Exodus 13-15

Today I was handed a short document setting forth archaeological research done in and around the Gulf of Aqaba. For those of you that have never heard of this place, rest assured, neither had I before I read the article. Through several underwater pictures and a proposed plausible pathway, the writers of the document are making their case that they have substantial evidence that they have located the route the Hebrews and Egyptians followed when they crossed over the Reed Sea (or Red Sea).

Seemed pretty timely to me since we just read about the account in Exodus today. What an awesome and miraculous event. But the article brought something to my mind, the inerrancy of Scripture. We must never forget that the "stories" of the Bible are indeed real historical events (whether we find evidence for them or not). The Biblical writers never communicate the events as anything other than historical fact. Depending on their perspective, different elements are emphasized but are all accurate representations of real events.

If one holds to Biblical inerrancy it means that person believes that in all things the Bible teaches or describes, it does so truthfully without error. I am one of those people. This statement doesn't mean that the Bible speaks to everything, but rather that everything to which the Bible does speak, it does so in a manner which is authoritative, without error, and hence trustworthy.

Archeology or not, the Bible is accurate. However, we must never fear archeology. Over the years it has been one of our greatest friends. It continues to validate the words of Scripture time and time again. And by this we should not be surprised. We believe in a God who communicated His holy words to us through the agency of man. If the sovereign Creator is the One speaking, we should have no fear that He might get it wrong.

His Word has stood, and will continue to stand, the test of time. And we, as believers, must continue to stand behind its trustworthiness, for in so doing, we continue to affirm the trustworthiness of its Author to a world which so desperately needs to hear its message of Truth.