Posted on 01/13/2011 9:23:12 AM PST by marshmallow
Red SeaBOULDER, Colo.- From his office in Boulder, scientist Carl Drews can pinpoint the spot where his research theorizes the biblical miracle of the parting of the Red Sea took place.
Although Drews has never been there, the Google Earth Pro imaging on his computer can zoom in on the place in Egypt where Moses and the Israelites escaped death when the waters parted, according to the Book of Exodus. His virtual "pushpin" comes back with images of what is now predominately agricultural land, with orchards, irrigation canals and grape fields indicating vineyards.
It is in the Eastern Nile Delta, between Pelusium and Qantara, and 120 km north of the most popular theorized place in Egypt, which has been the Suez Canal. And it's reachable on foot.
"One of the places right in the middle of the crossing shows what looks like a hotel and some type of building," said Drews, a member of Epiphany Anglican Fellowship in Boulder, a congregation under the umbrella of the Anglican Mission of the Americas out of Rwanda. "It would be fun to knock on their door and to say in Arabic, 'Do you know that Moses walked right by here.' It would probably elicit a form of disbelief. But perhaps people would say, 'Well, maybe...' ”
His research made the miracle ever more real, said Drews, who claimed to have always been enchanted by the account in the Book of Exodus.
"For anyone who always believed this happened, somehow it's still a thrill to see it supported by scientific finding," he said.
Drews, of Gunbarrel, took up the crossing of the Red Sea for his master's thesis in oceanic and atmospheric sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His research gained national attention, including a segment by ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, but the software engineer with the National Centre for Atmospheric Research said he was not comfortable with the premise some media took — that his research "explained" the phenomena of the parting of the Red Sea.
"The science can only look at the physical aspects of it," Drews said. "'Explanation' means somehow God didn't do it and I don't like those connotations. I think my research further affirms it happened. I think it supports the account."
The study was part of a project into the impact of winds on water depths, including the extent to which Pacific Ocean typhoons can drive storm surges, according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, known as UCAR.
"By pinpointing a possible site south of the Mediterranean Sea for the crossing, the study also could be of benefit to experts seeking to research whether such an event ever took place," UCAR said in a statement. "Archeologists and Egyptologists have found little direct evidence to substantiate many of the events described in Exodus."
Drews and oceanographer Weiqing Han analysed archeological records, satellite measurements and current-day maps to estimate the water-flow and depth that could have existed 3,000 years ago. They then used an ocean computer model to simulate the impact of an overnight wind at that site.
The results were that a wind of 100 km, lasting for 12 hours, would have pushed back waters estimated to be two metres deep. That would have exposed mud flats for four hours, creating a dry passage about three to four km long and almost five km wide. As soon as the wind stopped, the waters would come rushing back, UCAR said.
"There are a number of details (in Exodus) like the duration of the wind and the direction of the wind that support the computer model," Drews said. "The fact that bodies washed up on the Eastern shore where the Israelites were able to see them — details like that were confirmed by the ocean model."
From a theological standpoint, the timing of the Red Sea parting when Moses and his people needed to cross shows the miracle, Drews said.
"From a faith perspective, it has always made sense to me that God uses natural action to carry out His plan if He so chooses," said Drews, who grew up Lutheran. "In this case, He sent the wind and the wind moved the water. God is using natural means to bring out what He wants to have happen, which is to save His people. In this case, God is directing all things."
Ping!
I understand there was a monolith at the place where the crossing by the Jews took place, but within the last couple of hundred years it was removed
For those interested in this sort of thing the DVD “Exodus Revealed” is quite good:
http://www.amazon.com/Exodus-Revealed-Searching-Red-Crossing/dp/B00005AUE2
Ping.
I understand there was a monolith...
There had been one on each shore but the Saudis removed them and replaced them with non Hebrew markers from the last that I had heard.
That hotel, was it run by a guy names Schlomo?
This theory has been out there for years.
That said, I have no problem with the idea of God using nature to do his bidding. Sometimes the fact that things happen at all is pretty miraculous.
(Thanks for posting this)
I applaud the author of this article, and Carl Drews, for a very well written account of Drews’ work.
This article illustrates the true difference between SCIENCE and RELIGION.
Mr. Drews and the author seem to have a respect for both.
I very much agree with them that the ‘miracle’ to the parting of the Red Sea was in the TIMING.
I’m a little skeptical about how much those mud flats would have dried out in 4 hours, especially with lots of traffic through them.
“From his office in Boulder, scientist Carl Drews can pinpoint the spot where his research theorizes the biblical miracle of the parting of the Red Sea took place.”
So can I. All I need is a map of the area and a dart.
A 100 km [/h?] wind would be about 50 mph, while in the army I was stationed out in the desert during winds of about that much.
It was so intense that it literally blew over our porta-potties and the slightest dirt in the wind would hit you like a sandblaster.
If such was applied to a mudflat it would a) eliminate any of the soft/watery mud, and b) as it dried the heavy mud it would be smooth - so it wouldn’t pick up any dirt from the flats themselves.
{The article says about 12 hours was the duration, if the wind was very dry it would pick up a lot of moisture from the mudlfat, drying it out that much quicker.}
100 kph = 62.137119... mph. About 62 mph.
Croosing the Jordan River, to take Jericho, has an excellent means for explanation, too. The river gets dammed naturally on rare occasions, when a landslide stops the flow for a day or two up stream, forming a temporary lake. There is good geological proof as well as eyewitness testimony from decades ago when it occurred for a few hours.
The wind duration was 12hrs, but the bottom was exposed for only 4hrs, I believe is what was stated.
Yet, this shows why miracles are the weakest form of faith. There is always someone to say the person was mistaken, or deluded, or that there is a perfectly “natural” explanation. God is not mocked. Mouse is miracle enough.
I thought there was some surprising wisdom in this line from “Futurama”. (Keep in mind he’s speaking to an imoral drunken robot)
God Entity: Bender, being God isn’t easy. If you do too much, people get dependent on you. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket.
Bender: Or a guy who burns down a bar for the insurance money.
God Entity:Yes, if he makes it look like an electrical thing. If you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe · | ||
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.