{"id":6884,"date":"2025-10-07T18:12:38","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T22:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ichasesunsets\/?p=6884"},"modified":"2025-10-09T13:35:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T17:35:20","slug":"exploring-the-exodus-narrative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ichasesunsets\/2025\/10\/exploring-the-exodus-narrative\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Exodus Narrative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/p>\n

Exploring the Narrative:<\/b>\u00a0Exodus<\/i><\/b> as Literature<\/b><\/h2>\n

Next week I will begin teaching from the book of <\/span>Exodus<\/span><\/i>. This is a Christian school, but when I teach about <\/span>Exodus <\/span><\/i>in my 10th grade English class, I teach it as literature\u2013as a work of art, as a narrative from the Master Story-teller.<\/span><\/p>\n

All scripture is art from the greatest creative mind of all, and He, before any renowned author, invented the literary techniques that sell books. Any book of the Bible can be studied as literature. I use <\/span>Exodus<\/span><\/i> because it neatly fits into our World Literature sequence alongside The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, Beowulf, Cid, <\/em>and The Song of Roland<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exodus<\/i><\/b> as Epic<\/b><\/h2>\n

For many years now, I have taught World Literature through the epics. By definition, an epic is a long, narrative <\/span>poem<\/span><\/i>, which, of course, <\/span>Exodus <\/span><\/i>is not. It does, however, contain some poetic passages. The most obvious is found in Exodus 15:<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Song of Moses and Miriam<\/b><\/h3>\n

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the <\/span>Lord<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will sing to the <\/span>Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 for he is highly exalted.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Both horse and driver<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 he has hurled into the sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe <\/span>Lord<\/span> is my strength and my defense;<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 he has become my salvation.<\/span>
\n<\/span>He is my God, and I will praise him,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 my father\u2019s God, and I will exalt him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Lord<\/span> is a warrior;<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 the <\/span>Lord<\/span> is his name.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pharaoh\u2019s chariots and his army<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 he has hurled into the sea.<\/span>
\n<\/span>The best of Pharaoh\u2019s officers<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 are drowned in the Red Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

The deep waters have covered them;<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 they sank to the depths like a stone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your right hand, <\/span>Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 was majestic in power.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Your right hand, <\/span>Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 shattered the enemy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the greatness of your majesty<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 you threw down those who opposed you.<\/span>
\n<\/span>You unleashed your burning anger;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0it consumed them like stubble.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the blast of your nostrils<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 the waters piled up.<\/span>
\n<\/span>The surging waters stood up like a wall;<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

The enemy boasted,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u2018I will pursue, I will overtake them.<\/span>
\n<\/span>I will divide the spoils;<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 I will gorge myself on them.<\/span>
\n<\/span>I will draw my sword<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 and my hand will destroy them.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

But you blew with your breath,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 and the sea covered them.<\/span>
\n<\/span>They sank like lead<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 in the mighty waters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who among the gods<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 is like you, <\/span>Lord<\/span>?<\/span>
\n<\/span>Who is like you\u2014<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 majestic in holiness,<\/span>
\n<\/span>awesome in glory,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 working wonders?<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cYou stretch out your right hand,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 and the earth swallows your enemies.<\/span><\/p>\n

In your unfailing love you will lead<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 the people you have redeemed.<\/span>
\n<\/span>In your strength you will guide them<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 to your holy dwelling.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nations will hear and tremble;<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 anguish will grip the people of Philistia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,<\/span>
\n<\/span>the people <\/span>of Canaan will melt away;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0terror and dread will fall on them.<\/span>
\n<\/span>By the power of your arm<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 they will be as still as a stone\u2014<\/span>
\n<\/span>until your people pass by, <\/span>Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 until the people you bought <\/span>pass by.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

You will bring them in and plant them<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 on the mountain of your inheritance\u2014<\/span>
\n<\/span>the place, <\/span>Lord<\/span>, you made for your dwelling,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe <\/span>Lord<\/span> reigns<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 for ever and ever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a prime example of Hebrew poetry, which uses parallelism to create rhythm and emphasis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n