Many stories in the Bible have been ridiculed as pure myth, particularly those that describe apparently miraculous events. From time to time, however, scientific investigation reveals that they are not as implausible as they may at first appear.
The story of Moses leading the people of Israel to safety across the Red Sea is a prime example. Many have scorned the idea that a strong east wind could actually hold back the waters of a sea or river.
Scientific Explanation
It is reported today that scientists from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), as part of their investigations into the effect of wind on water depths have been examining how Pacific Ocean typhoons can drive storm surges.
They decided to turn their attention to the biblical story of Moses and looked for the right combination of geological features with an east wind that would fit with the account as recorded in the book of Exodus.
Their conclusion is that there is a site within the Nile Delta where just such an event could have been brought about by a 63 mph wind blowing overnight. The result would have been a land bridge across mud flats that would permit a large band of people to cross. Once the wind died down, the water would rush back into place potentially drowning anyone in its path.
Their computer simulation is a very close fit with the biblical account whereby the Children of Israel crossed safely on dry land whilst the Egyptians, who were pursuing them in chariots, were all drowned.
Always Sceptics
Of course there will always be those who will denounce this event as not being miraculous at all but simply a freak occurrence of nature that can be explained by fluid dynamics. We would argue, however, that how it happened and the exact location is really incidental. The miracle as described in the bible consists in God instructing Moses what to do, when to do it and where to do it. Anyone who tries to dismiss the incident as an amazing coincidence is simply pushing credibility far beyond reasonable boundaries.
Living Book
People today who have chosen to trust their lives to the God of the bible and who seek to live in accordance with biblical principles can testify that amazing coincidences (and sometimes phenomena that simply defy scientific explanation) continue to happen. In fact, many do not refer to such occurrences as ‘coincidences’ but prefer the term ‘God-incidencies’ because they believe God is behind them.
To many, the bible is a dry ancient book of myths but to those who have put its teachings into practice, it is an astonishing book that is able to bring about dramatic changes that result in an amazing new lifestyle.
The core of the bible’s teaching concerns the general poor moral standard in most of today’s society (the bible uses the term ‘sin’) and what individuals can do to be saved from it.
For more on this and to learn what it can mean for you, see our article on ‘How Can I be Saved’.
