The Prince of Egypt, 25 Years Later—Does it Hold Up?

The Prince of Egypt is the animated musical epic about Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. This film is less a cinematic retelling of the Exodus and more a remake of the Cecil B DeMille classic the Ten Commandments.

Moses, Pharaoh, and the Film’s Creative Liberties

In this story Moses and Ramesses grow up as sons of Pharaoh. Moses discovers he's actually a Hebrew who was saved by his family in the hopes that he would eventually deliver his people from slavery. He leaves Egypt only for God to send him back to tell Pharaoh Let my people go and by this point his brother Ramesses is now Pharaoh.

Other creative liberties are taken with the story with Moses being raised by Pharaoh's wife rather than his daughter. Moses was actually twice as old when he returned to Egypt and Aaron is more of an antagonist in this movie when in the Bible He was Moses mouthpiece.

The Film’s Message Versus the Sovereignty of God

Prince of Egypt is a story about these animated versions of Moses and Pharaoh. It is not about God when Pharaoh asks Moses why these plagues are happening. Moses says because no kingdom should be made on the backs of slaves.

No, that's not the reason in Exodus 9 and Romans 9 God says to Pharaoh for this very purpose I have raised you up that I might show my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Instead of exalting the sovereignty of God the story resorts to liberation theology. The music is amazing and the film boasts stellar animation and an all-star cast. But these filmmakers did not exalt the God of the Bible Exodus 15 to says Yahweh is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation.

Exodus and Praise to Yahweh

This is my God and I will praise him when we understand the text.