Eternal Approach

I look carefully at the Bible atlases that are sold in the Christian bookstores.

And, sadly, most of them are predictably wrong on a couple of the same things.

Such as the route of the Exodus and the general point where Israel crossed the Red Sea. And even the location of Mount Sinai.

However, I pretty much expect mainstream Christian publishers to take the “party line” on these things.

Especially since mainstream Christian theologians tend to have specific axes to grind about biblical miracles. About miracles they simply refuse to believe.

For example, I was looking at a Life Magazine photography book that I bought at a library book sale.

I love book sales. You can never have enough books!

Anyway, this is a book of photographs of different places mentioned in the Bible. With brief explanations about each place. 

In this book, I found a photograph of where the Life magazine writers believed Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. 

But wait! 

Forget about the Red Sea. There was actually a photo of the “Sea of Reeds” or the “Reed Sea”. A place which they call, “Pharaoh’s Bath”. 

Say “What”?!

And Old, Crappy Idea

What they were referring to is an idea I first heard way back during my days in the United Methodist Church. Where the seminary-trained theologians of the UMC, along with many other mainline denominations, rejected the account of Moses and Israel crossing the Red Sea at some deep point. 

Such as at a point where the water was way over their heads.

They just didn’t like the idea that God created a massive wall of water on both sides of their path through the sea.

What the Biblical Record Actually Says

Consider the following verses that show what the biblical record actually says about that crossing: 

He “dried the sea, the waters of the great deep” and “hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over” (Isaiah 51:10)

“He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.” (Psalm 106:9)

Where “the waters were gathered together” (Exodus 15:8)

Which “stood uprignt as an heap, and the depths were gongealed in the heart of the sea“. (Exodus 15:8)

Where “the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left.” (Exodus 14:29)

Using the Bible to Locate Places in the Bible

IF we actually choose to follow the Bible’s record of where Israel was “entangled” (Exodus 14:3), before the Egyptians attacked them, we will discover that there is a beach at Nuweiba that could have allowed the millions of Israelites to camp there before the crossing.

Where they were trapped by the mountains to the north and to the south. With the sea in front of them and the Egyptian army closing in behind them – thirsting for Israelite blood. They were “entangled” there after making the 20 to 25-mile journey down the dried-up river. or wadi (the Wadi Watir), that wound through those steep mountains to the sea. 

To cross at this point, based on topo-map surveys, would mean they would have to descend down, beneath the sea level, to a depth of about 800 or more meters before coming up on the other side. With the depth reaching 2624 feet below the water’s surface!

So, imagine a wall of water which was 14 times higher than Niagara Falls! With the height of the falls measuring about 57 meters (or 188 feet); from the top of Niagara to the river beneath.  

 Then take a look at how small the people appear, up on the lookout, on the American side in that picture. 

Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? It’s an amazing experience. Just to stand next to that massive wonder of the Lord’s Creation and see the incredible power of that place is overwhelming.   

So, the Red Sea crossing was not through some bog or swamp! Nor was it through some muddy wetland where Pharaoh’s army and chariots “got stuck” as if in quicksand.

That is a ridiculously stupid idea! 

What we are dealing with here is one of the greatest miracles in the Bible. Something so amazing that the nations of the world feared the God of the Hebrews. Whose power exceeded anything or anyone they worshipped!

Who demonstrated clearly that He was the God of Creation. 

Exactly WHAT Do Our Leaders Honestly Believe Anymore?

However, the denial of this miracle demonstrates a bold and blatant disbelief in God’s ability to perform such a wondrous feat. By denying that God did a work beyond anything we can explain in natural terms.  

Denying that God performed a miracle which we should faithfully expect from our infinitely powerful and loving Creator. A God from whom we should expect nothing less. 

Popular “Christian” unbelief is simply a denial of the accuracy and authority of the words of God. It’s a disease that is becoming all too common in our churches. Even among well-known Evangelical leaders and theologians. 

Just ask yourselves what biblical miracles so-called Christian leaders really believe anymore? What do they still clearly proclaim and defend?  As in “what doctrinal hills”, if any, are they actually willing “to die on”? 

These are the same leaders who fill our churches and seminaries. Who claim to believe in Christ. Who claim to believe His words. And who are telling us who Jesus Christ is and what His words mean. 

And, yet, who simply refuse to take God at His plain-reading, straight-forward meaning. Because they “believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.” (I John 5:10)

Instead of clearly, consistently, and unashamedly proclaiming His wondrous works. 

Image by valves from Pixabay