The Bible in Poetry: The Exodus

Extracted from the Bible In Poetry

From Genesis to Revelation

The Exodus

Then another Pharoah who knew not Joseph rose,

Mistreating all of Israel whom he viciously opposed;

The work he gave was hard and the hours too were long,

There was not a joyous moment not even a single song.

But not far in the river Nile hidden among the reeds,

There was a special baby found to meet their needs;

His mother fearing for his life hid him in the Nile,

While Miriam kept up vigil watching all the while.

As Moses' name suggested he was 'taken from the water',

Right where he was discovered by the Pharoah’s daughter;

Growing up in the palace he was treated as royalty,

Soon this very family would become his sworn enemy.

Defending a Hebrew slave, he killed a man one day,

And so to far off Midian he was forced to run away;

Not long after he arrived he saw a marvelous light,

Bush burning, not consumed, what a wondrous sight!

"Take off your shoes," the voice of God had sound,

"For the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Moses did not hesitate but hastened to obey,

God was bringing deliverance, beginning from that day.

He was told, "Go!" Command Pharoah to let My people go."

Pharoah laughed and wondered who would dare to tell him so.

“I'm the only God in Egypt and even your God should know,

So dear old Moses go back and tell him Pharoah said no."

Pharoah was up against it though he was not aware,

God is greater that any Pharaoh; that was made very clear.

He lost face rapidly as God displayed His power,

No refuge for Egyptians, not even in the strongest tower.

On that dreaded night the loudest of screams was heard

As Pharoah learnt a lesson about the power of God’s word;

Every first born perished where the blood was not applied,

Pharoah’s house was no different, his first born had also died.

Just as was expected, Pharoah forced to eat his word,

Commanded all Israel to leave but they’d already heard;

The Egyptians tried one last time to stop the Hebrew’s flight,

But drowned in the Red Sea; that was a horrible plight!

 

But in the same Red Sea over the smoothened stones,

The Israelites walked securely carrying Joseph’s bones;

God had proven once again His promises he will keep,

Even when they look delayed, our God does not sleep.

Wilderness Wanderings

And so began the wandering of Israel the Bible tells,

Of the Hebrew children so unruly they started to rebel;

They argued oft with Moses his word they often spurned,

And they yearned the more for Egypt, even longing to return.

What should’ve been a journey of just eleven days,

Became as many as forty years as the wilderness became a maze;

They wandered and they wandered from one place to another,

And Moses had a troubled time just keeping them together.

They grumbled and they fret, they quarreled and complained,

God sent then fiery serpents that caused them death and pain;

“Make a brazen serpent, Moses, suspend it from a pole,”

And as those bitten beheld it, they were made completely whole.

Of those who were in Egypt none would enter Canaan land,

Except for Joshua and Caleb, there was not another man;

All the others would pass away because of their unbelief,

And so their life in the wilderness was one of torturous grief.

Even Moses, the view he had was from Pisgah’s Mountain

Because in anger struck the rock as to create a fountain;

He should have spoken as instructed but rather gave it a lash,

And so he was was forbidden entry for being this rash.

Eventually they had arrived at the foot of the Mount Sinai,

God had warned them keep away unless they want to die;

He beckoned Moses up the mount so he could meet with Him,

And Joshua also went along part way up the mountain.

When Moses returned what he saw made him mad,

There and then he threw a tantrum just like a little lad;

The law, slammed to the ground simply broke apart,

And up the mountain again Moses made a fresh start.

The Decalogue

And finally the commandments to the Israelites were given,

They were only ten in all, just one short of eleven;

But the children of Israel broke them time and time again,

And often they were punished suffering much unneeded pain.

The first commandment was to have no other gods but me

Second, make no graven image in the sky on land or sea;

Third, never take the name of the Lord thy God in vain,

The seventh day remember, was the fourth law in the chain.

First commandment with promise, honour father and mother,

The sixth commandment instructs do not commit a murder;

The seventh commandment states do not commit adultery,

The eighth commands us not to steal, today it’s larceny.

Do not bear false witness is commandment number nine,

Covet not the neighbour’s own, from this you should decline.

Ten commandments in all was the Decalogue comprised,

Given to the nation Israel to teach them how to thrive.

In the Promised Land

Eventually the time did come and they crossed over Jordan,

With Joshua at the head they entered the land of Canaan;

They overthrew great Jericho and so the conquering began,

All who had come against them were defeated or just ran.

 

But then they made a slip that caused an awful mess,

Defeated by an army whose numbers had been less;

Achan was the one that caused it, his heart on sin was bent,

He took of the accursed thing then hid it in his tent.

Joshua went before the Lord, so saddened by disgrace,

That Israel had turned in flight before the enemy’s face;

Achan was arrested and was sentenced to be stoned

Along with his whole household, so he did not die alone.

The land was then divided just as God had prescribed,

All received their portion except for the Levite tribe;

To them a tenth was given of all the other’s wealth,

Though caring for the temple, they still enjoyed good health.

Stewart Russell © 2013