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VA’EIRA
24 Jan 2009
Shemot /
Exodus 6:2--9:35
Yechezkiel /
Ezekiel 28:25--29:21
Romans
9:14-24
Rosh Chodesh --
Isaiah 66:1--24
Maftir (addition)
Numbers 28:9--15
This week
is Rosh Chodesh (New Month) Shevat, as we see the new moon rise Sunday
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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