RECOGNITION

2. RECOGNITION THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT http://www.messianicbible.com HEAR O ISRAEL www.hearoisrael.org SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER www.sheepfoldgleanings.com MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE http://www.messianicisrael.com AZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM GREENBAUM http://www.azamra.org

3. VA’ERA “I appeared” TORAH: Exodus 6:2-9:35 HAFTARAH: Ezekiel 28:25 B’RIT CHADASHAH: Romans 9:14-33 All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted

4. FROM BAD TO WORSE We left the Israelites last week at a very low point. יהוהhad sent Moses to liberate them and the people had believed his message, yet their situation worsened. They had to put out the same number of bricks, but now they had to come up with their own straw. They were falsely accused of idleness and beaten. Why should they continue to believe Moses and Aaron? Moses begged יהוה for an answer to what was going on: And Mosheh returned to יהוה and said, “יהוה, why have You done evil to this people? Why did You send me? “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.” (Exodus 5:22-23)

5. COMMENTRY Concerning this dark moment, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes: “The Torah is preparing the ground for one of its most monumental propositions: It is in the darkest night that Israel has its greatest visions. Hope is born at the very edge of the abyss of despair. There is nothing natural about this, nothing inevitable. No logic can give rise to hope; no law of history charts a path from slavery to redemption, exile to return. The entire sequence of events has been a prelude to the single most formative moment in the history of Israel: the intervention of G-d in history – the supreme Power intervening on behalf of the supremely powerless…”

6. MY NAME 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.” And Elohim spoke to Mosheh and said to him, “I am יהוה. “And I appeared to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, as Ěl Shaddai. And by My Name, יהוה, was I not known to them? (Exodus 6:1-3) This name is used over 6000 times in the Bible!

7. SHEMOT 6:3 Our parsha this week opens with the balance of יהוה’s reply. We read in And Elohim spoke to Mosheh and said to him, “I am יהוה. (Exodus 6:2).Verse 3 reads in the Hebrew; “Va‟era el Avraham el Yitzaqva‟elYa‟aqob b‟ El Shaddai va‟shemee YHVH le‟ahn‟adahteela‟hem.” There seems to be two basic translations for this verse. Most English speaking Christian or Messianic sources render this verse similar to the ISR Scriptures as; “And I appeared to Avraham, to Yitzaq, and to Ya‟aqob, as El Shaddai. And by My Name, YHVH, was I not known to them?” The title of our parsha, “Va‟eira” (vav-aleph-reish-aleph) in the first part of the verse. “Va‟eira” means “and I appeared” or “and I revealed Myself”. The second half of this verse is often rendered by those who use or speak the four letter Name (YHVH) to be a question indicating that יהוה indeed made Himself known to the patriarchs as יהוה. However, the key word here is “n‟adahtee” (nun-vav-dalet-ayin-tav-yud), which is the Hebrew word for “unknown” or “not known”. “n‟adahtee”, is a negative form of the root “yadah” (to know).

8. ​ יהוה EQUALS FAITHFUL “And I appeared to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, as Ěl Shaddai. And by My Name, יהוה, was I not known to them? (Exodus 6:3) We must be careful in how we interpret this verse. It is not saying that the patriarchs “did not know” His name. For the name יהוהappears 165 times in the book of Genesis. Furthermore, He addresses Himself by יהוהspecifically to both Abraham and Jacob: And He said to him, “I am יהוה, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” (Genesis 15:7) And see, יהוה stood above it and said, “I am יהוה Elohim of Aḇraham your father and the Elohim of Yitsḥaq. The land on which you are lying, I give it to you and your seed. (Genesis 28:13) RASHI:“It is not written here, ‘(My name, יהוה) I did not make known to them’ but rather ‘(by the name, יהוה) I was not known to them’ – meaning, I was not recognized by them in my attribute of ‘keeping faith,’ by reason of which my name is ‘יהוה,’ namely that I am faithful to fulfil My word, for I made promises to them but I did not fulfil them (during their lifetime).”

9. ​EL SHADDAI “El Shaddai” literally translates as “El” (Elohim, Mighty One, The Almighty) “Shaddai” (His Shad, Breast or Nursing is Dai, Enough). El Shaddai (God the All Sufficient) reveals the maternal quality of God’s character as nurturer, comforter, and sustainer of life-giving nourishment, since it relates to the Hebrew word for a woman’s breast.  You could say that in and by His Mightiness He sustains us. In this revealing of Himself, יהוה is showing the patriarchs, and us, that as Elohim, (the Name that denotes His Power, Severity and Judgment) He sustains us and meets our every need, even though He remains invisible. This revelation of Himself is evident in the creation and sustaining of all His creation throughout Genesis. RABBI HIRSCH puts it, “Elohim works in and through Nature. He is the invisible cause of all that is observable and visible.” The miracles that El Shaddai did for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were done in a secret or hidden way within nature.

10. יהוה REVEALED RAV ELHANAN SAMET: El Shaddai guarantees descendants to the patriarchs: .. יהוהappeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect. “And I give My covenant between Me and you, and shall greatly increase you.” (Genesis 17:1-2) To Jacob: And Elohim said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai. Bear fruit and increase, a nation and a company of nations shall be from you, and sovereigns come from your body. (Genesis 35:11) So, יהוה revealed Himself to the fathers as “El Shaddai” and made His covenant with them, to give the Land of Canaan (Israel), as verse 4 of Exodus states; “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. (Exodus 6:4) The name of יהוהguarantees land for the patriarchs as seen above. The key to the new revelation of יהוהis that the Almighty is acting on His promise of the land which will begin by releasing His children from Egypt, continue with a long and sometimes torturous march, but guaranteed to end in the Promised Land.

11. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? יהוה is saying that He is revealing Himself, through Moses and great miracles that defy nature and turn it upside-down, as יהוה. This is a new revelation in Torah to the world and Pharaoh. 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.’ ” 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.” (Exodus 5:1-2) Well, Pharaoh is about to learn of and experience יהוה firsthand. The Name “יהוה” is His “Memorial Name” and it is the name He desires that all His creation remembers Him by. The rabbis teach that יהוה denotes His characteristics of “chesed” (loving-kindness) and “rachamim” (mercies). While יהוה delivers the Children of Israel from Egypt (bondage and constriction) with great judgments against Pharaoh, Egypt and their gods, He demonstrates openly His mercies, kindnesses and love for His chosen. In fact it is in the midst of this “furnace of affliction” that He chooses Israel as His precious treasure and shows them the Truth of His Salvation, another attribute of the Name יהוה, “Eternal Truth”.

12. NECHAMA LEIBOWITZ יהוה will answer Moses dilemma with a speech that is awesome in its literary structure. NechamaLeibowitz points out that it takes the form of a chiastic structure (Next slide): Here are some of the extraordinary details of the Hebrew text: The first and second halves of the speech each contain exactly 50 Hebrew words (B) and (B1) are about the patriarchs (C) and (C1) are about the land (D) and (D1) are about Egypt and slavery The first half is about the past, the second half is about the future The first half refers to the Israelites in the third person (them) The second half refers to the Israelites in the second person (you) I am יהוה– Beginning, centre, and the end of the speech

13. יהוהANSWER A:“I am יהוה. (6:2) B: appeared to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, as Ěl Shaddai. And by My Name, יהוה, was I not known to them? (6:3) C: And I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Kenaʽan, in which they have sojourned. (6:4) D: And I have also heard the groaning of Yisra’ĕl whom the Mitsrites are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. (6:5) E: Therefore, to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am יהוה, (6:6) D1: 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, 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. (6:6-7) C1: ‘And I shall bring you into the land which I swore to give (6:8) B1: to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, to give it to you as an inheritance. A1: I am יהוה.’ ” (6:8)

14. HASHEM CONCEALED RABBI YOSEF KALATSKY writes, “The Torah gives us examples of miracles which Hashem performed for Moshe's forefathers. Avraham was able to defeat the four kings by performing great miracles; however, these miracles were concealed within nature. Noach did not necessarily need to build an ark to survive the Great Flood because Hashem could have performed a miracle and suspended him and all the creatures above the waters. As the RaMBaN explains, the reason why Noach was instructed to build an ark was so that Hashem could bring about the miracle of his survival through a concealed and natural way. If all of existence had survived through a revealed miracle, it would have been difficult to deny G-d's existence and thus free choice would have been diminished. Therefore, in order to maintain free choice in a proper balance, Hashem's involvement with existence was in a concealed manner - prior to Moshe's revelation of YHVH.”

15. I WILL "Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: 'I am Adonai. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am Adonai your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya`akov— I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am Adonai.' " (Exodus 6:6-8 CJB) The first four “I wills” of Exodus 6:6–7 are central to the Passover (Pesach) Seder. The four cups in the Passover Seder represent the four I wills that יהוהdeclares over Israel: “I will bring you out” is represented in the Cup of Sanctification “I will rid you out of their bondage” is represented in the Cup of Deliverance “I will redeem you” is represented in the Cup of Redemption “I will take you to me” is represented in the Cup of Praise or Completion. This last cup is marriage language. He is taking Israel to be his bride.

16. REDEMPTION יהוה is telling Moses (and us, too!!) to just believe him! Believe his Word; trust that He is who He says He is. That is what his covenant name implies: I am who I am, or I will be what I will be; i.e., I will be your All Sufficient One and will meet your every need. Redemption involves three things: The exchange of one thing (money or blood) for something else (the sins of Israel) must occur. This is expressed in the phrase, “I will redeem you.” Through the shed blood of the Passover lamb, יהוהredeemed Israel from the power and penalty of sin, which is death (Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23, 1 Peter 1:18-19) Redemption involves the use of power to extricate that which is being redeemed (in this case, Israel) from that which is holding it captive or enslaved (i.e., the world, sin and the devil as pictured by Pharaoh and Egypt). This is expressed in the phrase, “with an outstretched arm.”  (Eph 1:19) Redemption involves judgment upon and or destruction of the captor. This is expressed in the phrase, “and with great judgments.” 

17. REDEEMER The concept of Redeemer is as follows: A redeemer is one who frees or delivers another from difficulty, danger, or bondage, usually by the payment of a ransom price. In the OT, the redeemer could function in several ways. He could buy back property (and even enslaved people) sold under duress (Lev 25:23–32). He (usually as owner, not as a relative) often redeemed from dedicated property and firstborn livestock (Lev 27:1–33; also Exodus 21:28–30). Boaz’s function as redeemer for Ruth (Ruth 3:13–4:10) is well known, as is Job’s resurrection hope in יהוה, his Redeemer (Job 19:25). יהוה himself is the Redeemer of Israel, a fact mentioned 18 times—especially by the prophet Isaiah (Ps 78:35; Isa 41:14). In the NT, [Messiah] is viewed as the ultimate Redeemer, although the Greek word for redeemer is not used. יהושעgave his life "as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Thus, the apostle Paul speaks of believers as having "redemption through his blood" (Eph 1:7) (Ibid.).

18. RENEWED COVENANT The Renewed Covenant has “I wills” from יהוהas well: “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’ĕl and with the house of Yehuḏah, not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares יהוה. “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. “And no longer shall they teach, each one his neighbour, and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know יהוה,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares יהוה. “For I shall forgive their crookedness, and remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) Please note that each successive covenant יהוהmakes with his people is based on and is an expansion of the previous covenant/s.

19. COMING OF יהושע “As in the days when you came out of the land of Mitsrayim, I shall let him see wonders.” (Micah 7:15) Israel had lost their trust, or never really had it to begin with. They had stories, remembrances that were generations removed from conditions they found themselves in. Even with ourselves the stories have be adapted, changed, “tweaked” for over 2700 years. We lost the truth. Our forefathers ran from the truth when they went head-long into idolatry. Even the reason for Mashiach’s coming has been distorted, we have many more layers of confusion than Israel. But יהוהremembers His Covenant with our fathers and He even includes the “mixed multitude” that Moses added to the Father’s flock. As the prophets repeatedly remind us in Scripture, He will remember us. Just as the miracles which יהוה wrought in Egypt surrounded the exodus, so too, will the miracles we will witness in the future be a part of the ultimate Redemption.

20. LISTEN 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. (Exodus 6:9) Exodus 6:9 actually reads the Children of Israel did not “listen” to Moses because of “shortness” of “spirit” and “hard” “slavery”. Other English translations say “anguish” of “spirit” and “hard” “bondage”. But, the Hebrew here is most interesting. They did not listen to Moses, “Sh‟ma”, or “hear and do”: Because of “kotzer” (Strong’s #7115) meaning “impatient”, from the root word katsarwhich means “to shorten”. The word used for “spirit” here is “Ruach” (Strong’s #7307) meaning “spirit” or “breath”. “hard bondage”. The Hebrew word translated here as “hard” is “kasheh” (Strong’s #7186) meaning “hard” or “stiff-necked”. Describing the Children of Israel in Exodus 32:9, 33:3, 33:5, 34:9, Deuteronomy 9:6, 9:13, 31:27 and Judges 2:19. The word “slavery” “abodah” (Strong’s #5656) meaning “work”, “labour” or “service”.

21. ATTACHED TO THE CAPTOR The meanings of Exodus 6:9, reflect also on their attitudes. According to the DHV (Dyslexic Hebrew Version) it translates; “And Moshe spoke these words to the Children of Yisra‟el, but they did not „hear and obey‟ Moshe, because they were „impatient‟ of „spirit‟ and „stiff-necked‟ in their „service‟.” This relates both ways. Yes, their service to the Egyptians was hard. But, they were stiff-necked about leaving it as they lived in their own homes, in their own community, Goshen (a land of plenty). Over time, these homes and their city had become their “prison”. Psychologists have written a lot about this phenomenon. It’s very common, also, in long-term hostage situations. The hostage, while wanting to go free, develops an attachment to the captor because they come to depend on them for their daily survival.

22. LEVI 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. ..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. (Exodus 6:16-20) Levi (Strong’s #3878) means “joined to” as in “at the heart”. His sons Gereshon (#1648), meaning “exile”, Qehath (#6955) meaning “assembly” and Merari (#4847) meaning “bitter herbs”. Levi lived 137 years. The gematria of Levi’s lifespan matches that of the word “matseva” which means “monument”. Levi (137 years), his tribe is to be a monument for us and for all time. That he is “joined in heart” to the “exiled assembly” and eats the “bitter herbs” of our slavery with us. Here we see a picture of Levi’s destiny to teach Ephraim in these last days.

23. THE SONS The sons of Gereshon (sons of exile): “Libni” (#3845) meaning “white”. “Shim‟i” (8096) meaning “renown” or “known”, from “sh‟ma” meaning “hear and obey”. The sons of Qehath (the assembly) who lived 133 years; “Amram” (#6019) meaning “exalted people”, “Yitshar” (#3323 & 3324) meaning “shining oil” or “anointed”, “Hebron” (2275) meaning “joining” or “conjunction” and “Uzzi‟el” (#5816) meaning “my strength is Elohim”. .. The numeric value of 133 matches the letters “Nun-Gimmel-Lamed” which, depending on how they are arranged mean “to stumble” or “to smite”, “to hide” and “to come out” or “sprout”. The sons of Merari (bitter herbs), which are; “Mahli” (#4249) meaning “sick” and “Mushi” (#4187) meaning “yielding” as in “tested and surrendered”

24. MEANING BEHIND THEIR NAMES We see in the names of his sons that: The “sons of exile” can (if willing) be made “white” and “known” by יהוה, if they “hear and obey” Him. The “sons of the assembly” are “exalted people”, “anointed” with “shining oil” or RuachHaKodesh, and are “joined” together in “Elohim, their strength”. That though they “stumbled” and were “smitten” by Elohim and were “hidden”, they will “come out” and in fact “sprout” as written in Hosea 2:23; “And I shall sow her for Myself in the earth, and I shall have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion. And I shall say to those who were not My people, „You are My people,‟ while they say, „My Elohim!‟ Though the “sons of the bitter herbs” are “sick” from the sin and slavery, they will be “tried and surrendered” to יהוהand will be “yielded” vessels to Him.

25. UNCIRCUMCISED MOUTH And Mosheh said before יהוה, “See, I am of uncircumcised lips, and why would Pharaoh listen to me?”(Exodus 6:30) Twice in this chapter of Exodus, Moses asks why would Pharaoh listen to him, seeing that he has “uncircumcised lips”. This phrase, “arelsaphah” in the Hebrew, really has two meanings. “arel” means “uncircumcised” or “one who stammers as with a foreskin over his lips” or “one who has a foreskin on his ears and cannot receive divine instruction”. This is where the phrase “uncircumcised heart” also comes from. Now, “saphah” means “speech” or “lip”, as in the “lip”, “rim” or “border” of a vessel. יהושע’s words in Matthew: And calling the crowd near, He said to them, “Hear and understand: “Not that which goes into the mouth defiles the man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”(Matthew 15:10-11) If we do not speak the right words we can also be seen a having an uncircumcised mouth.

26. MOSES AS GOD So יהוה said to Mosheh, “See, I have made you an elohim to Pharaoh, and Aharon your brother is your prophet. (Exodus 7:1) Each person has his/her place or grade. In our story, Pharaoh, the recipient is on the bottom rung. He listens to Aaron, the prophet. Aaron, the expounder, is called to listen to Moses and speak forth that which has been given to him. Moses, the lawgiver, stand in the place of the Almighty, discern His divine will and words, and inform his brother what he is to say and do. It would take ten plagues to convince the Pharaoh to send the Hebrews out of Egypt, which was a polytheistic culture that worshiped many false gods, including everything from bugs to Pharaoh himself. Each plague isolated and exposed a false deity as powerless to stop the work of יהוה 's judgment.

27. WHEN PHARAOH SPEAKS And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ .. (Exodus 7:8-9) From verse 9 we learn that this miracle of turning the rod into a serpent was not meant to be performed at the initiative of Moses or Aaron, but at the request of Pharaoh. What was the point of this? Was it to get them to believe in יהוה? That hardly makes sense since the wise men and the magicians of Egypt were able to do the very same thing although Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. Yet the text indicates that Pharaoh’s heart grew hard and nothing seemed to come of the episode. We are still left with the question, “Why would Pharaoh ask for a miracle?” Was he trying to step into their faith? Or was he hoping to prove his superiority? We must remember 40 years ago, this was also Moses’s home. Assuming this was a different Pharaoh, he could possibly have been like a step-brother to Moses.

28. MAGICIANS In the story of Joseph and the dreams of Pharaoh, it was the magicians who first attempted to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. There are a lot of similarities between the two events. The Hebrew has the advantage over the Egyptian magicians Something is swallowed Sheaves and cows in Pharaoh’s dreams A staff in Aaron’s case • The situation comes about as a result of Pharaoh’s fears The Pharaoh is anxious about his dreams: And it came to be in the morning that his spirit was moved, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Mitsrayim and all its wise men. And Pharaoh related to them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:8) The Pharaoh is worried about the Israelites: and he said to his people, “See, the people of the children of Yisra’ĕl are more and stronger than we, ..shall be when fighting befalls us, that they shall join our enemies and fight against us, and shall go up out of the land.” (Exodus 1:9-10)

29. THE MESSAGE What is the point of these parallels? It has been suggested that the miracles in our Exodus story were not about establishing faith; but just as the intention of the dreams was to convey a message, so these miracles would bring a message. And what could it be? Well the prophet Ezekiel describes Pharaoh as a great serpent, ruling over everything. The serpent wanted to swallow up the weak, thus picturing Israel under the bonds of slavery. This is where we see the signs come into play. The signs show the TRUE strength and power of the serpent. The rod in Aaron’s hand is like a dried up stick, but it transforms into a living being, one capable of confronting Pharaoh, the serpent. The rod is the people of Israel coming to life! What happens next? Aaron’s rod swallows up the rods of the Egyptians! The pride and the strength of the Egyptians will be overtaken! It is a message and a prophecy! The sons of Israel are destined to overcome the world! And it can happen in a moment!

30. DANIEL In the book of Daniel we have a third mention of the Egyptian magicians versus a Hebrew. As for these four young men, Elohim gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Dani’ĕl had understanding in all visions and dreams. … And in any word of wisdom and understanding about which the sovereign examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians, the astrologers, who were in all his reign. (Daniel 1:17-20) Daniel interprets the dream of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1-3) which is about four kingdoms, the last one being the Kingdom of Heaven which will defeat all other kingdoms and rule the world! “And in the days of these sovereigns the Elah of the heavens shall set up a reign which shall never be destroyed, nor the reign pass on to other people – it crushes and puts to an end all these reigns, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44) This is a divine vision. It takes us beyond what we are seeing with our eyes in this world

31. ENCOURAGEMENT The Egyptians had the most powerful kingdom in the world. The Israelites were just a bunch of slaves, disheartened and miserable. Pharaoh was the great serpent of the world. However, there is a time that the great serpent is destined to be swallowed up! 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. (Revelation 12:9) And he seized the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2) While the signs that Moses was given to perform were a message to Pharaoh, they also provided the people of Israel with encouragement: The sign of the rod – that they would come alive and “swallow up” Egypt! (Egypt is called “tanniyn” (serpent and crocodile) in Isaiah 51:9, Ezra 29:3 and Ezra 32:2.) The sign of the leprous hand – their Elohim could heal any disease The sign of the Nile turning to blood – the Nile, also seen as a god, was the life of Egypt. When it turned to blood, the Egyptians would have seen it as the death of a god.

32. SIDE NOTE So Dani’ĕl went to Aryoḵ, whom the sovereign had appointed to destroy the wise ones of Baḇel. He went and said this to him, “Do not destroy the wise ones of Baḇel. Bring me in before the sovereign, and I shall show the interpretation to the sovereign.” (Daniel 2:24) As a reward to Daniel for his interpretation, he was made a ruler over Babylon AND placed in charge of all its wise men (including the magicians). The book of Daniel is filled with prophetic revelation, including Daniel’s own dreams and visions of future kingdoms, the tribulation, and the anti-messiah. Daniel may have shared some of what he learned with the wise men and the magicians? Is there any evidence of this? How about this story in the Gospels? And יהושע having been born in BĕythLeḥem of Yehuḏah in the days of Herodes the sovereign, see, Magi from the East came to Yerushalayim, saying, “Where is He who has been born Sovereign of the Yehuḏim? For we saw His star in the East and have come to do reverence to Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2) Who are the magi? They are astrologers, magicians, or wise men from the east…that is from Babylon

33. SERPENT 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. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the practisers of witchcraft. And they, the magicians of Mitsrayim, also did so with their magic. And they, each one, threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But the rod of Aharon swallowed up their rods. (Exodus 7:10-12) Two different words are used for “serpent” in these verses. First we see the word “tanniyn”, (Strong’s #8577) used in verses 9, 10 and 12. Tanniyn is translated as “serpent” or “crocodile”. In verse 15 Torah uses the word “nachash”. Strong’s translates “nachash” as “serpent” or “snake”. “Nachash” literally means “shining one” because it resembles burnished metal. “Nachash” is the root word in “nekhoshet” (bronze or copper). The Hebrew sources point to the fact that “nachash” is “serpent” or “shining one” and not snake. Crocodiles were elohim (mighty ones) in Egypt and the deity of the Nile River. יהוה sent a clear message to Pharaoh, He would judge the elohim of Mitzrayim and consume them as Aaron’s rod would consume the false elohim (serpents) of Pharaoh’s magicians.

34. WATER INTO BLOOD And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as יהוה had said. ..” And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, “Say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Mitsrayim, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they become blood. And there shall be blood in all the land of Mitsrayim, both in wooden and in stone containers.’ ..(Exodus 7:13-25) Hapi was the god of the Nile. All the water of the flowing Nile turned into blood for seven days! It was a supernatural miracle. Note: Messiah's first miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). The waters turned to blood here included the streams and rivers (“nahar” and “ye‟or” = flowing waters, living waters), the ponds (“agam” = stagnant waters or “strongholds”) and their pools (“mikvah” = cleansing waters or “hope”). Reservoirs or “dam” (#1818) refers to “blood-guilt” for the blood of the Israelite male children shed by them, as they were thrown into the river (waters).

35. FROGS .. I am smiting all your border with frogs. “And the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and shall come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants, .. and the frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.” ’ ..(Exodus 8:2-5) The attack of frogs was an attack on Heka (Heqt) the toad goddess, wife of Khnum who was goddess of the land. Hekawas also the goddess of resurrection and procreative power. Frogs were consecrated to Osiris and were the symbol of inspiration. Frogs and toads were very sacred to the Egyptians. If anyone killed a frog, even unintentionally, the sin was punishable by death. Frogs represent unclean or foul spirits, as in Revelation 16:13-14: And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as frogs, for they are spirits of demons, doing signs, which go out to the sovereigns of the entire world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of יהוה the Almighty. Again, Pharaoh’s magicians duplicated this plague but could not make it go away. This plague too lasted 7 days.

36. PINCHING LICE ..‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it becomes gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.’ ” And they did so, and Aharon stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became gnats on man and beast. ..The magicians then said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of Elohim!” But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as יהוה had said. (Exodus 8:16-19) The plague of gnats was an attack on Geb, “the Great Cackler,” god of earth and vegetation. His representation was that of a goose that was said to have laid the egg that hatched the sun. The royal throne of Egypt was known as the “throne of Geb.” He was the father of Osiris and husband of Nut. Egyptian priests shaved their heads to prevent lice which, if found, would render them unclean. The plague of gnats/lice/fleas stopped all priestly rituals. The Hebrew word here for “gnats” is “ken” (#3654) meaning “stinging gnats” or “pinching lice” they actually “eat your face”.

37. FIRST THREE PLAQUES The Children of Israel went through the first three plagues along with the Egyptians. יהוה was showing Israel that the “Blood” was also important to them. The pictures they saw and experienced in the plagues of the frogs (evil spirits) and the stinging gnats were to show them that if they did not accept His gift of salvation and deliverance, their judgment and punishment would be as that of the nations. NOTE: Pharaoh’s magicians could not duplicate this plague of gnats, or lice. They declared this to be the “Finger of Elohim”. With that “Finger”יהוה wrote the two “tablets of the Testimony” in stone and as יהושעsaid in “But if I cast out demons by the finger of Elohim, then the reign of Elohim has come upon you. (Luke 11:20)

38. INSECTS .. “Let My people go, so that they serve Me. .. I am sending swarms of flies on you and your servants, ..“And I shall put a distinction between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ .. the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-24) Here יהוה made a distinction between clean and unclean, holy and unholy. A separation between what was Egypt (the world), with all its idolatry, and what was holy to God. The plague of flies was an attack on Khepfi, who was the god of insects. Included in the same plague was the beetle, a scarab, which was the emblem of Re (Ra), the sun god. Their sun god had now become detestable to them. In Hebrew we read that “arob” (#6157) are “swarms of flies” specifically “gad-flies” or “horse-flies” that suck blood. A “fly” singular which is “zebub” (#2070) is used with Ba‟al in Matthew 10 & 12 and Luke 11 referring to satan as “the lord of the flies”.

39. LIVESTOCK ..“Let My people go, so that they serve Me.. 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. ..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. (Exodus 9:1-6) This fifth plague struck Apis who was the bull god. His counterpart was Hathor, the cow goddess. We’re told in the Hebrew that this was a “ma‟odkabeddeber”, or an “exceedingly great plague”. The word used here for plague, “deber” (Strong’s #1698) is from the root word “debar” (#1696) meaning “the word” or “that which is spoken”. This plague, that was spoken byיהוה, devastated Egypt's economy. It killed their food, their oxen and brought their ability to sustain themselves to a standstill.

40. BOILS OR BLISTERS 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. “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.” ..(Exodus 9:8-12) With no warning to Pharaoh festering boils [broke] out on men and animals throughout the land. This plague was an attack on Thoth (Imhotep),who was the god of medicine, intelligence and wisdom. The Egyptians had several medical deities to whom, on special occasions, they sacrificed humans. They were burnt alive on a high altar, and their ashes were cast into the air, that with every scattered ash a blessing might descend upon the people. In the Hebrew, this is described as boils with blisters (“shekheen” – inflamed boil with “ababu‟ah” – blisters or pustules). This sounds a little like what will happen to those who accept the “mark of the beast” in Revelation.

41. KEPT ALIVE TO REVEAL יהוה And יהוה said to Mosheh, .. 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. “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. “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. (Exodus 9:13-16) Here יהוה has Moses say that these plagues were sent to change Pharaoh’s heart and to show all Egypt that יהוה is Supreme in all the earth. He also tells Pharaoh that יהוה did this through Moses because, had He done it by His own Hand, all Egyptians would have perished. Elohim further tells Pharaoh that he was given authority by יהוה over Egypt for the sole purpose of showing His power and to declare His Name in all the earth. So much for Pharaoh’s ego.

42. HAILSTORM “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. “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.” ’ ..... (Exodus 9:18-33) This was an attack on Nut, who was the sky goddess and the mother of Osiris. The Hebrew word used here is “halak” which indicates that the fire (or “aish”) “walked” along the ground, as with severe lightning. The time of year is confirmed, as we are told that the flax and the barley were smitten as they were in the head, being early crops. The barley and flax were “abib” and it was the beginning of the first month. Pesach would be very soon. And, the wheat and the spelt were spared, as they are late crops.

43. STAND BEFORE There was a divine order to how this would happen. We will see that the first nine plagues are divided into three groups of three. The first plague in each group describes a time “in the morning” (baboker) when Moses should “stand” (yatzav) before Pharaoh with his warning: Plague One (blood) - “Go to Pharaoh in the morning, .. you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him. ... (Exodus 7:15) Plague Four (gnats) - And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water, ... (Exodus 8:20) Plague Seven (hail) - And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, .. (Exodus 9:13) The goal of the first set of three plagues – Prove that He isיהוה ‘Thus said יהוה, “By this you know that I am יהוה. ..(Exodus 7:17)

44. GO TO In the second plague of each of the three sets, there is no mention of when (in the morning) or of “standing” before Pharaoh. Instead, we see a different set of common phrases: Plague Two (frogs) - And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ... if you refuse to let them go, see, I am smiting all your border with frogs. (Exodus 8:1-2) Plague Five (cattle) And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh and speak to him, ....if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, 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. (Exodus 9:1-3) Plague Eight (locusts) - And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh, .....if you refuse to let My people go, see, tomorrow I am bringing locusts within your borders. (Exodus 10:1-4)

45. WITHOUT WARNING Each of the third plagues in the three sets occurs without any prior warning: Plague Three (lice): And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Say to Aharon, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it becomes gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.’ ” (Exodus 8:16) Plague Six (boils): 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. “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.” (Exodus 9:8-9) Plague Nine (darkness); 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.” (Exodus 10:21)

46. Rav BAZAK RAV BAZAK teaches that each group brings the Egyptians one step closer in coming to know the Hebrew’s Elohim. The aim of the first group of plagues – “in order that you will know that I am יהוה” has been achieved. It should be added that it was specifically the Egyptians who first needed to be taught about the existence of a transcendental Divine Cause, for – as opposed to other ancient Middle Eastern religions. The second group is meant to prove that not only does יהוהexist, but He is involved in “the land” – in worldly, human affairs, and that He watches over those who fear Him. How can יהוה’s involvement in “the midst of the land,” in worldly affairs, be proven? This set of plagues highlights the distinction – as yet unmentioned – between the Egyptians and the sons of Israel. The third group of plagues gives special expression to the idea that יהוהis the only God, for His actions are without precedent in anything that has ever happened in the world.

47. HARDENED 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. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Yisra’ĕl go, as יהוה had said through Mosheh. (Exodus 9:34-35) Altogether there are three different Hebrew verbs which our translators have rendered by 'harden' or 'hardened' - ka bad, gashah, and khazag.  The first of these, which occurs in Exodus 7:14; 8:15, 32; 9:7 and 34, is the weakest of the three, and means to be 'dull' or 'heavy', rather than 'to be hard.' The second, which appears in Exodus 7:3 and 13:15, is the stronger term, and means 'to be hard', or, in the Hiphil [a form of Hebrew verbs], 'to make hard.‘ The third has the most intensive sense, implying fixed and stubborn resolution. It occurs in Exodus 4:21; 7:22; 8:19; 9:35; and elsewhere. 

48. END TIMES Rabbi Ralph Messer of Simchat Torah Beit Midrash teaches that we are in the 7000 year today. The 7000 year in scripture is termed: today, “His rest, a Sabbath rest (Hebrews chapter 3-4 etc) the day of the Lord and in that day”. In God’s plan for mankind the Age of Law, the years 2000 to 4000, is when the great Hebrew Torah Sages taught the Torah (God’s teaching and instruction) but did not specifically teach the Messiah. In the Church Age, from the years 4000 to 6000, is when the early Church fathers taught יהושע/Messiah and the Holy Spirit but not the Torah (or the Law/Moses). According to the Biblical Hebrew calendar the year is 5771/2011. There are approximately 271 known missing years, which brings us to the year 6011. In Hebrew understanding, any years passed the 6000 are counted as having entering into the 7000 year. Thus today, we are in the end times, the Age of the Messiah, where Torah and Messiah join together to become one in His people. Since Mount Sinai, there has never been a time like this where the people of יהוה , who are believers in Jesus the Messiah, desire to walk in Torah.

49. CLEAN AND UNCLEAN Apostle Paul, exhorts us to choose: Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers (a believer who is not faithful to, or dis-believes Yahweh’s plan).For what partnership have righteousness (a believer who is faithful to Yahweh)and lawlessness(a believer who chooses to violate (by unbelief) God’s laws and teach against them)?And what fellowship has light with darkness? And what agreement has Messiah with Beliyaʽal(worthless or wicked)? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” (Paul quotes Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27.) Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. (Paul quotes Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41.)“And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty.” (Paul quotes 2 Samuel 7:14.) Having, then, these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting set-apartness in the fear of Elohim. (2 Corinthians 6:14- 7:1)

50. ISAIAH 66 Thus said יהוה, “The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is this house that you build for Me? And where is this place of My rest? “And all these My hand have made, and all these that exist,” declares יהוה. “Yet to such a one I look: on him who is poor and bruised of spirit, and who trembles at My Word. …“For by fire and by His sword יהוה shall judge all flesh, and the slain of יהוה shall be many – those who set themselves apart and cleanse themselves at the gardens after ‘One’ in the midst, eating flesh of pigs and the abomination and the mouse, are snatched away, together,” declares יהוה. (Isaiah 66:1-17) Many desire the righteous ways that honor יהוה , but at the same time may be walking, living and eating in ways that defile His Temple (in us), the place He desires to dwell. May we heed the following words of יהוה “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand. “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” declares יהוה. (Isaiah 66:22-23)