Problems with the Biblical Exodus Narrative

January 31, 2021

While researching the Book of Exodus for my video “The Qur’an and the Secrets of Egypt” (which you can watch here) I came across a number of issues in the Biblical narrative. These were ultimately left out of the video as I felt that they didn’t quite fit the video’s topic of the Qur’an revealing knowledge of the unseen. I still want to share these observations and reflections as I feel that they are highly problematic from a number of angles such as logic and morality, hence this article.

Moses antagonises God

The Book of Exodus narrates the following discussion between Moses and God that is said to have taken place during the Burning Bush incident:

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. [Exodus 4:10-14]

We can see that Moses turns down God’s command to confront Pharaoh, insisting that God send someone else in his place. We are told that this angered God. The Book of Exodus goes on to tell us that Moses does confront Pharaoh, with Pharaoh refusing his request to let the Israelites go. This results in Pharaoh punishing the Israelites by making the conditions of their slavery more difficult. This negative outcome results in Moses challenging God’s command to confront Pharaoh:

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” [Exodus 5:22-23]

Later the Book of Exodus has Moses feeling disheartened by the disobedience of the Israelites. Moses is so disheartened that he again refuses God’s command to confront Pharaoh:

Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.” But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” [Exodus 6:9-12]

These examples are highly problematic and unbecoming of the noble station of Prophethood. Moreover what example does it set to people reading the Bible? Should we be surprised that the Israelites consistently rebelled against God, when their Prophet and leader Moses was constantly questioning and challenging God’s divine wisdom? Contrast this bad attitude to the Qur’anic narrative:

“Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed” [Moses] said, “My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]. And ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech. And appoint for me a minister from my family – Aaron, my brother. Increase through him my strength. And let him share my task that we may exalt You much and remember You much. Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing.” [God] said, “You have been granted your request, O Moses” [20:24-36]

We can see that the Qur’an portrays Moses in a manner that is befitting of a great Prophet of God. When Moses receives the divine command to confront Pharaoh note how he does not question or refuse God’s command. Rather, he asks God to facilitate the task so that he can successfully carry it out.

The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart

The Book of Exodus informs us that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart before he witnessed a single miracle of Moses:

The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go” [Exodus 4:21]

How can it be fair that God would harden Pharaoh’s heart without him having a chance to witness the miracles of Moses? For God to do this to Pharaoh means that he never had a chance. This is a highly problematic passage as it calls into question God’s justice. Contrast this with the Qur’anic narrative where God asks Moses to speak to Pharaoh in a polite manner so that Pharaoh’s ego does not become an obstacle to accepting the message of Moses:

“Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [God].” [20:42-44]

In the Qur’an it is Moses who asks God to harden Pharaoh’s heart. God is said to accept this request:

And Moses said, “Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.” [God] said, “Your supplication has been answered.” So remain on a right course and follow not the way of those who do not know.” [10:88-89]

This event is said to take place after Pharaoh witnessed the miracles of Moses. We can see that the Qur’an tells us that God gave Pharaoh every opportunity to see the truth and become a believer, but ultimately Pharaoh was stubborn and doomed himself by his own free will. Unlike the Bible, God is portrayed in a just and merciful manner that is befitting.

Magicians imitating the miracles of Moses

The Book of Exodus tells us that Pharaoh’s magicians were able to imitate the miracles of Moses:

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt. But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. [Exodus 7:20-23]

Miracles are events that are supposed to stand out from the norm and serve as undeniable proofs that a prophet has genuinely been sent by God. If Magicians can replicate the miracles of God then how are we to distinguish true prophets from the false? Does this not mean that Pharaoh was justified in rejecting Moses’ claims of prophethood, given that his court magicians could replicate his miracles? Egypt was a land of magic, so why wouldn’t God equip Moses with miracles that far exceeds the capabilities of its magicians? This seriously calls into question God’s wisdom.

The biblical narrative is also problematic from the point of view of the Israelites. Put yourself in the shoes of the average Israelite slave in Egypt. Moses, hiding in the wilderness for 40 years, suddenly appears to you out of nowhere, and not only makes the grand claim of being a prophet, but also tells you that you are obliged to follow him. You ask Moses for proof of his claims, and he proceeds to show you signs that are no different and no more impressive than a common Egyptian magician. Why should you risk your life by following Moses and rebelling against Pharaoh? Again, this seriously calls into question God’s wisdom.

By contrast, the Qur’an says that Pharaoh’s magicians were overwhelmed by the miracles of Moses:

[Pharaoh] said, “If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful.”

So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest. And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.

Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, “Indeed, this is a learned magician who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?” They said, “Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers who will bring you every learned magician.”

And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, “Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant.” He said, “Yes, and, [moreover], you will be among those made near [to me].”

They said, “O Moses, either you throw [your staff], or we will be the ones to throw [first].” He said, “Throw,” and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.

And We inspired to Moses, “Throw your staff,” and at once it devoured what they were falsifying. So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing. And Pharaoh and his people were overcome right there and became debased.

And the magicians fell down in prostration [to God]. They said, “We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, The Lord of Moses and Aaron.” [7:106-122]

We can see that as soon as the magicians witnessed the miracles of Moses they immediately accepted that he was a genuine prophet and submitted to God. Thus the truth was made manifest to not only Pharaoh but all the people of Egypt including the Israelites. In the Qur’an God tells us that He will never allow falsehood to overcome the truth:

No! We hurl the truth against falsehood, and truth obliterates it- see how falsehood vanishes away! [21:18]

Islam, Old Testament, Judaism, Qur'an