"And so God killed every single first-born child in Egypt" Is that quote for real? If so, it doesn't seem to leave much room for interpretation. Since the bible is intended as a guide for all men, including the common man, and, since every bible does not come with an interpreter, how could the average person open the bible to that page and not conclude that god murdered innocent sin free children? I'm looking for serious answers. To anyone inclined to respond with defensive sarcasm or quotes from scripture - please don't bother.
2006-12-29 04:56:22 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yes its accurate/real. granted there are hundreds of other verses similar to that. *shrug* anyone without a bias'd view on the bible, who opened it up and read that im sure would get the impression god is a murderer.
2006-12-29 05:01:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes - the Bible does say this in Ex 12:29
The question becomes, what do you do with the information and how do you use the Bible as a tool for faith.
The Bible does not have to taken as a literal historical document. Even Jewish scholars and achreologists are finding and declaring that the pre-Davidic stories are more myth than fact. There was probably no Moses, Jacob or Abraham. There was no Exodus and no Conquest of the Promised Land. What archeology suggests is that nomadic tribes imigrated into the land of Cannon and became a loosly confederated nation, and eventually rose to an empire in the the form of Israel.
The Bible is meant to be a book of faith. Faith not simply being about belief, but more about relationship. It is a description of our relationship with the Creator, from our viewpoint of the created. Popular religion likes to describe faith as a journey, and they are right. Is it any wonder that we, as human kind, are equally on a faith journey in our understanding of God? 4000 years ago, humankind only understood God as a power to be feared, literally feared. We have come to understand that God is love and seeks relationship with the creation.
If I were preaching on this text, then one of the things I would point to is the fact that it is a story from our collective mythology. That mythology is duplicated in the nativity story as found in Matthew, so it is relevent to our faith. (only in the Matthew story the children perish at the hand of Herod, who is the bad guy of the story) As you suggest, the ultimate end point for the story must be the cross, the murder of a sinless, innocent Christ.
Not every Christian denomination views the Bible as a literal document. But this in no way takes the Truth out of the Bible.
2006-12-29 05:20:50 · answer #2 · answered by rogueknight17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not going to be easy to teach as it has deep spiritual meaning. Even today the first born is killed. Let's start with the story of creation. Man was created in the likeness of God. Genesis 2 shows that this likeness was formed from the dirt and he breathed in spirit and the two became a living soul. This likeness of Gd is similar to the trinity and shows that man was created to be more than mere flesh. Study will show the first represents the flesh and then comes the spirit. The Bible teaches this many times by showing the first will be last and the last will be first.We are taught that the flesh is to serve the spirit. Cain and then Abel...Esau and then Jacob.....Most things physical represent things that are spiritual. Esau I have hated and Jacob I have loved. Understand it is the flesh that is tempted and the flesh that sins. First came the law and then through the atonement came grace. God is righteous but also is meciful. First came the flesh than came the spirit. Jesus taught you must be born again the first is of the flesh that will die. The passover is a sign that those who are covered by the blood of the lamb will be saved.
2006-12-29 05:17:59 · answer #3 · answered by djmantx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it's a rough paraphrase of Exodus 12:29 (and 13:15) but basically that is real. But no one is sin free. Not even children. The original sin is rebellion against God. As long as someone has not accepted Him they are rebelling against Him. There is no middle ground. So God did not murder innocent sin-free children. God sent a message to Pharoah and he would not obey. Once again this is an example of justice being served.
Carson 123 understands
2006-12-29 05:48:53 · answer #4 · answered by cnm 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
...One must be more than "the average person"; one must be a true believer in Christ to begin to properly understand the Scriptures. Those who have trusted in Christ alone for salvation have the Holy Spirit to help them understand the Bible.
...Once one is a believer, proper interpretation includes looking at the context, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and looking at the history of the event being described. The Bible is God's word and is also a record of God's dealings with mankind.
...The Bible says we are all sinners, by nature and by choice - all have sinned and fallen short of the splendor of God (He is perfect.) If you know about the fall of man, you will realize that everyone is a sinner - this includes men, women, and children. There were no sin-free, innocent children, and this was after Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go - he would not submit to the living God, and sin always has consequences. Furthermore, when God does something, it always renders Him faithful, true, holy, and right - He never makes mistakes nor does He sin.
...Each of us shall account of himself to God, and we are morally responsible to God, not vice-versa.
2006-12-29 05:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by carson123 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes God did kill the first born child in Egypt. Not all of the first born were innocent, as they weren't all babies. It was by decree of the pharoahs own decree. The Pharoah ordered the killing of all the first born of the Israelite people, and Moses told him that his own curse would be turned against his people. People die everyday. God has the right over life and death, and can kill or let live anyone that he chooses to.
2006-12-29 05:02:40 · answer #6 · answered by Christine5 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the bible teaches spiritual truths via allegory.
Taking the bible, Q'uran, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist sutras, etc as the literal word of God is a dangerous notion because the finite mind of man cannot understand the infinite mind of God.
2006-12-29 07:58:07 · answer #7 · answered by Rev. Two Bears 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
many human beings and non secular leaders have misinterpreted the Bible. additionally they have replaced the Bible to extra wholesome what they want it to assert. yet as for Jehovah Witnesses the Bible we use have replaced. we've God's holy spirit assisting us continuously. there have been lots of Scriptures reported already so basically inspite of the shown fact that i could upload a sprint extra. in case you may want to comprehend extra regarding the Bible you may continuously communicate with between the Jehovah Witnesses on your section.
2016-10-19 04:16:31 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well my answer is that you have to read the not just the scripture, but also the context all around it. i guess that if you just read that particular vs. god would sound like a real villian. that rvs is were the egyptians were refusing to let gods people go from slavery. and pharoh challenged gods right to rule his own people so pharoh and moses went head to head. moses(god's friend). pharoh(not a worshiper of god). and also the ten plauges that fell on egypt(one of which was the killing of all the 1st born) showed how god does have the right to rule his people. pharoh was looking to false gods to fight moses and in the end god won out(of course). and his people were freed from slavery. and crossed the red sea. hopefully that wasnt to confusing of an explanation for you.....please reply if you wish
2006-12-29 05:13:55 · answer #9 · answered by stopdropandrollme 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, good question. And if I'm not allowed to quote Scripture, you'll have to read the rest of the Bible.
2006-12-29 05:00:44 · answer #10 · answered by Freddie de Lange 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋