If It Was Good Enough for Paul . . .

"If it was good enough for Jesus and the Apostle Paul, it's good enough for me."

We use that bit of humor sometimes to refer to someone who clings to the King James Version of the Bible as if that English translation were the one people read in New Testament times. But I have found a good use for the expression.

Reading some of the revisionist interpretations of the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea, one finds all sorts of explanations. Those who take a low view of the Scripture say that if indeed an exodus took place, it had to be through a shallow body of water. The term "Red Sea" could have been applied in general to any of the several smaller lakes in the vicinity; they may actually have been connected at one time. The people were able to wade across, or perhaps extra-dry conditions dried up the marshy edges and they could simply make their way on relatively solid ground. No Divine intervention needed!

Or, some others say, "sea" may refer to wet, marshy areas, not bodies of water as we now think of seas. Again, God's help was unnecessary! Or they crossed on an ice bridge! (That theory at least acknowledges that God was probably involved.)

Of course, one must consider that there was sufficient water that after all the million or so Israelites had crossed, the soldiers who pursued with horses and chariots perished when the waters returned to the sea bed. Shallow crossing indeed!

But the account as it stands was good enough for Paul (or whoever wrote to the Hebrews). "It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned." (Hebrews 11:29) And before the Apostle's time, the psalmist wrote, "Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the Lord’s miraculous deeds. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea. Even so, he saved them—to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power. He commanded the Red Sea to dry up. He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert. (Psalm 106:7-9) And again he wrote, "Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever, but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:13-15)

So there you have it. If Moses' account was good enough for David and Paul to refer to as fact, it's good enough for me!

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

MaryMartha