Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Controversy

The other night we watched the new documentary in the “Patterns of Evidence” series – The Moses Controversy. We enjoyed it, and I would recommend it, but with some caveats.

One warning – Patterns of Evidence is a film series, and so I don’t think we’re done with Moses yet. The early teasers in the film are not really covered (including the myth of “chariot wheels” in the Red Sea). Instead, the movie really sticks to one topic – is it possible that Moses wrote the Pentateuch?

You may wonder if tales about alphabets and scribes would really make an interesting movie. Kind of like making a movie about writing a dictionary. But it’s actually quite interesting, and very well made.

(Before I continue, another note – you would be wise to watch the first movie first, otherwise you will be lost when it comes to the important question of Egyptian chronology.)

So here are two things that concerned me about the movie. First, part of the drama is the investigation of the film maker, who grew up in a Christian atmosphere, and yet is now wondering if there really is evidence for his faith.

So you’re left with the impression that if there isn’t currently evidence that is accepted by scholars, then the Bible isn’t true. Well, of course there are a lot of things that are true that at one time or another weren’t accepted by scholars. The truth of the Bible does not depend on this kind of evidence.

Of course, all truth is consistent with God’s Word. But what we can “prove” by the “evidence” at this point in history is a different matter.

As you may imagine, the film makes the argument that there is good evidence that Moses could have written the Pentateuch. And this drama is part of what makes the movie interesting. But I did appreciate the response of one scholar that was interviewed – “Moses did write the Pentateuch”. Period. Way to tell it like it is!

My other concern is a positive and a negative, actually. The movie did get into a lot of speculation. Now, actually, I don’t have a problem with speculation to a certain extent. Wondering about what Bible characters were actually thinking when they chose to do something is fascinating, and it brings the Bible alive (although you wouldn’t want to base your theology on that kind of speculation – seriously, I’ve heard whole sermons based on what the pastor thinks someone in the Bible was thinking! FAIL.).

So the speculation about who invented the alphabet is fascinating – might be true – but it’s in no way needed to show that Moses could have written – what he did write.

In fact, there are a few basic facts which show clearly that Moses could have written what he wrote. You could discount half the movie, and still come to that conclusion.

With those caveats, I still recommend you watch the movie. It’s an interesting look at the academic world, and how people come to such different conclusions. It’s a look at the world in which Moses lived, and how God sent His Word at just the right time. And it’s certainly fascinating to learn about the development of the alphabet. (As Nathanael pointed out, once you’ve seen the origins of the letter A, you can never un-see it!)

When we start with God’s Word, and use it rightly, it makes science and history come alive, and start to make sense. In fact, science and history are impossible without that starting point. Joseph and Moses were real people, who are remarkable because God chose them. Why not go and read about them, in the Pentateuch, today?

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:27

I noticed that Creation.com also did a review, and the authors came to a very similar conclusion as mine. Check it out: New Patterns of Evidence film tackles tough questions