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    Pharaoh, blind, deaf, and dumber than dumb

    Posted by Lev/Christopher on January 23, 2009 at 7:48am
    in Torah Studies

    Shabbat Shalom Kol Yisrael. It is our pleasure to present this week's Torah Parsha commentary by Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi T. (Mordecai) Mitchell, Rabbi and Rosh Zaken of B'nai Yeshurun Nazarene Yisraelite Synagogue, Kittanning, Pa., and board member of the Union of Nazarene Yisraelite Congregations. It is our sincere hope and prayer that these commentaries encourage, inspire, and strengthen the body of Messiah in Kol Yisrael. Our Parsha this week is Va'era (and I appeared) Shemoth (Exodus) 6:2 – 9:35. Our Haftarah is Yehezkel (Ezekiel) 28:25 – 29:21. Our suggested Brit Chadasha readings are: Romans 9:14—17; and 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1. Also, please read Tehillim (Psalms) 140.




    Shemoth 6:2 And Elohim spoke to Mosheh and said to him, “I am YHWH,

    3 And I appeared to Avraham, to Yitshaq, and to Ya'aqob as El Shaddai. And by My Name, YHWH, was I not known to them?




    We should start out by commenting on this opening verse before going to what I feel is the heart of the matter. Certainly verse 3 is among the “most misunderstood” or “misinterpreted” verses found in Scripture. Many who oppose the use of the Sacred Names or many who do not understand the necessity of using Yahweh's Name may point to this verse as “proof” that the patriarchs did not know or did not use the Name Yahweh. However, there are numerous verses in the preceding book of Torah, Bereshith (Genesis) that put such a fallacious idea to rest.




    While time does not permit an exhaustive examination of all the verses, let it suffice to quote at least a few.




    Berershith 28:13 And see, YHWH stood above it and said, “I Am YHWH Elohim of Avraham our father and the Elohim of Yitshaq...




    Bereshith 28: 16 And Ya'aqob awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, YHWH is in this place and I did not know it.”




    And in Bereshith 29:35, we have the words of Ya'aqob's wife Leah: “...Now I praise YHWH...(regarding the birth of Yehudah).




    In the ISR version, this verse, Shemoth 6:3, is (I believe correctly so) translated as a question: “...And by My Name YHWH, was I not know to them?”




    No doubt. One reason for this controversial monologue is that while many of the people who preceded the trek from Canaan to Egypt certainly knew Yahweh as “El Shaddi” which means “My Almighty Provider,” that is, the provider of physical or material blessings, However, few knew Him as “Yahweh,” the author and finisher of their salvation, the giver and sustainer of life – eternal life. Therefore, we must not allow anyone to mislead us by misquoting or misinterpreting Scripture, as some are prone to do.




    In 6:8, after promising to take them as His own special people, Yahweh reiterates His promise to cause Yisrael to return to The Land that He has intended them to have as a home and heritage: “And I shall bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, to Yitshaq and to Ya'aqob, to give it to you as an inheritance, I am YHWH.”




    Last week we compared Yisrael's time of sojourning in Egypt and their ever-increasing dependency on Egyptian economy and subsequent enslavement, to the overall economic situation we face in today as modern Yisrael.




    Certainly we should read through the ten plagues that Yahweh allowed to be visited on Egypt (Mitsrayim). Each plague represents a deeper descent into greater physical and spiritual negativity. However, as we read through the remainder of this Parsha there are several things of which we must be cognizant.




    When Mosheh and Aharon appear before Pharaoh, Pharaoh summons his magicians. The magicians are able to duplicate (up to a point) the miracle of the rod turning into a serpent demonstrated by Mosheh and Aharon -- except that the serpents they “created” we no match for the serpent that was unleashed by Mosheh and Aharon.




    The magicians also duplicate first three plagues, the plague of turning the water into blood, the plague of frogs, and the plague of gnats (lice). No doubt, Pharaoh and his entourage are impressed by the “power” of the Egyptian magicians. “Whatever you can do we can do too,” they seem to say.




    However, what they fail to see is that the magicians (wise men or spiritual leaders) can only duplicate the first three plagues – but unlike Mosheh and Aharon, they cannot undo the harm that the plagues cause. In other words, they can only make things worse.




    Whenever I read this I cannot help but think of our “spiritual” (religious) leaders today. While they may attempt to address many of today's problems, they offer no real solutions. Why is this so? The answer is simply that despite while acting with the best of intentions, they do not apply or consider Yahweh's Torah. They are in virtually every case, anti-Torah. Like the magicians of Egypt, they ultimately, only make things worse. They lack the wisdom and insight to provide positive spiritual solutions to the questions and problems we face today.




    We may note in Shemoth 9:11 And the magicians were unable to stand before Mosheh because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Mitsraites.




    We must also note that the first three plagues affected the Yisraelites as well as the Mitsrayites. However, with the warning of the fourth plague, flies, Yahweh causes a separation between the Yisraelites and Egyptians. 8:22--23 “And in that day I shall separate the land of Goshen in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, so that you know that I am YHWH in the midst of the land,

    23 And I shall put a distinction between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”




    We have a similar promise of protection during the time to come called the “Great Tribulation.” In Revelation 12:16, Yisrael is described as a “woman.” While she remains on the earth during the tribulation period, she is supernaturally protected from the terrible things going on around her. 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swollowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.




    While our exodus from end-time Egypt, better known to us as Babylon, an even more powerful kingdom than Egypt, will be preceded by a time of great physical sufferings of all kinds. However, the greatest danger to Spiritual Yisrael is that of Spiritual apostasy -- being deceived by the “magicians” of Egypt.




    In Debarim (Deuteronomy) 32:1--2 “water” represents doctrine or teaching. (Note also in verse 3 that Mosheh announces that he proclaims '...The Name of YHWH...' in conjunction with Yahweh's doctrine and teaching).




    From this we can conclude that the “river” spewed forth from the mouth of the dragon in Revelation 12 is false teaching, false doctrine. We may notice in Shemoth how the first two plagues are closely associated with water. We must also remember that Mosheh was drawn “out of” the water – Egyptian water. The ark of course, kept him afloat and separated from the water.




    From the reading in Shemoth 8:22—23 we must realize that in the time to come, as in ancient Egypt, we, faithful Yisrael, will be afforded supernatural protection, a protection of separation.




    In the weeks prior to November, 2008 many folks wondered who will ultimately win out -- who among the candidates will be the next President of the United States. I knew the answer long before the election. Really, so did we all. The anwer was that the one who is in the White House is the one Almighty Yahweh wants to be there for His intents and purposes. It's that simple. Of course that man is President Barack Obama. Yahweh does not care if we approve or disapporve of His choice. President is in the White House, whether he realizes it or not, because for whatever reasons, Yahweh wants him there.




    However, no matter who is President. no matter how well intentioned, he has something in common with all previous prsidents. All share the same stubbornness and blindness of Pharaoh. None recognize Torah.




    Like a spoiled child, as every plague is brought to pass, Pharaoh begs Mosheh and Aharon (not his magicians, who he knows are powerless) to call off the plague. He promises to release the Yisrelites into the wilderness to worship Yahweh. However, as soon as a plague is halted, Pharaoh goes back on his word.




    The very depth of Pharaoh's stubbornness and shortsightedness is finally seen by his own people (as we will read in next week's Parsha) in Shemoth 10:7 And Pharaoh's servants said to him, “Till when would this one (Mosheh) be a snare to us,” Let the men go, so that they serve YHWH their Elohim, Do you not yet know that Mitsrayim is destroyed?”




    Pharaoh is rightly accused by his own people of not knowing, and no doubt not caring, that his nation was already destroyed. At this point, the Egyptians had lost everything. They were beyond the point of no return, facing total anihilation. How often do political leaders turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the suffrerings of their people. Remember the infamous retort to a report that people were starving, and had little to eat: “Let them eat cake.”




    Pesident Obama candidate has a “religious” background. However, he cannot see that it is our overall rejection of Yahweh's Torah, and His true Messiah, that is the root cause of our downhill slide to destruction. Yahweh's economic system is outlined in Scripture, in such places as Vayyiqra 25 and 26. The Bible has the key to establishing perfect military (yes, military), economic and judicial systems. Today, however, these systems are replaced by various types of man-devised “isms.” The world today insists on rejecting Yahweh's plan in favor of a plan of its own. And the “pharaohs” we elect to positions of leadership continue to be blind and ignorant of the down-hill slide to perdition that we are on.




    As we said last week, it is my belief that we will and must be here to witness the destruction of Egypt. We cannot and will not make our exodus until the final plagues have fallen. More over, actual deliverance did not begin until the people cried out to Yahweh.




    Therfore, the key to survival is preparation, spiritual preparation, and yes, we must include physical and material preparation as well. Some far-sighted (but not necessarily spiritual men) are cautioning to limit the use of “plastic money.” and warning to lessen our dependency on credit. They also caution us to begin living within our means. That is sound advice that we cannot afford to ignore.




    While we do not condone some of the (more radical) ideas of the so-celled “survivalist” groups, we must advise all who will heed to be prepared for any sudden and unexpected economic crisis, natural disaster, civil disorder or terrorist attack, by having a supply of food, medicine and other necessary supplies. To what degree this should be carried out is up to each individual and family and we will say no more. However, I must be absolutely emphatic that we, as Yahweh's people, must not in any way, shape, or form become involved in violence or insurrection against the government or government authorities. This can be a fine line for some, however, for this we have a Scriptural command as found in Romans 13:1 – 7 (Please read include this passage in this week's readings). Please understand that to refrain from violence or insurrection does not mean that we do not have a right, and a moral obligation, to defend our families and homes, even if it means using deadly force.




    Certainly, however, our greatest preparation is spiritual. I was impressed with this while reading of the third plague, the plague of gnats or lice.




    As small and seemingly insignificant was these little creatures are they can cause great suffering and misery. It is believed that it was the fleas residing on rats that were the carriers of the dreaded Bubonic plague of the Middle Ages. Fleas gnats, or lice, come from the Hebrew word “ken” (Strong's 3654) and it carries the connotation of big problems from seemingly little or insignificant things. (Try ignoring those 'tiny' flease or lice).




    The things we tend to take for granted, or whatever “small stuff” we are prone to over look, are the very things that will serve to bring much misery into our lives. On the other hand, we cannot afford to trivialize matters, especially aspects Bible prophecy. More so, we cannot afford to trivialize any aspect of Yahweh's Torah. We must pay attention to seemingly small details. If we study diligently we will come to see that it is often the small, seemingly insignificant or inconsequential details of Torah that contains some of the greatest blessings.

    Comments or questions regarding this week's commentary may be addressed to Rabbi Mitchell by e-mail at: yoel@arm-tek.net


    here's a page with a study on the hardening of Pharao

    It's the one titled:
    "13. (Exod 6-9) Va'era - Why Did G-d harden Pharoah's heart? Plus, understanding why the plagues happened and the 42 Journeys in the Plagues."

    you'll need the windows media player to hear it.

    Purchase the WHOLE Website by clicking here

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    This page was created on 5 May 2010
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