There is undoubtedly an epic quality to many of the stories we encounter in the Old Testament. The drama of God’s narrative is played out so often on a grand scaled and the Exodus story is certainly one of the best examples. The grand spectacle of the parting of the Red Sea is certainly one of the reasons the oral tradition inspired imaginations over the generations, leading to its eventual inclusion in the Hebrew Bible.
That Hollywood’s film makers have attempted time and again to retell this tale stands as a witness to the value of a good, grand story. As a lover of film and cinematic storytelling, I was delighted to come across a video compilation of how the portrayal of God’s activity in parting the Red Sea has been presented throughout the history of filmmaking. I invite you to take four minutes to watch and be delighted today:
We know that one of the ways we can respond to God’s love experienced in our lives is to tell such a story to others. Whether it’s the epic dramas that have been passed down from generation to generation or the seemingly simple stories from our own lives, we have been given some great material to work with. And while some amazing special effects can thrill an audience, some good-old honest storytelling can go a long way too.
May God’s hope embrace you today. -Pastor Peter
Let us pray… God of grand stories, there are no amount of special effects that can contain the fullness of your story but don’t ever let that stop us from trying. Amen.