Go Out and Meet God: A Commentary on the Book of Exodus (review)

Hebrew Studies 40 (1999) 303 Reviews GO OUT AND MEET GOD: A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF EXODUS. By Godfrey Ashby. International Theological Commentary . pp. xiv + 146. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998. Paper, $16.00. The International Theological Commentary's new volume Go Out and Meet God: A Commentary on the Book of Exodus by Godfrey Ashby fits well the mission statement of the series: ''The Old Testament alive in the Church" (p. vii). It touches on major arguments raised by biblical scholars in a way that is not overly academic, but rather Ashby's writing is clear, pleasant, approachable, and should appeal to the educated Christian lay person . The series' and the author's aim is to address "ministers and Christian educators," and this book ably conveys the results of a lifetime of wellresearched and beautifully written sermons and lectures having a Christian audience. Ashby relates the text as story. He organizes his commentary in several short chapters each of which covers a definable unit of up to seven chapters of biblical text that form a part of, or a "chapter" in, the exodus story. The story begins with "Oppression (Exod 1:1-2:25)" and moves forward with YHWH's statement of knowledge of Israel's suffering, "I Have Heard (Exod 3:1~:1)" to "Liberation (Exod 6:2-27)." The Lord's sending of the plagues comprises the "Contest (Exod 6:28-11:10)" with Pharaoh, and the results are the Divine triumph attested to in the "Passover (Exod 12:113 :16)" and "Escape (Exod 13:17-15:21)" events. Israel fmds herself in the wilderness "On Trek (Exod 15:22-18:27)" to her defining moment at "Sinai (Exod 19:1-20:21)." There she regains her identity as the people of YHWH and becomes "The Alternative Society (Exod 20:22-23:19)." This new identity is forged through "The Covenant Ratified (Exod 23:2024 :28)" and "Worship (Exod 25:1-31:18)." Israel tests her new relationship stipulations with "The Covenant Broken and Renewed (Exod 32:134 :35)," and her Lord shows divine compassion to "God's Forgiven People (Exod 35:1-40:38)." Ashby relies on the methods of historical criticism and tradition history and reports some of the major arguments put forth in the second half of the twentieth century along these theoretical lines. He maintains Levenson's position that the Exodus was the event whereby one deity, YHWH, defeated a lesser one, the Pharaoh (and the Pharaoh's gods), and thereby took over the lordship of the people Israel. And he reconciles Levenson's fmdings with his own deeply held belief in Liberation Theology by arguing that Israel , while being the Lord's chosen people, is the model for a more universal Call to the Nations to become the people of God. When he writes that his aim is to show the crucial importance of the events described and their Hebrew Studies 40 (1999) 304 Reviews meaning for the Old Testament gospel and to explain why the Exodus event is central to the gospel of Iesus Christ [emphasis mine] (p. xi.), he is summarizing his approach to the book of Exodus as story, his Christian view of the Old Testament and New Testament as a single canon and his belief that the Bible's theology is Liberation Theology. Ashby's is a theological reading of the book of Exodus which he formulates within his South African context. And as such, his elucidation of the exodus story brings with it arguments against apartheid and in favor of Liberation Theology and nonviolent resistance. His South African context is also evident in his frequent reference to twentieth century African tribal culture for comparison with ancient Egyptian and ancient Near Eastern cultures. Ashby's writing is light and enjoyable, but his commentary may be too light for scholarly use. His survey of major twentieth century male scholarship is solid though cursory. His work with the text in the original language is limited to the occasional reference to a Hebrew word, and this he does in the rare instance. He gears his work to an audience which has limited Hebrew knowledge and interest, and as such one...