by Josh Rosenthal
My community opened the Exodus narrative around October 2010. At that time, I had already released 9 albums and one book. My songwriting and production process had entered a nice stride in the previous five years but on some levels I felt washed up until Exodus. Something about this story inspired 15 months of production on my new album, All We Can Do.
The series started with the idea of scarcity versus abundance. God continually displayed himself as abundant with unending resources and unwavering fidelity to his people. Israel forgets. Often. But God remembers. And out of the abundance of God’s character, he provides food, heat, protection, and more even when Israel all but runs away from him.
I can imagine the Israelites’ confusion. I’ve lived it on a lesser level. After delivery from Egypt and the oppressive empire with hopes of stepping into the elusive Promised Land they find themselves wandering in a desert with no end in sight. If that were me, it wouldn’t take long to miss the good ol’ days of slavery. At least I knew what I had to look forward to everyday. In my brokenness, there is something painfully comfortable and safe about being in bondage especially when delivery looks like 40 years and a desert.
It runs congruent with my story of following Jesus. At first, the Power Team sold me a bill of goods (perhaps you don’t remember, but these are the guys who broke baseball bats, tore phone books and elbowed wood blocks all in the name of Philippians 4:13) promising a better life with the occasional mission trip and homeless feeding. By no means was it the health and wealth gospel, but it certainly was a gospel that didn’t speak fully of this Exodus God. The God I grew up hearing about wouldn’t lead his people into a desert or allow them to feel so uncomfortable.
Exodus tells a different story which leads me to believe that God cares about more than just making me happy and meeting my synthetic needs. He feeds when I’m hungry, but why does it have to be in the form of manna and why is it only for today? I want more. He’s providing shade for me, but he wouldn’t have to provide shade for me if he just took me straight to the land he promised. He appears to be kind in that light, but after all he is the one that led me into the desert.
But he’s doing more. He’s telling a story of his greatness through me rather than telling a story of my greatness.
This inspires an old, washed-up 27 year old to write new songs – 45 songs, in fact (the day I began writing I was 27 – the release of this album finds me at a comfortable, yet terrifying 29). The reality of God’s provision, generosity and constancy evokes a side of my creativity that I’ve never experienced before. I felt extremely free to fail. In fact, my whole definition of failure changed. I once only aimed to write songs so that people would like them. All We Can Do gave me more freedom than ever to simply write the song that was in my heart. If people like it I’m grateful, if they don’t, I have little fear of rejection, If God’s economy truly operates from a position of abundance, then I am safe in him and I don’t need the validation of a high selling album.
All We Can Do is my proudest accomplishment as a songwriter and that’s because I felt free and inspired to tell God’s story of Exodus through my life. If you listen to the album all the way through, there’s only one song that speaks overtly of Exodus. The rest of it comes from what the Exodus text was doing in me and how it played itself out around me.
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As an exclusive offer to Deeper Story readers, Josh has graciously offered up 10 free iTunes downloads of his new album, All We Can Do.
To enter to win one of the free downloads, leave a comment below!
For additional entries, just tweet out the following:
Have you heard about @JoshRosenthal’s new album at @DeeperStory? You need to! http://is.gd/jDyd8J #AllWeCanDo
giveaway ends at 10pm EST tonight!
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Josh Rosenthal is a singer/songwriter based in Salt Lake City. His new album, All We Can Do, releases today on iTunes. To purchase the new album, CLICK HERE. You can follow Josh on Twitter as @JoshRosenthal, and on Facebook .
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for your honest words. Love hearing the story behind the music.
I agree with your words on God’s provision. The more I walk beside people the more I am convinced that God grows us through our brokenness, even when we would prefer comfort!
“He is telling a story of His greatness through me rather than telling a story of my greatness.” ….. Just puts it in perspective…… And takes so much pressure off at the same time:)
I would love to win a copy of Josh’s album!! I always enjoy discovering new artists.
I, too, am learning how to let go of the fear and the pressure of pleasing others. Thank you for sharing your new album with us.
What an inspirational story. I can not wait to hear the album.
“Exodus tells a different story which leads me to believe that God cares about more than just making me happy and meeting my synthetic needs.” From someone who is currently wandering in the desert those words spoke volumes to me. When I read the story in Exodus I was always amazed at how much they complained. I mean, God was raining down food from heaven; if that isn’t a miracle I don’t know what is. But, it wasn’t good enough. Once I started my own desert-wandering and I reread those passages God spoke to me and told me I was just like they are. God has performed countless miracles in my life. He has never left my side. Yet, I’m not as grateful as I should be because I’m still in the desert. I am slowly but surely realizing that in the desert is right where I need to be and I need to stop complaining and yearning for the Promise Land. Instead I need to focus on what God is doing for me and, even more importantly, what He is teaching me through all of this: complete and utter dependance on Him.
Congrats on the new album. I can’t wait to listen to the songs. Music that comes straight from the heart without pretense is always the most beautiful.
I am on the other end of a six-year “dessert” journey of my own and I appreciate Josh’s take on the Exodus and how it played out in His life with a new view of God’s abundance!
Your words moved me, Josh. It is encouraging to know you are at a point where it isn’t about others necessary liking your work but about being true to yourself and what God is inspiring in you. I’m seeking that freedom in my writing. God bless you for moving for God’s Kingdom, not your own acclaim. Congrats on the album.Sounds awesome!
I’m reading through Exodus now and I’m also seeing it in an all new light from what I was taught growing up. I would love to have a copy of this album!
Josh… your heart runs deep… I can’t wait to hear it spill out in your music. Thank you for sharing here…
I would be honored to have your new album.
I bet the album is as beautifully written as this article. Hope to win it.
“He’s telling a story of his greatness through me rather than telling a story of my greatness.” I’ve been reminding myself of this the past few weeks. And today I needed to remind myself of this truth once more. Thank you for sharing your inspiration, Josh. I’ve been listening to your music ever since Nish mentioned it on FB a couple of weeks ago. Love it!
“Exodus tells a different story which leads me to believe that God cares about more than just making me happy and meeting my synthetic needs.”
This.
“If God’s economy truly operates from a position of abundance, then I am safe in him and I don’t need the validation of a high selling album.” What a great perspective. I’m glad that God led you to a place of being able to say that. I think that would be a great “fill-in-the-blank” for lots of people to ponder. “If God’s economy truly operates from a position of abundance, then I am safe in him and I don’t need the validation of _______.”
I love the book of Exodus. For many of the same reasons you listed. It is so easy to be judgmental of the Israelites for wanting to go back to slavery. But I bet if many of us were in their shoes, we would have responded the same way. Thanks for sharing your heart here.
Would love to hear your story in the music. What a terrific idea and I love that you have moved passed the fear of rejection. God is good.
I can’t wait to hear these songs! I am in that same place right now! Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful reminder of how God has a plan for us even if it currently leaves us confused and uncomfortable. Now I feel like reading Exodus today! Thank you.
Love the little bits of previews on iTunes! And some of the song titles already get me =)
Thats a great story. I too, am learning about God’s great character in the desert.
I’ve followed Josh for about 4 years now, and I’d love to win a free copy of his album!
It was neat to hear the story behind the songs. Thank you for sharing these words and your music.
I would love to win a copy of his album! I’m sure it’ll be great!
What a wonderful story and a great perspective that we should strive for no matter what endeavors we undertake.
REAL…it’s what I seek, it’s what God wants and is. REAL…it’s what others want even when they don’t know it yet..and it’s what I want most to be; REALLY His. Being (altar)ed is what it’s about…daily and genuinely. REAL can be lonely…because there are so few of us desiring and seeking and (altar)ing but that’s why, I believe, the Bible speaks of a remnant. A small bit…saved and savored by Him. Thanks for the project and for sharing your offering with us. Ginosko.
Looking forward to giving this a listen, for sure.
“He’s telling a story of his greatness through me rather than telling a story of my greatness.” great article.
Wow, this really spoke to me. Thank you for sharing!
I’m looking forward to listening.
Yes, this Exodus God takes us away from the perfect plastic stripmall life and through the desert.
This Lent I’m spending a lot of time with Hosea 2:14, “Therefore I am going to allure her into the desert and speak tenderly to her, taking the names of other gods from her lips.”
I always know that when I go through the desert, I come out more whole and more wholly His.
I am SO an Isrealite. So grateful for your words today- very much needed! Thank you.
What amazing music!
Reading your words “I felt extremely free to fail” evoked a trembling cry within me. Those words were what I needed to hear today. Thank you for sharing your heart in this piece. I at first thought it may be a promotion of self but when I began reading all I could hear was His heart being promoted through your words. Thank you!