The Prince of Egypt

I had forgotten I had it.

That is, the VHS tape of the movie The Prince of Egypt.

It came out while I was in seminary, and I saw it in the theater.

And that was it.

After seeing that movie, I was fully and completely in a crisis of faith. It was the Passover scene that did it, really. It was just too hard for me to see an actual (albeit animated) reinactment of the killing of Egypt's children by the "passing-over" Spirit of God. I know, I know, they were oppressors, and their violence against others and unwillingness to listen to God and free the people resulted in the Passover, but still...

Seminary itself already shakes the foundations of your faith. All I needed was this movie--and I fell.

After a long conversation with my Old Testament professor the next week, I came to terms and peace with God and the Bible again, and my faith returned, but not without a "dark night of the soul."

I'm honestly not sure why I then obtained the VHS tape of this movie, or why it ended up later with my sister.

But this past week, she brought it back to me. And, while "Jed" stayed with her in her new classroom while she set it up (she's a teacher) and I went to do some work in Columbia (supply-getting and hospital-visiting), she let him watch it. I knew she would. I didn't try to stop her. But I felt kind of funny about it.

Since then, he's wanted to watch it 4 times.

I don't know how I feel about this.

I have watched it with him several times, stopping to explain various things in the best way I can, but it's hard.

So I wonder--what do (or did) you who also raise (or who have raised) your children in faith and knowledge of the Bible tell your children about the "texts of terror," the stories where God smites people, and people kill people, and the Lord seems scary?

I know what I say, and I'd be glad to share.

But it's hard. And since God is the Great Mystery, I am so afraid I'm saying the wrong things, or things that might scar my child in ways that would not please Christ, or be true to Him.

So I'd like to know what you say to your children about these things.

Please comment below, if you're willing to share!