power will go after our men…and they will try to use our own people to do the dirty work. But if that doesn’t work (Ex. 1:17), they will get bold with it and publicly do the job themselves (Ex. 1:22). So, don’t be surprised by the use of this tactic today–acknowledge its presence, be vigilant of how it will be presented among you, and don’t fall prey to it [as the consumer nor the supplier]. Fear God’s power more than man’s position of power, and He will reward your faithfulness with unmeasurable blessings (Ex. 1:20-21).
3) Moses did not first meet Zipporah in Egypt and help her escape, nor did he fall into a well after fleeing Egypt and Zipporah see it was him, want nothing to do with him, and leave him in there. Their entire interaction in the movie was made up/sensationalized for entertainment purposes. Moses did end up by a well in Midian (2:15); it wasn’t three sisters it was all seven of them (2:16); and, it wasn’t them helping him, it was him helping them (2:17). Moses met Zipporah for the first time in Midian; and, her father [Reuel, the priest of Midian] gave her to Moses to wife as gratitude for him protecting his daughters from the shepherds, helping them at the well, and going ‘the extra mile’ by voluntarily putting in work with Reuel’s flock expecting nothing in return (2:19-21). You never know what blessings God has in store for you. When you remove SELF out of the way, and go ‘the extra mile’ when helping someone in need–without expecting anything in return–it will ALWAYS yield unexpected blessing(s) in your favor, in God’s timing (2:22).
4) And, finally: Let God use you. The movie depicted Moses was the one speaking directly to Pharaoh; that Moses was the one performing all the miracles that brought forth the plagues, that Aaron [his brother] was no where around rather in captivity with anguish in his heart against Moses, and other non-Biblical accounts. Truth is, Moses came up with excuses FIVE times for why he was ‘unfit’ to do the work God was calling him to do (3:11, 4:1, 4:10, 4:13, 6:12), including his having a disability/speech impediment (4:10). Of course, God was bothered with him for making excuses (4:14)–as I am sure He gets with us today when we do–but He didn’t give up on him. Instead, He supplied him with the help [his brother Aaron (4:14, 27)] that he needed to get the job going (4:15-17, 28-31; 7:1-2, 8-12, 19-22; 8:5-7, 16-19). Then, when he was able to stand as he was called to, God stayed with him so he could to get the job done (8:20-24; 9:1–6; 8-11, 22-26; 10:12-15, 21-23; 11:3; 12:21-27, 30-32). All of us have to stop making excuses, and just let God use us. We don’t see what He sees when He looks at us; and we block so many of our blessings by standing in the way [holding on to our ‘reasons’ why we can’t]. He won’t call us to task and not equip us for it. Our history shows He will provide us with what we need to get the job going, then stay with us until we get the job done.
There are so many more life lessons in Exodus 1-12 that our children should know! There is so much more than “The Prince of Egypt.” Read, read, read!!
What did you learn from today's reading? Cancel reply
God is my Creator and when He speaks I must Listen.
1) Don’t question God.
2) God is awesome.
3) God thoughts, are beyond comprehension.
I started my reading of Exodus (chapters 1-15). This is one of my favorite accounts in Bible history–the debut of Moses. So much so, that “The Prince of Egypt” was one of our family’s favorite go-to DVDs when my kiddos were younger! But, it’s been a moment since I actually went back to the Bible and reviewed the inspired account of what took place. The immediate takeaway that came to mind as I began reading was: “Wow! Even as adults we have got to be careful with what we let sit on the shelf of our minds.”
Seeing Moses early life story unfold on the TV screen, allows a beautiful narrative/visual of what took place…which makes it very easy to commit to memory–especially when you watch it over, and over again. And, although, I recognized early into the movie that there were many entertainment liberties being taken, over time of continuing to intake the movie version, those entertainment liberties became what my mind committed to memory. And, it was very clear as I was reading my Bible because the movie version was playing in my mind as I read! But, as I kept reading, I found that even more Hollywood liberties were taken than I initially remembered. The Biblical account that they relayed to families all over the world, was about 95% inaccurate…and THIS is the version kiddos all over the world have grown up with [including my own]. ***Now, mind you, as their Bible Coach, my kiddos were made aware of certain obvious skewed versions of the truth throughout the movie IN THE BEGINNING, but they have seen the movie more than they have read the account in the Bible and I did not go back and give them a refresher course each time.***
So, takeaway #2: The only reliable source for Bible History is the Bible. Even in their best efforts to promote Christian principles on a mass scale–the world is subject to only deliver a shadow of or even slightly skewed version of the truth…losing the richness and relatable aspects of the history for those whose history it actually is. Of the many things not depicted in the movie, I just want to highlight a few. Our children need to know:
1) Our history shows, that the cumulative mightiness/power of God’s people scares those in power that don’t have a relationship with him (as it did in Ex. 1:8-10). So, continuously forge and nurture strong relationships within your church family.
2) People in power using genocide to wipe out a demographic of people they feel threatened by, has been a strategic tactic since before the birth of Moses. Pharaoh’s initial attempt at stripping God’s people of their might, was by trying to infiltrate their unit. He used his power to command the midwives to commit acts of genocide–specifically, when they were delivering the babies of God’s people, if they saw it was a boy they were to kill it immediately during the delivery (Ex. 1: 15-16). To break us, those in power will go after our men…and they will try to use our own people to do the dirty work. But if that doesn’t work (Ex. 1:17), they will get bold with it and publicly do the job themselves (Ex. 1:22). So, don’t be surprised by the use of this tactic today–acknowledge its presence, be vigilant of how it will be presented among you, and don’t fall prey to it [as the consumer nor the supplier]. Fear God’s power more than man’s position of power, and He will reward your faithfulness with unmeasurable blessings (Ex. 1:20-21).
3) Moses did not first meet Zipporah in Egypt and help her escape, nor did he fall into a well after fleeing Egypt and Zipporah see it was him, want nothing to do with him, and leave him in there. Their entire interaction in the movie was made up/sensationalized for entertainment purposes. Moses did end up by a well in Midian (2:15); it wasn’t three sisters it was all seven of them (2:16); and, it wasn’t them helping him, it was him helping them (2:17). Moses met Zipporah for the first time in Midian; and, her father [Reuel, the priest of Midian] gave her to Moses to wife as gratitude for him protecting his daughters from the shepherds, helping them at the well, and going ‘the extra mile’ by voluntarily putting in work with Reuel’s flock expecting nothing in return (2:19-21). You never know what blessings God has in store for you. When you remove SELF out of the way, and go ‘the extra mile’ when helping someone in need–without expecting anything in return–it will ALWAYS yield unexpected blessing(s) in your favor, in God’s timing (2:22).
4) And, finally: Let God use you. The movie depicted Moses was the one speaking directly to Pharaoh; that Moses was the one performing all the miracles that brought forth the plagues, that Aaron [his brother] was no where around rather in captivity with anguish in his heart against Moses, and other non-Biblical accounts. Truth is, Moses came up with excuses FIVE times for why he was ‘unfit’ to do the work God was calling him to do (3:11, 4:1, 4:10, 4:13, 6:12), including his having a disability/speech impediment (4:10). Of course, God was bothered with him for making excuses (4:14)–as I am sure He gets with us today when we do–but He didn’t give up on him. Instead, He supplied him with the help [his brother Aaron (4:14, 27)] that he needed to get the job going (4:15-17, 28-31; 7:1-2, 8-12, 19-22; 8:5-7, 16-19). Then, when he was able to stand as he was called to, God stayed with him so he could to get the job done (8:20-24; 9:1–6; 8-11, 22-26; 10:12-15, 21-23; 11:3; 12:21-27, 30-32). All of us have to stop making excuses, and just let God use us. We don’t see what He sees when He looks at us; and we block so many of our blessings by standing in the way [holding on to our ‘reasons’ why we can’t]. He won’t call us to task and not equip us for it. Our history shows He will provide us with what we need to get the job going, then stay with us until we get the job done.
There are so many more life lessons in Exodus 1-12 that our children should know! There is so much more than “The Prince of Egypt.” Read, read, read!!