The Horror Film Plotline in Exodus

This morning in Bible Study, I was dialoguing with the X-men (eXodus MEN's Bible study) about the plagues. We are currently in the plague of flies. It struck me that this series of events that we affectionately refer to as "the Ten Plagues" is really the stuff of horror films. The plotline is so similar that I can't belive that I didn't see it before:

• A. Man is minding his own business out in woods at midnight
• B. Man is confronted with scary creature/villian/terror
• C. Man runs to place of comfort/security, breathes sigh of relief
• D. Man is again confronted with terror in the security of his hiding place
• E. Man grabs at anything to rid himself of terror, deals what appear to be a death blow, breathes sigh of relief
• F. Man is again confronted with terror after apparently being done with it
• G. Repeat cycle to absurdium

Pharaoh is a textbook case. He is confronted with Moses and Aaron who give him a word from YHWH -- "Let my people go". His response was "No" and he went down to the river to settle his accounts with the gods (a method/attempt at security).

Mo and Aaron show up again this time with terror (blood water). Pharaoh runs and hides at court with his magicians who comfort him with a "natural explanation" of the "trick". Pharaoh is secure -- or so he thinks.

He is confronted with Mo/Aaron and more terror.

Do you see the pattern? Again, if we really got the graphic nature of the Bible, we might not be so quick to "dumb it down" to flannelgraphs, finger puppets and coloring pictures. This narrative is really "Nightmare on Nile Street".

The only flaw in the plotline is that God is not the boogey man. He is powerful enough to trump the boogeyman and the monsters on TV and He's watching out for his kids. To those who will receive it, He gives mercy; to the rebellious, He gives judgment.

I wish that Pharaoh had not chosen to keep trying to destroy God. I want to scream into my Bible, "Don't fight Him! You'll only make it worse!". This response is somewhat akin to the reaction of the horror film audience that hoarsely whispers, "Don't go back out there, the thing will get you!" as they watch the protagonist cycle through the plotline.

Where are you today? Are you trying to run from God? Eventually that type of avoidance will kill you. (see Ex. 14 and listen to the hit single that it spawned in Ex. 15) You don't have to live in terror. You can know this God personally and enjoy Him forever.

No longer scared,
Mike