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31 Jan 2009

Exodus 10:1-13:16

Jer. 46:13-28

1Cor.11:20-34

Mark 5-6

In Hebrew, the book of Exodus is called Shemot translated-the names.  The chapter is called Bo meaning -go.

Chapter 10 begins with G-d telling Moshe Rabaynu, Moshe our teacher, to go unto Pharaoh once again to get release of the Israelites in order for them to leave Egypt.  Moshe is told that Pharaoh's heart has been hardened.  Pharaoh's main problem is that he will not humble himself before G-d, who is the only G-d.  Pharaoh, again, refuses to let the people of Israel go, so G-d brings forth the eighth plague upon Egypt, the plague of locusts.  Darkness, the ninth plague is sent next.  After each plague, Pharaoh's heart is again hardened and he refuses to let Israel go.  It is at this time that Pharaoh begins to 'bargain' with Moshe.  First, he will let the men go.  Then he will let the men and children go, but the flocks must stay behind.  Moshe refuses to bargain.  He stands firm upon what G-d has asked him to do.  Everyone, all the people, and all the children, and all the flocks, must go to worship the L-rd.  In anger, Pharaoh states that he will not accept Moshes' terms, and that if Moshe returns to Pharaoh's court again, he will be put to death.

G-d then tells Moshe that He will bring one more plague upon Egypt and revealed to him what the tenth plague will be like.  It will be the most horrible event ever to occur.  The death of the first born of ALL that are in Egypt-from the greatest to the least, including the first born of all the livestock.

Many of you may already be aware that all of the plagues against Egypt were sent by G-d to show that He is far above any of the idol-gods the Egyptians worshipped.  In Exodus chapter 10, G-d tells Moshe why Pharaoh's heart had been hardened after each plague.  His main problem was that he would not humble himself before G-d, who is the only G-d.  The reason this is important to our Most High G-d is complicated.  According to the Egyptian religion, Pharaoh was considered to be the living representation of Horus, the son of Osirus, the ruler of the after-life.  In bringing the last plague, the death of the first born of Egypt, G-d was showing Pharaoh that only He, Himself, was in control of life and death.  During Pharaoh's trying to bargain with Moshe, he threatened to put Moshe to death, thinking that he had power over G-d's anointed.  G-d's plan was to humble Pharaoh and to show him that he was merely a mortal man, and not a god.

Then the actual Passover is described.  Moshe is given instructions on how to conduct the Seder, what to prepare, and how to prepare it.  A lamb for a household will be slaughtered.  The blood will be put on the mezuzot, the two side posts, of the door.  Also, blood must be put on the lentel, the top of the door.  As the Angel of Death passes over all of Egypt, those who are inside their homes, with the blood upon their doors in the exact way that Moshe was instructed will be safe. 

In the Torah, it states that the only ones allowed to participate in the Seder as a memorial to G-d's deliverance, are natural born Israelites, servants who were bought for a price and circumcised, and the ger tzedek, the righteous strangers or sojourners.  The hired servant was not allowed to participate because he was paid to serve.  The alien, who happened to be in the area for personal business or gain, was also not allowed to 'enter in' to the festivities.  They were there for a temporary season and had no commitment to G-d, the people or the land.

According to commentaries, during the Seder the home becomes an altar, under the blood.  Those that are 'under the blood' are saved from the Angel of Death.  The hired servant and the alien may not enter the household because they are there for a temporary season.  They have not made a commitment to the L-rd.   They  are  far removed from the covenants of G-d.  Their pride will not allow them to 'enter in' the festive meal. 

There are those who might feel that you have not 'entered-in' to the festive meal.  You sit on the outside of the house, looking in.  You have not made the total commitment that the L-rd desires of you.  Yeshua is calling to each one of us to humble ourselves before G-d and make a commitment to Him through the blood of our Passover Lamb, Yeshua.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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