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VA’ERA
Exodus
6:2-9:35
Ezekiel
28:25-29:21
Rosh
Chodesh---Isaiah 66:1-24
Maftir
(addition) Numbers 28:9-15
Romans
9:14-26
This week is Rosh Chodesh (New Month) Shevat, as we see the
new moon rise Friday evening at sundown. For this reason we have
Isaiah 66
and
Numbers 28
as our reading.
This week also we read how G-d reveals to Moses the "four
expressions of redemption." He will take the Jewish people out from Egypt,
deliver them from enslavement, and redeem them for Himself so they will be
His own treasured people. Then He will bring them to the Promised Land.
Pharaoh consistently refuses to let G-d's people go.
Therefore, G-d turns the Nile into blood; swarms of frogs come upon the
land; lice infestation follows; pestilence kills the wildlife; boils
afflict both man and beast; and from the skies above hail rains down with
fire and ice.
Why all this? Because Pharaoh hardened his heart and
refused to recognize the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh states, “Who is the Lord that I
should obey Him and let Israel go?”
In Exodus 7:13 Pharaoh hardens his heart. In Romans 1:18-32
Shaul, Paul, tells us that the whole world has a hard heart and refuses to
recognize G-d. The world wants to follow their own way and does not want
to let themselves be redeemed by G-d to become His own precious people.
Even G-d's people have a hard time hearing His voice. To
some it is laziness in their prayer life which includes being silent
before His face or not reading His word. We all must be ready to hear the
prompting of G-d; i.e. while driving you sense you should stop and help
someone you would never even think of stopping for! This could be G-d!
It is important to listen to the prompting of the Ruach
(Spirit). Part of the way to gain victory in our lives is to change our
attitude towards G-d. We must become more reverent or holy. We must trust
G-d more and have Emuna, faith, in Him. Forgive as we are forgiven. Let
the deliverance that we received be the start of having a clean heart just
like David requested in psalm 51. We must believe that when G-d says
something, He will bring it to fruition.
We read in this Parasha that after 433 years, G-d is
delivering His people. In the Brit Hadashah we see the promise of Messiah
coming, as described in Daniel 7 and 9; to redeem not only his own people
but a people that did not even know or have a share in the promise given
to Abraham's decedents. Now, all have the opportunity to become children
of Abraham, as Shaul states in the book of Roman's.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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