Exodus 1-13

The first through the tenth sections of Exodus were pretty similar to how I remembered the story of Moses (except for the whole Moses' son's penis skin being placed on Moses' feet and his wife saving him from an angry Lord). As we discussed in class section four is pretty crazy and out of sync with the previous sections and those to follow. Anyway Joseph's family prospers and Pharaoh comes to destroy and enslave the Israelites. Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives to kill the male newborns. They decide it is best not too, because ultimately that would defy J. So because they are strong females, God decides to give them many babies. The feminist wheels are in motion. But before that Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian where he does a good deed and earns a wife. After seeking permission from the father of Zipporah. They have a son named Gersham. Then they live happily ever after...I wish it was that simple for Moses.

Moses then goes to Horeb where God appears to him as a burning bush...classic story so far. God tells Moses to run back to Egypt and save the Israelites (Proving that he did in fact talk to God instead of just hallucinating about a fiery shrub, The Lord gives him a staff that which will then turn to a snake when he strikes it to the ground). Although the snake has mythologically been interpreted as evil and cursed by many, the Lord chooses this animal to be represented as in this scene. One question I had during this scene is based on the fact that Moses seemed to be overly questioning the Lord of how he is to be believed by the Israelites. Every other character who has come in contact with God does not deny that people will question the validity of what there actions/words.

So Moses does this and then we proceed to the plagues... They are pretty standard as far as I remembered them. The only things that really stood out to me was how the Lord kept hardening Pharaoh's heart after he would send Moses out on a limb to spark the plagues. Was this just God maybe having fun or gloating over his own power and ultimatums? Moses and probably everyone else in Egypt knew of God's powers after the third plague.

MAGICIANS!? How could there be magicians in the second book of the bible. Every turning page I am waiting for a zombie or a vampire. I surely do not remember magicians existing in the story of Moses.

One more thing about the plagues; I am still unsure of the importance of unleavened bread. During this time period I can only imagine flat-breads as very very very hard. I kind of understand the whole roasted leg of lamb-blood thing but what the hell does bread have to do with the Lord rescuing the Israelites???

Anyway I will have more as I finish Exodus tomorrow.