American Moses

I was browsing at the Book Store that Cokesbury sets up at annual conference in June and saw this book by Bruce Feiler and was intrigued.  I have to admit that everything that I have read from him so far (Walking the Bible, Where God Was Born, Abraham) have been wonderfully written and powerful books that have gripped me and challenged me in my own walk with God.  I re-read (or listen to) walking the Bible every time I get ready to head back to Israel and strongly encourage all those that travel with me to do the same.  The title of the book alone: America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story, peaked my interest.  I was not disappointed.

Feiler argues that throughout the history of the United States you will find the Exodus story and that we have had the repeated need to raise up American Moses'.  The book begins with the Pilgrims off Massachusets coast, quoting the story.  They saw themselves as the new Israelites fleeing bondage in the old world and escaping to set up God's kingdom in the new world.

But the story doesn't end there.  The founding fathers (Franklin and Jefferson) suggested that Moses should be a part of the great seal of this new country.  The Liberty Belll has words from Moses inscribed on it.  Both Washington and Lincoln were called Moses incarnate.  Martin Luther King invoked the image of Moses the night before he was murdered.  And many see Barak Obama as a new Moses as well.

But the real point of Feilers book is a call for us to re-examin our lives and our priorities as a country.  He is calling us (as any good preacher would do) to re-evaluate our priorites before it is too late. 

Feiler is a master story teller and I would highy recommend this book!