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BO “Go to”

23 JAN 2010

Exodus 10:1-13:16

Jeremiah 46:13-28

1 Corinthians 11:20-34

As we continue reading the Parasha, we come to the last three plagues.  These three lead to the end of slavery for the Children of Israel.

Let us review.  Exodus is a book of deliverance, salvation and hope.  It is a book of revelation of G-d, His power and sovereignty.  The L-rd of history is shown ruling over the affairs of men.  His power reigns over the gods of the Egyptians.

Who were these gods that the Egyptians worshiped?  These were false.  They were an invention of people who pushed away truth and started to have their own ideas of what a god should be.  As a result, they became confused and darkness came upon their hearts, minds and souls.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools and worshiped idols made to look like people, birds, animals and snakes (Romans 1:21-23).

(Psalm 135:5, 6) For I know that the L-rd is great, and that our L-rd is above all gods…Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast.

Let’s look at the so-called gods that the Egyptians worshiped.  They paid a heavy price for their loyalty to foolishness:

          (Exodus 7:14-24) The Nile turned to blood.  The Egyptian god that was mocked was Nilus of Hopi.  This was their god who controlled the waters of the earth, the god of the Nile River

          (Exodus 8:1-15) Frogs Ptha, the frog-headed god and Helet, the goddess of reproduction.  Frogs were believed to be extremely prolific and very fruitful.

          Lice, gnats, fleas or mosquitoes, (Exodus 8:16-19) Seb, god of the earth, was worshiped in the hope that he would bless the earth by making it productive.  This god supposedly protected Egypt from natural catastrophes.

          Flies, or beetles, (Exodus 8:20-32) Khephera, the beetle or sacred god.  He was worshiped in the hope that he would keep away disease infected flies.  Some authorities state that this was Beelzebub.

          Livestock plague (Exodus 9:1-7) Hathor and Apis were the sacred cattle gods at Memphis.  They were to work to protect from plagues, diseases and accidents.  They were also worshiped as gods of reproduction and fertility

          Festering boils (Exodus 9:8-12) Typhon was the evil-eye god.  It was worshiped in the hope of averting plagues

          Hail and lightning (Exodus 9:13-35) Iris, the water god, Osiris, the fire and lightning god, and Shu, the god of the atmosphere were worshiped in hope that they would offer protection against storms and natural catastrophes

          Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20) The Egyptian “god” Anubis the god of the fields and “Isis” protector against locusts

Whatever wasn’t destroyed by the hail, was finished off by the locusts. Locusts were so feared that the Egyptians actually had a god to protect them from the vile insects. Isis was shamed, and Anubis was overcome

Darkness, (Exodus 10:21-29) Ra, the sun god, was worshiped to protect against any natural disaster and for the sun to provide warmth, light and fruitfulness

          The death of the firstborn of man and animal (Exodus 11:1-10) Ptah, the god of life.  This plague attacked all the gods of Egypt.  This clearly demonstrated that the L-rd alone, He is G-d, the only G-d of redemption and salvation.  The One and Living G-d.

These plagues may seem far removed from us today but in reality they can still tell us a great deal about our walk with G-d.  In modern society, the materialistic western world, we have other types of gods that are comprised of material things, people or addictions of some kind.  Remember, G-d will often use circumstances or situations to draw us back to Him, if we have taken other gods into our lives.

At times we may feel overwhelmed by life’s plagues that may cause us to lose almost everything.  Our G-d is more powerful than all the plagues that may have come upon us.  We may have some of the issues, sins, stuff (critters such as the frogs, flies, etc.) in our homes, but He is L-rd.

In the Avot prayers we are told that G-d is great, mighty, awesome, the most High G-d, who bestows grace, remembers the kindness of the Fathers and brings a redeemer for His sake with love. He is your Melech Ozer! (King, Helper, and Shield).  Our G-d reigns!  He is the One and only G-d.  There is none other.  Psalm 135:6-7 He causes the clouds to rise over the earth.  He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from His storehouses.  Psalm 24:1 the earth is the L-rd’s and the fullness thereof.

Believe it!

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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