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ONTARIO — A recent documentary entitled “The Mountain of Moses” has generated debate about the Book of Exodus and the route Moses and the Israelites took in their exodus from Egypt. During the season of Passover, Rabbi William Hallbrook of Sar Shalom Center gave his thoughts on the subject.
“The film has created discussion about Exodus which is good. Our congregation believes the Book of Exodus is historically accurate. We also believe the Book of Exodus is prophetic, pointing to the last days for natural Jews in the physical and pointing to a spiritual exodus for the Gentiles.”
Rabbi Hallbrook’s congregation has been celebrating the Feast of Passover, which commemorates the events described in Exodus, the subject of filmmaker Ryan Mauro’s documentary. “Locally we have a small Jewish community that observes this Feast and a large church community that is recognizing the Feast at different levels of understanding. It may not look the same, whether it is a ministry like Jews for Jesus teaching on the holiday or a pastor struggling thru a Seder meal with his congregation, people are returning back to the Scriptures in Exodus. Passover really is becoming part of the cultural heritage of North Central Ohio.”
Last year Mauro’s film discussed the Nuweiba Beach crossing he believes Moses and the Israelites took to get to the Promised Land. The counter-intelligence analyst traveled to Saudi Arabia three times to gather evidence, often in areas restricted by the Saudi government.
Rabbi Hallbrook was not surprised that some of the locations depicted in the film have been kept hidden and restricted by the Saudi government. He believes there are persons purposely hiding archaeological findings that could validate the Bible.
Rabbi William Hallbrook, Sar Shalom Center
“We should be careful when we speak to non-believers and show them this film saying “see the Bible is true.” We should first look thru the eyes of the Spirit. To a non-believer, this film is not compelling. To the believer, I think this video will encourage their faith just like a trip to the Holy Land would strengthen a believer’s life.”
“We should be careful when we speak to non-believers and show them this film saying “see the Bible is true.” We should first look thru the eyes of the Spirit. To a non-believer, this film is not compelling. To the believer, I think this video will encourage their faith just like a trip to the Holy Land would strengthen a believer’s life.”
While some in academia question the story of Exodus altogether, Mauro believes the peak of Jabal al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia is the historic Mount Sinai where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The film cites the blackened peak of Jabal al-Lawz as plausible evidence of the Fire of GOD coming down from heaven. It also discusses the existence of an ancient graveyard where three thousand idolaters of the golden calf could supposedly be located. Other evidences provoking viewers of the viability of Mauro’s Red Sea route include a nearby potential split Rock of Horeb that Moses stuck with evidence of eroded rock, and an oasis of twelve wells and seventy palm trees in the middle of desert resembling the wells of Elim.
The Rabbi was asked about his perspective on what modern archaeological discoveries have been the most notable. “My thoughts are that the discoveries reconnecting the ancient City of Jerusalem to the Jewish people are the most consequential. In the ancient underground ruins underneath the Old City, a room has been found where experts believe offerings were made to Melchizedek. Another discovery I feel is significant is the a golden bell and Temple seal believed to be used by the High Priest that was found in 2011 near the Temple Mount.
“Jerusalem is the key, this will be where the Messiah will ultimately rule from in His millennial reign,” says the Rabbi. “Without a doubt, archaeological discoveries can strengthen believer’s faith,” says the Rabbi. “To a non-believer, they are faced with a challenge, they must either turn their back to the truth, further hardening their heart, or they must humble themselves and accept the truth. When a person’s heart hardens, even if Moses came in flesh, they still would not believe.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Exodus Nineteen, “And Mount Sinai was altogether on smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire…”
View documentary video “Finding the Mountain of Moses: The Real Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia” (25 min. duration)
