God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining God's Actions in the Exodus Plagues (Paternoster Biblical Monographs) [Paperback]

William A. Ford (Author), R. W. L. Moberly (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

The story of the Exodus from Egypt is of fundamental importance, both in the Old Testament and beyond. However, it also contains issues that are theologically problematic for many readers, especially concerning the actions of God. Why does God send a series of devastating plagues on Egypt? How do we understand the hardening of Pharaoh's heart? What do the answers to these questions say about the character of God?

This study addresses these questions, taking into account the complex interaction of the presuppositions of faith and responsible textual interpretation. The approach is narrative–theological and canonical—paying attention to such factors as speaker, addressee, purpose, and reception, a picture is built up of the different and developing relationships between God, Pharaoh, and Moses. This complex interaction provides a way to read and understand the wider plagues story, including the plagues and hardening of the heart within it.

The picture that emerges is challenging rather than comfortable—a God who is responsive, speaking and acting to confront others to make the appropriate response to him.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"William Ford has combined careful scholarship, original thinking, and theological awareness to provide the reader with an exciting new reading of the Exodus complex of events. His detailed study of the ten plagues is outstanding in its observation, explanation, and challenge to the modern reader to take the biblical account seriously. His thoughtful study encourages us to respond appropriately in worship and proclamation of the Good News of the God of Exodus, revealed to us in the true Passover Lamb, Jesus, the Messiah."
—Richard Harvey, All Nations Christian College

"William Ford brings to this task a high degree of competence in Hebrew, a disciplined and rigorous exegetical eye and a subtle theological sensitivity. I am happy to commend this study warmly."
—Paul M. Joyce, University of Oxford

"Ford has helped me, at any rate, to understand the biblical text in a fresh way that does justice both to critical method and to contemporary faith. I hope that my own experience of having my eyes opened and being enabled to make better sense of a famous and difficult narrative will be shared by many other readers too."
—R. W. L. Moberly, from the Foreword

About the Author

William A. Ford is currently working as a visiting lecturer at All Nations Christian College. Before this he completed a PhD in Old Testament at Durham University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: Paternoster (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842274201
• ISBN-13: 978-1842274200
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,740,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A close reading of an important text, March 13, 2009

By 

Matthew Marston - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining God's Actions in the Exodus Plagues (Paternoster Biblical Monographs) (Paperback)

In this book, William Ford moves through a very close reading of the plagues narrative in Exodus with an eye to the portrayal of God's actions. He moves very methodically, often commenting on single words, but he writes very well, so the book is not boring. I so enjoyed the prose that I couldn't believe it is a revised version of doctoral dissertation. Throughout, Ford shows that a proper understanding of the text rests in a patient, careful reading rather than moving too quickly from text to systematic formulation. The case of YHWH "hardening" Pharaoh's heart is case in point. When so many move from textual instance to a normative description, Ford shows what the hardening actually does in the text.

I highly recommend this work to anyone with questions about the plagues narrative or the issue of hardening. It is worth reading as an example of good exegesis and good writing. But the people who should read it the most are Christians who tend to neglect the Old Testament or anyone who believes the lie that the God of the Old Testament is a savage, tribal god of Israelites. Read this book and better know YHWH as revealed in this particular story.