How The Lord Used The Plagues Of Egypt

 To Declare The End

Text: Ex.6:2, 7 -8, 10:21, Rev 16

Preface:

           Before we examine this week’s torah portion, {Ex. 6:2 - 9:35} I want to briefly comment on the following passage in last week’s torah portion.

           When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father's flock. Ex 2:15-16

           When Moses killed the Egyptian taskmaster, Pharaoh heard of his action and sought to kill Moses. In turn Moses fled Egypt to the land of Midian. Once there Moses wearied from his journey, sits by a well to refresh himself. Then after sometime had past, the daughters of the priest of Midian, came and drew water, in order to water their flock.

       Sounds like an ordinary day in the life of Moses, doesn’t it? So, why would Moses record it?

        Well Yeshua on His journey to Samaria from Galilee, came to a town in Samaria called, Sychar. This is significant, because it is there that Jacob’s well is located. In turn like Moses was before Him, Yeshua was tuckered out from His journey. Hence Yeshua sat down by the well to refresh Himself, about the sixth hour.

        Then a Samaritan woman came to draw water. In turn Yeshua asked of her, "will you give me a drink?" Startled by Yeshua’s question, the Samaritan woman stated, "how is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" {John 4:9 } The Samaritan woman asked this question on the bases, it was a custom for the Jewish people, not to even speck to a Samaritan.

          Though, instead of answering her question Yeshua said, "if you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:10

          The gift of G-d is Yeshua, who came down from heaven, in order to redeem mankind. With that said, just as a true spring is ever supplied with water from the ground, so is a soul of a genuine believer supplied with light, and all the other graces from the indwelling Spirit. So, the water that Yeshua is alluding to, is in the spiritual realm.

        Though the Samaritan woman failed to comprehend this fact, because she said, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? "You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?" John 4:11-12

           The Samaritan expected Yeshua to draw the living water, from Jacob’s well. To which Yeshua replied, "everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

          The spring of living water is Yeshua and anyone, who believe in Him, will inherit eternal life. {Jer. 2:11 } We all are in an agreement that Moses foreshadow Yeshua, the Deliver. I alluded to this fact, cause I find it interesting that within these two events, we find Moses and Yeshua resting by a well. Why?

           Well, the following Hebrew word for well "be’er, imply pit." Why is this significant, you ask?

          In the Old Testament often, "she’ol" or hell is alluded to as pit. For example David wrote, "O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." Ps 30:3

           With that said,"the wages of sin is death." {Rom 6:23 } Though, the Lord asked of Yeshua, who knew no sin to bare our sins so, that we could be made righteous.

             For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21

         Hence in bearing our sins, Yeshua descended into the pit {she’ol}}for our sins. Having said that though, He that descended into Hell, is He that ascended up into heaven.

           Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Eph 4:9

         So, even though, Yeshua bore our sins and descended into Hell, as result of our sins. He still remained Holy. In turn the well that we find Moses and Yeshua resting at, foreshadows "she’ol," in which Yeshua descended into, in order to redeem us of our sins.

          This week’s torah portion open with the Lord informing Moses, "I am "Yud-he- vov- he, that’s the Hebrew name the Lord revealed Himself to Moses as here. {Ex 6:2} I mention this fact, because previously the patriarchs had known G-d, as Elohim – the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, to whom all creation bows. However here G-d revealed to Moses the name He hadn’t revealed to his forefathers. That name being, "Yud-he- vov- he."

        That said, there is an interesting teaching meaning behind the name "Yud-he- vov- he," for example. The Hebrew letter yud {I} } means hand. Whereas the Hebrew letter vav { u} means nail. Finely the Hebrew letter he { h } means reveal. So why is this significant?

          Well, remember when Yeshua appeared to the disciples in the upper room. Thomas for whatever reason, wasn’t there. Hence when the disciples informed Thomas, of Yeshua’s appearance. Thomas said, "unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side , I will not believe." John 20:25

        Then eight days later the disciples along with Thomas, were again locked in the room. When Yeshua suddenly appeared in their midst and said, "shalom {peace} be with you." Then Yeshua said to Thomas, "reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. John 20:26 - 27

           So, Yeshua’s nail scared hand, revealed to Thomas, His identity. Thus, the name "Yud-he- vov- he," alludes to Yeshua. Because Yeshua said, "I and the Father are One." John 10:30

          Moving on the Lord went on to state to Moses, "I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." Ex 6:6-7

        The Lord didn’t redeem the children of Israel in a single day, there were four progressive stages in which  He did so, for example. Remember when Moses jumped the gun, by attempting to redeem the children of Israel by his power? Well, the Lord conformed to Moses once again that He would redeem the children of Israel and not Moses by saying, "I will bring you out."

         Thus, I’m remindful that the following verse gives us fishing lesion, to claim any and all promises in the bible.

                  For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Cor 1:20  

 Why is this meaningful? Well, like the Lord did with Moses, the Lord promise "to sustain and rescue us, in times of trouble." Isa 46:4

        Next remember the people were under heavy bondage. In turn the Lord stated, "I will rescue you." This is meaningful, because the Lord is a very present help in trouble. {Ps 46:1}  And yes, that’s a promise!

          Ga’al denotes redemption, from an existing destructive process. I alluded to this fact, because the Lord stated, "I will redeem you." That said, the go’el or redeemer, steps in like Boaz did {Ruth 3:9 }on behalf of an indebted or an enslaved kinsman, to pay their ransom and to gain his release.

       With that said, neither silver nor gold redeemed me from my sins, but it was by the precious blood of Messiah. {1 Peter 1:19 } In turn the role of a Kinsman Redeemer was perfectly filled by Yeshua.

          Finely the Lord stated, "I will take you as My people." This is the first statement of Israel’s destiny as a people, "set apart unto G-d." The Jewish people existence, is founded upon G-d and their destiny is bound up, with the Almighty.

           Though on that note, I have heard several preachers say, the Church has replaced Israel, which is totally false. Because when a person accepts Yeshua as their Lord and Savor, they become a seed of Abraham, {Gal 3:29 } and are grafted in with believing Hebrews.

           Moving on the simple but vital instrument in the hand of a shepherd, is a staff. I mention this fact, because it was through a staff that the Lord elected, to demonstrate His authority to Egypt. Yes, the Lord chose to use a carved out piece of wood, to demonstrate His miraculous power. Proving the Lord is the ruler of this world and that everything in it, is subject to His authority.

            Moving on Moses said, unto Pharaoh, the Lord said, "by this {staff} you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood." Ex 7:17

        We are told that Moses was the most humblest man on earth, of his day. {Num 12:3 } This fact is noteworthy, because Moses could have became very arrogant, by the awesome power the Lord preformed through his staff. However Moses avoided doing so. All because Moses knew, we are nothing but dust and ashes, within the sight of the Lord. And all goodness, power and honor that is found in us comes from Him, in order to magnify the Lord’s name.

         Having said that, I find it interesting when Moses struck the river Nile with his staff, the river turned into blood.

           Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. Ex 7:20

Why?

         Well, G-d’s word "declares the end from the beginning." {Isa 46:10 } Thus, it should be pointed out when water in the river Nile turned into blood, all the fish died in it. {Ex 7:21} Likewise when the second angel pours out his bowl of wrath on the sea, the sea will became blood as of a dead man; and "every living creature in the sea died." {Rev 16:3 }

          Moving on when the third angel emptied out his bowl of wrath, like the river Nile, the rivers and springs of water, all will turn into blood. { Rev 16:4 } Then after the angel had poured out his bowl of wrath. John heard the angel of the water {the same angel} saying, "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things." Rev 16:5

         "You have judged these things." The Greek word for judged "krino" imply conclude, or to issue a degree. This is noteworthy because G-d’s word concluded from the ancient times past {Isa 46:10 } that during the last days, He would turn the rivers and the seas into blood. How?

           Well it was the Lord, who made rivers and the seas. {Rev 14:7 } I mention this fact, because just as the Lord turned the river Nile into blood, in order to testify to Pharaoh and Egypt that He is Yahweh, or G-d. He will turn the rivers and the seas into blood once again, in order to testify to the world, that He is G-d.

           Though the similarity between the plages of Egypt and the bowl of wrath, doesn’t stop here, because the seventh plague, consisted of Moses stretching his staff towards heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. {Ex 9:23} It should be pointed out though, that mighty thunderings were also heard. {Ex 9:28}

           I alluded to this fact, because likewise when the seventh angel pours out his bowl of wrath, large hail will fall from heaven {Rev 16:21 } and thunder will be heard too. {Rev 16:16 }

        Moving on the eighth plague, consisted of darkness falling over Egypt. {Ex 10:21} Likewise when the fifth angel pours out his bowl of wrath, on the throne of the beast, his kingdom became "full of darkness;" and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. Rev 16:10

           Remember after darkness had fell upon Egypt, Pharaoh’s heart remind harden. I mention this fact, because likewise will the hearts of lost the hearts of lost individuals that the bowl of wrath is poured on. They will remind harden too. How do I know? Simply because they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Rev 16:11

      Specking of Pharaoh’s harden heart, the Sages state that Pharaoh was a tyrant, who inflected grief on the Israeli people. Thus, for his’ reward Pharaoh sits at the gate of hell, in order to ask the following question. "didn’t you read how unwisely it was for me, to harden my heart against the Lord?" No, doubt, Pharaoh will ask this, of these individuals too.

        In writing the torah, Moses very rarely ended on a bad note. So in closing, remember how, when Moses struck the river Nile with his staff, the water turned into blood.

       Well, it took two days to travel from the Judean valley of the Jordan, to Cana in Galilee. I alluded to this fact, because on the third day, we find Yeshua and His mother along with His disciples, attending a wedding party. John 2: 1 - 3

          When the host ran out of wine, Mary came to her Son and said, "they have no wine." To which Yeshua replied, "woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." Though Mary instructed the servants saying, "whatever He says to you, do it."  John 2: 4 - 5

         Now, there were six water pots made of stone, used for the manner of purification, setting nearby. That said, the act of purification was a Mosaic law, preform to make an individual clean within the sight of the Lord. This act involved physical and spiritual cleansing. I mention this, because the water pots, were used in this ritual.

         Moving on Yeshua instructed the servants, to "fill the water pots with water." In turn the servants, did as Mary had requested of them. Then Yeshua said, "draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." Hence I can picture the servants looking around in bewilderment, then doing so John 2:7 - 8

          When the host of wedding tasted the water that had turned into wine. Not knowing of the miracle Yeshua had preformed, he called to the bridegroom and said, "every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" John 2:9 - 10

         This is noteworthy, because during the last supper Yeshua said, "this is my blood, which is poured out for many." {Mark 14:24 } So, just as Moses turned the water into blood, Yeshua did also. How so? Well, the water that Yeshua turned into wine, spoke of Yeshua’s redeeming blood.

          Having said all of that, after Yeshua had given up the ghost. John states, a soldiers pierced Yeshua side with a spear, and immediately blood and water from His side. {John 19:34 } Though, I believe based on the torah and Yeshua miracle of turning water into wine. That water came forth first, then the saving blood. Why?

        Well it was by this process that the Lord used, to set the captives free in Egypt. {Ex 6:6} This is meaningful, because Moses foreshadow Yeshua, who set mankind free from sin.

             Much more then, having now been justified by His blood , we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Rom 5:9

               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