Children of Abraham Essay Example
Laura Laws, Nick Skinner, Sarah Swain
INT - 244
Collaborative Learning Assignment
Professor Anthony Colombo
March 24, 2013
Children of Abraham
The Exodus event laid an important foundation for God’s redemption plan for humanity and it is clearly recognized in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The purpose of this essay will be to discuss the historical, social and spiritual metaphor for the Exodus experience for Judaism throughout the ages. We will also discuss the ways in which the Exodus experience might parallel the salvation, conversion and the sanctification experience in Christianity. Finally we will discuss the way Islam views the Exodus experience different from that of Judaism and Christianity. By answering each of these questions effectively we hope to gain a new understanding of what God was doing for future generations through each belief. While researching the history of Judaism we see that God lays out the plan and purpose for His chosen people; we also see the people proving their lack of desire to live according to this purpose. Even though the people of Israel were God’s chosen people, they continually failed to meet His expectations and often did whatever they wanted because they could; this included worshipping other gods. As time went on the influence became stronger until the voice and purpose of God could only be heard by a few. The teachings of Judaism are often centered on ethical or ethical-historical monotheism; meaning that professing Jews, of various backgrounds, believe in the one and only God, the God of Israel (Baron, 2011). The Exodus can be seen as prophesy as far back as Abraham. God spoke to Abraham about the bondage of Israel in Egypt and said that after a time of servitude, there would be relief. God used the great darkness and the smoking furnace to let Abraham know that their servitude to Egypt would last four hundred years and then “they will come away with great wealth” (Genesis 15:14, NLT). God knew that there
INT - 244
Collaborative Learning Assignment
Professor Anthony Colombo
March 24, 2013
Children of Abraham
The Exodus event laid an important foundation for God’s redemption plan for humanity and it is clearly recognized in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The purpose of this essay will be to discuss the historical, social and spiritual metaphor for the Exodus experience for Judaism throughout the ages. We will also discuss the ways in which the Exodus experience might parallel the salvation, conversion and the sanctification experience in Christianity. Finally we will discuss the way Islam views the Exodus experience different from that of Judaism and Christianity. By answering each of these questions effectively we hope to gain a new understanding of what God was doing for future generations through each belief. While researching the history of Judaism we see that God lays out the plan and purpose for His chosen people; we also see the people proving their lack of desire to live according to this purpose. Even though the people of Israel were God’s chosen people, they continually failed to meet His expectations and often did whatever they wanted because they could; this included worshipping other gods. As time went on the influence became stronger until the voice and purpose of God could only be heard by a few. The teachings of Judaism are often centered on ethical or ethical-historical monotheism; meaning that professing Jews, of various backgrounds, believe in the one and only God, the God of Israel (Baron, 2011). The Exodus can be seen as prophesy as far back as Abraham. God spoke to Abraham about the bondage of Israel in Egypt and said that after a time of servitude, there would be relief. God used the great darkness and the smoking furnace to let Abraham know that their servitude to Egypt would last four hundred years and then “they will come away with great wealth” (Genesis 15:14, NLT). God knew that there