From Egypt to Paul Revere’s Ride

This year, the conclusion of Passover coincides with a significant American milestone: the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775.

“The shot heard ’round the world” ignited a struggle for independence that would ultimately shape the modern world. For the colonists who took up arms that day, the American Revolutionary War was not only a political battle but also a spiritual journey—one that echoed the ancient Israelite Exodus from Egypt.

Patriots from the 13 colonies saw themselves as a modern-day Israel fighting oppression under a distant, tyrannical ruler. Just as Moses led the Jewish people out of slavery under Pharaoh, American revolutionaries looked to George Washington as a providential leader, a modern-day Joshua guiding them out from under the yoke of England’s King George III.

In the biblical narrative, the Israelites suffered under harsh decrees and forced labor. In similar terms, the American colonists saw themselves as economically and politically oppressed. British taxation and military occupation by a global empire across the Atlantic were viewed as unjust and immoral, reflected in Boston politician James Otis famous declaration: “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” As tensions escalated in the 1770s, the rallying cry — “Give me liberty or give me death!” attributed to Patrick Henry of Virginia — captured the fervent resolve of those prepared to fight a war that would take a miracle to win.

While American victory would not come until eight years after Paul Revere’s historic midnight ride, the revolutionaries found, once again, deep inspiration in the Exodus narrative; this time its length. The Israelites might have endured generations of slavery followed by 40 years wandering through the wilderness, but they did reach the Promised Land, a place where they could live as a free, sovereign nation.

Reflecting on the origins of the American Revolution this year during Passover invites us to consider the ongoing journey toward liberty, the evolving meaning of American identity, and the shared responsibility we hold in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Benjamin Franklin aptly expressed the spiritual and political significance of the American Revolution when he declared, “Our cause is the cause of all mankind…we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”