The Book of Exodus
Fall 2003 Bible Study
Exodus 7-10
The Book of Exodus
Fall 2003 Bible Study
Exodus 7-10
| "St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us." |
Greetings
I am distraught at not being able to swing by the ol' country church for an evening of passion, movement and fellowship. For that reason the following communiqué is a group effort. Thanks, Bob, Tom and Louise.
I believe we opened with a reflection that everyone wanted reprinted so hear it is...
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed inwardly or outwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring this relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered, and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. they usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it ! It is real! But, only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant.
May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let God's presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of us.
Of course, the readings were also interspersed with a break for treats: a homemade nut brownie confection raced directly out of the oven to the Egan Room. Yumm!!! Seconds were consumed under the rubric of storing up protein to avoid hypoglycemia in the morning. You betcha!
Here follows the overview...
I'll start with a few comments from various sources of commentary to set the stage for thinking about the plague commentary. Then we'll read the plague account aloud; that seems to have been very effective in working with Exodus. Comments and questions, as usual, can be contributed anywhere along the way. (Not sure I can last past break time since I've been ill the last couple days; but my thought was to form small groups as we often do after break. Each group can devise their own approach to discussion of the material. One idea: One constant question that seems to be important when reading Scripture is to ask what can I draw from this to my own life, my own spiritual journey.
Tom's note after bible study: [I ended up feeling better as the evening went on & stayed... and as usual things didn't go as quickly as I thought, so after breaking for Rita's fabulous brownies, we came back to finish the reading & our intermingling discussion...so no small groups! It seemed to go well.]
I listed the plagues at the beginning for ready reference. Notice Pharaoh¹s development as the plagues go on.
The Nine Plagues:
Epic form used to tell the story of the plagues:
Note: A commonly accepted definition of Epic is: long, narrative story (often in poetry); in elevated language; with heroic characters & grand events; usually important to a specific people or nation.
Events that were much more complex in their historical reality are narrated in dramatic and broadly sweeping strokes...By simplifying and overstating the historical reality they announced the wondrous nature of God at work on their behalf. (Binz)
Considerable effort has been expended trying to determine the structure of the plague narrative, but with little success. [One commentator said,] Formulaic patterns can easily become as wildly speculative and as absurd as fragment-hypotheses. We do not have carefully controlled variations of several themes and forms, but a series of somewhat haphazard variations on a single theme, all drawn to a common general form from at least several circles of tradition.
some compare with ps. 78 & 105. (7 plague tradition)
commonly thought that the plagues become increasingly more serious and unpleasant, more & more a threat to Egypt's well-being, beginning with annoyances, moving to disease & damage, and finally to darkness (=uncreation) & death. Or, there is a certain logic to five groups of two in terms of content (Nile, insects, diseases, damage, darkness/death); or, three groups of three in terms of setting (Pharaoh approached early morning outside (1,4,7); at the palace (2,5,8); and not at all (3,6,9), climaxing in the death of the first-born. Aaron's staff in first 4, Moses' hand/staff in the last 4, & God more directly in the middle 2. In terms of agency, God is explicitly active in only six plagues (1,4,5,7,8,10). Aaron/Moses are involved in three in a dual role 1,7,8), and alone in 2,3,6,9.
The most basic perspective within which the plagues are to be understood is a theology of creation. Scholars have shown that, in Israel (and the ancient Near East), the just ordering of society-as reflected in its laws-was brought into close relationship with the creation of the world. A breach of these laws was a breach of the order of creation and had dire consequences on all aspects of the world order, not least the sphere of nature, threatening life with chaos. There is thus a symbiotic relationship to ethical order and cosmic order. (INTERPRETATION: A Bible Commentary for Teaching & Preaching: Exodus, Terence E. Fretheim)
Ex.7:10 -- the word for serpent (tannin) used here is different from the one used in 4:3 when the Lord gives Moses the sign; elsewhere this word is translated as 'dragon' or 'sea-monster'. The word suggests the primordial powers of chaos and death that roam the sea. It is this threatening power that Yahweh will defeat in the Exodus.
The swallowing of the staff of all the Egyptian magicians is a sign of coming events.
****some thoughts from various commentaries: The plague account is not so much a series of devastations as it is a series of disputes between Pharaoh and Moses linked to the question in 5:2: 'Who is the Lord that I should heed his plea to let Israel go?'
The name Yahweh stands for divine power sufficient to overcome the greatest political power in the world. (9:15-16). If in Genesis I the earth belongs to God by right of the act of reaction, here it belongs to God by right of the act of redeeming its oppressed people. (cf. Tom S-M's comment about the meaning of redemption. (Janzen)
heart-In Hebrew psychology the 'heart' is not only...the location of feeling but more inclusively the location of the person's feeling, perception, understanding, and intention or will. One way of bringing our current views on these matters into some kind of connection with ancient views is to note how we are beginning to rediscover and speak about how our strong feelings can color and even determine not only how but what we perceive. Likewise, how we feel about things is significantly shaped by the nature and direction of our will and intentions. ... A useful way to remember one aspect is to think of our word 'heart' as containing at its core the word 'ear'. (Janzen) Binz, Stephen J. The God of Freedom and Life: a commentary on the Book of Exodus. The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Janzen, J. Gerald. Exodus. Westminster John Knox Press. Louisville.
Thanks a ton you first time facilitator you. We are glad you stuck it out and hope everyone is feeling better soon!
We also received a thank you note from the Whelan family and our prayers remain with them.
Privileges for next week include