Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness
without which no one shall see the Master…… Heb 12:16 lest there be anyone who whores, or profane
one, like Ěsaw, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wished to
inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance,
though he sought it with tears.
The day will come when many who seek repentance, will not find
repentance.
Deu 29:19 “And it shall be, when he hears the words of
this curse, that he should bless himself in his heart, saying, ‘I have peace
though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart,’ in order to add drunkenness to
thirst.
Deu 29:20 “יהוה would not
forgive him, but rather, the displeasure of יהוה and His
jealousy shall burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this
book shall settle on him, and יהוה shall blot out
his name from under the heavens.
Our Torah portion:
Exo 8:20
And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Rise early in the morning
and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus
said יהוה, “Let My people go, so that they serve Me.
Hebrew
word for “work” and “worship” is the same word – “Avod” As long as YHVH’s
people are under the governance of “Egyptian bondage” they cannot worship as
YHVH has called them to worship – in Spirit and in truth.
Religious
worship in “Egypt” is hard work and leaves you empty and tired.
Exo
8:21 “Or else, if you do not let My
people go, see, I am sending swarms of flies on you and your servants, and on
your people and into your houses. And the houses of the Mitsrites shall be
filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.
Exo
8:22 “And in that day I shall separate
the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be
there, so that you know that I am יהוה in the midst of the land.
Exo
8:23 “And I shall put a distinction
between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ ”
Even
in the end time great tribulation YHVH will seal and protect a remnant of His
people – Rev 7:4.
We
note that the three groups of judgments described in the book of Revelation
have similarities of the three groups of judgments found in the 10 plagues that
destroyed Egypt.
Exo
8:24 And יהוה did so, and thick swarms of flies came
into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land
of Mitsrayim, and the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies.
כ וַיַּעַשׂ
יְהוָה, כֵּן, וַיָּבֹא עָרֹב כָּבֵד, בֵּיתָה פַרְעֹה וּבֵית עֲבָדָיו;
וּבְכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם תִּשָּׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ, מִפְּנֵי הֶעָרֹב.
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20 And YHVH did so; and there came
grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants'
houses; and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the
swarms of flies.
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Last
week we had a look at the Hebrew word “shachat
The
word "destroyed" is translated from the Hebrew word shachath,
which means, "to destroy, corrupt, ruin, decay", and, in many verses,
this word has the connotation of "moral decay", "loss of integrity",
or "degradation in righteousness"
The
Hebrew word “arev” has several meanings – for example – “evening” or “mixture.”
Exo
8:25 Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and
Aharon, and said, “Go, slaughter to your Elohim in the land.”
Exo
8:26 And Mosheh said, “It is not right
to do so, for we would be slaughtering the abomination of the Mitsrites to יהוה our Elohim. See, if we slaughter the
abomination of the Mitsrites before their eyes, would they not stone us?
Phaorah
was suggesting that they could worship is Spirit and in Truth in Egypt. Moshe
stated that true Hebrew worship would be blasphemous in the eyes of the
Egyptians as they didn’t believe in sacrificing a lamb, they believed in
worshipping the lamb.
Today
the thought of a restored Temple service with all its accompanying offerings is
unacceptable and even blasphemous to many Jews and Christians.
Exo
8:27 “Let us go three days’ journey into
the wilderness, then we shall slaughter to יהוה our Elohim, as He commands us.”
Three
is a messianic number. Three days separation could mean that we can only
worship in Spirit and Truth when we are separated from false worship and false
worshippers by the true meaning and understanding of who Messiah is – a Jewish
rabbi who came to restore every word and teaching of the Torah to those whom
YHVH calls.
There
will be a severe and cruel persecution of the faithful remnant by self -serving
and deceiving religious leaders in the last days.
Exo
8:28 And Pharaoh said, “I am letting you
go, then you shall slaughter to יהוה your Elohim in the wilderness. Only, do not go very far away!
Pray for me.”
The
Pharoah’s and many religious leaders of this world who oppose the truth, know
deep down in their heart that the faithful remnant possess the truth.
Exo
8:29 And Mosheh said, “See, when I leave
you I shall pray to יהוה, and tomorrow the swarms of flies shall depart from Pharaoh,
from his servants, and from his people. But do not let Pharaoh again deceive,
not to let the people go to slaughter to יהוה.”
Exo
8:30 And Mosheh went out from Pharaoh
and prayed to יהוה.
Exo
8:31 And יהוה did according to the word of Mosheh and
removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his
people. Not one remained.
Exo
8:32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at
this time too, and did not let the people go.
Exo 9:1 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh and
speak to him, ‘Thus said יהוה Elohim of the Heḇrews,
“Let My people go, so that they serve Me.
Exo
9:2 “For if you refuse to let them go,
and still hold them,
Exo
9:3 see, the hand of יהוה is on your livestock in the field, on the
horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the cattle, and on the sheep – a very
grievous pestilence.
Exo
9:4 “And יהוה shall separate between the livestock of
Yisra’ĕl and the livestock of Mitsrayim, and let no matter die of all that
belongs to the children of Yisra’ĕl.” ’ ”
Exo
9:5 And יהוה set an appointed time, saying, “Tomorrow יהוה is going to do this word in the land.”
Exo
9:6 And יהוה did this word on the next day, and all the
livestock of Mitsrayim died, but of the livestock of the children of Yisra’ĕl,
not one died.
Exo
9:7 Then Pharaoh sent, and see, not even
one of the livestock of the Yisra’ĕlites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was
hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Exo
9:8 And יהוה said to Mosheh and Aharon, “Fill your
hands with ashes from a furnace and let Mosheh scatter it toward the heavens
before the eyes of Pharaoh.
Exo
9:9 “And it shall become fine dust in
all the land of Mitsrayim, and it shall cause boils that break out in sores on
man and beast in all the land of Mitsrayim.”
Exo
9:10 So they took ashes from the furnace
and stood before Pharaoh, and Mosheh scattered them toward the heavens. And
they caused boils, breaking out in sores on man and beast.
Exo
9:11 And the magicians were unable to
stand before Mosheh because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians
and on all the Mitsrites.
Exo
9:12 But יהוה hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did
not listen to them, as יהוה had said to Mosheh.
Exo
9:13 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Rise early in the morning
and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus said יהוה Elohim of the Heḇrews, “Let My people go, so that they serve Me,
Exo
9:14 for at this time I am sending all
My plagues unto your heart, and on your servants and on your people, so that
you know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.
Exo
9:15 “Now if I had stretched out My hand
and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut
off from the earth.
Exo
9:16 “And for this reason I have raised
you up, in order to show you My power, and in order to declare My Name in all
the earth.
Exo
9:17 “You still exalt yourself against
My people in that you do not let them go!
There
is a very sobering reality found in vs 16 and 17 – Anyone or any system that
opposes those whom YHVH has called and separated from this world to Himself, will
have to endure the severe wrath of YHVH, with the possibility of not been able
to repent.
To
the assembly of Thyatira - Rev 2:21
“And I gave her time to repent of her whoring, and she did not repent.
Rev 9:20 And the rest of mankind, who were not killed
by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should
not worship the demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of
stone, and of wood, which are neither able to see, nor to hear, nor to walk.
Exo
9:18 “See, tomorrow about this time I am
causing very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Mitsrayim, from
the day of its founding until now.
Exo
9:19 “And now send, bring your livestock
to safety, and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on
every man and every beast which is found in the field and is not brought home,
and they shall die.” ’ ”
Exo
9:20 Those among the servants of Pharaoh
who feared the word of יהוה made their servants and livestock flee to the houses.
Exo
9:21 But those who did not set their
heart on the word of יהוה left their servants and livestock in the field.
Exo
9:22 Then יהוה said to Mosheh, “Stretch out your hand
toward the heavens, and let there be hail in all the land of Mitsrayim – on
man, and on beast, and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of
Mitsrayim.”
Exo
9:23 Then Mosheh stretched out his rod
toward the heavens. And יהוה sent thunder and hail, and fire came down to the earth. And יהוה rained hail on the land of Mitsrayim.
Exo
9:24 Thus there came to be hail, and
fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy, such as had not
been in all the land of Mitsrayim since it became a nation.
Exo
9:25 And the hail smote in all the land
of Mitsrayim all that was in the field, both man and beast. And the hail smote
every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field.
Exo
9:26 Only in the land of Goshen, where
the children of Yisra’ĕl were, there was no hail.
Exo
9:27 Pharaoh then sent and called for
Mosheh and for Aharon, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. יהוה is righteous, and my people and I are
wrong.
Exo
9:28 “Pray to יהוה, for there has been enough of the thunder
and hail of Elohim. And I am letting you go, so that you stay no longer.”
Exo
9:29 And Mosheh said to him, “As soon as
I go out of the city, let me spread out my hands to יהוה, let the thunder cease and the hail be no
more, so that you know that the earth belongs to יהוה.
Exo
9:30 “But as for you and your servants,
I know that you do not yet fear before יהוה Elohim.”
Exo
9:31 And the flax and the barley were
smitten, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud.
Exo
9:32 But the wheat and the spelt were
not smitten, for they were late crops.
Exo
9:33 And Mosheh went out of the city
from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to יהוה, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and
the rain was not poured on the earth.
Exo
9:34 And Pharaoh saw that the rain, and
the hail, and the thunder had ceased, yet he sinned again and he hardened his
heart, he and his servants.
Exo
9:35 And the heart of Pharaoh was
hardened, and he did not let the children of Yisra’ĕl go, as יהוה had said through Mosheh.
Midrash:
“The purpose of the exile and bondage was to purge the Israelites from all of their impure elements” - Abarbanel
Amo 9:7 ….. “Did I not bring up Yisra’ĕl from the land of
Mitsrayim……?
Amo 9:8 “Look, the eyes of the Master יהוה are on the
sinful reign1, and I shall destroy it from the face of the earth,
except that, I do not completely destroy the house of Yaʽaqoḇ,”
declares יהוה. Footnote: 1Isa. 34:2, Jer.
30:11, Jer. 46:28, Dan. 2:44, Zeph. 3:8, Hag. 2:22, Lk. 4:5-6.
Amo 9:9 “For look,
I am commanding, and I shall sift the house of Yisra’ĕl among all the gentiles,
as one sifts1 with a sieve, yet not a grain falls to the ground.
Footnote: 1Or Shake - shakes.
Amo 9:10 “All the
sinners of My people are going to die by the sword, those who are saying, ‘Evil
does not overtake us nor meet us.’ – Heb – come near to us or hinder us.
Additional scriptures and comments in support of this
week’s parashah.
1Thes 1:10 and 5:9 says believers will be delivered from
YHVH’s wrath, however it is clear that there are warning judgments that will
take place beforehand so as to give all an opportunity to repent. Failure to
repent during the beginning stages of YHVH’s judgment will have devastating
consequences.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of יהושע Messiah His
Son cleanses us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say
that we have no sin, we are misleading ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we
confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say
that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.
1Jn 2:1 My little
children, I write this to you, so that you do not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an Intercessor with the Father, יהושע Messiah, a
righteous One.
1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we know Him, if we
guard His commands.1 Footnote: 1See 3:6.
1Jn 2:4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not
guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Jer 30:11 ‘For I am with you,’ declares יהוה, ‘to save you.
Though I make a complete end of all gentiles1 where I have scattered
you, yet I do not make a complete end of you. But I shall reprove you in
judgment, and by no means leave you unpunished.’ Footnote: 1See
46:28, Isa. 34:2, Isa. 45:17, Dan. 2:44, Amos 9:8, Hag. 2:22.
Jer 30:12 “For
thus said יהוה, ‘Your breach
is incurable, your wound is grievous.
Jer 30:13 ‘No one
pleads your cause, to bind up. There are no healing medicines for you.
Jer 30:22
‘And you shall be My people, and I shall be your Elohim.’ ”
Jer 30:24 The burning displeasure of יהוה shall not turn
back until He has done and established the purposes of His heart. In the latter
days you shall understand it1. Footnote: 1See 23:20.
2Co 5:10 For we all have to appear before the judgment
seat of Messiah, in order for each one to receive according to what he has done
in the body, whether good or evil.1 Footnote: 1See Mt.
16:27, John 5:29.
2Co 5:11
Knowing, therefore, the fear of יהוה, we persuade men…..Gk – exceeding fear and terror.
2Pe 3:1 This is now, beloved ones, the second letter
I write to you, in which I stir up your sincere mind, to remember
2Pe 3:2 the words previously spoken by the set-apart
prophets, and of the command of the Master and Saviour, spoken by your
emissaries,
2Pe 3:3 knowing this first: that mockers shall come
in the last days with mocking, walking according to their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His
coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all continues as from the beginning
of creation.”
2Pe 3:5 For they choose to have this hidden from
them: that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in
the water, by the Word of Elohim,1Footnote: 1Heb. 11:3.
2Pe 3:6 through which the world at that time was
destroyed, being flooded with water.
2Pe 3:7 And the present heavens and the earth are
treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire, to a day of judgment and
destruction of wicked men.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved ones, let not this one matter
be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as
some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should
perish but that all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11
Tim. 2:4.
2Pe 3:10 But the
day of יהוה shall come as a thief in the night, in
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be
burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing
all these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be
in set-apart behaviour and reverence,
2Pe 3:12 looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens
shall be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat!
2Pe 3:13 But according
to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which
righteousness dwells.
2Pe 3:14 So then,
beloved ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost to be found by Him in
peace, spotless and blameless,
2Pe 3:15 and
reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother
Sha’ul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him,
2Pe 3:16 as also
in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these matters, in
which some are hard to understand,1 which those who are untaught and
unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the other Scriptures.
Footnote: 1See 1 Cor. 11:6.
2Pe 3:17 You,
then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own
steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless,
2Pe 3:18 but grow
in the favour and knowledge of our Master and Saviour יהושע Messiah. To Him be the esteem both now and
to a day that abides. Amĕn.
In 1974 Corrie Ten Boom wrote the letter shown below to warn Christians about the false teaching of the pre-tribulation rapture. This teaching is very popular in America, even though there is no scriptural basis for it.
Quote: “There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation, that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the latter days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution.
In China, the Christians were told, “Don’t worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated – raptured.” Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly,
“We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution, rather than telling them Jesus would come first. Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes, to stand and not faint.”
I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation, but more than sixty percent of the Body of Christ across the world has already entered into the tribulation. There is no way to escape it. We are next.
In America, the churches sing, “Let the congregation escape tribulation”, but in China and Africa the tribulation has already arrived. This last year alone more than two hundred thousand Christians were martyred in Africa. Now things like that never get into the newspapers because they cause bad political relations. But I know. I have been there. We need to think about that when we sit down in our nice houses with our nice clothes to eat our steak dinners. Many, many members of the Body of Christ are being tortured to death at this very moment, yet we continue right on as though we are all going to escape the tribulation.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/open-doors-world-watch-list-2015-deadliest-year-christians-killed-for-faith-jesus-christ-154875/
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1Co 8:2 If anyone thinks that he knows somewhat, he does not yet know as he should know.