We had AiG staff review the documentary, and they like the film because it clearly highlights how your starting assumptions determine how you will view and interpret the scientific evidence—something we point out constantly on our website! Some of the scholars and archaeologists in the film who rejected both biblical history and a biblical timeline could not see the overwhelming evidence for the biblical account of the Exodus even when it was right in front of them because they started from the wrong starting point. Your starting point determines how you interpret the evidence!

Toward the end of the film, the ideas of presuppositions and your interpretation of the evidence are summed up in a discussion of revised Egyptian chronology:

There is mounting evidence that the current reconstruction of Egyptian history has major problems that have nothing to do with the Bible. What might Egypt’s history look like if the dark periods were adjusted in a way that some scholars believe the evidence demands?

What’s not changing is the Bible timeline because that’s not affected by [Egyptian chronology]. If you’re changing the Egyptian timeline you’re moving it against the Bible timeline. So all of a sudden things that were not in the right time period between the two are suddenly lining up in a different way. And that’s the exciting bit! [Because] that’s where we suddenly see evidence of the biblical story.

It’s startling to think how significant this could be because chronology, the dates assigned to these events, is the thing being used to convince the world that the Bible is just a fairy tale. But look at the pattern! Evidence matching Joseph and the early Israelites’ arrival in Egypt, their tremendous multiplication, their descent into slavery, the judgment and collapse of Egypt, the deliverance and Exodus of the Semitic population, and, finally, in Canaan, evidence matching the conquest of the Promised Land. I know there’s a lot of disagreement over the dating but what strikes me is that if you put all the dates to the side for a moment what emerges from the archaeology is this pattern that matches the Bible every step of the way and doesn’t that deserve to be taken seriously? But for now, those who hold to established conventions will not allow these connections to be made.

I really encourage you to go see this superb film in theaters as it releases on Monday, January 19. In addition to the documentary, the theatrical showing of this film includes a 30-minute exclusive pre-show as well as a panel discussion following the showing. This post-film discussion includes two secular and two Christian commentators shedding light on the Exodus debate.

We will be releasing a full-length review of the movie on Saturday, so be sure to keep your eyes open for that on AnswersInGenesis.org.

Patterns of Evidence: Exodus is premiering in 650 theatres across the United States on Monday, January 19. To find the showing nearest you, simply click the “buy tickets” button and enter your zip code here. You can learn more about this film, view a trailer, and purchase tickets by visiting PatternsOfEvidence.com. I encourage you to take your skeptical and believing friends, youth group, or homeschool group to go see this excellent, thought-provoking film. You will be encouraged to stand firm in the faith and will be equipped to answer skeptical questions about the Israelite Exodus.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.

The Bible and Archaeology – Is the Bible from God? (Kyle Butt 42 min)

You want some evidence that indicates that the Bible is true? Here is a good place to start and that is taking a closer look at the archaeology of the Old Testament times. Is the Bible historically accurate? Here are some of the posts I have done in the past on the subject: 1. The Babylonian Chronicle, of Nebuchadnezzars Siege of Jerusalem, 2. Hezekiah’s Siloam Tunnel Inscription. 3. Taylor Prism (Sennacherib Hexagonal Prism), 4. Biblical Cities Attested Archaeologically. 5. The Discovery of the Hittites, 6.Shishak Smiting His Captives, 7. Moabite Stone, 8. Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, 9A Verification of places in Gospel of John and Book of Acts., 9B Discovery of Ebla Tablets. 10. Cyrus Cylinder, 11. Puru “The lot of Yahali” 9th Century B.C.E., 12. The Uzziah Tablet Inscription, 13. The Pilate Inscription, 14. Caiaphas Ossuary, 14 B Pontius Pilate Part 2, 14c. Three greatest American Archaeologists moved to accept Bible’s accuracy through archaeology.,