[November 29, 2023] The Exodus story of meaning is a three-part series that attempts to dive into the meaning of one of the greatest stories ever told in the Bible. I will “connect the dots” between the story as written in the Bible and explain how it can help each of us in a dramatic and positive way.
The story of Exodus is an existential tale that identifies deep patterns of human experiences ever since Adam and Eve walked the Earth. And, The Exodus story itself is very compelling.
The Story begins with the Israelites in captivity as slaves to a tyrant. We’re all the slavish children of tyrants. Sometimes that’s the external Tyrant, sometimes our own Tyrant, so the story is true psychologically and sociologically simultaneously, giving it a kind of eternal truth.
So, the Israelites are laboring under the yoke of the Egyptians, and a leader arises, Moses. He is called by God to chastise the Tyrant, implying that there is a Divine Spirit of sovereign power whose nature is to punish the Tyrant. It is also a call to the Israelites to free themselves from the Yoke of the Tyrant.
God is portrayed as the Spirit that inspires the enslaved, the unjustly enslaved, to free themselves, and so Moses is their unwilling leader. He is not a gifted man verbally but nonetheless touched by God to have this inspiring capacity, and he is urged by God to stand up against the Tyrant and to tell the Pharaoh that unless his people are let go, all Hell is going to break loose, which it does in the form of a multitude of plagues.
Plagues destroy both the present of the Egyptians and their future in the last plague, the death of the firstborn. The Israelites are then sent out into the desert by the Egyptians, who are finally terrified by God that their sorcery cannot duplicate. And in a last-ditch attempt to establish their tyrannical sovereignty, they decide to kill the Israelites and end up drowned in the Red Sea.
Now, the Israelites have escaped from the Tyrant. And this is where the story becomes even more realistic. It is so profoundly and remarkably and surprisingly realistic because it’s easy for naïve people to think that once you’ve escaped the Tyrant, you’re scot-free. Freedom means you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, but it turns out that’s the desert.
The Exodus story compresses these two extremes at the top and bottom of human life. One is an extreme of order, and that’s Tyranny, but the other is an extreme of chaos, and that’s this desert-like freedom where you’re sure you’re free. Now they are free, but where are the Israelites going, and which way is the right way? They’re in the desert, and it’s not pleasant, and it’s not even obvious that the Desert is better than the Tyranny.
Tomorrow, in Part 3, I will lay out a possible strong interpretation of the Bronze Serpent on a staff.
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Reading these three from 1 to 3, and have learned that we look at the Bible in different ways but to see that the Bible’s messages are only now being seen as scientifically accurate too, now that is a wonderful message.
This series is super! After reading all three parts (the last one today), I didn’t want it to end. So many great ideas that I never thought about. Too many people think the Bible is old and worthless but that is NOT true. it is as relevant today as it was when originally written.
Maybe Gen. Satterfield could a series on GENSIS.
Excellent job my friend. Coming out and don’t look back. If you look back you will go back. What are you saying. When the Israelites was free in the desert hit their 1st hurtle on complaining of no food. “Had it been better we stayed in slavery in Egypt, at least we had food.” That was a wrong idea. I rather be free no food then being in slavery with food. I know God will provide me the bread 🍞 in due time. The father’s responsibility is to take care of his children.
A drug addiction or alcohol addiction, sexual addiction delivery from these addiction. If you keep looking back long enough the feeling will overcome you if not strong enough. You will go back.
Don’t look back.
Thank you, Eddie. Now read the best part of the series today about the bronze snake on a staff.
Eddie, excellent points. Thank you man.
This is why I read this leadership blog every day. This is the kind of study we all should be doing to help make us better so that we can help others be better too. There are simply too many people who get lost in evil and no one is willing to help pull them out.
I just commented on Part 1 and said I’m looking forward to today and tomorrow to read the last parts. That is why I love this website so much and Gen. Satterfield that gives us an expanded view on what others have written, esp. in the Bible.
Gen. Satterfield, another well written article for us. And thank you for that. I am looking for tomorrow to see what else you have to say on this journey by the Hebrews.
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The Exodus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exodus
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Good summary
“The Exodus story compresses these two extremes at the top and bottom of human life. One is an extreme of order, and that’s Tyranny, but the other is an extreme of chaos, and that’s this desert-like freedom where you’re sure you’re free. Now they are free, but where are the Israelites going, and which way is the right way? They’re in the desert, and it’s not pleasant, and it’s not even obvious that the Desert is better than the Tyranny.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield. Let us all pay close attention to the last part of the last sentence, “and it’s not even obvious that the Desert is better than the Tyranny.” Amazing comment.
Good that you pointed this out for us Eric. i was going to note the same thing. Pay attention folks because when you throw off your own tyrant, you might not like what you get. But we all know that the tryant is not the right place to be.
Da Man, indeed, let us never forget this. It is a warning to be prepared for the impact of your actions and have a PLAN to overcome problems that may crop up. Clearly the Israelites didn’t have a good plan.
Great points here, thanks all.
Wow, I’m enjoying this but I will say as for as series go “Letters to My Granddaughter” is tops.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/letters-to-my-granddaughter/
Read them all here! ❤❤❤❤❤
Got that right Steve. Thanks for the link. Anyone can now find that link just below the header of this blog. Cheers!
More great thinking by Gen. Doug Satterfield. well done!!!!!!
Gen. Satterfield is giving us a part of the Exodus story that moves across four books in the Old Testament. Now, the length of it tells of its importance since it comes right after the first book Genesis.
Gen. Satterfield wrote, “The Story begins with the Israelites in captivity as slaves to a tyrant. We’re all the slavish children of tyrants. Sometimes that’s the external Tyrant, sometimes our own Tyrant, so the story is true psychologically and sociologically simultaneously, giving it a kind of eternal truth.” Now, we are getting to the heart of what Gen. S. has been telling us for a long time. I would recommend an article by Gen. S. from the past, “Should we go to Church?” at this link:
https://www.theleadermaker.com/should-we-go-to-church/
You will begin to appreciate what is being written so often in this blog about how to be a better leader but also a better person.
Max, yep. Too many folks are just too lazy to even try to make themselves better. what’s up with that? I have no idea why folks refuse to push themselves to live a better life. Maybe it is because they are narcissists or anti-God. The latter is most likelly the explanation.
Max and Marx, I appreciate your look at what is a forever intractable problem. When people were more religious in the past, this was less of a problem but here we are. How’s that getting rid of religion by the government working out? Not so well.
Delightful. Thanks to Gen. Satterfield. Love ❤ your works.
Gen. Satterfield, thank you and so far I like what you are doing. As a practicing Christian, I applaud your efforts. Of course, I’m sure you are saving the best for Part 3 (the bronze snake/serpent on a staff). Wow, keep these kinds of effort coming our way.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Agree, this is going to be an excellent look at the Bible from the perspective of a great military leader. I’m looking forward to the last part.🙏
Yep, nothing like good ole fashioned interpretations by Gen. Satterfield. Always looking forward to a different view of t hings.
Part 3 tomorrow, yeah!