Another Practical Guide to the Logic, Philosophy, and Thoughts of Christianity

Section 1 - Article 25

Article 25 - The Prince of Egypt

This article draws on some lessons that believers in Christ can learn from the animated interpretation (1998) of the story of Moses and the deliverance of the Hebrews.

One of my favorite movies is the Prince of Egypt. Although when compared to Cecil's 10 Commandments, it may not be as grand, but it has outdone any other animated film in terms of reality and faith. Though not exactly portraying the biblical account, it was true to the Holy Scriptures in essence. The Lord is sovereign, and knows exactly what He is doing, and when He will do what He wants. The Hebrews spent 400 years in slavery before a deliverer was appointed. It was necessary for Egypt to become a super power in the world. This was so that it could be shown that even the greatest empire could be brought down to its knees before God. Like most superpower nations, if they persist in ignoring God's commandments, they will be brought down to their knees before God. God has done it to Egypt through plagues. None of the plagues in Egypt other than the fire mingled with hail, and the killing of the first born were supernatural happenings, and could be explained scientifically. Even so, the fire hail was speculated to be an asteroid breaking up and burning as it enters the atmosphere (note that asteroids are composed mostly of ice). Yet the Lord did give one signature of his power over nature by ending the plagues with the death of the first-born. Through the 10 plaques, supernatural aspects can be observed in that none of the Hebrew people, possession, and livestock were affected. They had light when the sky turned dark (possibly an eclipse); their cattle were immune to all the pests and pestilence. There was no fallout or collateral damage. God was accurate and specific.

One thing that struck me in the animated movie was the timely and immediate emergence of the fire wall when the Hebrews were cornered against the Red sea. It was quick, specific, and sufficient to keep all the soldiers on one side. There was no Hebrew that was accidentally missed out despite having an estimated 2-3 million people. God did everything specifically and accurately. Another thing to note was that the opening of the Red sea was not a direct path where the other end could be seen. They had to enter a dark path, unsuitable for human feet with possible sharp drops and cliffs on the seabed for a couple of days until they could reach the other side. In short, it was a walk by faith on the seafloor in darkness that hid unseen dangers on the path, with no end in sight.

Based on this account, we can see how God works. God does magnificent things when He shows us a difficult path. Since we cannot see the outcome, we have to believe and trust by faith that He will see us through, as the Hebrews did.

In the biblical account, God allowed the Egyptian enemies to give chase and hasten the journey between the parted waters. In one final accurate precise swoop, God wiped out every single one of the Egyptian army, with each and every blessed Hebrew safely on the other side of the shore. Not a single Hebrew was harmed by the Egyptians nor the closing of the sea.

A very interesting detail that was omitted in the animated film but recorded in the book Exodus, was that despite being picked up by Pharaoh's sister, Moses was raised by his own mother, and drank his own mother's milk! Although he was adopted as a prince of Egypt, he was raised by his very own Hebrew mother! Was this not providence from God? Was not God's plan flawless? Moses had the Egyptian education, the glory of being royalty, but he was raised by his own Hebrew peasant mother, whom was also able to escape the hardships of slavery to be a royal babysitter and look after her own son! Could there be details that God had left out?

The scriptures did notdocument the kind of believer Moses was when he was living in Midan. Nevertheless,he did live with Jethro (a priest), and the Lord of Hosts chose to revealHimself to Moses, someone who had doubts in the first meeting. How much of ablessing is that on Moses' end? How much of a blessing can He give those chosenfor His will and purpose?