What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Jewishness of Jesus by Moffic Evan;

Author:Moffic, Evan;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2015-12-10T00:00:00+00:00

We can immediately identify with the disciples. They are in mortal danger. Any sane person would feel terrified. And Jesus’s answer seems aloof. He is not acknowledging their fear; he simply questions their faith.

This scene brings to mind a similar debate and conversation between Moses and the Israelites in the Sinai wilderness. It is a few days after the Israelites’ escape from Pharaoh. The Israelites had witnessed magnificent miracles: the ten Plagues, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the subsequent drowning of the Egyptians. God had performed great miracles, freeing them after four hundred years of slavery. The Israelites’ awe and faith had been confirmed when they crossed the sea and sang the “Song of the Sea,” praising God as the “source of salvation.” Yet, just a few days later, they are complaining to Moses about the lack of food and water. They miss the predictability of Egypt. They charge Moses (and thereby God, whose instructions Moses had followed) with taking them out of Egypt just to have them die in the wilderness.

Like the disciples on the ship, the Israelites’ complaints seem warranted. They are stuck in the wilderness. They are lacking food. They probably do feel out of sorts, having had a drastic change in lifestyle in just a few days. Their lives may well be threatened by the barrenness of the wilderness and their vulnerability to potential attacks. They complain to Moses and Aaron. Initially God hears their complaints and responds with manna from heaven. Yet, the complaints continue. They are thirsty. Moses then responds in much the same way Jesus later would. In Exodus 17:2 we see the exchange, “Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ And Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’” (my translation from the Hebrew). Moses is effectively saying, “Why don’t you have faith in the Lord? God led you out Egypt. God provided you with manna. Have you still no faith?”

Notice the striking similarity: both Moses and Jesus respond with exasperation to their followers’ lack of faith. They use an open-ended question to express their frustration. They use it to show their indignation. Why do they respond in this way? Why do they seem to let anger and disappointment overtake them? Some say Moses and Jesus believed their followers failed a test of faith. They should have known God could provide enough food and water and that the storm would not swamp the boat. Moses and Jesus were testing their people’s faith, and both groups failed.

Perhaps. But I would turn to the Jewish idea of covenant to propose a different answer. Covenant refers to a sacred relationship. The first covenant is between God and humanity through Noah. The rainbow is the sign of that covenant. Noah promises to observe seven core laws, and God promises never to destroy the world again with water. The second covenant is between God and the Jewish people. Abraham promises to follow God’s laws, as symbolized through circumcision.

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