Gateway To Freedom Torah Notes
Va’eira – I Appeared
Exodus 6:2-9:35
Haftorah
Future redemption of Israel Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
B’rit Chadashah
The Sovereignty of Elohim With Regard to Pharaoh: Romans 9:14–17
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (Psalm 119:18).
Introduction:
The knowledge of the next two parashah are among the most well known bible stories of all time. While we believe we know a lot about the story of Israel’s redemption from Egypt, many only know the partial story contained in the Hollywood version and children’s books of the scriptures. The story, mysteries and instructions of YHVH contained in these two accounts are vast and full of the main plot – redemption – and sub plot upon sub plot of repentance instructions, overcoming the deities of the land, characteristics of YHVH, Moses’ change, Israel’s separation from YHVH’s judgments, etc. So let us put off Hollywood’s impressions and perceive a greater richness of the Word.
Study:
Exo 6:2-5 El Shaddai (Almighty God) was the name known (comprehended) by the patriarch’s, but here ( 6:3) Moses is told that he will know (relationally comprehend/experience) Him as the self existent or eternal one who is the creator over and ruler of all things. In this day, many may understand that YHVH is his proper name, but how many can say that they have the faith to know (and trust) that He is the ruler over all? If we really know Him as such, why do our souls anguish so much? Let us realize that this is the faith, relationship and surrender of our wills that we have been given opportunity to live, and walk in a greater fulfillment our entire lives so that we may KNOW Him.
Exo 6:6-7 The four cups of the Passover Seder: Sanctification, Deliverance, Redemption and Praise. These come from the four “I will” promises that are the four progressive steps of redemption:
1) I shall take you out (of slavery in Tishri),
2) I shall rescue you (six months later),
3) I shall redeem you (baptism of Red Sea) and
4) I shall take you (as a bride).
Exo 6:9 Isn’t this a curious verse – especially after reading about the meeting with the elders (first born) in 4:29-31 where it states they believed that YHVH had visited Israel. But, 6:9 says the children of Israel “hearkened not unto Moses” because they were to distracted by the world and the effort of surviving. They had no relation with their God, so they could not hear by the signs Moses showed them.
Lesson: We must not allow ourselves to become so distracted and distressed in soul and spirit that we can’t believe and encourage ourselves in who God is (our redeemer) – even when He is among us.
Exo 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. Can we recognize this as a prophetic gesture that YHVH was saying that I the creator and self existent one will swallow up your devil gods? Does He not give us that promise? Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
The Plagues
The purpose of all the plagues were to reveal to the world that the God of Israel is God - YHVH. Exodus 12:12 says that the plagues were not only against Pharaoh and his people but also, “against all the gods of Egypt.” I don’t chose to focus on the gods of Egypt whom YHVH was proving superior to, but the chart following shows some of those which YHVH came against.
Exo 7:19 First plague; water into blood. Aaron struck the water. Why was Aaron chosen to strike the water? Hint: Because Moses was a shadow of Christ. The first plague was against the Nile and its gods, as well as an announcement of divine judgment against the Egyptians for the merciless killing of Israelite infant males at the command of Pharaoh.
Exo 7:21 .. and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. – Goshen included.
Exo 7:24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
Lesson: people in affliction must dig for the new Living Water.
Exo 8:6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. This plague struck at the frog-headed goddess Heqt and is believed to be divine judgment against the edict commanding the mid-wives to kill the male babies of the Israelites.
Exo 8:17 Without warning to Pharaoh... Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice (maybe gnats: lice need blood to reproduce) in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice (gnats) throughout all the land of Egypt.
After first recognizing that it was Aaron who actually took the action to strike the waters and the earth, I had to wonder why Moses didn’t do it. My reasoning might have given me the answer that because Moses was not yet accepted as one of them. If these first three plagues also were to affect Goshen, would they better brought on by Aaron, one of their own known people? That may sound pretty reasonable, but I think the Lord brought true insight….insight that may impact us today.
I believe (and now find agreement with others) that Moses, as the shadow of Messiah, did not strike the water or the earth because he would have violated YHVH’s ways/laws.
The water gave Moses life and the earth hid his sin of killing the Egyptian. Thus, as Messiah’s shadow was Moses to curse that which had given him life and blessed him? Let me ask that another way. Would Yeshua rebuke that which honored him? (.. and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out - John 6:37)
If this were the reason, I then had to ponder how Moses could bring the rest of Plagues upon Pharaoh’s house. Didn’t the princess bring him out of the Nile to give him life? However, we must recall the probable dynasty successions contained in last week’s teaching to realize that this is probably a different dynasty than rescued him from the river 80 years earlier. What clue could this imply about God’s timing for us today?
Could it be that there had to be a transition from one kind of rule/rulership to another before YHVH would enact judgment? Is YHVH’s hand of judgment now loosed, if we have gone from a nation of honor and acknowledgement of YHVH (e.g. conservatism, Ten Commandments, church attendance, etc.) to one of other gods (e.g. liberalism, humanism, governmental corruption, killing babies, Islam and agnosticism, etc.) and have come under the rule of a president from another land? Recall that this was the same pattern of Egypt before the redemption of Israel.
The third question we might ask is why did Israel have to endure the results of the first three plagues? I believe that these “natural” disasters (which the magicians somewhat duplicated the first two) had to also take place over Goshen in order to set up the miracle of YHVH’s separation of His people. By separating Goshen it would take it out of the “natural” and into the supernatural – even for Pharaoh. Additionally, doesn’t it also have to conform to the prophetic shadow of our day?
Exo 8:19 The magicians acknowledged that this was YHVH’s hand when they could not duplicate either the ridding of the frogs or now the bringing forth of the lice/gnats.Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
YHVH Separates Israel
Exo 8:23 – 27 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be. (8:23) Then the flying insects (flies or scarab beetles) came upon the whole land except for Goshen. With this Pharaoh bargained to let them sacrifice in the land. To which Moses answered that it was not meet or proper to do so. He says this followed by the reason that it would be offensive to the Egyptians and would be stoned if they sacrificed one of their deities (bullocks).
The observation has often been made that all paganism begins with creation and not the creator. It places its trust and worship upon that which can be seen as representing a god. Paul recognizes that all idolaters have this in common:
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:25)
In contrast YHVH places the importance on himself and the criteria for true worship on faith- i.e. on that which can not be seen.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 )
Additionally, there is another insight we can see by how Pharaoh defines worship. By suggesting that Moses could offer sacrifices in Egypt rather than going into the wilderness (as commanded by YHVH), reveals that to Pharaoh, worship is a means to and end rather than the end itself. All false religions’ worship is a means to pleasing their gods, in order to get the blessing. Thus, while we must recognize that obedience in worshipping God, His way (in faith/truth/spirit) brings blessings, it is the worship and communion with Him that should be the object of our worship – not receiving the blessing.
Thus, proper worship is not found in disobedience. But we might wonder was it necessary for Israel to leave Egypt before she could offer an acceptable sacrifice?
Because an eternal picture was wrapped up in her leaving: redemption and deliverance must proceed acceptable worship. Only the redeemed can worship Him as He desires,
because only the redeemed have come to the full realization that God, and God alone, can save. Worship in the context of redemption is worship that considers the Creator to be blessed forever, separate and above the creation. And only people who have been genuinely redeemed are in a position to worship God out of their love for Him and not to gain something for their own selves. (Torah Resource)
Exo 8:28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.
Exo 8:32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
The Spirit of Pharaoh:
There are many characteristics we can glean from this parashah about the Pharaoh spirit. However, one of the most notable characteristics is that he will promise anything to get what he wants and then renege on his word once he gets it - again and again. Once Moses prayed to take away the various plagues, Pharaoh hardened his heart. Notice that at this point it wasn’t YHVH who hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but rather YHVH gave him over to His own ways. He acts the same way toward his elect. If we insist on our lustful will, he’ll allow it, knowing that we will have to atone/pay for the consequences.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: … (Romans 1:24-26)
Exo 9:12 However, it was not until the 6th plague of boils did YHVH harden Pharaoh’s heart. This should speak volumes to us. Is there a period of time in which God calls us unto repentance until he finally removes his grace and turns you over to your own devices? Will His Spirit always contend with man for his righteousness? Obviously not. Thus, let us repent quickly – while we can.
Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. (Hebrews 12:16-17)
True repentance versus deficient repentance:
Exo 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
As we all walk toward the high calling of being one with Christ, and free from the enemy’s influences, let us recognize the difference between true repentance unto salvation/deliverance and deficient repentance. In understanding this maybe we’ll be able to comprehend how we fall short of the mark at times. Although they often sound alike, the difference between the two is one of heart attitude and action.
As can be seen in the verse above, the words of deficient repentance are identical to full or true repentance. Pharaoh’s confession is that
1) he has sinned, and
2) the God of Israel is the righteousness against whom he has sinned.
Furthermore, he states that both he and the people are wicked. However, does Pharaoh’s recognition, sorrow and repentance only coming out of the present circumstances and to reconcile himself with God for his gain? Does Pharaoh recognize that previous sins are a part of his abasement? True repentance recognizes that all of ones sins - not just “this time” – are offensive in the eyes of God.
This points to the Hebraic understanding of true repentance. Repentance means not only the voicing of one’s wrongs, but also a change in ones actions. Without a change in one’s actions, words of repentance ring hollow. Pharaoh’s subsequent actions prove that his confession of repentance was just that—hallow, without real substance. Once the current trouble is past, he returns to his rebellion against YHVH and His people.
True repentance should always be accompanied by:
1) voiced confession,
2) genuine sorrow for the sin we’ve committed against God,
3) faith in God, and
4) a change in action.
We do not obtain true repentance trying to escape judgment. True or Godly repentance is an acknowledgement of God’s headship and righteousness in our heart. It is always combined with a true faith in God’s goodness. Because repentance is of faith and faith is a gift from God (Eph 2:8), Godly repentance is a gift from God (2 Tim 2:25). The gift of faith allows us to receive from our Father’s disciplines, and to find in these disciplines the gift of faith and repentance that leads us back to Him.
There is one clear characteristic of the redeemed soul, with saving faith: it is a willingness to (1) admit one’s incapability, and (2) to entrust oneself into God’s care. Self-reliance is diametrically opposed to true faith. Our hearts (minds, wills) are still affected by the natural thinking - by the depraved self or “flesh” which tends to make us believe that one can get along fine without God. However, once the soul that belongs to God has acknowledged its inborn inability, faith working within causes that soul to rest in the all-sovereign YHVH and His promised care. The two parts go hand in hand: admitting our inability and relying upon God. Unbelief tries to find one’s own way, and to secure one’s own redemption. The life of faith is just the opposite: it is one of humility, and turning over one’s will to God. (Torah Resource)
Repentance
Element True Deficient
Voice/speak Confession of sin Same
Against God
Sorrow For Offending God For Circumstances
Faith Surrender of Will Hold to Own Ways
Change Direction/ Ways Nullify, Ignore or
Retract Confession
Exo 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Let us recognize and run from the spirit of pharaoh and come to true, Godly repentance.
Shabbat Shalom,
Randy
Plagues on the Egyptian “gods”
