A few thoughts on Fear (Exodus 1)

For many of us we find the very definition of who we are as individuals mysteriously wrapped up in the positions we hold. It's no wonder we find ourselves in such a place living in the society that we do. The realms that are under our influence, so we are told, are a direct reflection of who we are. Success in the market place means we have found our niche of personal identification...now,we think, we know who we are. As we travel back to our ancient example of Pharaoh the scenario plays out in similar ways. Who is Pharaoh? his people say he's a god and what do god's do for a job? they rule over people, imposing their will within their realm of influence. But what happens when that realm poses the possibility of becoming unmanageable, what do you do then...if you're a god?

"the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country."

Notice the language being used: "if war breaks out"? So there's your worst case scenario, being opposed by an outside force only to then have the people you are presently ruling over join the enemy lines. talk about a major hit to the god complex. But wait there's more, what if people leave? So here's how the measure of success goes...the more people we rule over the better, but if they pose a security hazard, action must be taken.

There are a ton of assumptions being made about the nature of what I will call The Other. The Other is to be feared regardless of any intrinsic values that The Other may hold. It is a matter of perceived threat, not one of a realized threat...this is paranoia. And then what happens when you fear the very thing that gives you a sense of meaning and stature in the world...you oppress it.

So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.

Follow the train of thought, the Israelites have become too numerous so oppressing them will some how fix the problem? This only makes sense if the oppressive forced labor will decrease their number...this only makes sense if the forced labor will kill them.

Politically it's a brilliant move, morally it's abhorrent.

A Biblical Theology of Ecclesieal Formation

I've been thinking about our book and what my contribution might be. I'm going back to exodus...finding that God is building a community with a certain moral, ethical, spiritual character. A people that will carry on a God tradition in the place where they dwell. I'm looking for the methodology that God uses to place certain people in certain roles. I think it might be easy to travel to the writings of Paul in order to find the gifts that God has equiped his people with, but I want the bigger picture...what has been working itself out the whole time. What kind of teaching are God's people to institute...What kind of discipline must be executed...what sort of individual and communal cultic practice is best to draw people together in worship of God? More thoughts later...