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The last session of Israel's Sacred History left us on the brink of the most exciting series of events in the Old Testament, the story that laid the foundation of Israel's religion. Moses, with Aaron, had returned to the Egyptian court requesting permission for YHWH's people to worship him at the Holy Mountain in Sinai. Pharaoh said NO, and the scene was set for YHWH to act!

A series of natural disasters hit Egypt, each one being interpreted as a duel between the gods of Egypt and the unknown YHWH; nine times Pharaoh refused to let the people go and by the tenth time excitement is mounting. The tenth plague was the death of all the Egyptian firstborns, while the Angel of Death 'passed over' all the Hebrew homes where the doorposts were smeared with blood from the lambs killed for that special meal. This was the breaking point for the Egyptians, and Pharaoh at last said, GO.

Reflection on the plague narratives:

1. the oldest story-code J, +Ps.78.43-51,records only 8 plagues, and the style is simple and restrained (the locusts were carried 'on the east wind')
2. the Priestly Code, +Ps.105.27-36,has added 2 more plagues, (possibly because 10 were easier for the storyteller to remember on his 10 fingers), but the style is more dramatic and full of Aaron's wonder-working Rod.
3. Note! In the 5^th plague all the cattle die!, but in the 6^th the cattle all suffer boils; in the 7^th they all die again from the hailstorm, and in the 10^th the firstborn of all the cattle die as well. (but it is a very gripping story!)
4. The plague narratives appear to be the dramatic prelude to the Passover.

The Passover. : The 10^th plague started the sequence of events which Jews have remembered annually ever since, commemorating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt by their own God, YHWH. Because of its later importance much later material, including the importance of agricultural features such as Unleavened Bread, have been written back into the original story, making EX.12 difficult to follow. Nowadays Jews use the Haggadah for their celebrations, a book telling the whole story in sequence, instead of EX.12-14, (as Christians do with their Nativity plays, instead of the Gospel records)

The Exodus. When Pharaoh said GO, the remarkable night continued. Moses and Aaron returned to their people, and several million, according to the excited storyteller, set off from their Egyptian homes with all their women and children, all their possessions, and all their flocks, and travelled eastwards from the Nile delta, led by their God in the symbols of a pillar of fire by night and smoke by day. Almost immediately the people began to regret the loss of their creature comforts, and to fear the Egyptian chariots which were in hot pursuit. Soon they were trapped for in front of them was Yam Suph, the Sea of Reeds. And then YHWH's saving event happened. The climax of that remarkable night came when the sea became dry land enabling the Hebrew people to cross safely to freedom, while the Egyptians were caught in the returning waters and drowned. Reflections on the Exodus narratives:

1. again the J-code story is simpler and more restrained: the 'strong east wind blew all night and made dry land of the sea'.... 'And next morning the sea returned to its normal depth ......YHWH tossed the Egyptians into the sea'.
2. The exaggerated Priestly code emphasises the miraculous: 'Moses lifted up his hand over the sea, .... And the waters were divided. The people went into the sea on dry land, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.'.....Next morning Moses again lifted up his hand, the sea came back, drowning all Pharaoh's horses, chariots and charioteers, in gory detail.
3. Two ancient poems follow in EX.15, rejoicing in Israel's deliverance. The older poem in EX.15.21, the Song of Miriam, is thought to be contemporary with the event, making it a very important verse in the OT. Immediately whatever did happen, was interpreted theologically and credit given to YHWH 'Sing to YHWH, for he has triumphed gloriously - horse and rider he has thrown into the sea'.
4. Whatever happened that fateful night, it became the foundation event of Israel's response to YHWH, their Rescuer, the event which eventually welded them together with a common memory, .... But not yet!

On to Sinai: Life went on, and the travellers grumbled more and more as life in the desert became harsher, and Egypt seemed better in retrospect, but YHWH continued to care for them. Manna-bread and quails to eat, and water from a rock to drink, together with help to fight off attacking Amalekites were all provided, until three months later they all arrived at the Holy Mountain, Sinai/Horeb. Jethro came to meet them, with Moses's wife, for a family reunion, and the next day suggested that Moses organised the people into tribal clan groups with their own leaders, - the beginning of their political future.

Their religious future began here too! Moses had fulfilled his mission, and brought the people to meet the God of their ancestors at the Holy Mountain, probably Gebel Musa, wild high and craggy in the south of the Sinai peninsular. EX.19 describes the theophany experience of the people who were terrified of the 'holiness', expressed as fire, lightning, thunder, smoke and volcanic earthquakes. Moses met them and gave them YHWH's offer of a Covenant relationship.

THE COVENANT After demonstrating his power by rescuing them from slavery in Egypt, YHWH offered to be their God permanently if they would promise to worship no other gods but himself, and obey his LAW, (initially the Ten Commandments). .Corporately the people agreed, and a big ceremony was held to ratify the agreement. EX.24 describes it. The leaders met Moses on the Mountain. He described YHWH's offer again and the people promised to obey. An ox was sacrificed, and its blood collected in two bowls. One was poured over the people, and the other over the fire on the altar which symbolised YHWH's presence among them. (Blood always symbolised LIFE in the ancient world, so in this Covenant both YHWH and the people were bound together in one living unity) This is the founding of ISRAEL, the birth of the nation.Reflections on the Covenant narratives:

1. Israel had promised for all time to worship YHWH exclusively, a 'jealous' God.
2. The nation would be built on just behaviour of the people towards each other.
3. All four of the foundation Codes have the Covenant at their heart, but on closer examination we find a significant variation:
4. First, the Northern E-code and Deuteronomy reflect the Conditional Covenant made at Sinai (I will ....if you will ...), warning that disobedience would result in disaster and the disintegration of the new nation. (E and D are the basis of prophetic scripture, and Moses was proved right several times in subsequent times)
5. Secondly the Southern J code and the Priestly code are different. Their Covenant stories are focussed on Abraham in Gen.12.1-3, and 17. This is an Unconditional Covenant. God had promised the gifts of land, descendants, and blessing, for nothing in return. Only the P code stipulates circumcision as the national 'badge'. The people will be 'a Holy People'.
6. This deep division is at the heart of tensions in the OT, and today has led to the basic difference between Judaism and Christianity: Judaism adheres to the priority of God's LAW, (TORAH), while Christianity preaches the free gift of God's Grace.

Reflections on the Ten Commandments:

1. The 'Ten words' are short, terse and simple, in character with life in the desert. They are absolute/apodictic law, and possibly original from Moses at Sinai.
2. Other laws in EX.21-23 are different in style. They are conditional/case law, similar to many other ancient law-codes, cp. Hammurabi.
3. Why Ten? With 10 fingers, it is easier to remember all of them!