Blessing for the Torah Reading:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher
bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn
ha-Torah.
Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples,
and have given us your Torah.
Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
This Torah portion establishes foundational truths
and warnings pertaining to our redemption.
1Co 3:11 For no one is able to lay any other
foundation except that which is laid, which is יהושע Messiah.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am
laying in Tsiyon a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious
corner-stone, a settled foundation. He who trusts shall not hasten away.
Isa 28:17 And I
shall make right-ruling the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet. And
the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lying, and the waters overflow the
hiding place. (Yahshua is the measuring
line and plummet)
Isa 28:18 And your
covenant with death shall be annulled, and your vision with the grave not
stand. When an overflowing scourge passes through, then you shall be trampled
down by it.
1Co 3:12 And if
anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
straw, (the Israelites were building with
straw – people in bondage always build with straw)
The New Yerushalayim is built on the foundation
(halachah) of the Apostles of Yahshua –
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the
city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve
emissaries (apostles) of the Lamb.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of
the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones
1Co 3:13 each
one’s work shall be revealed, for the day shall show it up, because it is
revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove the work of each one, what sort it
is.
1Co 3:14 If
anyone’s work remains, which he has built on, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If
anyone’s work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved,
but so as through fire.
1Co 3:16 Do you
not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim
dwells in you?
1Co 3:17 If anyone
destroys the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the
Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, which you are. (Yisrael is His dwelling place- replacement theology seeks to do away
with Yisrael)
1Co 3:18 Let no
one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him
become foolish, so that he might become wise.
1Co 3:19 For the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with Elohim. For it has been written, “He
catches the wise in their craftiness,”
1Co 3:20 and again,
“יהוה knows the thoughts of the wise, that they
are worthless.”
1Co 3:21 So then,
let no one boast in men, for all belongs to you,
1Co 3:22 whether
Sha’ul or Apollos or Kĕpha, or the world, or life, or death, or the present or
the future – all belongs to you.
1Co
3:23 And you belong to Messiah, and
Messiah belongs to Elohim.
From closing verses of last week’s parashah:
Exo 4:10 And Mosheh said to יהוה, “O יהוה, I am not a man of words, neither before
nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of
tongue.”
Exo 4:11 And יהוה said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or
who makes dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, יהוה?
Exo 4:12 “And now,
go, and I shall be with your mouth and teach you what to say.”
Exo 4:13 But he
said, “O יהוה, please send by the hand of him whom You
would send.”
It was as if Moshe was saying “send whoever You want to
as long as it’s not me.”
This response angered YHVH.
This serves to remind us that if He is not Master of ALL
He is not Master at all. That is why He is training us to love Him with all our
hearts, beings and our increase so that He becomes Master of ALL.
In Covenant relationship there is no such thing as “No my
Master I will not”
The Master YHVH has given His marriage agreement to us on
Sinai – His Torah - How will we respond?
“Sorry Master I will not guard the Sabbath…” this proves
that we are not truly in covenant with the Master.
This week’s parashah:
Exo 4:14 And the displeasure of יהוה burned against
Mosheh, and He said, “Is not Aharon the Lĕwite your brother? I know that he
speaks well. And see, he is also coming out to meet you. And when he sees you,
he shall be glad in his heart.
Exo 4:15 “And you
shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I am with your mouth and
with his mouth, and I shall teach you what to do.
Exo 4:16 “And he
shall speak for you to the people. And it shall be that he shall be a mouth for
you, and you shall be an elohim1 for him. Footnote: 1Or mighty
one, which is proof that elohim is but a title, indicating order or
authority – it is not a proper name.
In the Talmudic analysis of this exchange (Zevachim
102a) Rabbi Yehoshua ben Karcha said that any time the Torah expresses G-d's
"wrath" there is a punishment that befalls the subject of the wrath.
But no punishment is mentioned. Rabbi Yosi explains the punishment is alluded
to in G-d's response, "Is there not Aaron your brother the Levite? I know
that he will surely speak..." (ibid 14) Aaron
was destined to be a simple Levite and Moshe was to be the patriarch of the
Kohanim (priests); because of Moshe's resistance, Aaron "the
Levite" was elevated to Kohen in his place.
The primary issue - the understanding of which will
shed light on the question above - is why G-d insisted on having Moshe, WITH
his speech defect, as the spokesman of the Jewish people. Ran (acronym of
Rabbeinu Nissim of Gerona, Spain; c.1290-c.1375; famous for his Talmudic
commentary) explains in his Drashos HaRan (Discourses of the Ran) that Egyptian
society accepted witchcraft as the supernatural force with which the naturally
impossible became possible. In G-d's mission of revealing Himself to the Jews,
the Egyptians and the entire world, He strove to have every detail of every facet
of the Jewish redemption speak to the fact that G-d and G-d alone is the force
that controls everything - natural and supernatural - that exists. Had G-d sent
Aaron, a gifted, persuasive orator, to speak to Pharaoh, some would claim that
the Jews and the Pharaoh were simply seduced by the lies of a powerful speaker
and that this leader was the true liberator of the Jews. Thus, G-d specifically
wanted Moshe to have impaired speech and as such to serve as the agent for
deliverance. One could only conclude that a great, powerful force was really
behind the events, none other than G-d Himself. End Quote.
This commentary causes us to wonder how many
“called” men have turned down the call of YHVH because of their perceived
inadequacies.
It’s also striking to note how many men and woman
in the ministry are exceptionally eloquent and they come across as extremely
convincing yet many seekers after truth find their words empty of true
spiritual substance.
Exo 4:17 “And take
this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
יז וְאֶת-הַמַּטֶּה הַזֶּה,
תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה-בּוֹ, אֶת-הָאֹתֹת.
BDB Definition: “rod” 1)
staff, branch, tribe 1a) staff, rod, shaft 1b) branch (of vine) 1c) tribe 1c1)
company led by chief with staff (originally)
YHVH chooses a simple rod – a shepherds staff – held by a man who stutters - to be the channel of
His Power.
Note this word for rod is the same word used for tribes.
YHVH has chosen the 12 tribes of Yisrael to reveal His redemption to mankind.
Joh 4:22 ….. because the deliverance is of the Yehuḏim. (We are the ‘wild olive branches grafted
into…’)
A rod is a symbol of authority and discipline.
Exo 4:18 Then
Mosheh went and returned to Yithro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please
let me go and return to my brothers who are in Mitsrayim to see whether they
are still alive.” And Yithro said to Mosheh, “Go in peace.”
Even though YHVH had given Moshe clear instructions to
go, Moshe still submits to human authority. If human authority is in tune with
YHVH they will confirm YHVH’s word to you.
The sages also teach us (Chumash) that if you have
received life in someone’s house, the only appropriate way to leave is with
their blessing.
Exo 4:19 And יהוה said to Mosheh in Miḏyan,
“Go, return to Mitsrayim, for all the men are dead who sought your life.”
Exo 4:20 So Mosheh
took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the
land of Mitsrayim. And Mosheh took the rod of Elohim in his hand.
“the donkey” (ha chamor) – the sages believe this was the
same donkey that Messiah would use to come bring deliverance to Yisrael.
Exo 4:21 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “As you go back to
Mitsrayim, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in
your hand. But I am going to harden his heart, so that he does not let the
people go.
Exo 4:22 “And you
shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus said יהוה, “Yisra’ĕl is
My son, My first-born,
Exo 4:23 so I say
to you, let My son go to serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, see, I am
killing your son, your first-born.”
This remains true to this day. The Phoraoh of this
religious world system will do all that he can to keep you in bondage. To most
under its power it is unthinkable to even contemplate leaving the system. When
you do you will invoke upon yourself the disfavor of the “Pharoah” and you will
be given “hard labour” to get you to come to your senses.
The meaning of the name “Pharoah” is “great house.” The
challenge from those who are under its bondage is: “can there be a greater
house than this one?” For most it is insane to even entertain the idea of
leaving this “great house.”
This is the great tragedy of those caught up in this
system, they are building with bricks and straw and have given themselves over
to the power of the “system” and have become its slaves.
We are challenged not to be moulded after the pattern of
this world.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good
and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.
Those who choose to be renewed and conformed to the truth
of YHVH’s word will suffer and go through many trails.
Joh 16:33 “These words I have spoken to you,
that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have pressure, but take
courage, I have overcome the world.”
The “great house” will make promises of prosperity
comfort and ease as long as you remain loyal to its leaders and its doctrines.
Exo 4:24 And it
came to be on the way, in the lodging place, that יהוה met him and
sought to kill him.
Exo 4:25 And
Tsipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it
at Mosheh’s feet, and said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me!”
Exo 4:26 So He let
him go. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the
circumcision.
The Hebrew states “chatan damim” a bridegroom’s
bloodshed. The commentary (Chumash) states that she was addressing her son whom
she accuses could be the cause of the death of her bridegroom.
We see here a deeper meaning – it would be the shedding
of blood of our Bridegroom that would bring his bride into the covenant.
There is much speculation as why YHVH wanted to kill
Moshe. It serves us well to realize that if Moshe could make YHVH so angry so
can we. The issue was circumcision – maybe it’s more important than we realize.
We do not become part of the covenant on our terms. Much of modern Christianity
teaches us that if you know the four spiritual laws and say the sinner’s prayer
you qualify to enter into the kingdom.
Exo 4:27 And יהוה said to Aharon, “Go to meet Mosheh in the
wilderness.” And he went and met him on the mountain of Elohim, and kissed him.
(Mount
Sinai is where leaders meet to discuss the liberation of YHVH’s people)
Exo 4:28 Mosheh
then told Aharon all the words of יהוה who had sent
him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.
Exo 4:29 And
Mosheh went with Aharon and gathered together all the elders of the children of
Yisra’ĕl.
Exo 4:30 And
Aharon spoke all the words which יהוה had spoken to
Mosheh. Then he did the signs before the eyes of the people.
Exo 4:31 And the
people believed. And they heard that יהוה had visited
the children of Yisra’ĕl and that He had looked on their affliction, and they
bowed their heads and did obeisance.
Exo 5:1 And afterwards Mosheh and Aharon went in and
said to Pharaoh, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of
Yisra’ĕl, ‘Let My people go, so that they keep a festival to Me in the
wilderness.’ ”
Exo 5:2 And
Pharaoh said, “Who is יהוה, that I should
obey His voice to let Yisra’ĕl go? I do not know יהוה, nor am I
going to let Yisra’ĕl go.”
Exo 5:3 And they
said, “The Elohim of the Heḇrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’
journey into the wilderness and slaughter to יהוה our Elohim,
lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”
True Yisraelite worship is an abomination to the
religious system of this world. That’s why they wanted to go out into the
wilderness where they could be alone with YHVH to worship Him.
Exo 5:4 But the
sovereign of Mitsrayim said to them, “Mosheh and Aharon, why do you take the
people from their work? Get back to your burdens.”
Exo 5:5 And
Pharaoh said, “See, the people of the land are many now, and you make them
cease from their burdens!”
Exo 5:6 And the
same day Pharaoh commanded the slave-drivers of the people and their foremen,
saying,
Exo 5:7 “You are
no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as before. Let them go and
gather straw for themselves.
Exo 5:8 “And lay
on them the required amount of bricks which they made before, do not diminish
it. For they are idle, that is why they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and
slaughter to our Elohim.’
Exo 5:9 “Let more
work be laid on the men, so that they labour in it, and not pay attention to
words of falsehood.”
Exo 5:10 And the
slave-drivers of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people,
saying, “Thus said Pharaoh, ‘I do not give you straw.
Exo 5:11 ‘Go, take
straw for yourselves, wherever you find it, for your work shall not be
diminished.’ ”
Exo 5:12 And the
people were scattered in all the land of Mitsrayim – to gather stubble for
straw.
Exo 5:13 And the
slave-drivers were hurrying them on, saying, “Complete your work, your daily
amount, as when there was straw.”
Exo 5:14 Also the
foremen of the children of Yisra’ĕl, whom Pharaoh’s slave-drivers had set over
them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your task in
making bricks both yesterday and today, as before?”
Exo 5:15 And the
foremen of the children of Yisra’ĕl came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why
do you treat your servants this way?
Exo 5:16 “There is
no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And see,
your servants are beaten, but your own people are at fault.”
Exo 5:17 But he
said, “You are idle! You are idle! That is why you say, ‘Let us go and
slaughter to יהוה.’
Exo 5:18 “So now
go, work. And straw is not given to you, but deliver the amount of bricks.”
Exo 5:19 And the
foremen of the children of Yisra’ĕl saw that they were in trouble after it was
said, “You are not to diminish your daily amount of bricks.”
Exo 5:20 And when
they came out from Pharaoh, they met Mosheh and Aharon who stood there to meet
them.
Exo 5:21 And they
said to them, “Let יהוה look on you
and judge, because you have made us loathsome in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the
eyes of his servants, to give a sword in their hand to kill us.”
Exo 5:22 And
Mosheh returned to יהוה and said, “יהוה, why have You done evil to this people?
Why did You send me?
Exo 5:23 “For ever
since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done evil to this people.
And You have not delivered Your people at all.”
Exo 6:1 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Now see what I do to Pharaoh, for with a
strong hand he is going to let them go, and with a strong hand he is going to
drive them out of his land.”
We believe that the coming great tribulation will finally
serve to destroy the demonic strongholds that keep YHVH’s people in bondage.
Baruch atah
YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet,
v’chay-yeh o’lam
nata-b’tochenu.
Baruch atah
YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you Yahweh, our Elohim, King of the
Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting
life within our midst. Blessed are you, Yahweh giver of the Torah – Ameyn
Please
note these notes are under construction and are subject to correction and are
in no way a final authority on any subject.