The Exodus

Rita: What is the Exodus?

Bubba: The Exodus is the story of the origins of the Israelites. The Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses emerged as their leader and demanded that Pharaoh release his people. Pharaoh refused. Moses unleashed a series of ten plagues upon Egypt to show God's power forcing Pharaoh to release the Jews from bondage. But after they began their journey, the Israelites were pursued by Pharaoh. A miracle destroyed Pharaoh's troops allowing Moses to escape. He traveled through the desert, received the Ten Commandments and finally brought his people to the promised land.

Rita: If your god is so powerful, why didn't he just let Moses leave rather than have him unleash ten plagues to torture the people of Egypt?

Bubba: Moses didn't unleash the plagues. God did. God worked through Moses. Moses acted as his conduit.

Rita: Okay, your god created the chaos, not Moses. But he created the plagues because Pharaoh refused to let Moses leave?

Bubba: Yes.

Rita: But why did Pharaoh not allow Moses to leave Egypt?

Bubba: Because he was evil.

Rita: So when Pharaoh pursued Moses into the desert, God's miracle killed Pharaoh as punishment for his evil?

Bubba: No, Pharaoh was not killed. Moses and his people were trapped with Pharaoh's troops coming up behind them and the Red Sea blocking their way. God separated the sea allowing the Jews to pass, then closed the sea on Pharaoh's troops, killing them. Pharaoh himself did not die.

Rita: Pharaoh was the evil one, and your god punished the soldiers?

Bubba: Well yes, but Pharaoh's son died in the last of the ten plagues. That was Pharaoh's real punishment. That and the suffering of his people throughout the ten plagues.

Rita: God punished Pharaoh by killing an innocent child?

Bubba: Not just a child. According to Exodus, chapter 11, verse 5, "And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon the throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts."

Rita: Let me get this straight. Pharaoh is evil. Your god's idea of justice is to kill all firstborns, including animals? How is that fair? Let me see that Bible of yours.

Bubba: Not all firstborns. Not the firstborns among the Jews. It is God's justice, so it must be fair.

Rita: God's justice because Pharaoh was evil?

Bubba: Yes.

Rita: And Pharaoh was evil because he would not let Moses leave Egypt?

Bubba: Yes.

Rita: And Pharaoh had free will to choose if he would let Moses go?

Bubba: Of course. God gives us all free will. We are free to make our own choices. If we choose against God, there is a punishment. Pharaoh chose against God, so God punished him.

Rita: But this Bible of yours says that Pharaoh did not have free will.

Bubba: It does not.

Rita: Exodus, chapter 10 verse 20: "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go." And again in verse 27: "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go." So it was your god who kept the children of Israel from leaving Egypt. And yet your god punished the Egyptians.

Bubba: That can't be right. Why would God do that?

Rita: That is answered in Exodus chapter 10 verse 1: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him."

Bubba: What does that mean?

Rita: It means that your god sent Moses to request that Pharaoh let his people leave Egypt. But your god made Pharaoh refuse so he could show off his power. Pharaoh had no free will. God used Pharaoh as a conduit just like he used Moses. Pharaoh was not evil; he was a tool used by your self-important god so he could show off. It means that to the extent that you consider Pharaoh's actions to have been evil, they are the work of your god. It means that your god is the source of the evil.

Bubba: Are you saying that God causes evil?

Rita: I am not saying it. God said it. In Isaiah chapter 45, verse 7: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things."