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Positive and Negative Uses of the Exodus Motif in Prophetic and Apocalyptic Biblical Literature

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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE USES OF THE EXODUS MOTIF IN PROPHETIC AND APOCALYPTIC BIBLICAL LITERATURE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF DIVINITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY CHARLES JOSHUA PARROTT SUMMER 2020 Copyright © 2020 Charles Joshua Parrott All Rights Reserved APPROVAL SHEET POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE USES OF THE EXODUS MOTIF IN PROPHETIC AND APOCALYPTIC BIBLICAL LITERATURE Charles Joshua Parrott Read and approved by: Chair:___Dr. Gary Yates___________ Reader:___Dr. Leo Percer________ Reader:___Dr. David Pettus__________ Date: July 17, 2020 ii For Brantley & Luke iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...............................................................................................................vi ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................vii CHAPTER ONE: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EXODUS MOTIF...........................................1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem.....................................................................................................7 Definition of Terms..............................................................................................................7 Purpose and Thesis............................................................................................................12 Limitations and Delimitations of the Study.......................................................................18 Methodology......................................................................................................................18 The Exodus Motif in the Biblical Canon...........................................................................20 The Pentateuch......................................................................................................20 The Historical Books............................................................................................21 The Psalms............................................................................................................22 The Gospels..........................................................................................................23 The Book of Acts..................................................................................................23 The Letters............................................................................................................24 Types of Exodus Theologies.............................................................................................25 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................26 CHAPTER TWO: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE USES OF THE EXODUS MOTIF IN ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, AND EZEKIEL............................................................................................29 An Examination of Isaiah..................................................................................................32 An Examination of Jeremiah.............................................................................................55 An Examination of Ezekiel................................................................................................63 Theological Conclusions....................................................................................................74 iv CHAPTER THREE: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE USES OF THE EXODUS MOTIF IN THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE................................................................................................78 An Examination of Hosea..................................................................................................79 An Examination of Joel.....................................................................................................89 An Examination of Amos..................................................................................................93 An Examination of Jonah...................................................................................................97 An Examination of Micah................................................................................................100 An Examination of Nahum..............................................................................................103 An Examination of Habakkuk.........................................................................................104 An Examination of Zephaniah.........................................................................................106 An Examination of Haggai..............................................................................................106 An Examination of Zechariah..........................................................................................109 An Examination of Malachi.............................................................................................111 Theological Conclusions..................................................................................................112 CHAPTER FOUR: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE USES OF THE EXODUS MOTIF IN BIBLICAL APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE.................................................................115 An Examination of Daniel...............................................................................................116 An Examination of Revelation.........................................................................................123 Theological Conclusions..................................................................................................139 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION...............................................................................................142 Summary of Findings.......................................................................................................142 Learning from the Use of the Exodus Motif....................................................................144 Avenues for Further Research.........................................................................................147 Practical Application.......................................................................................................149 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................153 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project would not have been completed without the loving support, daily encouragement, and consistent patience of my wife, Brantley, and my son, Luke. You both inspire me every day, and I love you! I am also grateful for the abiding love of my parents, Reggie and Patti Parrott. You have taught me the value of hard work, and I love you! Many other family members supported me in this academic journey, and I deeply appreciate each of you. Specifically, the Reverend Ryan Eklund needs to be thanked for his support, both prayerful and financial, throughout this academic journey. My three great friends, the Reverend Jonathan Spangler, Dr. David Elrod, and Dr. Scott Ryan have all exhorted and prayed for me through this process. Dr. Ryan even graciously took time during the Covid-19 quarantine to provide thoughtful feedback on my writing and argumentation, and for that I am truly thankful. All of my colleagues at Louisburg College have also been very encouraging during this endeavor. Specifically, the Humanities Division and Crystal Brantley, Will Hinton, Kris Hoffler, Tommy Jenkins, Susan Ranes, and Ian Wolf need to be thanked for their kind words of affirmation during my PhD studies. Finally, I have to express deep appreciation and thanks to Dr. Gary Yates, my dissertation chair, and my dissertation readers, Dr. Leo Percer and Dr. David Pettus. Thank you for your guidance and gracious responses throughout this project. I have greatly benefited from your scholarship and wise counsel. You have shown me the rigor that is necessary in order to make a meaningful contribution to our field. vi ABSTRACT In the following pages of this dissertation, I address two questions: 1) How do biblical authors reuse the exodus motif in positive and negative ways? 2) What does theological reflection on these uses yield? In Chapter One, we will see that the historical exodus is not only contextually plausible, but it is also particularly doctrinal. The exodus reveals noteworthy truths for God’s people today, and these truths need to be continually affirmed. Chapter Two shows that collectively, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel had an understanding of Israelite history, and they trusted God’s sovereign control of that history. These prophets also had a collective understanding of God’s nature and the significance of sin. Individually, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel drew on the exodus narrative to remind their hearers of God’s self- revelation (Ezek 20:4-5), and of God’s salvation (Jer 2:6; Ezek 20:6; 10). Furthermore, these prophets used the exodus motif to rebuke their hearers for covenant unfaithfulness (Jer 11:1-8). Chapter Three examines how the exodus motif is used within the Book of the Twelve. These prophets use the motif to show God’s faithfulness in the past, confront covenant unfaithfulness in the present, and provide hope for a greater salvation in the future. Chapter Four examines the books of Daniel and Revelation. Each of these books reveal that God is just and that he responds to the persistent
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