From Desperation to Triumph through Memory
Comparative commentary by David Emanuel
Together, the three paintings in this exhibition help us narrate Israel’s journey of redemption, highlighting the most significant act of God on their behalf—an act that serves as the cornerstone of their collective memory. These artworks depict pivotal moments of God’s work in bringing His people out of slavery in a foreign land and leading them to inherit and conquer a land of their own. Through such visual representations, the story of divine deliverance and covenant faithfulness is vividly brought to life, underscoring the foundation of Israel’s identity and relationship with God.
The figure we see in Vincent van Gogh’s At Eternity’s Gate can assist a deeper appreciation of Israel’s early existence as a nation characterized by destitution and profound solitude. For centuries, they endured the brutal realities of slavery in Egypt. Their anguished cries went unheard, perhaps—we may imagine—like those of the solitary figure in the painting. With no allies, no deliverer, and no refuge, they found themselves in the depths of despair. This represents a stark and sobering beginning—a people without hope, without a God, without allies, and without a land of their own. To overcome their dire circumstances, the Hebrews needed more than their own strength or efforts; they required intervention beyond human capacity, a divine hand to reshape their destiny and breathe life into their miserable existence.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s The Gathering of the Manna masterfully portrays the profound intersection between human destitution and divine mercy, in which God’s transforming provision meets the struggles of his people. The details of the composition transcend the simplicity of its title, capturing multiple moments from Israel’s wilderness sojourn. At the centre stands Moses, elevated between heaven and earth, embodying his role as mediator between the divine and the human. The horns of light radiating from his head allude to his descent from Mount Sinai, symbolizing his encounter with God and the establishment of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Divine (Exodus 34:29). Tiepolo weaves subtle yet powerful allusions to God’s redemptive activity. The composition hints at the selection of Israel as His chosen people and the covenant that begins their transformation from a state of destitution to one of flourishing.
After their encounter with God, and acceptance of his covenant stipulations, the Israelites were able to enter the promised land. Although the land was a divine gift, the Israelites were compelled to seize it through brutal warfare. Kings were dismembered (Judges 1:6), and cities, along with their inhabitants, were annihilated. Gruesome as these acts were, they are understood in the biblical accounts as forming part of the divine plan for conquering the land. David’s decapitation of Goliath is a notable and brutal episode within this larger narrative, which can be read as symbolizing God’s providential role in the Israelite invasion and final settlement of Canaan. The future king’s victory over the Philistine giant reflects the conquest’s later stages, during which the last of the nations who occupied Canaan, the Philistines, were subdued. These events collectively can be read as marking the fulfilment of God’s promise, as the Israelites transition from wanderers to a settled nation.
Together, the traditions recalling magnificent acts of God—from hearing the Hebrews’ cry in captivity, providing for their needs, and bringing them into a spacious land of their own—form the fundamental salvation narrative that was designed to serve not just the exodus generation, but all subsequent generations.
In Psalm 77, an individual psalmist feeling isolated and in distress meditates on God’s magnificent deeds of old, saying, ‘I considered the days of old … I will remember my song in the night’ (vv.5–6). This deliberate act of remembrance revives the psalmist’s spirit as he contemplates the majestic deeds of the Lord during the exodus.
The author of Psalm 78 urges collective reflection on God’s redemptive work in Israel’s history to help future generations avoid the recurring cycle of rebellion and punishment. The psalmist identifies the root cause of this persistent disobedience: failure to remember God’s gracious and merciful acts. This theme of forgetfulness echoes throughout the psalm. Israel repeatedly forgets its God: ‘They forgot his works and the wonders that he showed them’ (v.11); and ‘[a]gain and again they tempted God … [t]hey did not remember his power’ (vv.41–42).
For the psalmist, remembrance is key to breaking this destructive cycle. Reflecting on God’s mighty deeds, especially during the exodus events, calls the people to cultivate faithfulness and free themselves from the pattern of rebellion and punishment.
