11/23/2013

Parashat 15 Portion 54 Shemot 13:1-20 Haftarah: Yesh 46:3-13 Second Writings: Col 1:15-23



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.)

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death1. Footnote: 1See 16:25.

Many believers today have no doubt whatsoever in their minds that they “have the truth.” Yet upon a more deeper look into the Torah – The perfect law of liberty – we soon discover the “cracks” and falsehoods in the “truths” that we have been taught for many years.

This week’s Torah portion exposes the “power blood cult” that is commonly held to be the absolute truth in much of Christianity. We have been taught that the blood of Messiah has power to save us, as if the blood has some mysterious abilities. The teaching of the Torah and all scripture is that YHVH and YHVH alone has the power to deliver us from bondage. The blood serves as a covering and protection from His judgment and is also the means by which a covenant was entered into on our behalf to restore us to fellowship with the Father.

Isa 43:11  “I, I am יהוה, and besides Me there is no saviour.
יא  אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי, יְהוָה; וְאֵין מִבַּלְעָדַי, מוֹשִׁיעַ.

Someone who truly knows Yahshua would know the Father and not make such claims.

Four times in this Torah portion it repeats that by the strong Hand of YHVH we were delivered from Mitsrayim/Egypt. So important was this truth that we were to remind our children and ourselves of this truth every time we put on tefelin.

Yochanan/Joh 17:1  יהושע said these words, and lifted up His eyes to the heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Esteem Your Son, so that Your Son also might esteem You,
Joh 17:2  as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give everlasting life to all whom You have given Him.
Joh 17:3  “And this is everlasting life, that they should know You, the only true Elohim, and יהושע Messiah whom You have sent.
Joh 17:4  “I have esteemed You on the earth, having accomplished the work You have given Me that I should do.
Joh 17:5  “And now, esteem Me with Yourself, Father, with the esteem which I had with You before the world was.
Joh 17:6  “I have revealed Your Name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have guarded Your Word.1 Footnote: 1See Ps. 138:2.
Joh 17:7  “Now they have come to know that all You gave to Me, is from You.
Joh 17:8  “Because the Words which You gave to Me, I have given to them. And they have received them, and have truly known that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
Joh 17:9  “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
Joh 8:54  יהושע answered, “If I esteem Myself, My esteem is none at all. It is My Father who esteems Me, of whom you say that He is your Elohim.
Joh 8:55  “And you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be like you, a liar. But I do know Him and I guard His Word.1 Footnote: 1See also 15:10.
Joh 15:10  “If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love,1 even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love. Footnote: 1See 14:15. – “TORAH”

Only when we begin to honour and obey the Father as Yahshua taught us to, does everything else begin to fall into place.

Yahshua deeply revered and respected His Father as the giver and author of all life. Trinitarianism shows a deep disrespect and even contempt for the Almighty. We are called to follow in Yahshua’s footsteps. Shaul shows us how:

Php 3:7  But what might have been a gain to me, I have counted as loss, because of Messiah.
Php 3:8  What is more, I even count all to be loss because of the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah יהושע my Master, for whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them as refuse, in order to gain Messiah,
Php 3:9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through belief in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim on the basis of belief,
Php 3:10  to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Php 3:11  if somehow I might attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Php 3:12  Not that I have already received, or already been perfected, but I press on, to lay hold of that for which Messiah יהושע has also laid hold of me.
Php 3:13  Brothers, I do not count myself to have laid hold of it yet, but only this: forgetting what is behind and reaching out for what lies ahead,
Php 3:14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah יהושע.

Paul/Shaul understood that the only true meaning and significance of this life was obtained by completely identifying with the life and death of Messiah – becoming one with Messiah was secret and mystery of all wisdom and knowledge. To bring us to honour the Father as Yahshua did.

Col 2:3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.1 Footnote: 1Isa. 11:2, Col. 2:9.
Col 2:9  Because in Him dwells all the completeness of the Mightiness bodily,
Col 2:10  and you have been made complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and authority.

Is this the insight and teaching of a madman? No! Most people who call themselves believers still twist and pervert his words and teachings to their own destruction.

….our beloved brother Paul/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 2 Cor. 11:4.

Sadly many continue to twist the scriptures today to their own destruction.

Our Torah Portion:

Exo 13:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Exo 13:2  “Set apart to Me all the first-born, the one opening the womb among the children of Yisra’ĕl, among man and among beast, it is Mine.”

YHVH gives Moshe an instruction to set apart all of the first born – Moshe presents the nation with this instruction but first established by Whose power they are delivered and gives background knowledge and teaching as to how we show honour to Him. When we set apart the first born to YHVH – He shows us the way back to His Heart and Kingdom.

Exo 13:3  And Mosheh said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. For by strength of hand יהוה brought you out of this place, and whatever is leavened shall not be eaten.

The first thing Moshe chooses to remind them of is Who it really is that is bringing them out of Mitsrayim. There should be no confusion or mixture of this knowledge – It is YHVH and YHVH ALONE who brings us out of bondage.

Deu 32:39  ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no Elohim besides Me. I put to death and I make alive. I have wounded, and I heal. And from My hand no one delivers!

Exo 20:1  And Elohim spoke all these Words, saying,
Exo 20:2  “I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery.

This is the ONE truth that MUST NOT BE CONFUSED. To confuse this truth is to show contempt towards the Almighty.

There is some deep fundamental flaws in modern faith that would imply that the Hand of YHVH was not strong enough to deliver us from bondage so He had to “use” “Jesus” blood to help Him get the job done.

We are deceived if we believe there is some personal merit in us or in our faith that would cause us to be saved and delivered.

Today we all sin and continue to fall short of His Esteem.

Eph 2:8  For by favour you have been saved, through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim,
Eph 2:9  it is not by works, so that no one should boast.

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the favourable gift of Elohim is everlasting life in Messiah יהושע our Master.
Rom 3:21  But now, apart from the Torah, a righteousness of Elohim has been revealed, being witnessed by the Torah and the Prophets,
Rom 3:22  and the righteousness of Elohim is through belief in יהושע Messiah to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference,
Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the esteem of Elohim,

We are delivered by His Mighty Hand ONLY but we are covered by the blood of Messiah. He will keep us under this covering until Messiah can present us perfect before His presence.

We are protected from His judgment by the blood.

Exo 13:4  “Today you are going out, in the month Aḇiḇ.
Exo 13:5  “And it shall be, when יהוה brings you into the land of the Kenaʽanites, and the Ḥittites, and the Amorites, and the Ḥiwwites, and the Yeḇusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
Exo 13:6  “Seven days you eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day is a festival to יהוה.
Exo 13:7  “Unleavened bread is to be eaten the seven days, and whatever is leavened is not to be seen with you, and leaven is not to be seen with you within all your border. (Emphasis my own).

The truth that YHVH and YHVH alone is able to save us MUST NEVER BE CONFUSED.

Exo 13:8  “And you shall inform your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of what יהוה did for me when I came up from Mitsrayim.’
Exo 13:9  “And it shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a reminder between your eyes, that the Torah of יהוה is to be in your mouth, for with a strong hand יהוה has brought you out of Mitsrayim.
Exo 13:10  “And you shall guard this law at its appointed time from year to year.

“No leaven” could be a prophetic reference that after seven thousand years we will be delivered completely by His power FROM ALL LEAVEN.

Exo 13:11  “And it shall be, when יהוה brings you into the land of the Kenaʽanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,
Exo 13:12  that you shall pass over to יהוה every one opening the womb, and every first-born that comes from your livestock, the males belong to יהוה.
Exo 13:13  “But every first-born of a donkey you are to ransom with a lamb. And if you do not ransom it, then you shall break its neck. And every first-born of man among your sons you are to ransom.

Donkeys are the only non kosher animals that can be redeemed or ransomed.  When a first born was redeemed – pideon ha ben – the father was given an option to give the first born to the priest or redeem the first born with a sum of money.
Donkeys were beasts of burden – even to help bear the burden of Torah - or carry those who were messengers of the Torah. Perhaps YHVH is telling us that the gentiles – non kosher - will eventually help in bearing the burden of Torah - the building and financing of the true Kingdom of YHVH.

Exo 13:14  “And it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand יהוה brought us out of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 13:15  ‘And it came to be, when Pharaoh was too hardened to let us go, that יהוה killed every first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, both the first-born of man and the first-born of beast. Therefore I am slaughtering to יהוה every male that open the womb, but every first-born of my sons I ransom.’
Exo 13:16  “And it shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand יהוה brought us out of Mitsrayim.”
Exo 13:17  And it came to be, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that Elohim did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, though that was nearer, for Elohim said, “Lest the people regret when they see fighting, and return to Mitsrayim.”

Exo 13:18  So Elohim led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Sea of Reeds. And the children of Yisra’ĕl went up armed from the land of Mitsrayim.

The sages teach us that this scripture implies that only a handful a remnant of Yisraelites left  Mitsrayim. (Hebrew word “chamushim”)

Exo 13:19  And Mosheh took the bones of Yosĕph with him, for he certainly made the children of Yisra’ĕl swear, saying, “Elohim shall certainly visit you, and you shall bring my bones from here with you.”
Exo 13:20  And they departed from Sukkot and camped in Ětham at the edge of the wilderness.

The Yisraelites journey so far: They left Mitarayim/Egypt – we too although we remain a part of this world system we have chosen not to be part of it. Then they left Mitarayim from Ramases – Ramases was the place of sun worship. Today many have left Sunday worship to return to Shabbat worship. The first stop was “sukkot” a place of temporary dwellings. We too are pilgrims here on earth waiting for Messiah. The first appointment we will celebrate after Messiah’s return is Sukkot. Then they came to Etam. Etham - camp #2 - plowshare" – Contemplation -

Luk 9:62  And Yahshua said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of Elohim.

We see here an extremely important instruction in the Torah. When we leave “Mitsrayim”/“Egypt” we go by way of the Reed sea – mikvah – we declare that we are pilgrims and strangers on this earth – sukkot – We count the cost carefully, we contemplate that only by following the road map – Torah -  back to the Promised Land will we get there. We consider that of all the first generation Yisraelites that left, only a very, very small remnant made it.

Taking the bones of Yosef is taking the very essence of Messiah with us. (Bones in Hebrew can also mean “essence or substance” Hebrew “etzem”)

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.

11/16/2013

Parashat 15 Portion 53 Shemot 12:29-51 Haftarah: Yesh 21:11-22:4 Second Writings: 1 Thess 4:13-18



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.)

One of the evidences that one has truly been saved by the blood of Yahshua Ha Mashiach is that your heart is continually yearning to leave “Egypt” (Mitsrayim). Sadly many believers who have been saved by the blood of Yahshua come under the deceptive power of “Egypt” and fight to remain in its system of religious bondage. They even oppose those who call them out of the “religious system.”

To understand our present situation and condition seekers after genuine truth realize more and more that we find ourselves in a “Spiritual Mitsrayim.”  Many of course will reject this position but as long as we are not free to pursue and embrace all of Torah – WE ARE NOT FREE.

Yochanan/Joh 8:32  and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
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’?”
Joh 8:34  יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin.
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.
Joh 8:37  “I know that you are the seed of Aḇraham, but you seek to kill Me, because My word (Torah) has no place in you.

Many spiritual leaders emphasize that we have been set free – past tense – the truth is that we have been set free and as we grow spiritually through His favour we walk in greater measures of this feedom. (The aorist tense is often used in the Greek to describe this feedom – a present tense reality which continues into the future)

It will take a tribulation of far greater proportions of those found in ancient Mitsrayim to release genuine present day seekers of YHVH’s truth from the current bondage of this world and its religious systems.

Jer 16:14  “Therefore see, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when it is no longer said, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of Mitsrayim,’
Jer 16:15  but, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I shall bring them back into their land I gave to their fathers.

Talking about the release from captivity of Yisrael the prophet says:

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.

Many believers like to proclaim their freedom and their Jubilee and make a host of positive confessions as to what they believe rightfully belongs to them in this present time.
Many believers are under the tyranny of man- made doctrines and spiritual leaders who seek to control and manipulate them. Returning to the Torah of YHVH as Yahshua and his disciples taught is deeply frowned upon and discouraged.
We also find ourselves under the tyranny of cruel governments that force us to pay high taxes, who cannot protect its citizens from violent crimes and exploitation of the wealthy and powerful.
And still we say “we are free, we are free.”
The definition of a slave is someone who is forced to work for no compensation. The average salaried person works for more than four months of every year for the government FOR FREE because of the taxes they have to pay.

Are we really free?

1Co 10:11  And all these came upon them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come,
1Co 10:12  so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.

Rom 8:19  For the intense longing1 of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. Footnote: 1Lit. anxiously looking with outstretched head.
Rom 8:20  For the creation was subjected to futility, not from choice, but because of Him who subjected it, in anticipation,
Rom 8:21  that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage to corruption into the esteemed freedom of the children of Elohim.
Rom 8:22  For we know that all the creation groans together, and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
Rom 8:23  And not only so, but even we ourselves who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we ourselves also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

“The word “Mitsrayim” The root to this name is צר (tsar Strong's #6862) meaning "pressed in" and can be translated several different ways; "enemy" as one who presses in; "trouble" as a pressing in; "strait" as a canyon with the walls pressing. A common method of forming nouns is to add the letter "mem" to the front of a root. In this case the "mem" is placed before the root forming the noun מצר (metsar Strong's #4712). The prefixed "mem" can be understood as "what is...", hence metsar means "what is pressed in" and is usually translated as trouble or straits. The suffix of the name mitsrayim is the masculine plural suffix ים. The normal pronunciation for this suffix is "eeym", usually a multiple plural, but can also be "yeem" and is the double plural as in the name mitsrayim.

The name mitsrayim can be interpreted many different ways; two straits (possibly referring to the two sides of the Nile river), double straits, two enemies, double pressing, or even double trouble. While we cannot determine for certain what this name original meant, we can see some interesting parallels between Mitsrayim/Egypt and their relationship with the nation of Israel.”


The word Mitsrayim/Egypt also reminds us of a birth canal. It appears that being truly born again is a miracle of great significance as the birthing process is rather severe. Modern Christianity has diluted our redemption process to a simple little prayer and a handshake welcoming us into the kingdom of Elohim. In past revivals converts spent days in travail over their sins and lost state before experiencing the breakthrough of conversion. Todays “rapture mania” dilutes even more the reality and challenge of the struggle of coming out of Mitsrayim/ Egypt. MANY precious souls (beings) are not properly born and are “miscarriagded” and die.

J.H. Merle d’Aubigne (1794-1872) in his History of the Reformation in England stated:
To believe in the power of man in the work of regeneration is the great heresy of Rome, and from that error has come the ruin of the Church. Conversion proceeds from the grace of God alone, and the system which ascribes it partly to man and partly to God is worse than Pelagiansim. (Doctrine that says man is able to save himself). 
             
One of the greatest American theologians, Charles Hodge (1797-1878), also pointed out the danger of this teaching:
No more soul-destroying doctrine could well be devised than the doctrine that sinners can regenerate themselves, and repent and believe just when they please . . . As it is a truth both of Scripture and of experience that the unrenewed man can do nothing of himself to secure his salvation, it is essential that he should be brought to a practical conviction of that truth. When thus convicted, and not before, he seeks help from the only source whence it can be obtained.

We must ask ourselves, “What is the spiritual condition of man?” Can a man be born again by answering “yes” to certain questions? Can a man be born from “above” by walking to the front of a building and repeating a prayer? The answers to these questions will be determined by our view of man’s spiritual condition.

Man is spiritually dead and cannot please God (Eph 2:1; Rom 8:8). (Our Lord Himself portrayed man’s condition as one of utter helplessness: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him . . . . no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” (John 6:44a, 65b).

http://www.frontlinemin.org/decisionism.asp

http://www.victorybaptist.us/show.wc?msgaltarcall

The reason we speak so much about Mitsrayim/ Egypt and less about the Promised Land is because we still find ourselves in Mitsrayim.

Maybe the bride of Messiah are those who long intensely to leave “Mitsrayim.”Most of those who call themselves believers seem quite content in “Mitsrayim” and have adapted well.

1Co 3:2  I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able,
1Co 3:3  for you are still fleshly. For since there is envy, and strife, and divisions among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man?

Shemot/Exo 12:29  And it came to be at midnight that יהוה smote all the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of livestock.
Exo 12:30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Mitsrites. And there was a great cry in Mitsrayim, for there was not a house where there was not a dead one.
Exo 12:31  Then he called for Mosheh and Aharon by night, and said, “Arise, go out from the midst of my people, both you and the children of Yisra’ĕl. And go, serve יהוה as you have said.
Exo 12:32  “Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go. Then you shall bless me too.”
Exo 12:33  And the Mitsrites urged the people, to hasten to send them away out of the land. For they said, “We are all dying!”

YHVH will destroy every kind of priesthood that opposes His chosen priesthood – Yisrael is His nation of priests. YHVH will make a complete end of all opposing priesthoods.

Exo 12:34  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their garments on their shoulders.
Exo 12:35  And the children of Yisra’ĕl had done according to the word of Mosheh, and they had asked from the Mitsrites objects of silver, and objects of gold, and garments.
Exo 12:36  And יהוה gave the people favour in the eyes of the Mitsrites, so that they gave them what they asked, and they plundered the Mitsrites.
Exo 12:37  And the children of Yisra’ĕl set out from Raʽmeses to Sukkoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides the little ones.
Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up with them too, also flocks and herds, very much livestock.
Exo 12:39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Mitsrayim, for it was not leavened, since they were driven out of Mitsrayim, and had not been able to delay, nor had they prepared food for themselves.
Exo 12:40  And the sojourn of the children of Yisra’ĕl who lived in Mitsrayim was four hundred and thirty years.
Exo 12:41  And it came to be at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that same day it came to be that all the divisions of יהוה went out from the land of Mitsrayim.
Exo 12:42  It is a night to be observed unto יהוה for bringing them out of the land of Mitsrayim. This night is unto יהוה, to be observed by all the children of Yisra’ĕl throughout their generations.
Exo 12:43  And יהוה said to Mosheh and Aharon, “This is the law of the Passover: No son of a stranger is to eat of it,
Exo 12:44  but any servant a man has bought for silver, when you have circumcised him, then let him eat of it.
Exo 12:45  “A sojourner and a hired servant does not eat of it.
Exo 12:46  “It is eaten in one house, you are not to take any of the flesh outside the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.
Exo 12:47  “All the congregation of Yisra’ĕl are to perform it.
Exo 12:48  “And when a stranger sojourns with you and shall perform the Passover to יהוה, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and perform it, and he shall be as a native of the land. But let no uncircumcised eat of it.
Exo 12:49  “There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
Exo 12:50  And all the children of Yisra’ĕl did as יהוה commanded Mosheh and Aharon, so they did.
Exo 12:51  And it came to be on that same day that יהוה brought the children of Yisra’ĕl out of the land of Mitsrayim according to their divisions.

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 Yahveh, 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.

11/09/2013

Parashat 15 Portion 52 “Bo” Shemot 10:1-12:12 Haftorah: Yesh 19:1-17 Yochanan/John 1:29-34


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.)

Ivrim/Heb 12:15  See to it that no one falls short of the favour of Elohim, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, by which many become defiled,
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 above scripture addresses the spirit of this age -  The Esav spirit – it is a religious spirit that seeks to control and manipulate through guilt and deception. 

The opposite spirit is the “Yakov spirit” who live as pilgrims tending sheep and studying Torah.
Many people in this world who call themselves believers have no idea of the kind of danger they are in WHEN THEY REFUSE TO OBEY THE TRUTH BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT OF ESAV WILL FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT EVEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A PLACE OF REPENTANCE.

2Ti 4:3  For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear,1 Footnote: 1Isa. 30:10, Jer. 5:31, Rom. 16:18.
2Ti 4:4  and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.

In the almost 40 years that I have been involved in the church and with Christians I have noticed a dangerous spiritual decline amongst believers.
Yahshua solemnly warns such a group of people.  (Parable of the soils)

 Mat 13:14  “And in them the prophecy of Yeshayahu is completely filled, which says, ‘Hearing you shall hear and by no means understand, and seeing you shall see and by no means perceive,
Mat 13:15  for the heart of this people has become thickened, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart, and turn back, and I heal them.’
Mat 13:16  “And blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear,
Mat 13:17  for truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous ones longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Isa 6:8  And I heard the voice of יהוה, saying, “Whom do I send, and who would go for Us?” And I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isa 6:9  And He said, “Go, and you shall say to this people, ‘Hearing, you hear, but do not understand; and seeing, you see, but do not know.’
Isa 6:10  “Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and shall turn and be healed.”
Isa 6:11  Then I said, “יהוה, until when?” And He answered, “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, and the houses are without a man, and the land is laid waste, a ruin,
Isa 6:12  and יהוה has removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.

Mic 7:15  “As in the days when you came out of the land of Mitsrayim, I shall let him see wonders.”
Mic 7:16  Let the gentiles see and be ashamed of all their might, let them put their hand over their mouth, let their ears be deaf.
Mic 7:17  Let them lick the dust like a serpent, let them come trembling from their strongholds like snakes of the earth, let them be afraid of יהוה our Elohim and fear because of You.
Mic 7:18  Who is an Ěl like You – taking away crookedness and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He shall not retain His wrath forever, for He Himself delights in kindness.
Mic 7:19  He shall turn back, He shall have compassion on us, He shall trample upon our crookednesses! And You throw all our sins into the depths of the sea!
Mic 7:20  You give truth to Yaʽaqoḇ, kindness to Aḇraham, which You swore to our fathers from the days of old!

Isa 10:20  And in that day it shall be that the remnant of Yisra’ĕl, and those who have escaped of the house of Yaʽaqoḇ, never again lean upon him who defeated them,(Esav) but shall lean upon יהוה, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, in truth.
Isa 10:21  A remnant shall return, the remnant of Yaʽaqoḇ, to the Mighty Ěl.
Isa 10:22  For though your people, O Yisra’ĕl, be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return – a decisive end, overflowing with righteousness.
Isa 10:23  For the Master יהוה of hosts is making a complete end, as decided, in the midst of all the earth.
Isa 10:24  Therefore thus said the Master יהוה of hosts, “My people, who dwell in Tsiyon, be not afraid of Ashshur, who beats you with a rod and lifts up his staff against you, in the way of Mitsrayim.
Isa 10:25  “For yet a little while and the displeasure shall be completed, and My displeasure be to their destruction.”
Isa 11:11  And it shall be in that day that יהוה sets His hand again a second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Ashshur and from Mitsrayim, from Pathros and from Kush, from Ěylam and from Shinʽar, from Ḥamath and from the islands of the sea.
Isa 11:16  And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, those left from Ashshur, as it was for Yisra’ĕl in the day when he came up from the land of Mitsrayim.

Our Torah portion begins:

Shemot/Ex 10:1- 2
Exo 10:1  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, so that I show these signs of Mine before him,

א  וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, בֹּא אֶל-פַּרְעֹה:

“Bo el Paroh” “Bo” is also the name of this new Parasha – it is the imperative to come or to go.

It seems appropriate that a “remnant” represented by Moshe and Aaron could order the destruction of the most powerful empire of the time.

In the book of Revelation we find a similar scenario in the last days.

Rev 11:3  “And I shall give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clad in sackcloth.”
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that are standing before the Elohim of the earth.
Rev 11:5  And if anyone wishes to harm them, fire comes out from their mouth and consumes their enemies. And if anyone wishes to harm them, he has to be killed in that way.
Rev 11:6  These possess authority to shut the heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. And they possess authority over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they wish.
Rev 11:7  And when they have ended their witness, the beast coming up out of the pit of the deep shall fight against them, and overcome them, and kill them,
Rev 11:8  and their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Seḏom and Mitsrayim, where also our Master was impaled,
Rev 11:9  and some of the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations see their dead bodies for three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be placed into tombs,
Rev 11:10  and those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them and exult. And they shall send gifts to each other, because these two prophets tortured those dwelling on the earth.
Rev 11:11  And after the three and a half days a spirit of life from Elohim entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.


Who are these two witnesses? There is much speculation as to who they are. However the small messianic remnant who are alive in those days will be in agreement with every word of judgment which comes from their mouths. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word of judgment will be c0nfirmed and carried out.

Exo 10:2  and that you relate in the hearing of your son and your son’s son what I have done in Mitsrayim, and My signs which I have done among them. And you shall know that I am יהוה.”

    The deliverance from Mitzraim would serve as a seminal event regarding the redemption of Yisrael and ALL those grafted into Yisrael.

     Jer 16:14  “Therefore see, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when it is no longer said, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of Mitsrayim,’
     Jer 16:15  but, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I shall bring them back into their land I gave to their fathers.

Eighth plague-locusts Shemot/Ex 10:3-20
Exo 10:3  And Mosheh and Aharon came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of the Heḇrews, ‘Till when shall you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they serve Me.
Exo 10:4  ‘Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, see, tomorrow I am bringing locusts within your borders.
Exo 10:5  ‘And they shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one is able to see the land. And they shall eat the rest of what has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field.
Exo 10:6  ‘And they shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Mitsrites, which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’ ” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.
Exo 10:7  And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “Till when would this one be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they serve יהוה their Elohim. Do you not yet know that Mitsrayim is destroyed?”
Exo 10:8  And Mosheh and Aharon were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve יהוה your Elohim. Who are the ones that are going?”
Exo 10:9  And Mosheh said, “We are going with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we are going, for we have a festival to יהוה.”
Exo 10:10  And he said to them, “Let יהוה be with you as I let you and your little ones go! Watch, for evil is before your face!
Exo 10:11  “Not so! You men go now, and serve יהוה, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from the presence of Pharaoh.
Exo 10:12  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Mitsrayim for the locusts to come upon the land of Mitsrayim, and eat every plant of the land – all that the hail has left.”
Exo 10:13  And Mosheh stretched out his rod over the land of Mitsrayim, and יהוה brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. Morning came, and the east wind brought the locusts.
Exo 10:14  And the locusts went up over all the land of Mitsrayim and settled within all the borders of Mitsrayim, very grievous. There had never been locusts like them before, nor would there again be like them.
Exo 10:15  And they covered the surface of all the land, so that the land was darkened. And they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left, and no greenness was left on the trees or on the plants of the field, in all the land of Mitsrayim.
Exo 10:16  Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and Aharon in haste, and said, “I have sinned against יהוה your Elohim and against you.
Exo 10:17  “And now, please forgive my sin only this once, and pray to יהוה your Elohim, that He would only turn away this death from me.”
Exo 10:18  And he went out from Pharaoh and prayed to יהוה.
Exo 10:19  And יהוה turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Sea of Reeds. Not one locust was left within all the border of Mitsrayim.
Exo 10:20  However, יהוה hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not let the children of Yisra’ĕl go.

Ninth Plague – darkness
Shemot/Ex 10:21 - 29

Exo 10:21  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and let there be darkness over the land of Mitsrayim, even a darkness which is felt.”
Exo 10:22  And Mosheh stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Mitsrayim for three days.
Exo 10:23  They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, while all the children of Yisra’ĕl had light in their dwellings.
Exo 10:24  And Pharaoh called to Mosheh and said, “Go, serve יהוה, only leave your flocks and your herds behind. Let your little ones go with you too.”
Exo 10:25  But Mosheh said, “You yourself are to provide us with slaughterings and burnt offerings, to prepare for יהוה our Elohim.
Exo 10:26  “And our livestock are to go with us too, not a hoof is to be left behind, for we have to take some of them to serve יהוה our Elohim, and we ourselves do not know with what we are to serve יהוה until we come there.”

Rashi comments that one the reasons darkness came over Mitsrayim, is that there were many Hebrews who did not deserve to be freed – because they had so assimilated into Egyptian culture that there was no hope for them to return to the covenant of Yisrael. These were to die so YHVH provided the darkness so that the Mitsrites would not see their death and claim that the plagues affected HEBREWS and Mitsrites alike.

Exo 10:27  However, יהוה hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he would not let them go.
Exo 10:28  And Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Watch yourself and see my face no more, for in the day you see my face you die!”
Exo 10:29  And Mosheh said, “You have spoken rightly – never again do I see your face!”

Tenth Plague and final arrangements for the first Pesach and exodus
Shemot/Ex 11:1-12:12

Ex 11:1  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “I am bringing yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Mitsrayim. After that he is going to let you go from here. When he lets you go, he shall drive you out from here altogether.
Exo 11:2  “Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbour and every woman from her neighbour, objects of silver and objects of gold.”
Exo 11:3  And יהוה gave the people favour in the eyes of the Mitsrites. And the man Mosheh was very great in the land of Mitsrayim, in the eyes of Pharaoh’s servants and in the eyes of the people.
Exo 11:4  And Mosheh said, “Thus said יהוה, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Mitsrayim,
Exo 11:5  and all the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the first-born of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the first-born of cattle.
Exo 11:6  ‘And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Mitsrayim, such as has never been or ever be again.
Exo 11:7  ‘But against any of the children of Yisra’ĕl no dog shall move its tongue, against man or against beast, so that you know that יהוה makes distinction between Mitsrayim and Yisra’ĕl.’
Exo 11:8  “And all these servants of yours shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people at your feet!’ And after that I shall go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in great displeasure.
Exo 11:9  But יהוה said to Mosheh, “Pharaoh is not going to listen to you, in order to multiply My wonders in the land of Mitsrayim.”
Exo 11:10  And Mosheh and Aharon did all these wonders before Pharaoh, however, יהוה hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not let the children of Yisra’ĕl go out of his land.

Establishing the beginning of the  New year that will put the Moadim in place
Exo 12:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon in the land of Mitsrayim, saying,
Exo 12:2  “This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you.

Note the use of “for you” twice in the above verse. YHVH was appointing our observance of His time in such a way that we would consider His Redemption for us as the most important event to commemorate the counting of our years here on earth. So the most important question someone could ask you is when did you begin to observe with understanding the beginning of YHVH’s scriptural calendar – or in old Christian terms when were you truly born again.