| Vayeira |
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| Written by Carl & Julie Parker | |
| Thursday, 03 January 2008 | |
ScripturesExodus 6:2 to 9:35 Last week’s lesson examined the fact that the children of Israel had been in captivity four hundred years, and how YHVH’s hand of deliverance was at that time working on behalf of His people (Genesis 15:13-14). Moses was prepared as YHVH’s prophet to bring about the deliverance and redemption of His people. In YHVH’s assurance to Moses, He confirmed His name–YHVH–and that He alone was the God of Israel. He was the same God who had appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and formed a covenant with them. YHVH had heard the groaning of Israel and remembered the covenant He had made with His chosen people. Exodus 6:2-8 God Promises Deliverance
These seven “I wills” are a gift from YHVH not only for Moses and the Israelites but also for us today. This is our inheritance wrapped up in His Covenant. May we remember it is not by our faith alone that anything happens; it is only in HIS FAITHFULNESS to us that we attain redemption and the fulfillment of everything else He promised our forefathers long ago. Our part is to believe and rest in His faithfulness. The word of YHVH in the above scripture was prophetic language spoken to the children of Israel, as we perceive through the writings of the prophet Ezekiel. The prophecy given Ezekiel was the same message that was spoken to Moses, and was directed at a people who had broken faith with YHVH. We who are redeemed today have broken faith with YHVH also. Now we are learning to walk out our redemption just as the Israelites did in Exodus. A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel
Exodus 6:9 Israel's ResponseWhen Moses reported to the people what YHVH would do for them, the people did not exactly jump for joy. Their struggles and deep discouragement under Pharaoh’s cruelty had left them with little hope in their hearts. They had longed for the words Moses said, but because of their bondage their hearing had grown dull. Many of us have gone through struggles in our lives and have waited for YHVH’s deliverance. May we be a people who still have open hearts to perceive–and receive!–when our redemption draws near.
We need to keep these words close to our hearts to help us remember that the reason we were found by YHVH in the wilderness in the first place was because of our rebellion and our forefathers’ rebellion to His ways. We need to also remember that once we make teshuvah (repentance) and start our walk of redemption back to Him, we will no longer be dull of hearing or blind to His ways. Our walks will become stable and the desert–or wilderness–experience will no longer seem parched and dry but will suddenly be full of abundant life, like refreshing streams of water to our souls! The wilderness will deal with the sinful nature of our souls as we progress toward the goal of our faith: holiness. That is why the way home is called the Highway of Holiness in Isaiah 35 and 40, a highway that starts at Mount Sinai with the receiving of the ten utterances (commandments) of YHVH through Moses (which we will soon be coming to in our studies). We say this to help those who feel they truly are in the wilderness and alone in their journey. There are many, not just a few, that are coming out of the wilderness and seeing this way of Holiness in Yeshua. Exodus 6:13-25 Genealogy of Moses and AaronScripture now takes a break in the narrative to reveal Moses and Aaron’s lineage. As the third son of Jacob, Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Moses and Aaron were from the Kohath family of Levites. Kohath had four sons: Amran, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Amran married a Levite, Jochebed, and they had three children: Miriam, Aaron and Moses. Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, and Moses had two sons: Gershom and Eleazer. All these families were called Levites. The priestly line came from the Kohath family with Aaron and his firstborn sons becoming the high priests for the Tabernacle duties. It was Aaron’s son Eleazar who became high priest after him, and then Eleazar’s son Phinehas after him. When Levites and priests are mentioned in Scripture, understanding their family tree and functions helps us to see deeper into the YHVH’s Word. Each Levite family had a job for the care of the Tabernacle, but only one Levite family, that of the Kohathites, was accorded the priestly duties and care of the furnishings IN the Tabernacle. No other Levite family had this duty. The Kohathites ministered to YHVH while the Levites (Gershonites and Merarites) ministered to the people in the Outer Court of the Tabernacle. The understanding of the priesthood, including their attitude and behavior, is important for us today as Scripture refers to those who are redeemed and walking in Yeshua as a royal priesthood and a holy nation …bearing witness of Yeshua or ministering among the nations/people (1 Peter 2:9). This scripture speaking of the priesthood in Exodus 6 was the beginning of that pattern; YHVH unfolded the function of the Tabernacle for His people, revealing a shadow of the Messiah and the way to Holiness. This pattern is the walk for believers in Yeshua the Messiah (Ezekiel 43:10-12). It was also interesting to see that after four hundred years of oppression the Israelites were still in their tribal divisions. When YHVH called the Levite tribe forth, their heritage was still in tact, showing YHVH’s faithfulness to His people to bring them home. It was true in their day and it will be true in our day as well, as this story of Exodus is prophetic of the Messiah’s return and ingathering of His people. Exodus was not just a story of ancient times but is a prophetic vision for us today. The book of Revelation is a reflection of the book of Exodus. When the Apostle John was on the island of Patmos he saw the book of Exodus in prophetic imagery and wrote down what he saw. That book was called The Revelation of Yeshua Ha Mashiach/ the Messiah. The plagues John saw and recorded were almost identical with the plagues that were in the Exodus. The book of Exodus is for today, as it holds the revelations for tomorrow. How we prepare for Yeshua’s return is modeled in the book of Exodus. Egypt is a type of the “world system.” “YHVH said, ‘Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their divisions.’ ” It was Moses who led the children of Israel out of captivity, and it will be the people who understand Moses in these last days who will return back to Yeshua and to the Garden in the millennial. Moses is our future, for Yeshua gave the words of the Living Torah to Moses in the desert. If we follow those words we too will return to the land. We must turn back in order to go forward.
We are told in Revelation 21:12 that the twelve gates into the New Jerusalem have the names of the twelve tribes on them. Is this scripture telling us that after all these generations, where many tribes have become an unidentifiable people, in the end all twelve tribes will emerge intact in their tribal groups as the twelve tribes of Israel? Acts 26:7 records the words of Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul) in the Brit Chadasha/New Testament, thirty years after Yeshua died: “This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve YHVH day and night.” May we be a people who have Rabbi Sha’ul’s hope and his desire to stand on the promises YHVH made so long ago–that all twelve tribes will return! This is the time. "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions" (Exodus 6:26). YHVH is going to bring us out of our “Egypt” through the teachings of Moses, all twelve tribes of Israel in full divisions!!! He spoke it and He will do it! (Galatians 3:7, 29) Exodus 7:6-19 Appearing Before PharaohMoses and Aaron, at the ages of eighty and eighty-three respectively, commenced their ministry in YHVH’s service. They were commanded to appear before Pharaoh and perform a miracle. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and it changed into a snake. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate this sign and the king of Egypt’s heart remained unchanged; he would not let the Israelites go into the desert to make offer sacrifices to YHVH. The plagues appeared three times in three stages with the last plague standing alone. Following YHVH’s pattern, these plagues were a warning to the people, attacking their surroundings and houses, clothing and flesh (Leviticus 13-14). YHVH was showing how detestable the ways of the Egyptians were and revealed the corruption of their hearts at the same time. (Note: YHVH uses this illustration of Egypt and the plagues throughout the history of the Israelite people and into the future for those who fall away from His Word and go after other gods. References: Deuteronomy 7:15; 28:60; Amos 4:10; Matthew 24:6-7 and Revelation 16) Exodus 7:14-24 The First Plague - BloodThis hardening of Pharaoh’s heart set in motion a chain of events that would show the deliverance and power of YHVH and bring about the redemption of the Israelite people He had promised them. With this, YHVH exposed the false gods of Egypt and displayed His Name (character) and glory among the nations. In the first series of plagues, YHVH sent Moses early in the morning to wait by the bank of the Nile for Pharaoh in order to warn him what YHVH planned to do.
This first plague attacked Hapi, the father of the gods. He was god of the Nile, the one who was said to provide water to all Egypt for the preservation of life. He was responsible for watering the meadows and bringing the dew. More importantly, he brought fertile inundation by the rising of the Nile. As a fertility god, he was associated with Osiris. The Nile was considered the link from this life to the next and was considered the blood of Osiris. The priests of Egypt held blood in abhorrence, yet they cruelly sported with the blood of the captive Israelites, whose children they caused to be cast into the Nile. The Egyptians worshipped the river, but when its waters turned to blood they loathed and detested it. This plague brought confusion and shame regarding their great god Hapi who was defamed. Other deities connected with the Nile were Amon and Khnum who were the guardians of the Nile. The magicians were able to duplicate this plague; therefore Pharaoh was yet unimpressed. The Nile held the very life of Egypt and controlled their economy. What happens when a people put their hope in their economy? Many do not realize money has become a god in their lives until, one day, it is gone. What would happen if we were to go a week without money or there was a natural disaster and our life support in the world was cut off? Living without food, water or shelter is traumatic. Can we imagine the loss of livelihood if the US economy fell like the Nile? What about living through a natural disaster like a tsunami or a hurricane? The loss would not only affect us personally but nationally and on a world level as many countries depend on other nations for their support. Where have we put our faith? Exodus 8:1-15 The Second Plague - FrogsAfter waiting seven days for purification, YHVH sent Moses again to Pharaoh to say, “Let my people go so they may worship Me…” When he refused, Aaron was commanded by YHVH to raise his staff over the streams, canals and ponds and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate the frogs. The frogs were left where they died, in the Nile, in the houses, the courtyards and in the fields. They piled up in heaps and the land reeked of them. Their fertility god had brought the stench of death throughout the kingdom. The attack of frogs was an attack on Heka (Heqt) the toad goddess, wife of Khnum who was goddess of the land. Heka was also the goddess of resurrection and procreative power. Frogs were consecrated to Osiris and were the symbol of inspiration. Frogs and toads were very sacred to the Egyptians. If anyone killed a frog, even unintentionally, the sin was punishable by death. Pharaoh’s magicians could not make the frogs disappear. Pharaoh himself had to acknowledge that it was the God of the Israelites who brought the plague of frogs and it would be the God of Israel who could remove them from Egypt. After the land was cleaned, Pharaoh’s heart was still hardened. Exodus 8:16-19 The Third Plague - GnatsWith no warning at all for Pharaoh, YHVH had Aaron strike the dust of the ground with his staff. Throughout the land of Egypt the dust became gnats/lice. Gnats were on all the men and animals. The magicians could not duplicate this and said, “This is the finger of YHVH.” The plague of gnats was an attack on Geb, “the Great Cackler,” god of earth and vegetation. His representation was that of a goose that was said to have laid the egg that hatched the sun. The royal throne of Egypt was known as the “throne of Geb.” He was the father of Osiris and husband of Nut. Egyptian priests shaved their heads to prevent lice which, if found, would render them unclean. The plague of gnats/lice stopped all priestly rituals. Exodus 8:20-32 The Fourth Plague - FliesIn the second series of plagues, YHVH told Moses and Aaron to rise early and confront Pharaoh as he went to the water, and say to him, “Let my people go, so they may worship me.” Moses warned Pharaoh if he did not let them go a plague of flies would come upon the Egyptian people but not on the land of Goshen where YHVH’s people lived. Here YHVH made a distinction between clean and unclean, holy and unholy. A separation was made between what was Egypt (the world), with all its idolatry, and what was holy to God. May we be a people who do not harbor other gods or idolatry in our hearts before YHVH. May we learn what is idolatry in the world and what might cause our hearts to desire other gods. Spirits of addiction, such as greed and lust, can propel the need for money, and the keeping up of appearances (food, clothing, cars etc), and desiring things of the flesh. Just as unloving spirits can cause people to feel the need to have man’s approval and become like others. Harboring spirits of jealousy and fear results in arguments, and slanderous thoughts or speech of others. These can all reveal struggles within us and represent idols in our hearts that are adultery before YHVH. Our sin comes from within ourselves (James 4). The cure for this is to separate ourselves from that which keeps us from YHVH and submit to Him, allowing Him to circumcise our hearts.
All Creation obeys YHVH. The sun, moon and stars stay in their orbits; the ocean does not cross its boundaries; the seasons change and the birds migrate - all in obedience to what YHVH has commanded them to do. It is only man, made in God’s image, who is given a choice to obey YHVH or not. Pharaoh’s heart did not change and the flies came in swarms on all the people, filling their homes. Pharaoh responded by saying the Israelites could offer a sacrifice to YHVH but remain within the borders of Egypt. Moses replied that the Hebrew sacrifice would be detestable to the Egyptians. YHVH required a bull, one of the most sacred gods in Egypt. If the Israelites did this in their land, the Egyptians would try to stone them. The plague of flies was an attack on Khepfi, who was the god of insects. Included in the same plague was the beetle, a scarab, which was the emblem of Re (Ra), the sun god. Their sun god had now become detestable to them. To stop the massive swarms of flies, Pharaoh again had to come to the God of Moses for help. The flies left, but Pharaoh’s hard heart would not let the Israelites go. Exodus 9:1-7 The Fifth Plague - On LivestockYHVH again warned Pharaoh of the consequences for not responding to “Let my people go, so that they may worship Me…” A terrible plague fell on Egyptian livestock in the field. The working domestic animals of horses, donkeys and camels and the pasture animals of cattle, sheep and goats died. This fifth plague struck Apis who was the bull god. His counterpart was Hathor, the cow goddess. The Egyptians held many beasts as idols in their land. The lion, wolf, dog, cat, ape, and goat were very sacred to them, as well as were the ox, heifer, and ram (Khnum) especially. The soul of their god Osiris was believed to reside in the body of the bull, Apis. The plague that struck the Egyptian livestock was a type of anthrax, carried by the flies. Pharaoh sent men to investigate and was told that not one of the animals belonging to the Hebrew people where touched by this terrible plague. This hardened Pharaoh’s heart further. Exodus 9:8-12 The Sixth Plague - BoilsWith no warning to Pharaoh, YHVH had Moses and Aaron “take handfuls of soot from a furnace and [had] Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It [became] fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils [broke] out on men and animals throughout the land.” This plague was an attack on Thoth (Imhotep), who was the god of medicine and intelligence/wisdom. The Egyptians had several medical deities to whom, on special occasions, they sacrificed humans. They were burnt alive on a high altar, and their ashes were cast into the air, that with every scattered ash a blessing might descend upon the people. “Moses took ashes from the furnace and cast them into the air. The ashes were scattered by the wind descending upon all the priests, people, and beasts as boils, thus shaming the god of Thoth.” Not even the magicians could stand before Moses. Boils are also called skin anthrax, a black abscess that develops into a pustule. These can be caused by impurities in the blood through a diseased spirit, or a heart filled with bitterness. Exodus 9:13-35 The Seventh Plague - Hail This was the last set of plagues against Pharaoh. Moses was told again to rise early in the morning to confront Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what YHVH, the God of the Hebrews, says, ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship Me.’ ” If Pharaoh again refused, a force of such that had never been seen before would hit Egypt. “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. Therefore…” And with this, YHVH told Pharaoh to issue a warning for people and animals to not be outside in the field during the storm or they would die. “This was an attack on Nut, who was the sky goddess and the mother of Osiris. Hail originated in the sky. It was harvest time in Egypt and the time of plenty. Like her husband Geb, mentioned in the third plague, YHVH attacked and destroyed the crops of Egypt. This also was an attack on Isis, goddess of life and Seth the protector of crops.” Some obeyed the warning, but those who stayed in the field died. As Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, YHVH sent thunder, hail and lighting flashing down to the ground. A huge hailstorm fell and struck everything in the fields, both men and animals and ruined any crops growing (flax and barley), plus stripped every tree. Only in the land of Goshen did the hail not fall. This plague originated in the sky, the realm of Nut, the sky goddess. The timing of this plague would have been in Tevet/January based on the flax and barley crop destruction. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “This time I have sinned. YHVH is right and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to YHVH for we have had enough…” Moses left the city, an unclean place, to pray so that they would know that the earth was YHVH’s. This did not stop Pharaoh from sinning and he again hardened his heart. TO BE CONTINUED… The Exodus of the Israelites is a living parable for us today. It was designed to bring a wayward Covenantal betrothed people back to YHVH. This story is to teach us to be separate from the ways of the Nations and to learn the ways of YHVH’s righteousness through the understanding of the difference between clean and unclean, holy and unholy and the importance of keeping His Sabbath and feast days. The plagues were a warning system established to help us and deliver us.
YHVH is as faithful to the curse as He is to the blessing.
Are we to fear the LORD’s coming or what is commonly called the end times? There are many that teach fearful things about the end times, but are they correct in teaching this way? In the Book of Revelation, the Revelation of Yeshua, many plagues are mentioned. But Peter says we are to look forward to YHVH’s coming and not fear it. Fear does not come from YHVH and is not one of His attributes. If we are walking in YHVH’s righteous ways, what do we have to fear? And just what are His righteous ways? Being obedient to YHVH and abiding in His Word brings the blessings. By doing so we also learn to walk by means of His Faithfulness. Walking in His ways, His teaching and instruction, is having faith. Faith means to drive a stake to secure a structure, as in the tabernacle, YHVH’s pattern for how to live in Him. Torah is not law in the Greek/Western understanding of the word. Torah is deliverance, the written principles for life that teach us YHVH’s ways. Fear comes from following man’s system and is of the seed of Pharaoh or the tree of knowledge (of good and evil). As believers, we have the seed of the Tree of Life, Yeshua, in us. We who are born of Yeshua are of the Spirit of YHVH not of the seed of man. We need to walk in this understanding and not in that of Pharaoh. Be careful of false teaching and false prophets. A true prophet in the last days will teach the people the difference between clean and unclean, holy and unholy and about YHVH’s moedim, His feasts (Ezekiel 44:23-24; Deuteronomy 28). It is up to us to seek out true teaching and fellowship with like-minded individuals. 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Rabbi Sha'ulPaul, who exhorts us to choose between clean and unclean, holy and unholy, said,
This is deliverance talk not talk of destruction, just as Moses who was placed on/above the waters of tribulation not in the waters of tribulation. In the midst of the destruction of our earthly, sinful nature will be deliverance for those who recognize the signs and the times of YHVH. YHVH is not going to destroy His Bride but has promised to protect and care for her until His return for her. Isaiah 66
Some may desire the righteous ways that honor YHVH, but may be walking, living and eating in ways that defile His Temple (in us), the place He desires to inhabit. May we heed the following words of YHVH:
Shabbat Shalom Carl and Julie Parker Referencse: Who Is Israel? Past, Present and Future by Batya Wootten Redeemed Israel – Reunited and Restored by Batya Wootten The Five Books of Moses: “Shemos” by Ben and Catherine Dixon. Publisher: STBM Plagues notes: Internet source http://biblia.com/disasters/plagues.htm A More Excellent Way by Henry W.Wright The 7000 Year Redemptive Plan of God by R. Ralph Messer STBM Wildbranch Ministry: Brad Scott Past Parshot: www.messianicisrael.com/sheepfold-gleanings/ |
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