9/16/2016

Parahat 14 Portion 49 Va-era Shemot/Ex 6:2 – 7:18 Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 Acts 7:17-22


נה  זָכַרְתִּי בַלַּיְלָה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה;    וָאֶשְׁמְרָה, תּוֹרָתֶךָ.

According to the sages the three most important gifts YHVH gave His people can only come after much suffering -  the Torah, the land of Yisrael and the coming Messianic age.These sages sadly omit that the most precious gift ever given to man was Yahshua Ha Mashiach – he too endured unimaginable suffering in order to bring us redemption.

These sages sadly omit that the most precious gift ever given to man was Yahshua Ha Mashiach – he too endured unimaginable suffering in order to bring us redemption.

If one looks at the scriptures as a whole, nothing is clearer than this: “the exodus from Mitsrayim forms the paradigm or the pattern for the whole concept of our redemption.” A simple definition of “redemption” is “regaining ownership through payment of a price.”

2Co 4:3  And indeed, if our Good News has been veiled, it has been veiled in those who are perishing,
2Co 4:4  in whom the mighty one of this age1 has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the enlightening of the Good News of the esteem of Messiah, who is the likeness of Elohim, does not shine on them. Footnote: 1See Lk. 4:6.

    Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was thrown out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who leads all the world astray. He was thrown to the earth, and his messengers were thrown out with him.

H8577 - tannı̂yn  /  tannı̂ym BDB Definition: dragon, serpent, sea monster – same Hebrew words used in Ezekiel 29:3 and Rev 12:9.

“The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”) indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes and views of the majority of people. His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, and commerce. The thoughts, ideas, speculations and false religions of the world are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions.

Satan is also called the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2. He is the "ruler of this world" in John 12:31. These titles and many more signify Satan’s capabilities. To say, for example, that Satan is the "prince of the power of the air" is to signify that in some way he rules over the world and the people in it.

This is not to say that he rules the world completely; YHVH is still sovereign. But it does mean that Elohim, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries YHVH Elohim has set for him. When the Bible says Satan has power over the world, we must remember that YHVH has given him domain over unbelievers only. Believers are no longer under the rule of Satan (Colossians 1:13). Unbelievers, on the other hand, are caught "in the snare of the devil" (2 Timothy 2:26), lie in the "power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), and are in bondage to Satan (Ephesians 2:2).”

Pharoah is a kind of satan, his name means “great house”

Exo 6:2  And Elohim spoke to Mosheh and said to him, “I am יהוה.

There are three interesting meanings to the Hebrew verb root of His name.

“Hava”  (hey vav hey)means “cause to exist” – YHVH will cause everything to exist that needs to exist to bring about our complete redemption and perfection.

“Hava” can also mean to destroy – YHVH will also destroy anything that prevents or hinders His redemption from being fully accomplished.

“Hove” which is the same root – hey vav hey – can also mean present. YHVH is not bound by space and time, therefore for Him everything is in the present. He is the same yesterday, today and forever -

Exo 6:3  “And I appeared (Va-era) to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, as Ěl Shaddai. And by My Name, יהוה, was I not known to them?

The title of this portion is a Hebrew Hiphil verb or a “causative verb”. In other words the revelation of YHVH was His initiative not man’s.

We can be aware of the name of YHVH, but not really know Him as He can be known.

 “Yahweh” is not one of the Mighty One’s (“God’s”) names – it is His only Name. Other titles, like “El Shadday,” Elohim/El/Eloha”, ‘’Yahuah/Yahveh/Yahovah Yireh’’etc are not strictly names but means of describing YHVH. All the revelations to the patriarchs could not compare to this one, because YHVH was now dealing with the nation.

Eze 20:5  “And you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “On the day when I chose Yisra’ĕl and lifted My hand in an oath to the seed of the house of Yaʽaqoḇ, and made Myself known to them in the land of Mitsrayim, I lifted My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am יהוה your Elohim.’
Eze 20:6  “On that day I lifted My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the splendour of all lands.

In other words, our complete knowing and understanding His Name and Person only comes as we see it and experience it in the context of His People Yisrael.
It seems that YHVH only revealed Himself to a remnant in Mitsrayim (double restraints) who longed to be set free from their bondage and enter into a land prepared for them – blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the rule of the heavens.

It is only when we begin to recognize our true state of bondage that we are able to begin to know YHVH as He wants to be known.

Believers don’t like to admit that they are in any form of bondage. Yet Shaul cries out:

Rom 7:24  Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?

Compared to the future promises of YHVH for His people, we are living in relative bondage.

Let us take another careful look at the following scripture:

Joh 8:31  So יהושע said to those Yehuḏim who believed Him, “If you stay in My Word,(Torah) you are truly My taught ones,
Joh 8:32  and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (S1659-future, active, third person, singular VERB)
In other words you first have to walk in truth before it can set you free.

Question? How free can you be if you cannot keep the Sabbath/Shabbat/ and guard YHVH’s Torah?

Joh 8:33  They answered Him, “We are the seed of Aḇraham, and have been servants to no one at any time. How do you say, ‘You shall become free’?”

This is a ridiculous statement. If you look at the history of Yisrael, they were in bondage for most of their existence – Mitsrayim, Assyria, Babylon, Rome and other nations held them captive, and only recently have some Jews returned to Yisrael. Where are the other tribes?

Joh 8:34  יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin.

1Jn 3:4  Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

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.

Joh 8:35  “And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever.
Joh 8:36  “If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.(The aorist active verb is used for “makes you free”- this indicates a process that continues until perfection)

Exo 6:4  “And I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Kenaʽan, the land of their sojournings, in which they have sojourned.
Exo 6:5  “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Yisra’ĕl whom the Mitsrites are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant.
Exo 6:6  “Say, therefore, to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am יהוה, and I shall bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitsrites, and shall deliver you from their enslaving, and shall redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments,
Exo 6:7  and shall take you as My people, and I shall be your Elohim. And you shall know that I am יהוה your Elohim who is bringing you out from under the burdens of the Mitsrites.
Exo 6:8  ‘And I shall bring you into the land which I swore to give to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, to give it to you as an inheritance. I am יהוה.’ ”

1. In this covenant we know that YHVH is “bringing us out” This Hebrew verb is imperfect and reminds us that this deliverance from Egypt is not yet over.
2. In this covenant we know “His deliverance” from their enslaving.  The Hebrew verb “natsal” (also imperfect) can mean “to snatch away or rescue” from their enslaving.
3. In this covenant YHVH “takes” us as His people and we get to “know” Him as our Elohim.
4. In this covenant we anticipate our return to the land of Yisrael – our inheritance.

Four verbs in Exodus/Shemot 6:6-7 form the basis for the Rabbinic requirement of four cups at the Passover/Pesach seder:

v’hozeiti — I will bring you out

H3318 yâtsâ' BDB Definition: (Hiphil)  to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

v’hitzalti — I will rescue you

H5337-nâtsal=BDB Definition:  (Hiphil) - to take away, snatch away, to rescue, recover to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death), to deliver from sin and guilt.

v’gaalti — I will redeem you

v’lakachti — I will take you

Additionally, v’hayyiti lachem leilohim — I shall be your Elohim — is considered the “purpose” or “climax” of the list.

Beyond that, however, in verse 8, is v’eiveiti etchem el-ha-aretz — I will bring to the Land — and v’natati otah lachem morasha — I will give it to you for a heritage. A minority opinion requires a fifth cup in association with this promise — with the disagreement (four cups or five) resulting in Elijah’s cup.

Leibowitz and Cassuto both discuss the fact that we have here seven [a “perfect” number, biblically] clauses of promise and that “I am YHVH” appears four times in this passage:

The Divine action for the benefit of Israel is described in seven clauses [a “perfect” number], each of which begins with a verb in the first person, the verbs being linked together by a [vav] consecutive: and I will bring out — and I will deliver — and I will redeem — and I will take — and I will be — and I will bring –and I will give. Of these the first three (v.6) refer to the liberation; the middle two (v.7) establish the mutual relationship between YHVH and Israel; the last two (v.8) appertain to the acquisition of the Land….

If we were completely set free as many Christians claim, why is it then that we are required to celebrate Passover every year.
How free can you be if you worship on Sundays, eat pork and ignore YHVH’s appointments and disregard the Torah – YHVH’S Covenant with mankind?

Paul warns that if you believe a lie you will be handed over to the power of that lie.

2Th 2:9  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood,
2Th 2:10  and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood,1 Footnote: 1Eze. 20:25, John 9:39, John 12:40, Acts 7:42, Rom. 1:24-28.

Exo 6:9  And Mosheh spoke thus to the children of Yisra’ĕl, but they did not listen to Mosheh, because of shortness of spirit, and from hard slavery.

The Hebrew says “ve lo shamu” or “they did not listen” because of anguish and the harshness of being enslaved.
The sages comment that it was this not being able to hear that caused that generation not to enter into the land.
 Will it not be the same in our day?

Exo 6:10  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Exo 6:11  “Go in, speak to Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, to let the children of Yisra’ĕl go out of his land.”
Exo 6:12  And Mosheh spoke before יהוה, saying, “The children of Yisra’ĕl have not listened to me, and why would Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”
Exo 6:13  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, and gave them a command for the children of Yisra’ĕl and for Pharaoh, sovereign of Mitsrayim, to bring the children of Yisra’ĕl out of the land of Mitsrayim.
Exo 6:14  These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Re’uḇĕn, the first-born of Yisra’ĕl: Ḥanoḵ and Pallu, Ḥetsron and Karmi. These are the clans of Re’uḇĕn.
Exo 6:15  And the sons of Shimʽon: Yemu’ĕl, and Yamin, and Ohaḏ, and Yaḵin, and Tsoḥar, and Sha’ul the son of a Kenaʽanite woman. These are the clans of Shimʽon.
Exo 6:16  These are the names of the sons of Lĕwi according to their generations: Gĕreshon, and Qehath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Lĕwi were one hundred and thirty-seven.
Exo 6:17  The sons of Gĕreshon: Liḇni and Shimʽi according to their clans.
Exo 6:18  And the sons of Qehath: Amram, and Yitshar, and Ḥeḇron, and Uzzi’ĕl. And the years of the life of Qehath were one hundred and thirty-three.
Exo 6:19  And the sons of Merari: Maḥli and Mushi. These are the clans of Lĕwi according to their generations.
Exo 6:20  And Amram took for himself Yoḵeḇeḏ, his father’s sister, as wife. And she bore him Aharon and Mosheh. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.
Exo 6:21  And the sons of Yitshar: Qoraḥ, and Nepheḡ, and Ziḵri.
Exo 6:22  And the sons of Uzzi’ĕl: Misha’ĕl, and Eltsaphan, and Sithri.
Exo 6:23  Aharon took to himself Elisheḇa, daughter of Amminaḏaḇ, sister of Naḥshon, as wife. And she bore him Naḏaḇ, and Aḇihu, Elʽazar, and Ithamar.
Exo 6:24  And the sons of Qoraḥ: Assir, Elqanah, and Aḇiyasaph. These are the clans of the Qorḥites.
Exo 6:25  And Elʽazar, Aharon’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Puti’ĕl as wife. And she bore him Pineḥas. These are the heads of the fathers of the Lĕwites according to their clans.
Exo 6:26  This is Aharon, and Mosheh, to whom יהוה said, “Bring out the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of Mitsrayim according to their divisions.”
Exo 6:27  They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, to bring out the children of Yisra’ĕl from Mitsrayim. This is Mosheh, and Aharon.
Exo 6:28  And it came to be, on the day when יהוה spoke to Mosheh in the land of Mitsrayim,
Exo 6:29  that יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “I am יהוה. Speak to Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim all that I say to you.”
Exo 6:30  And Mosheh said before יהוה, “See, I am of uncircumcised lips, and why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
Exo 7:1  So יהוה said to Mosheh, “See, I have made you an elohim1 to Pharaoh, and Aharon your brother is your prophet. Footnote: 1Or mighty one – see footnote at 4:16.
Exo 7:2  “You shall speak all that I command you, and Aharon your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, to let the children of Yisra’ĕl go out of his land.
Exo 7:3  “But I am going to harden the heart of Pharaoh, and shall increase My signs and My wonders in the land of Mitsrayim.
Exo 7:4  “And Pharaoh is not going to listen to you, and I shall lay My hand on Mitsrayim, and bring My divisions and My people, the children of Yisra’ĕl, out of the land of Mitsrayim by great judgments.
Exo 7:5  “And the Mitsrites shall know that I am יהוה, when I stretch out My hand on Mitsrayim. And I shall bring the children of Yisra’ĕl out from among them.”
Exo 7:6  And Mosheh and Aharon did as יהוה commanded them, so they did.
Exo 7:7  Now Mosheh was eighty years old and Aharon eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.
Exo 7:8  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying,
Exo 7:9  “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and throw it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ”
Exo 7:10  So Mosheh and Aharon went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as יהוה commanded. And Aharon threw his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Exo 7:11  But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the practisers of witchcraft. And they, the magicians of Mitsrayim, also did so with their magic.
Exo 7:12  And they, each one, threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But the rod of Aharon swallowed up their rods.

When Moshe threw his rod on the ground it became a serpent – Hebrew “Nachash”  The gematria for Nachash and Moshiach is both 358. It is possible that YHVH was pointing to the work of Messiah on the execution stake (rod) to cancel out the works of the devil.

1 Jn 3:8   For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested: to destroy the works of the devil.

The magicians repeat the miracle but they change their rods into crocodiles – Hebrew word “tannin”(large reptile) This speaks of trying to give the serpent much more power and credit than he deserves. It is sad to see how many believers give the devil so much credit and exaggerate his powers to frighten or impress people.

See haftarah

Exo 7:13  And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as יהוה had said.
Exo 7:14  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “The heart of Pharaoh is hard, he refuses to let the people go.
Exo 7:15  “Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him. And take in your hand the rod which was turned into a serpent.
Exo 7:16  “And you shall say to him, ‘יהוה the Elohim of the Heḇrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, so that they serve Me in the wilderness,” but see, until now you have not listened!
Exo 7:17  ‘Thus said יהוה, “By this you know that I am יהוה. See, I am striking the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood,
Exo 7:18  and the fish in the river shall die. And the river shall stink, and the Mitsrites shall find it impossible to drink the water of the river.” ’ ”
Haftarah – (parting or taking leave)

“The Judgment upon Pharaoh and His People and Land:
Because Pharaoh looks upon himself as the creator of his kingdom and of his might, he is to be destroyed with his men of war (Eze_29:2-5). In order that Israel may no longer put its trust in the fragile power of Egypt, the sword shall cut off from Egypt both man and beast, the land shall be turned into a barren wilderness, and the people shall be scattered over the lands (Eze_29:5-12). But after the expiration of the time appointed for its punishment, both people and land shall be restored, though only to remain an insignificant kingdom (Eze_29:13-16). Keil Delitzch

Prophetically Pharoah and Egypt (Mitsrayim) can be seen as a kind of Anti Messiah and end time system of rule that will be completely destroyed before the coming of the Messiah.

Apostolic portion – Acts 7:17-22 reveals as Moshe came out of the house of Pharoah so too will end time deliver’s come out of the house of Pharoah – out of churches and synagogues.