The Good Book Club | Week of January 5 |
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Welcome to the Good Book Club: Exodus Edition. Thank you for joining us on this journey with God’s word. For resources and additional information, visit goodbookclub.org.
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Fear is a word we often hear in our society. We fear the unknown, the other, that which we do not understand. Fear, when associated negatively, can cause us to make assumptions at best and implement harsh laws at worst.
When Covid-19 descended on our world nearly two years ago, many of us reacted in fear, and for good reason: we did not understand the effects, let alone the implications of the virus. We feared that which we did not know. Now, we do know. So, we urge our congregants and our communities to mask up, to get the vaccine and the booster soon after it. We mourn those who’ve succumbed to death at the hands of the virus. We seek justice for the good of our neighbors and for the world around us.
We know better, and so even in our fear, we try and do better.
Of course, fear also makes quite the appearance in this week’s readings. Take, for example, the first two chapters of Exodus: in Exodus 1, because Egypt’s new king does not know Joseph and the legacy of provision he brings with him, the king fears the potential uprising of the people of Israel. “The text does not include a single hint of any rebellious spirit in the Israelites,” writes theologian Roger Nam, “yet this fear becomes the driving force to a series of escalating oppressive policies, even to the point of planned genocide.”[1]
This fear, writes Nam, is a baseless kind of fear that results in nothing but generational suffering for the Israelite people.
This, of course, is juxtaposed next to a healthy kind of fear, a fear that is more often ascribed to a sense of awe and submission to God. Just as the Egyptian king tells the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill any boys they deliver, we learn that “the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.”[2] When questioned by the king, theologian Patricia Tull notes that the midwives offer an explanation by way of insult:[3] Hebrew women and Egyptian women are not the same, you see, but Hebrew women are stronger. They have those babies before we midwives can even arrive on the scene!
Throughout the first five chapters, a paradox of good fear (of the Lord) and bad fear (of the stranger and the unknown) is shown. Most of the time, good fear is shown on behalf of God and of the people of God, while bad fear succumbs to those who do not believe in the one True God (which, in this case, is the Egyptians).
One friend calls this the greatest Search and Rescue Mission known to humankind; still others call it a response of sovereignty or further evidence of special calling rooted in divine relationship. Tull, as noted earlier, states, “Thus unfolds the story of God’s preferential option for those who otherwise appear powerless. Far from being the God of the Establishment, far from being manageable or tame, the Hebrew God spurns human power, makes fools of the pretentious, and honors those, whether princesses or slave girls, who act on their instinct for justice.”[4]
But does the theme of fear still make an appearance in the last three chapters of this week’s reading? You’d better believe it does, for in these chapters we get to know the beloved, fear-filled character of Moses.
In chapter 2, Moses is born. As the well-known story recounts, at three months old, he scoots down the river in a tiny little basket-boat waterproofed with tar and pitch.[5] Just as he is rescued and grows into a man, his temper gets in the way and he makes a big mistake. Still, we are reminded that this is not merely the story of one man, but the story of a people and a God who listens to their groanings. It is the story of a God who remembers the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who sees what’s going on with the country of Israel, and who understands.[6]
And this same God meets Moses in the fieriest, holiest of burning bushes.
In chapters 3 and 4, some of the most powerful and dynamic of dialogue scenes happen between God and Moses. God shows up: at first Moses peeks at the bush and responds with a simple, “Here I am,”[7] but then fear takes over. Yes, it’s a healthy fear of the Lord, but it’s also a fear caked in whys, a fear that causes him to look away and hide from the one who calls him by name.
Their dialogue continues: God gives him a vision of how Moses is going to bring God’s people out of Egypt. Moses asks, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”[8] God lets Moses know that he will not be alone; Moses starts throwing out best-case, what-if scenarios, over and over (and over) again.
[5] Exodus 2:3, The Message.
[6] Exodus 2:24-25, The Message.
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Reflection
- How would you define fear, both in a positive and a negative sense? How do you see fear talked about on the news or in your neighborhood today?
- Representative John Lewis called it Good Trouble. Those of the Christian tradition call it fear of the Lord. Who in your life (or in the world around you) do you see modeling a healthy fear of the Lord, bucking systems or institutions for the good of wholeness and justice?
- How do you find yourself in Moses’ story (particularly in chapters 3 and 4) today?
- As a person of hope, how is God inviting you to trust in the greatest Search and Rescue Mission ever told, even in the midst of questions you hold and darkness that surrounds you?
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Bio
Our guest writer for the weekly Exodus reflections is Cara Meredith. Cara Meredith is a writer, speaker and conversationalist. A former high school English teacher and non-profit outreach director, she holds a Master of Theology degree (Fuller Seminary), and is the author of The Color of Life, a spiritual memoir about her journey as a white woman into issues of justice, race and privilege. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives with her family in Oakland, California.
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More Ways To Get Involved
Exploring Exodus: For six weeks this Epiphany, meet with other students from around the world for a live, online class on the Book of Exodus with Vicki Garvey, a respected teacher and author and canon for lifelong education at the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. In this free class, Vicki will teach about the context and themes of the Book of Exodus. Classes will meet live on Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST starting January 6. Register here.
Introduction to Exodus: Join the Montreal Diocesan Theological College in the Anglican Church of Canada for a free, 90-minute webinar and introduction to the Book of Exodus. This 90-minute online webinar provides a foundation for students to read Exodus for themselves by offering an overview of the book’s content, structure, and key themes. The class is on Thursday, January 13, from 7-8:30 pm EST, and taught by the Rev. Dr. Jesse Zink, principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College. Learn more and register here.
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Participant Spotlight
How are you participating in the Good Book Club? Share your story with us (and send pictures too, if you have them!). We’ll highlight participants from across the church. Send the information to Richelle at rthompson@forwardmovement.org.
Let’s learn from and be inspired by each other!
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