Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #16: B’shallach (After he had let go) Sh’mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16
Haftarah: Shof’tim (Judges) 5:1-31
B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 15:1-4
“B’shallach Par’oh” (when Pharaoh finally let go), G-d led the Israelites to freedom…but not by the most direct route. The shortest route, which was a direct path by caravan along the Mediterranean coast to Gaza, would have taken 11 days. But “V’lo nacham Elohim pen yinakhem (lest they repent) warfare and decide to return to Egypt (Ex. 13:17). Even after this miraculous event whereby G-d delivered his people from bondage, they would fear the report of the scouts and attempt to find a leader to guide them back to Egypt (Num. 14:4).
G-d knowing what is best for all of his creation, including humans, and specifically the Israelites, chose the longer, southern, windy route toward the Yam Suf (Sea of Reeds), Chorev, and Sinai.
Pharaoh believed that the desert would pose an insurmountable barrier to freedom. But Israel went out with an upraised hand, and G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that is allowed Pharaoh to exercise his freewill choice to remain obstinate against G-d, one last time (Ex. 14:8).
I want to revert back to Exodus 13:15 for a moment to share yet another example of G-d’s sovereignty, and omniscience, and consistency in following His command to the Israelites for redeeming the firstborn human sons and the firstborn of animals.
The word “redeem” means to “buy back.” If a family’s firstborn donkey was critical to its livelihood as many donkeys were used as beasts of burden, the family could buy it back from G-d by sacrificing a lamb which is a clean animal and can be used for sacrifices. G-d did not demand that families sacrifice their first-born sons as literal sacrifices. Rather they would be bought back by the means of Yahshua’s sacrifice as the perfect Lamb.
The sacrifices of the firstborn of all the animals were made as G-d commanded, set aside for Him. Interestingly, these animals were the firstborn in the land of Egypt which represents a sinful paradigm of living. As such these animals also served as a sin offering, not to be confused with Yahshua’s sacrifice as the Pesach Lamb prophesied in Exodus. 12:43-49.
Moving on to Chapter 15:25-6 we are reminded of the “if -then” relationship that is required for anyone who expects to be included as the bride of Yahshua to follow. “There [Marah] Adonai made laws and rules of life for them [Israelites], and there He tested them. He said,” If you will listen intently to the voice of Adonai your G-d, do what he considers right, pay attention to his mitzvot and observe his laws, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians; because I am Adonai your healer.”
Let us break this statement down: 1) If you will listen intently to the voice of Adonai your G-d, 2) Do what he considers right, 3) Pay attention to his mitzvot (commands), 4) and observe his laws. G-d is truly clear about defining his expectations for those who truly love G-d. There is no question that these conditions for the believer stand as written. None of these actions have been abrogated and are as valid in the B’rit Chadashah (Refreshed, renewed Covenant), as they are on the Tanak (Torah, Prophets, Writings). How do we know? Just a few of the numerous verses throughout G-d’s Torah that verify this truth are Matt. 24:35; Matt. 5:18; Isaiah 40:8; Isaiah 51:6;1 Pet. 1:25; Heb. 1:11-12; 2 Tim. 3:16; Luke 16:17; Luke 11:28; Psalm 119:89.
As for the diseases of Egypt. Let us look at some of these so we may see that man has not followed G-d’s instructions as given. While specifics other than boils(infected sores) which was the only disease per se of the 10 “plagues” visited on Egypt just before the exodus, Deuteronomy 7:15 is more explicit about what will be done if the people obey the aforementioned instructions; “ And the L-rd will take away from thee all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases if Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.”
Benson Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:15 says “It [ Ex. 15:26] seems to refer not only to the plagues of Egypt, but to some other epidemic diseases, which they [the Israelites] remembered to have prevailed among the Egyptians, and by which G-d had chastened them for their national sins.” Two of the most common diseases were leprosy and other cutaneous diseases, including infected sores on men and animals (Ex. 9:10).
Exodus 9:13-16 seems to include conditions other than what we understand when we use the word plague: Adonai said to Moshe, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘here is what Adonai says: “ let my people go, so that they can worship me. For this time, I will inflict my plagues on you, yourself, and on your officials, and on your people; so that you will realize that I am without equal in all the earth. By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth.” Immediately after this passage, G-d tells Moshe that a hailstorm unlike anything the Egyptians have ever seen is about to occur at the hand of G-d.
With this additional information, we may deduce that the plagues spoken of in Scripture include calamities beyond physical maladies. Nevertheless, plagues are never a positive event!
One example alluding to the fact that our spiritual growth is based on our loving obedience to G-d’s instructions is found in Exodus 16:4 where “Adonai said to Moshe, ‘Here, I will cause bread to rain down from heaven for you. The people are to go out and gather a day’s ration every day. By this I will test whether they will observe my Torah or not.” This is an example of a statement with multiple meanings. G-d’s Word is the Bread of Life. Like the man that was to be gathered daily, we are admonished to hear, internalize, and act upon G-d’s Word daily (see Deut. 6:4-11; John 6:25-59). Unfortunately, the peoples lack of trust and faith that G-d would provide man every day prompted them to hoard the leftovers from the previous day. G-d remedied their disobedience by causing worms and rot to destroy the leftovers (Ex. 16:19). Similarly, we are not to hoard our blessings, G-d’s provision in our lives. We are to use what we need, then share with others so that there is no excess or shortage; that there is no rust, decay, loss of value (Matt. 6:19-33). I find it interesting that a parallel teaching is found in numerically the same chapter and verse in the Old and “New” Testaments!
Another conceptual parallel is found in Ex. 16:32 and Matt. 6:34 where G-d tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” We are also told by Yahshua in Luke 12:22-26 that “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens; they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet G-d feeds them. The two quarts of man that Moshe was instructed to set aside before the testimony to be kept throughout all generations is symbolic of G-d’s promise to feed us and His promise to provide the Bread of Life, G-d’s Torah for all who choose to partake of it and become reconciled to G-d through Yahshua’s sacrifice.
An interesting side note concerning the man, subsequently used to symbolize the Bread of Life is the fact that anyone considered a true believer in G-d’s eyes must partake of the Bread of Life(lovingly following G-d’s laws, commands, and rulings).All who choose to reject G-d’s Word for apostate religion identified in Revelation 17 as Protestant and Christian systems are described in Isaiah 4:1 concerning the End of Days. Wewe are told “On that day, seven women will grab hold of one man and say, ‘We will supply our own food and wear our own clothes. Just let us bear your name; take away our disgrace.’” This statement tells us that in the End of Days there will be people who will attempt to identify themselves as G-d’s people, but who do not follow G-d’s Torah; do not partake of the Bread of Life. They are counterfeit believers of whom G-d says to them including many prophets and teachers when compared to the definition of a true believer in G-d’s Torah, (John 14, Rom. 1-3; Seven-fold witness in Revelation) “Many will say to me on that day, ‘L-rd, L-rd, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!” (Matt. 7:22-9).
The parallels and prophetic nature of some of the scriptures discussed today make it clear that we can learn much more about the consistency of G-d’s Torah by researching additional scriptures relating to subjects and concepts found in the five books of Moshe, comparing them to the B’rit Chadashah (Refreshed, renewed Covenant) man that was to be set aside through all generations, and the implications of that command.
Haftarah: Shof’tim (Judges) 5:1-31
This narrative described the victory of the Israelites led by Devorah who was a judge of Israel. She took the lead in this battle when Barak, the son of Avino’am informed her that he would not go to battle unless she went. D’vorah reminded him that he would not receive the glory because G-d would hand Sisra, who was the captain of the army of the Canaanite King Yavin who oppressed Israel for 20 years “over to a woman.” Obviously, Barak respected D’vorah and relinquished all glory for a victory to her. However, she and Barak gave all praise to Adonai, where all praise truly belongs.
Similar to the crossing of the Sea of Suf by the Israelites described in our parashah, G-d caused the chariots to bog down while pursuing the Israelites and destroyed the entire army, in complete panic (Jud. 4:7,16). The difference is that this time the Israelites were fighting, the battle took place inside the Land of Promise, and the victory song is led by D’vorah and Barak.
B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 15:1-4
In this narrative, seven angels sing the song of Moshe, the servant of G-d, and the song of the Lamb included in this week’s parashah. G-d is identified as the one true G-d “For you alone are holy.” Like the justice G-d exacted on Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, we read that “Adonai, G-d of heaven’s armies! Just and true are your ways, king of the nations.” The truth of reliable information we are given in G-d’s Torah about His character flies in the face of those who teach a description of G-d as “all love.” The fact that the Bible describes His wrath numerous scriptures including Ex. 15:7-10; Deut. 6:15; Rom. 1:18-19; Joel 2:10-11; Zeph 1:15, 18;2:2-3; Rev. 6:12-17 Rev. 11:18; Rev. 16:8-9; 19:15-16; Col. 3:6 to name a few, defies the idea that G-d has only a single attribute of love.
It is extremely important for those who hope to be included as the Bride of Yahshua described in Revelation who is not the Church as mistranslated in several versions of the Bible, not to cling to the false idea that G-d is all love and that He will not send anyone to Hell. Our own freewill choices will determine the destiny of our souls. We are not simply puppets placed on an earthly game board to be moved against our will. We must get our facts straight, reconcile ourselves to G-d through Yahshua’s sacrifice and follow His path to redemption and an eternity with Him. This necessarily includes lovingly following G-d’s Torah/instructions/commands once we have “crossed the sea” from “Egyptian” slavery and taking on the yoke of G-d which is “easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). It can and must be done while it is still day (John 9:4).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart