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VA ERA: "And I Appeared"

Exodus 6:2-9:35

Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

Romans 9:14-26

This is the Finger of G-d

Last week we began the book of Shemot.  It began with the names of the children of Israel.  We were introduced to Moshe, the chosen of G-d to bring deliverance to His people.  Pharaoh rejected the claim that there is a G-d above him and the other Egyptian gods. 

(Shemot/Exodus 6:12) G-d also began His divine judgment with the ten plagues.  He said to Moshe, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land; it shall become lice throughout the land of Egypt.’”  So they did: Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the land, and the lice infestation was on man and beast; all the dust of the land became lice, throughout the land of Egypt.  This plague was the third of the ten.

The court magicians were able to imitate the previous two plagues.  This one, however, they could not reproduce using their magic.  (Chapter 6:15) The magicians said to Pharaoh, “It is the finger of G-d!”  Think of it!  These pagan magicians witnessed a miracle that they could not reproduce and declared that it is the finger of G-d!

Yeshua, like Moshe, was sent forth to proclaim freedom.  He was sent to heal the sick and free those who were imprisoned (Isaiah 61).  He performed miracles, which proved who He was and by Whom He was sent.  (Matt 12:24-28; Mark 3:23-26; Luke 11:14-15) Yeshua was not only rejected as being The Deliverer, he was accused of being in league with Beelzebub, the prince of demons.  The teachers of the Law could not see what Pharaoh’s court magicians saw, that the finger of G-d was acting and the time of visitation had come.

They are not the only ones who rejected Yeshua.  In the book of Romans, Shaul declared (1:25) that mankind is guilty of exchanging the truth of G-d for a lie and worshiped the creature rather than the creator.  (Revelations 9:6) Also, even when things look bleak and all seems to be lost, the unbelievers declare that they would rather die than cease from paying homage to their idols.  (Revelations 9:20) They would not cease or repent of their murder or their practice of magic or sexual vices or their thefts.

As we see our world descend more and more into the hands of those who are not G-d fearers, let us not be deceived.  Let us be ready as a pure bride waits with eagerness for the return of the Bridegroom.  Be watchful for the finger of G-d!

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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