Gateway to Freedom Torah Notes
Beshalach - When he let go
Exodus 13:17-17:16
Haftorah:
Judges 4:4–5:31
B’rit Chadashah:
John 6:15-71 Believe on Christ - witnesses of word, miracles, and YHVH
2 Cor 6:16-18 Israel baptized in the water,
under the cloud, and drank of the Rock, which is Christ
Introduction:
Again we have a torah portion that is very familiar to most of us. And yet, we must not let that familiarity dull the impact and lull us into such a state that we no longer see the significance of the scripture. We must remember that this is all part of the picture of God’s salvation plan. But, additionally, Shemot, or Exodus’ over-towering theme is to repeatedly remind us of God’s presence and provision. He was with Israel in His cloud of direction during the day and light and heat by the pillar of fire during the night. He spoke to Moses out of the cloud and He is called the Angel of the Lord. Although we cannot see His presence, He has promised we modern Israelites that He will dwell with us and never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5). This passage is designed to continue building us in faith by Israel’s “shadow” example.
Chapter 13
13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
Although Israel was armed as an army (KJV = ”harnessed”) they had no training in order to encounter the enemy (Philistines) so YHVH led them into an even more precarious position to show His miraculous power and accomplish His will.
Do you notice this? God Himself led His people into an indefensible position. Many would say, "Nah! – God doesn’t do that to His people." Have you ever walked into (or been led into) a circumstance from which it would seem there is no ability to survive, defend yourself or recover? And, although things may have seemed to be a catastrophe to you at the time, was it a later reflection into YHVH’s nature? Just like Israel, when YHVH puts us in these positions, we can finally begin to understand God's ways!
YHVH’s purpose for our lives is to mold us into the image of Christ by overcoming our flesh, the world and the devil. In order to become the holy, overcoming vessel of honor and faith which God desires, we too must suffer the fires of affliction and persecution just as our master did. Purified silver and gold comes forth only when it is heated so that the dross can be skimmed off. 2 Timothy 3:12 says “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Chapter 14
As we read about Israel experiencing Passover, then passing through the Red Sea and eating unleavened bread, let us recognize the picture that YHVH has given us for the believers walk. Once we receive Christ as our redeeming Passover lamb, we are baptized unto death (in this Red looking salt and water) for the remission of sin and then we are to partake of the holy, unleavened bread of life.
I would like us to take a moment here to ponder this baptism in the Red Sea. In the figurative sense we understand that Israel had to have faith in the yearly atonement sacrifices because Messiah that was not yet crucified for their sins. However, there is much more than a shadow in their baptism that suggests an eternal destiny much different than the physical consequences suffered from their disobedience. This is important to us, because it speaks to our security in Christ’s atoning work on the cross.
What is the purpose of baptism? Acts 2:38 says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Greek word translated “remission” means freedom, pardon, forgiveness, and liberty. Thus, it is the baptism through the atoning blood sacrifice of Yeshua that pardons, gives us freedom from walking in sin.
The apostle Paul says it this way: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3,4) Thus, through baptism in Christ we are “baptized into his death” that we “should walk in newness of life.” What about the Israelites?
14:1-3 YHVH put Israel in a trapped place to show that he was God to the Egyptians. When we are in a place of "no way out," what glory do we give to God when he brings us out by a miracle?" As I often thought while working in my former life as an advertising executive, I knew that it was the hand of God that had given me recognition, position and money over my peers for I was neither better nor smarter than some who worked for me. And yet, God had a job for me to accomplish His purposes in this secular workplace. (Unfortunately, I often did not recognize His purposes until he had moved me on to the next position or company.) I bring this forth to encourage all who are engaged in the secular workplace, or who are in difficult circumstances, to recognize and give God the glory for that which He purposes to accomplish through and in you in the place he has put you.
14:4 "..and they did so." Israel obeyed… and in our obedience is God honored.
14:7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots…just the right number…the might of man which will never prevail against YHVH.
14:11 In the previous parasha we read that, "the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people." Egypt thought him great, but what about his brethren (a prophet is not honored in his own country - Luke 4:24 )? It didn't take very long before his own people came against him in the face of fear (fear of man) from Pharaoh and his chariots.
14:13-16 What is the answer for those who have fear of man? Stand still, trust in the Lord and He will fight for you and deliver you. Only speak, have faith and move forward - that's YHVH's instructions to Moses and to us. The only prerequisite was/is to HEAR the word of the Lord. Israel had Moses to hear for them, but we have God himself by the leading and voice of the Holy Spirit within.
Exo 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: Who is this “Angel” of God that also appeared at the burning bush? (And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush:.Exo 3:2.) and who also redeemed Jacob in Genesis 48:16? – He is the pre-incarnate Messiah, Yeshua.
The Brit Hadasha (New Testament) plainly establishes this theophany (pre incarnate appearance of Christ): This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:37-38)
Now then, what about Israel’s baptism? Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)
Additionally, 1 Cor 10:9 affirms that their offenses were against Messiah. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
So then, if they were baptized in the Red (Sea) water & salt in Christ (cloud), did they all fall short of eternal life? Many think that because most of Israel died in the wilderness, they lost their salvation. Did Moses likewise lose his eternal salvation because he never made it to the promise land? Of course not. Did not Moses (and Elijah) appear in glory upon the Mount of transfiguration (Mat 17:3)? While “many” (1 Cor 10:5) may have been overthrown in their abandonment of YHVH for another God, can we see that it would not be the correct shadow if “most” lost their salvation?
Though our sins may be pardoned (Num 14:20) there are consequences to sin (death). Our salvation and baptism in Yeshua gives us the promise of eternal life, washes us from bondage and raises us in a newness of life. Then, we must be refined to be like our Lord. This is the picture that is written upon the sands of the wilderness walk. The book of Hebrews (9:27) says that we are all appointed once to die, but then the judgment. Is this the judgment seat of Christ for those who have attained the first resurrection or the great white throne judgment after Christ’s millennial reign? For the believer, these Torah examples are given that we might have confidence and faith in the promise that we will be at the judgment seat of Christ among those first resurrected.
14:31 Israel saw and then they, "feared the Lord and believed the Lord and his servant Moses." The sorrowful thing about this picture is that they saw and then feared and believed (only to enter into disbelief a few days later) the Lord. Is there any faith or trust evidenced when we must be a "show me," Missourian and see before we'll believe? How many in the body of Messiah are like that? Do some say, "Let me see His glory, feel His presence, hear His voice, etc. - and then I'll believe He is with me." (..Lo, I am with you always (Math 28:20). Is it any wonder why the Lord, Yeshua asked the question, " ..Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)
Chapter 15
15:1-3 The song of the redeemed sung unto YHVH by Moses and Israel is an expression of praise and acknowledgment of God Almighty who gave them Yeshua - their salvation. It was a declaration of His reality and the willingness of the people to make a habitation in their hearts for the God of their fathers and lift Him up in exaltation (vs. 2).
15:4-11 A description of YHVH's work and character in destroying the Egyptian army, coming to the climax of verse 11, Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (15:11)
15:13-19 The song concludes with the prophecy of the Lord's leading Israel to "thy holy habitation" (temple) and the fear and dread that shall fall upon Edom, Moab and Canaan. These prophecies were confirmed by Rahab (the inn keeper who concealed the spies and became part of Messiah's lineage [Math 1:5]) some forty years later (Joshua 2:9-11).
15:20, 21 Miriam is first identified as a prophetess and leader of the women's praise with timbrels. Sages comment that possession of the timbrels demonstrate the women's faith (since they had to make them in Egypt) in the joy and deliverance YHVH would bring - a faith greater than the men.
15:22-26 YHVH tests the people at Marah (they murmured against Moses), heals the waters, reveals himself as the "YHVH their healer" and gave them a statue and an ordinance promising that they would not incur the diseases of Egypt if they would serve Him.
Chapter 16
16:1-13 The people murmur against Moses and Aaron (notice that Aaron is seen as a representative of the Lord also - only to have that position challenged later), but Moses says, "Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord." (vs. 8) YHVH hears Israel's murmurings and gives them quail (flesh) in the evening and manna in the morning - everything they need to sustain them in the wilderness (Wilderness test: Will the Lord sustain us?)
16:14-22 In the instructions for gathering the manna, we should note the parallel to our own life. In John 6:49-51, Yeshua identifies himself as the bread of heaven and the bread of life. Just like Israel who could only gather a set amount daily, we can only gather as much as our faith appropriates daily. Our experiences of the past can help build our trust and faith, but we cannot be nourished by past appropriations of Christ (Give us this day our daily bread - Mat 6:22) so that we must pick up our cross and walk with him daily (Luke 9:23).
No matter how much or how little a man gathers, by his own effort, it measured out to one omer (a little more than 2 quarts) - what he needed for life. (16:18)
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
This life sustaining morning gift of YHVH is called the "bread from heaven" in Psalms 78:24 and Nehemiah 9:15. Yeshua identifies himself as being this life sustaining manna from heaven sent by God. How else is he described as this bread?
1. He came from heaven - John 6:33, 38, 42
2. He gives life - John 6:33, 35, 40, 47-58
3. He is a gift from YHVH - John 3:16, 6:30-51
Upon first seeing this sustenance, hidden by the dew, Israel said, "Man-Hu" or what is it?" Mark Ensign of Adot Adonai relates the hidden manna beneath the dew to the overcoming partakers of the "hidden manna" referred to in Revelation 2:17.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)
"The Word "hidden" in Hebrew is sod which also refers to a hidden, secret or mystical understanding of the text. One way in which a sod understanding is drawn is called notarikon. Through this method the first letters of each word in a phrase are combined to form a word, or the letters of a word are taken to be the initial letters of each word in a phrase. In this case we are told to look at the Hebrew word manna for a hidden meaning. Now the Hebrew word manna is spelled in Hebrew MEM-NUN which are the initial letters for the phrase Mashiach Netzer, "the Messiah the Branch."
So we can see that Messiah Yeshua was foretold and revealed in the manna in several different ways.
16:23-35 Moses instructs Israel to gathering two days volume on the sixth day so that they might have manna on the Sabbath. The Sabbath manna did not become wormy or odious. Never the less, on the Sabbath, "there went out some of the people..to gather it, and they found none. (vs. 26)
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (Exodus 16:28)
Notice who took the brunt of the question. It was as though because Moses was chosen to be their leader, he was responsible for their actions. Israel had heard the instructions, they had God's promise for health if obedient and yet they tested him and refused to keep His commandments.
Brethren, have you noticed the common theme throughout this parasha? Isn't this the same theme the Spirit of God is revealing today? If we know His commandments, when (or why) will we not keep them? Is it because we always think that God's grace is upon us for our sin? Or do some believe that because Messiah Yeshua has given us eternal life and taken away our sin, we can continue in it?
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2)
As the Spirit of God revealed to this writer a couple years ago, God's grace is being administered differently today by the uncovering of our sin more quickly, so that we might come to Him while He (through the spirit of repentance) still may be found.
Chapter 17
17:1-7 Although the Lord led the people to Rephidim, there was no water. Thus, they once again strove with Moses accusing him once again that he had brought them out of Egypt to kill them, their children and their cattle. Moses once again told them that they were putting the Lord to the test.
YHVH commands Moses to strike the rock in Horeb before the elders that it will give the people the life giving water. He called the place Massah and Meribah because of the striving of the people. (Wilderness test: Is the Lord among us, or not? [vs. 7])
17:8-16 YHVH led the armed (but untried) army of Israel not by the way of the Philistines so that their heart might not fail and return to Egypt. But now, Israel was beyond the Red Sea with the army of Egypt at its bottom and YHVH reveals himself as Jehovah Nissi - the Lord my banner as he declares war on Amalek from generation to generation.
Moses raises the Lord's rod of power and Israel prevails over Amalek. However, it takes the body working together to keep Israel's eyes on YHVH's power as Hur and Aaron had to hold up Moses hands to gain the victory. Shouldn't this be a clear message to everyone in the body of Christ on the importance of their part in the body? We cannot be unified as "Israel," into one spirit, or into "one new man" if we won't lift up (support) our believing brothers and sisters in Messiah Yeshua.
Many have traveled their own figurative Via Dolorosa (Latin for Way of Grief or Way of Suffering; figuratively the way of Messiah) through many different denominations to come to the place where God has them today. Unfortunately, along the way many have rejected the good parts of the experiences, and the people, which companioned them to the next step of understanding. I believe our Lord weeps at the disunity of the body - even more so among Messianic believers who have no less than four separations (denominations) among its followers.
Less we think that where we have arrived in our understanding/beliefs are more enlightened, mature or elevated than another, let us remember the teaching of the Apostle Paul when he admonishes us to be: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3) while those who have been given ministry gifts mature (not divide) the body..
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:13-15)
Have we missed the point of his teaching? How can those of us in Christ (especially those who claim to be mature ministers) claim a greater maturity if we break the bond of unity of the Spirit by denouncing brethren for a doctrinal belief we may have once held? Please note that I am not referring to heretical beliefs counter to the doctrine of the apostles' teachings (ref: 2 John 1:10-11). I'm referring to those revelations and interpretations of the Word that are in no way undermining the blood bought redeeming work of Christ on Calvary.
The fact is that many in the body of Messiah do not walk in the unity of the Spirit because they don't hear the Spirit! So many have refused the baptism of the Ruach Ha Kodesh that "maturity" is only intellectualism. YHVH has called the modern church to accept and keep the Passover Lamb and move on to the Feast of Weeks and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only then will the church come into the maturity and likeness of Christ.
Haftorah:
Judges 4:4–5:31
We might expect many similarities between the story of Deborah/Barak in consideration that the Haftorah was invented to remind Israel of the torah parashah in times of oppression. And indeed there are many similarities:
• Israel was under the torment of oppressing foreign powers
• YHVH sent them a deliverer
• YHVH gave them a miraculous deliverance -against overwhelming odds
• The nation was brought to a new (renewed) spiritual awakening
• Female prophetess were instrumental
• Great praise followed victory
• Great faith was required of Israel
Since faith has been the focus of the Spirit’s thrust for the past two torah parashah, I would like to comment on this last point – the faith required. In Numbers 10:14 it mentions that in Israel’s going forth it was Judah’s standard under its captain, Nahshon that always led the way. Jewish lore states that it was Nahshon who, at Moses command, first entered into the Red Sea before the sea parted.
In the Haftorah we see Barak in a decided geographically advantageous military position upon mount Tabor overlooking the Kishon river valley. Based upon God’s word to Deborah (which she had to have faith to give and then join with the army), Barak and his smaller troop size was to come off the mountains, upon foot, and attack the chariots of Sisera in the valley where chariots would generally have a great advantage. At his obedience and faith in God’s word through Deborah, we then read that Sisera’s chariots got bogged down upon the overflow and mud of the Kishon river as “they fought from heaven; and the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.” We don’t have many details of this poetic expression, but it is sure that there was a miraculous change in the Kishon river’s channels (e.g. courses). Faith moves mountains… and the waters of the plain. Halleluiah!
Let us hear His Spirit and follow His directions. Without that hearing how will we 1) come together in unity and 2) know the strategies of God to overcome the enemies before us in these last days?
Shabbat Shalom,
Randy
File:beshalach 2011