Genesis 25-32, Exodus 1-14

Although this assignment definitely consisted of a lot of reading, I did surprisingly happen to enjoy the content. Honestly, I must say that I feel the the Exodus reading was much more enjoyable, stimulating, and interesting than the Genesis reading. The Genesis reading was rather boring as nothing exciting happens. In Genesis Chapter 25, Abraham dies and gets buried with Sarah, and Isaac and Rebekah have kids: Esau and Jacob. Throughout the next few chapters, the number seven appears a lot, especially in Genesis 29. In the Old Testament, the number seven is very significant as it relates to the creation story. There are seven days in a week and God rested on the seventh day. Along with this analysis of the week, the number seven symbolize’s the unity of the four corners of the earth with the holy trinity.

As I mentioned earlier in my blog, I found the Exodus reading to be a lot more interesting as it taught me information I did not know, and a new persona for such an iconic figure: Moses. This new understanding of Moses is one that is powerful and strong when need be. Prior to the reading, I had envisioned Moses as this old, weak man who was nothing more than a shepherd. But, what I learned was that Moses showed strength when he had to be, like when he killed the Egyptian in Exodus 2. Moses was curious when he asked god what is his name was in Exodus 3 when he saw the burning bush. Then, it was time for Moses to be a leader. At first he was a bit timid, shy, and afraid; hence, the lord sent his brother Aaron to speak for him. Moses ultimately listened and it would be his duty to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to the promise land. The rest of the Exodus reading that we had to do focused on the plagues that were sent in order to scare the Pharaoh. These consisted of turning the Nile to blood, frog, gnats, and flies infestation, dying of the livestock, boils on skin, hail, locusts, and darkness for three days. Finally, the lord warned about the coming of passover the and death of the firstborn Egyptians. Through all of these actions, the Pharaoh was finally convinced of God’s strength and let the Israelites go, under the guidance of their great leader Moses. Exodus 14, is quite possibly the coolest and most well known story surrounding Moses. This story proves Moses’ strength as he parts the sea and lets the Israelites cross.

I feel that the author portrays him in this way to exemplify the true strength that Moses holds. Prior to my reading, I would not have thought of him as anything more than an average biblical figure, but now I have a totally different belief.