BATTLE OF THE GODS

September 14, 2014

Pentecost 14

Exodus 14:19-31

(prayer)

Moses was tending his father-in-law's flocks when he noticed something curious up on the hill: a small fire.  It was clearly something burning brightly in flames, but the fire wasn't spreading to the surrounding brush as one would expect.

On closer inspection, this bush - burning with a non-consuming fire - was a mysterious manifestation of the God of the Hebrews.  And the great "I Am" had an important task for Moses: Go to Egypt, speak to Pharaoh, and secure the Hebrew slaves their freedom.

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Moses did as God asked, but the king was unimpressed.  Moses threatened that various plagues would inflict the land of Egypt until Pharaoh relented.  But not insect infestations nor the toxification of the Nile River softened the king's heart.  Actually, each time, Pharaoh begged Moses to end the calamity, only to refuse to let the people go after the particular plague ended.

The final plague was most disturbing - a sudden illness that struck the first born of every Egyptian household in a single night.  That evening, the Hebrews readied themselves for travel: they hastily ate a lamb meal - following Moses' instructions to not even let the bread rise nor keep any leftovers.  They were told to mark their homes with the blood of their slaughtered lamb as a sign of their trust in God.

This tragic turn of events grieved the king enough to give into Moses' demand.  The people of Israel left the land of Egypt.

But... Pharoah's heart hardened in anger once again - his armies pursued their slave
labour force - catching up to them at the edge of the Sea.

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We heard the biblical account of what happened. 

The Sea parted at Moses' command, the Hebrews crossed on the soggy seabed, while the Egyptians chariots got stuck in the mud; many of them were trapped when the waters released.

On the far shore of the Sea of Reeds, the Hebrews were free.

//

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It is a dramatic story.  Movies based on it call for big epic special effects. 

It is a tale of the power of God: Moses' god, the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Yahweh, I Am who I Am.

When Moses was first given his mission, he was concerned that people would question him, by whose authority he was acting.  The concept of one-god was foreign to Moses.
He could understand that the Hebrews had a god, who was distinct from other gods, but it didn't mean that there was only one god.  That's why Moses asked for a name.

Egypt, like most ancient cultures, had a pantheon of gods.  There was Ra, the son god; Geb, the god of the earth; Hapi, the god of the Nile; Isis, the goddess of magic, marriage and healing; Shu, the god of wind and air; Anhur, the god of war; and several dozen more.  Each god managed a different aspect of life.

A message one could glean from today's reading is that Moses' god is more powerful than
Pharaoh's gods.

And if we believe that Yahweh is the only god, we have to conclude that God has chosen
the Hebrews over the Egyptians (or any other people, for that matter).  The firstborn Hebrews lived; the firstborn Egyptians died.  The Hebrews crossed the sea safely; the Egyptians drowned.

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There is something about that thesis that doesn't feel right.  I understand that in the ancient world, every culture believed that their gods were bigger and better than the other nations'
gods.  If something negative happened, they did not interpret it that their god lost, but that their god chose, for some reason, to hold back on the people.

I know that made sense to the ancient mind, but I ask myself - in the 21st century - Do I
believe in a god who plays favorites?

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This question is further exasperated by the history of the Christian church.  For most of its history the institution that took root from the movement of Jesus' earliest followers, has professed to have the one path to God.  The phrases in the gospel of John that Jesus is "the" way and that no one comes to the Father except by [Jesus]" have been largely interpreted to mean that Christianity is the one true religion - that God only cares for Christians.  There are many preachers who would say (even though Jesus' god is the same I Am that spoke to Moses and led the Hebrews through the Reed Sea) that modern followers of judaism are not 'right' with god - that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is no longer concerned with the descendants of these patriarchs.  God only loves Christians.

And… I understand that it is a central theological cog in the workings of much of the
church for two millenia and for many followers of Jesus today, but I ask myself - in the 21st century - Do I believe in a god who plays favorites?

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If we believe a singular mystery at the heart of the universe - a source of all existence, if
we believe in one God-of-All, do we need this one god to be in competition?  And if so, with whom? This line of wondering begs the question: Can I call myself a christian (because I connect to this source and mystery through an inspiration through Jesus of Nazareth) - and yet also be open to god's ability to connect in other ways as well?  Even other faith expressions.

Is damnation, the only option for those different?

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One might even ask: so why be Xn if there are many paths to god? 

Of course, the same logic would have to say that other ways don't invalidate this Way - the
way of Jesus.  So, Christianity is a valid path.

I follow Jesus' way because it is an wonderfully personal and corporate experience of hope and promise - of unconditional love; of boundaries torn down; where words and actions matter.

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I can look at Ex 14 with these eyes - could it be that God is not anti-Egyptian, but anti-oppression, anti-slavery?  Admittedly, it is stretch to assume this within the original text because, throughout the bible, we see an overt acceptance of slavery as a reality of life: even Jesus accepted it: simply telling parables where slaves loved their masters and masters cared for their slaves.

…However, there was an emerging Xn thought, that - although people might care about who
were the masters and who were the slaves in this world - that in God's view, all were welcome.  God doesn't necessarily make the distinctions and judgements people make.

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As we read about Moses this morning, I see a central message in today's scripture: that
God works for the liberation of people.

That is consistent with the Christian story - it is said that Jesus came into the world as an act of God’s love - not to condemn, but to save [and set free] (cf. John 3:16-17).

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Imagine how different the level of violence, war and terror would be in our world if people stopped killing because they believe God wants them to destroy those who believe differently.

The Islamic State (ISIS; ISIL) - has a very narrow view of a particular faith tradition.  It’s followers believe that it is supposed to be dominant.  And because that is true, all others are destroyed.  Is God on the side of the murderers with knives, beheading journalists and aid workers?

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Was God with... 

·        Crusaders,

·        Protestant vigilantes,

·        US slave owners,

·        Lynch mobs killing civil rights workers,

·        Abortion clinic bombers,

·        Tolerate abuse of gays,

·        Hamas, kidnapping and killing teenagers,

·        Settlement evictors,

·        North Amercian assimilation of first nations,

·        9/11 terrorists,

·        The Taliban in Pakistan, so afraid of girls learning, that MalalaYousafzai and her schoolmates had to be ambushed on their school bus and shot.

Do we have to believe that God takes sides against entire swaths of people, because of their nationality, or gendre, or orientation.

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Example of Jesus and the early church - the barriers come down:

·        -Syro-phonecian woman;

·        -Philip and Ethiopian;

·        -Paul;

1st John - God is love.

Micah - justice, love, humility.

Deuteronomy/Leviticus/Jesus - Love God and love neighbour as self.

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I honestly struggle with the notion that my god is bigger and better than yours.  That my God rejects people outright.

I see all throughout the scriptures, God inviting people to work away from division - to preach good news to the poor, to bring liberation to the captives, new insight to those who are blinded, and to set the oppressed free.

That is what I pray for.

I have to believe that the God who requires love, justice and humility from us would expect any less from us in how we relate to others.

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I want to believe that God does not play favorites.  And I want to believe that my following of Jesus is also being right with God.

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I pray for guidance and the courage to stand up for God’s hope for all the world united - if not by dogma, then by love justice and humility.

Amen.

#268VU "Bring Many Names"