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Author Topic:   Enemies are human beings too
pelican
Member (Idle past 4985 days)
Posts: 781
From: australia
Joined: 05-27-2007


Message 1 of 4 (479279)
08-25-2008 11:17 PM


The narrative according to the Book of Exodus, chapters 13:17-15:12[1]
Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, has finally agreed to allow the Israelite slaves to leave Egypt peacefully, after a series of "plagues" is visited upon the Egyptians by God, working through Moses and Aaron. God instructs Moses to lead them out, not "by way of the land of the Philistines", but by the Red Sea wilderness. Guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, they travel from Succoth to Etham, "on the edge of the wilderness," where they make their encampment.
But it is not God's intention that the Israelites should leave Egypt without hindrance: "I will become glorified through Pharaoh and his entire army [...] and Egypt shall know that I am the LORD." God therefore has Moses turn the Israelites back again and camp "in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon." There they see the Egyptians and become frightened, but God commands Moses: "Raise your staff; stretch your hand over the sea and split it. The Children of Israel will come into the Sea on dry ground. I am even now strengthening the heart of Egypt, and they will come after them [...]" The angel of God and the pillar of cloud moves between the Israelites and the Egyptians, separating them, and "neither one approached the other all night long." God sends "a strong east wind all night," and next morning the Israelites enter the sea "on dry ground, and the water was like a wall to them on their right and on their left." The Egyptians follow, but God clogs the wheels of their chariots (or removes their chariot-wheels), and "Egypt said, 'I will flee from before Israel, for the LORD is fighting with Egypt on their behalf.'" Then God commands Moses to stretch out his rod again, and "The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaoh's entire army, who were coming after them in the Sea; not one of them remained." Chapter 14 concludes: "On that day, the LORD saved Israel from the hand of Egypt, and Israel saw Egypt dead upon the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD had used against Egypt, and the people feared the LORD; they had faith in the LORD and in His servant Moses."
If this passage is taken literally, does it not contradict god's lawl of love thine enemies?
If it is meant to be metaphorical then surely the concept of war leaves no winners?
Edited by pelican, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Adminnemooseus, posted 08-26-2008 10:58 PM pelican has replied

Adminnemooseus
Administrator
Posts: 3974
Joined: 09-26-2002


Message 2 of 4 (479411)
08-26-2008 10:58 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by pelican
08-25-2008 11:17 PM


Source of copy/paste?
Your quoted section appears to be a copy/paste from somewhere. Please edit your message 1 to include a link to this source.
I think you also need additional personal input into message 1. As it currently is, I don't see much to justify promoting the topic to open debate.
Post a reply to this message, that you have made said changes to message 1.
Adminnemooseus

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There used to be a comedian who presented his ideas for a better world, and one of them was to arm everyone on the highway with little rubber dart guns. Every time you see a driver doing something stupid, you fire a little dart at his car. When a state trooper sees someone driving down the highway with a bunch of darts all over his car he pulls him over for being an idiot.
Please make it easy to tell you apart from the idiots. Source

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by pelican, posted 08-25-2008 11:17 PM pelican has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by pelican, posted 08-27-2008 3:51 AM Adminnemooseus has replied

pelican
Member (Idle past 4985 days)
Posts: 781
From: australia
Joined: 05-27-2007


Message 3 of 4 (479423)
08-27-2008 3:51 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Adminnemooseus
08-26-2008 10:58 PM


Re: Source of copy/paste?
made changes to message 1

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Adminnemooseus, posted 08-26-2008 10:58 PM Adminnemooseus has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by Adminnemooseus, posted 08-27-2008 4:45 AM pelican has not replied

Adminnemooseus
Administrator
Posts: 3974
Joined: 09-26-2002


Message 4 of 4 (479424)
08-27-2008 4:45 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by pelican
08-27-2008 3:51 AM


Still very thin on input from you
Adding a second question isn't adding anything about YOUR perspective.
What are your answers to those questions? Put that in message 1.
Adminnemooseus

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by pelican, posted 08-27-2008 3:51 AM pelican has not replied

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