Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"My retelling of Exodus today has focused a lot on one character, but it's really an ensemble piece. This is especially clear to me once the people get across the sea and out into the wilderness. The Israelites and Moshe are trying to figure out how to be the people of God, trying to figure out how to work together despite their different perspectives on what it means to be free. None of them get it right all the time.

"Moshe is impatient, destroying the tablets when he gets frustrated. He embellishes the messages from God a little bit. He scolds when he should comfort. The rest of the community is famously prone to doubt, with the golden calf episode being the most famous example.

"One of the things I like about the Hebrew Bible is that it depicts flawed heroes and heroines, people who struggle. That's the meaning of the word Israel, people who struggle with God. It's good to know that doubt and challenge are ancient traditions. Yet so is wandering together, somehow finding a way forward when the voice of the Holy calls to different people in different ways."

-- Rev. Lynx Cox, 2011-04-14

[A blessed Passover/Pesach to everyone celebrating it!]