Texts: Ex 14: 5, Ex. 21:1 - 5

Preface:

           Remember it was my intension last week to revisit, how Nachshon upon hearing Moses commandment for the Israelites, "to go forward." {Ex 14:15} Assumed the Lord, would permit him to walk on the water.

         I wanted to do so in order to inform you, how the actions of Nachshon, played a significant role, in a renown event, in the life of Yeshua. Though, remember I placed Nachshon on the back burner, in order to examine, how the Lord appeared to the children of Israel in the wilderness and how the voice of the Lord, shook the wilderness?

        Well, before I commit on this week's torah portion, {Ex 21:1 - 24:18} I want to get Nachshon off of the back burner, by revisiting Nachshon's actions. Then relate to you, how Nachshon's actions, is related to a renown event in the life of Yeshua.

          Our story begins when the children of Israel, found themselves caught between Pharaoh's hard charging army, bent on bloodshed and the Red Sea. Moses in the face of destruction said,"do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD." Ex 14:13

            Though, what we aren't told, according to the sages. When Nachshon from the tribe of Judah, heard Moses command, "to go forward." Nachshon assumed the Lord, would permit him to walk on the water.

        So assuming this, Nachshon proceeded to walk into the sea, up until his ankles. Though, at this point, Nachshon discovered, the water hasn't parted. However, undaunted Nachshon continue on walking, until the water, came up to his knees. Still the water hasn't parted yet. Though this didn't discourage Nachshon, because he forge even deeper into the sea, up until his chest, still the water hasn't parted.

       Then according to the sages, Nachshon's wondered, "should I return to Egypt?" Then he thought, how life is about growing ... leaving the place of confinement behind, moving forward into the unknown. But the alternative is to stay in place of warmth and comfort. However choosing to stay, ultimately leads to death.

          By now the water has reached Nachshon's neck. Yet he continues on walking, into the sea. Then just as the water reached his nostrils, at the last possible second. Moses stretched his staff over the water, and the water parted.

           Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. Ex 14:21

             In turn because of Nachshon's unshakable faith, he led the children of Israel through the Red Sea. Now when I recounted this event two weeks ago I knew, several of you had never heard of Nachshon's actions. Thus I remember how I dismissed Nachshon's actions, when I first heard of it. That is until I heard, how Nachshon's actions played a significant role in the life of Yeshua, for example.

            After Yeshua fed the five thousands, with five loaves of bread and two fish. He commanded the disciples, to get in a boat and sail to Bethsaida, a city located on the northwest portion of the sea of Galilee. Then after Yeshua had sent the crowd away, He proceeded to go up in the mountain and pray. {Matt 14:22 - 23 }

       Why storms: It should be noted that the sea of Galilee is some 700 feet below sea level, surrounded by mountains of 2,700 feet. Thus, when cold air off of the mountain blows over the sea of Galilee, often it intermixes with warm air coming off of the sea, and in doing so causes storms.

        I alluded to this fact, because sometime after the disciples had set sail, they found themselves in the midst of a great storm. In turn their boat, was tossed to and fro. Matt 14:24

           Then sometime in the forth watch, which is between 3 and 6 am. Yeshua appeared to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples witnessed Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "it is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. Matt 14:25 - 26

            Now, the law of gravity, makes it impossible for anyone to walk on the water. I alluded to this fact, because Yeshua conformed His identity, as being the Lord of the universe, by walking on the water.

       Returning to the text, sensing the disciples fear, immediately Yeshua spoke saying, "be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Matt 14:27

        Nothing but the present of the Lord, could have comforted the disciples, in the midst of the storm. I mention this because storms are a part life. An unexpected phone call, a death in the family, a prolong illness, a broken heart, all can become raging storms. Though, the good news is the Lord promised, "never to leave us, or forsake us," even in the midst of storms. Heb 13:5

           Remember how Nachshon upon hearing Moses commandment for the Israelites, "to go forward." {Ex 14:15} Assumed the Lord would permit him, "to walk on the water." Well upon hearing Yeshua's words Peter stated, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." In turn Yeshua replied, "come." { Matt 14:28 - 29 } So like Nachshon before him, Peter assumed the Lord would permit him to walk on the water.

           Remember when the water didn't split, upon stepping in Nachshon's wondered, "should I return to Egypt?" I called this to your attention, because when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out saying, "Lord, save me!"  {Matt 14:30 } Why did he?

          Well up until the boisterous wind started blowing, Peter kept his sight and attention on the Lord. However when the boisterous wind started blowing, Peter's sight along with his attention became diverted. In turn Peter began to sink, sinking then Peter cried out, "Lord save me."  Matt 14:30

            That said, while the Lord promised, "never to leave us, or forsake us," in the storms of life. Often our attention become diverted, and like Peter we succumb to our circumstances. Although if we divert our attention back on the Lord, He will save us from our circumstances, for example.

            When Peter cried out, "Lord save me." Yeshua immediately reached out His hand and caught him and said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" {Matt 14:31 } Having said that, let compare and constant Peter and Nachshon's actions.

            Here we have Peter walking on the water, like Nachshon before him, who had assumed that he could do so too. With that said, remember how Nachshon's wondered, "should I return to Egypt?" When he was in the sea, and the water hadn't parted yet. Though, Nachshon refused to succumb to his circumstances and kept on walking.

           I mention this fact, because when the boisterous wind started blowing. Peter unlike Nachshon before him, succumbed to his circumstances and started drowning. Though, just as the sea parted at the very last second, and saved Nachshon. Yeshua reached out at the last second, and saved Peter from drowning.

        I recounted this story because like myself, I knew that several of you upon learning of Nachshon assuming he could walk on the water, dismissed it as being fact. Though remember, "what happen to the fathers, happen to the sons." Therefore in light of this event in Peter's life, I believe the story of Nachshon to be true.

           With that said, there is a passage in this week's torah portion that I want to comint on, because strangely enough the passage foreshadow, Yeshua. That said, following the Ten Commandments, Moses in went on to state, "if you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment." Ex 21:2

            Note the servant in question here, is a Hebrew. This fact is important, and I will explain why later. Though, there were five ways a Hebrew, could become a slave.

          In the case of extreme poverty, a person could elect to sell themselves as a servant, in order to eat. {Lev 25:39 } Next a father could sell his children into slavery. {Ex 21:7} Next a debtor became a slave, to the creditor. {2 Kings 4:1 } Next if the thief did not have money to pay the fine laid on him by the law, he was then sold for his profit, with the money going to the person, he had robbed. {Ex 21:2} Next a Hebrew might be taken prisoner in war, and so sold for a slave.

           In any case the Hebrew servant, was required to serve his master for six years, then at the beginning of the seventh year. He was set free. {Deut 15:12 } Thus, I'm remindful, for six days we are to work though, on the seventh day, {the Sabbath} we are to rest from our labor. {Ex 35:2}

           Moving on Moses added, "if he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him." {Ex 21:3} Simply put, if a person bought or inherited, a bond servant with a wife. The wife likewise, became his servant too. Though upon the beginning of the seventh year. The master was to set free the servant along with his wife, who was in bondage with him.

         Yeshua alluded to an individual, who found himself in this situation when He said, "when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made." {Matt 18:24-25 }

            Simply put when this individual found himself in debt. The lender by law, commanded that the debtor along with his family be sold as slaves, in order to repay his debt. So, Yeshua in recounting this story, was teaching from the torah.

               Having said all of that like our legal system, there was a catch, for example. "If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone." Ex 21:4

          It was a law among the Hebrews, that if a Hebrew had children by a Canaanite woman, his children were considered as Canaanitish. So, if a slave over the corse of his bondage, married a Gentile. The law did not apply to his wife, nor children. Thus, the wife and children were required by law, to serve as slaves forever.

          In light of this if the servant said, "I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man." {Ex 21: 5} Simply put if the servant loved his family, and master more than freedom, the following option was available to him. The servant master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. Ex 21:6

Why were the door and the doorpost singled out, from all of the other fixtures in the house?

             Well the Almighty said, "the blood of the lamb" was to be place on the doorpost in Egypt, marking the first born as His people, or servants. Thus, when the death angel witnessed the blood on the doorpost, he flew over it, sparing the first born behind it.

          That said, the sages have an interesting take on why, the servant's ear was required to be boron? They state, "it was because the Hebrew people at Mount Sinai, heard the Lord's voice with their ears and agreed to become His servants. Yet this person has went and acquired another master."

        Thus, the act of the servant of having his ears boron was an act stating, the servant had voluntary bound himself to his master for life. Or least until the year of Jubilee. Deut 15:17

             After seven cycles of seven years, came the year of Jubilee. The year of Jubilee, was or is a special year. A year in which the Lord set aside every fifty years, in order to proclaim liberty throughout the land.

          That said, part of the reason why God established the year of Jubilee, was to prevent the Israelites from oppressing one another, {Lev 25:17 } for example. Debtors were set free from debts, land that was lost because of debt, reverted back to it's owner. Thus a slave that was in bondage because of debts, was set free. I mention these facts, because the year of Jubilee, foreshadows the kingdom of G-d, when we all will be set free from our sinful bodies.

          Having briefly set the stage I now want to explain, how this servant foreshadow Yeshua. First of all remember the servant in question here, is a Hebrew. This is meaningful because Yeshua is a descendant of David's. {Matt 1:1 } In turn making Yeshua a Hebrew.

            Note the text says, this person was required to serve in slavery for six years though, upon the beginning of the seventh year, he was set free. This is meaningful because Yeshua came in the form of a suffering servant. {Isa 53 } Though, according to bible prophesy, somewhere at the end of the six day, or six thousand years. {2 Pet 3:8 } Yeshua will return as "the lion of Judah," {Rev 5:5 } or a conquering King.

          Next the text says, if the servant had a wife and children, and prefer his wife and children, over freedom. Upon expressing this fact to his master, his master then pierced his ears, placing an ear ring in them. Signifying the fact that he was a servant, obedient to his master's will. How does the servant's act, allude to Yeshua?

          Remember the piercing of the servant's ear, signified the servant's obedience to his master. In light of this I'm remindful that David in a reference to Yeshua stated, "sacrifice and meal offering Thou hast not desired; My ears Thou hast opened." {Ps 40:6} Besides being a reference to Yeshua. David's statement is clearly a reference to the servant, who preferred his wife and children, over freedom.

            With that said though, remember the piercing of the servant's ear, signified the servant's obedience to his master's will. This is significant, because Yeshua said, "I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." {John 6:38 } So, liken unto the servant, Yeshua came down from heaven, in obedience to the Master's will.

          Though remember the servant's master, pierced the servant's ears against a door, or doorpost. This is meaningful because the following Hebrew letter "dalet" { d }for the letter {D} in door, specks of Yeshua. How so, you ask?

          Well Yeshua said, "I am the door . If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." {John 10:9 } I alluded to Yeshua's statement, because the symbolic meaning for the Hebrew letter "dalet," means "pathway, or to enter." Therefore the Hebrew letter "dalet," in the word door, conforms the fact that Yeshua is the pathway, to "the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him." John 14:6

         Stressing the fact, if the servant loved his family and his master, more than freedom. The servant's master, pierced the servant's ears against a door, or doorpost, placing an ear ring in them. Signifying the servant's obedience to his master.

         I mention this fact, because all for love of his family and his master. The servant forfeited his freedom. In light of this, I find it interesting that Yeshua said, "if you love Me, keep My commandments." {John 14:15 }

       Why? Well if we are bond-servants of Yeshua, then liken unto the servant, we should be obedient to the Lord's commandments.

       Before I closed, the left in this country, the like of Hillary Clinton and her elk, champion a woman right to have an abortion by stating. The fetus in the womb isn't a person and doesn't have any right of a human. Though the law states, "if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide." Ex 21:22

          While G-d's word doesn't condone a doctor, who conducts abortions. It does make it plain that, G-d view a fetus as a human being. Thus, the fetus is protected by the law, and is afforded rights as such. Though the only difference being, the fetus is still in the womb. Hence to champion the right of an abortion, based on the view, the fetus in the womb isn't a person, isn't biblical and is evil.

        The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you. May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Num 6:22- 26