The gods of Egypt: Did God love the Egyptians?

One time I was studying through the book of Exodus and I had this thought: Did God love the Egyptians? 

It’s a question you’ve probably never really thought much about before. 

So, in Exodus, this is the story of the Egyptians who enslaved the Israelites and wouldn’t let them go. They were forced to work all day under grueling conditions in the desert, building whatever Pharaoh wanted for his cities. And for centuries, pharaoh after pharaoh wouldn’t let them leave. 

So, they’re clearly the bad guys in this story. Then God sends a deliverer named Moses out of the wilderness to come and set these people free, and the rest is history- and a really epic four-hour Charlton Heston movie from 1956. And it’s rated G even though it’s kinda scary for a G-rated movie. But you’ve got the water turning to blood and mass killing from a death angel and later drowning. And according to IMDB, there’s some canoodling between lovers. I’m not sure what that’s referring to. I’m not even sure what canoodling is, but it sure doesn’t sound G-rated to me. 

Then again, the Bible is not a G-rated book. Speaking of IMDB, let me look here at how it rates the agro-appropriateness of movies: violence and gore? Yes. Alcohol? Yes. Frightening and intense scenes? Yes. Profanity? That’s debatable but if you read the King James Version, you’re going to find a few words that I sure wasn’t allowed to say growing up. Oh, and sex and nudity? Well, if you read Song of Solomon, there’s definitely some canoodling going on. 

The Bible is a book of violence, destruction, depression, fear, wrath- and a God who loves all of humanity on every page. But it’s a little easy to lose sight of that fact as you read about the mass destruction that God visits upon people throughout His Word- including on the Egyptians in Exodus.

And this can cause us to question: even when God judges people, does He still love them?

Let’s go back to my original question: Did God love the Egyptians? 

I have a theory about this, and I’d like to share it today on the Cross References podcast.

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 114

0:00 - Why Jesus was Sometimes Harsh

7:20 - The 10 Plagues

28:00 - Did God Love the Egyptians?

Description:

In this captivating episode of the Cross References podcast, host Luke Taylor delves deep into the biblical narrative of Exodus, exploring the intriguing question: Did God love the Egyptians? Through a thought-provoking analysis of Exodus 7-12, Taylor uncovers profound insights into the complex relationship between divine judgment and love.

Discover the untold story behind the plagues of Egypt and their significance in exposing idolatry and leading to repentance. Taylor navigates through historical context, biblical parallels, and modern-day analogies to unravel the layers of divine love and justice.

Join us as we explore the theological depths of God's actions in the Old Testament and their relevance to contemporary faith. Gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of divine love and the transformative power of biblical narratives.

Tune in to the Cross References podcast for a compelling journey through scripture, where every small piece tells one big story connected to the cross and Christ.

Key Topics:

• Biblical narrative of Exodus 7-12
• Divine love and judgment in the Old Testament
• Significance of the plagues of Egypt in exposing idolatry
• Theological insights into God's actions and motives
• Modern-day reflections on faith and divine justice

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to the Cross References podcast for more insightful episodes.

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