Saturday, December 25, 2021

CHUCK KOLB

 Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Shemot (Names) - Like Israel, Like Us !!!


Previously posted ...
Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Vayechi - The Lion and the Scepter of Judah !!!
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2021/12/chuck-kolb_18.html
Turn The World Right-Side Up
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2021/12/sermon-turn-world-right-side-up.html

 
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Luke 12:37
The war against Truth has been raging ever since
evil was expulsed from the realm of Heaven.  
God instructed Pharaoh, "Let my people go."
God instructs us, "Let my people know."
Shema Y'israel - Maranatha !
Na'aseh V'nishma  

✡ ✡ ✡
כבוד שם יהוה Baruch Hashem Adonai  
#ShabbatShalom - Welcome to Shemot (Names), this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion).
This is the portion of Scripture that will be read in synagogues around the world during this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service. 
May you be blessed, refreshed, and inspired as you study God’s word with us.

In last week’s study, Vayechi (and he lived), the final Shabbat reading from the book of Genesis (Bereisheet) was drashed and ended with the death of Jacob and Joseph. This week, we begin the second book of the Torah, Exodus, called Shemot in Hebrew, which means names. This Parasha describes the suffering of the Israelites under bondage to the Egyptians, the birth of Moses and his miraculous salvation from out of the Nile River.  It also describes his calling to deliver Israel and his encounter with Pharaoh.


You can view this Parasha on our website complete with embedded links ...
Parasha Shemot (Names): Like Israel, Like Us
https://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/parasha-shemot-names-like-israel-like-us-5782/ 


The Light of the World Born in Bethlehem
The apostle John tells us how Yeshua is the Word that tabernacled among us.

https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/the-light-of-the-world-born-in-bethlehem/

When to Celebrate Yeshua HaMashiach's birthday ...
The Joy of Tabernacles when Yeshua was Born

http://conpats.blogspot.com/2019/10/chuck-kolb-10142019.html
How Yeshua was born on the Feast of Tabernacles by Rabbi Yitzchak
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/how-yeshua-was-born-on-the-feast-of-tabernacles/

Revelation and Na'aseh V'nishma
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/11880
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/do-first-understand-later/
We will do and we will listen to all that God has declared. Exodus 24:7

English to Hebrew to English lookup
https://context.reverso.net/translation/hebrew-english/
https://www.doitinhebrew.com/Translate/default.aspx
https://english-hebrew-dictionary.com/
https://alittlehebrew.com/transliterate/  
https://yiddishkeit101.wordpress.com/category/hebrew-word-of-the-day
The Best Jewish Words You Need To Know: A Yiddish and Hebrew Glossary
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/the-best-jewish-words-you-need-to-know/
https://hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/Hebrew_Glossary_-_Sh/hebrew_glossary_-_sh.html
A Living Library of Jewish Texts in Hebrew and English translation
https://www.sefaria.org/   https://dictionary.co.il/   https://www.hebrew-verbs.co.il/
https://www.mechon-mamre.org/


Torah Teasers Parshat Shmot by Moshe Erlbaum
https://www.aish.com/tp/i/teasers/Torah-Teasers-Parshat-Shmot.html

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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Ralph Messer ...
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash - Joy of God’s Teaching and Instruction
What Does It Mean to Choose Life? Every decision you make can be made in a way that you are “choosing life.”
The Torah is God’s constitution; it is His teaching and instruction; it is eternal and it is life.
His Spirit is pure Light, abundant with untouchable, supreme, sovereign power.
God is the Source of all life

This Torah portion, as well as the whole Book of Exodus, is called Shemot, meaning “names.”
There is a midrash (commentary on the Torah) which says, “Israel were redeemed from Egypt on account of four things; because they did not change their names, they did not change their language, they did not go tale-bearing, and none of them was found to have been immoral” (Vayikra Rabbah 32).  They held onto their identity and lifestyle as Jews, and did not assimilate into the Egyptian culture.

https://stbm.org/shemot

Arrive a half hour+ early for starting lessons ...
Online> Saturday Shabbat (9:00am ET / 12:30pm ET) Services and Midrash  
Online> Monday Nights with STBM 8:30pm ET  / Thursday Afternoon> 3:00 pm ET
Learn more about special event streaming when you call our team! 866-867-2488

https://stbm.org/stbm-live-main/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/RalphMesser/videos
https://stbm.org/study-home/  https://stbm.org/rrm-subscriptions/  https://store2.torah.tv/  

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Todah Rabah - Dr. Gary Hedrick ...
Reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel
https://www.cjfm.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/
Charles Halff - What It Costs a Jew to Become a Christian
https://store.cjfm.org/product/146/what-it-costs-a-jew-to-become-a-christian

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Yitzchak ...
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/sermon-topic/torah-parashot/
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/free-downloads/
https://www.facebook.com/CalledOutBelievers/ at 10am PT
https://www.calledoutbelievers.org/events/shabbat-telegram-teaching/
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssemblyofCalledOutBelievers/videos
The Mark of the Beast is Coming Quickly Upon Us!
https://www.calledoutbelievers.org/news/the-mark-of-the-beast-is-coming-quickly-upon-us/
The Importance and Beauty of צִיצִ֥ת Tzitzit
https://player.vimeo.com/video/152885286
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/tzitzit/
The Hidden Beauty of the Holy Name of God - YHVH
vid> https://youtu.be/dbb45zmkli4 (20:59)

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Richman ...
Weekly Torah Study: with Rav Gedalia Meyer
Temple Jam with Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Abba Horovitz

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTempleInstitute/videos
https://www.facebook.com/The-Temple-Institute-22738684968/
https://www.instagram.com/thetempleinstitute/ - https://twitter.com/TempleInstitute
https://www.templeinstitute.org/ w Weekly Newsletter - 35 years
https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Jachter ...
Kol Torah Academy of Bergen County 
Shemot - Tevet 20, 5782 - December 24, 2021
https://www.koltorah.org/articles?category=Shemot
https://www.koltorah.org/by-parashah https://www.koltorah.org/about-us
https://www.koltorah.org/rav-jachters-halachah-files
Yeshiva - https://www.tabc.org/ https://www.instagram.com/koltorah.tabc/


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Parshat Shemot
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3233/jewish/Shemot-in-a-Nutshell.htm
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?tDate=12/25/2021  
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Calendar.htm
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/converter_cdo/aid/6225/jewish/Jewish-Hebrew-Date-Converter.htm

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Je-wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
by Tuly Weisz

As much as I understand those concerns, I also think that we are missing the mark
and so I proudly wish a Merry Christmas to my Christian friends.
https://www.israel365news.com/264530/je-wish-you-a-merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year/

Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz ...   

https://israel365.com/  https://www.israel365news.com/
https://www.israel365.com/about/  https://theisraelbible.com/
https://theisraelbible.com/bible/torah/  
https://theisraelbible.com/bible/genesis/  

The Portion of Shemot
https://theisraelbible.com/shemot/  

NASA hires Catholic priest to prepare religions for encounter with aliens
by David Sidman

The theologians attempted to assess how major religions would react to news of alien life being found.
https://www.israel365news.com/264543/nasa-hires-catholic-priest-to-prepare-religions-for-encounter-with-aliens/

Israel’s chief rabbis warn against sin of abortion;
Call to back pro-life group continuing mission of ‘midwives of Egypt’

Israel’s two chief rabbis issued a statement on Tuesday, proclaiming that terminating a pregnancy is prohibited by the Torah. They added that there are rare exceptions that could be granted rabbinic approval if the mother’s life is in danger.
https://www.israel365news.com/264532/israels-chief-rabbis-warn-against-sin-of-abortion-call-to-back-pro-life-group-continuing-mission-of-midwives-of-egypt/

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United States.

Stand with 100,000+ people who stand with Israel.
https://www.israel365.com/the-israel-covenant/


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President Donald J. Trump
https://melaniatrump.com/
https://www.45office.com/
https://gab.com/realdonaldtrump
https://t.me/real_DonaldJTrump
http://Instagram.com/realDonaldTrump  
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/alerts
https://rumble.com/c/DonaldTrump
https://tmtgcorp.com/ https://truthsocial.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ivankatrump/
DONALD DATES
Donald, Jr. 12/31/77 <<<
Jared Kushner 1/10/81
Eric 1/6/84

 
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Good News From Israel - Achievements and Heartwarming Stories

In the 19th Dec 21 FULL edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/2021/12/israels-full-good-news-newsletter-to.html
http://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/

Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly
https://mishpacha.com/  

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Todah Rabah - beloved Ted Belman writing from Jerusalem, Israel for 20+ years ... 
THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION 

The empty suit at the head of the table
by Caroline B. Glick - ISRAEL HAYOM

What a damning Report Card
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett never held any real executive office, and he never had
to implement his plans for beating the pandemic, applying sovereignty, or defeating Hamas.
https://www.israpundit.org/the-empty-suit-at-the-head-of-the-table/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/24/the-empty-suit-at-the-head-of-the-table/

A Christmas crusade: scapegoating the Jews
by Melanie Phillips

Christian churches, seemingly deaf to baleful historical and theological echoes,
have decided to mark Christmas 2021 by scapegoating the Jews.
https://www.israpundit.org/a-christmas-crusade-scapegoating-the-jews/
https://melaniephillips.substack.com/p/a-christmas-crusade-scapegoating

Omicron coverage reveals how the establishment, media keep us scared
by Heather Mac Donald - NY POST

The data out of South Africa, after five weeks of Omicron spread, suggest that Omicron should be a cause for celebration, not fear.
https://www.israpundit.org/omicron-coverage-reveals-how-the-establishment-media-keep-us-scared/
https://nypost.com/2021/12/21/omicron-coverage-reveals-how-the-establishment-media-keep-us-scared/#

Lawsuit Reveals Fulton County 2020 Absentee Ballot Results
Were Physically Impossible and Files Were Modified

As the ballot images are scanned, timestamps are recorded in the image files. The timestamps indicate
that the image files were created faster than the capabilities of the scanners. Often several times faster.
https://www.israpundit.org/lawsuit-reveals-fulton-county-2020-absentee-ballot-results-were-physically-impossible-and-files-were-modified/
https://republicbrief.com/lawsuit-reveals-fulton-county-2020-absentee-ballot-results-were-physically-impossible-and-files-were-modified/

 

>> The Jordan Option, plain and simple
https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-plain-and-simple/
>> The Jordanian Option is the only game in town
https://www.israpundit.org/my-jordan-option-is-the-only-game-in-town/

Kindly donate to support the work I do
by Ted Belman
https://www.israpundit.org/please-support-the-work-i-do-2/
https://www.israpundit.org/my-half-yearly-appeal-for-donations/
 

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Quest For The Lost Tribes - Full Simcha Jacobovici Documentary
vid> https://youtu.be/S0QCPXnAPNA (1:37:08) Syndicado TV 1998

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovici
12 Tribes of Israel: The Shevatim
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3798842/jewish/12-Tribes-of-Israel-The-Shevatim.htm
https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/who-are-tribes-judah
 
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In parsha Shemot,

Moses floats along the Nile river in a reed basket, rescued by the kindness of Pharaoh’s daughter.
It has become a custom for many to serve pigs in a blanket to symbolize the baby in a blanket. 
Last year we used asparagus in a blanket, but this year we will do kosher hot dogs in a potato blanket.
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/jewish-deli-shabbat-menu/

Wrap Me Up Shabbat Menu
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/shabbat-menu-asparagus-in-a-blanket/

Bake Anything and Everything with Olive Oil
https://jamiegeller.com/guides/bake-anything-and-everything-with-olive-oil/

It's Cold Out There! Jewish Soup Dumplings from Around the World
vid> https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/hvlg8Uc2-FSMnt4zj.html (2:52) JewLish
vid> https://youtu.be/I3IO-lwaHU0 (4:37) JG
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/jewish-soup-dumplings-from-around-the-world/

20 Healthy, Homemade Chinese Dinners
Easy Chinese Takeout Dishes You Can Make Better At Home
Today most cities with a significant Jewish population can boast at least one Kosher Chinese restaurant.
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/easy-chinese-takeout-dishes-you-can-make-better-at-home/

11 Different Ways > The best rugelach on the internet
https://jamiegeller.com/browse/11-different-ways-to-make-rugelach/

A $1,000,000 apartment overlooking the Temple Mount
https://unitedwithisrael.thedreamraffle.com/special-offer-2021-triple-tickets/?a=jok_121621

Aish annual $100,000 Sweepstakes w earlybird
https://donate.aish.com/event/sweepstakes-2021/e374377
Free Hebrew course Aleph Bet
https://academy.aish.com/course/aleph-bet
This entire four-lesson course in 30 minutes.

AISH DESTINY, the life changing women's mission to Israel
The Aish Destiny Women’s Mission - Jan 31 - Feb 6, 2022
https://about.aish.com/destiny-women/

Jamie's Quick & Easy Shabbat Menu App
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/exclusive-jamie-gellers-menu-plans/
https://www.prepear.com/jamiegeller/cookbooks/quick-and-easy-shabbat-menus/

Simchat Torah Menus
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/simchat-torah/
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/shabbat/   
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/

Vegan Recipes
https://jamiegeller.com/search?query=vegan+recipes  

This is Where You Can Find Me Most of the Time
JewLish - One People - Many Flavors
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpomjPnHcZ/
https://www.instagram.com/jamiegeller/
https://www.facebook.com/jamiegeller
https://www.facebook.com/jewlishbyjamie/

LIVE Series: FEED YOUR SOUL
vid> https://youtu.be/b4Z5lLnuggE (49:18) JG
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/feed-your-soul/

Joy of Aliyah  
http://jamiegeller.com/tag/joy-of-aliyah/
https://jamiegeller.com/tag/joyofisrael/
Jamie Geller Welcome's You
vid> https://youtu.be/XO-owES713c (0:35) JG  
Lots of 💕 Jamie - Until next week Shabbat Shalom from Israel !  
 
The answer is, it's made with love from Israel ! 
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-jewish-food-memories/
My Love Affair With Jerusalem
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-love-affair-with-jerusalem/
 
The Jamie Geller Spice Collection: Now Available Worldwide!
Sending you love and my heartfelt wishes for peace, from Israel.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jamie+Geller/page/55E36343-CF6F-4E88-A4D5-D7C1C0274F7F
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jamiegeller  
Adding Israel Wildflower Honey to my Amazon collection
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BN1985Q/

Babies, Books, and a Billion Views: My Decade in Review
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/a-decade-in-review/

Best of the Best w Hubby - Family Heirloom Cholent ...
vid> https://youtu.be/Ae2-lQVFsGw (12:01) 8/11/11 JG classic
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/family-heirloom-chulent/

Jamie at Aish - Chief Media & Marketing Officer
https://www.aish.com/authors/48868432.html
https://www.aishhatorah.com/
How You Can Make the Future Brighter
vid> https://youtu.be/fclstyB-1rA (2:48) Aish
https://www.youtube.com/c/Aishdotcom/videos

The Influence of the Hebrew Bible on America's Founding Fathers
vid> https://youtu.be/jE6Sqh-kezw (7:15) J-TV
https://www.aish.com/jl/h/h/The-Influence-of-the-Hebrew-Bible-on-Americas-Founding.html
Serpents of Desire: Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. An Introduction
https://www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ge/48966101.html

Jamie Hanala Geller
https://jamiegeller.com/author/jamie-geller/
Tamar Genger MA, RD
https://jamiegeller.com/author/tgenger/
Titles by Jamie Geller
https://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Geller/e/B001JS2GV8/
The High Holiday Recipe Collection - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/om8u2hvu10jwaeo5xuzi/
Beef Bacon 101 - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/jeithgmmua2s7fpzrgzk/
A Passover for Everyone - Aish and Jamie - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/sqyphcgmojgxtcq32ndx/
The Ultimate Challah - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.ac-page.com/pinterest-challah
Comforting Soups - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/vp6jenajjphxppjobhib/
Rosh Hashanah Sides - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/lmhvzqio815zbglkdar8/
Modern Israeli Kebobs - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.acemlnc.com/lt.php?s=a476321cee1a62660d5e43a07fe84c19&i=109A824A1A5341
Modern Israeli Summer - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/myjxowbuybzbzl3de8zb/
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/qlxqz3dqauo76fhgwlfd/
The Perfect Turkey Guide - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/g4ibbdtyf0mfdt5fudgu/
Join My Way Better Cooking Class with Jamie Geller
https://get.waybetter.com/jamiegeller/
 
These are the names [ve’eleh shemot] of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family. Exodus 1:1

Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Shemot (Names) - Like Israel, Like Us !!!

 
Welcome to Shemot (Names), this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion).
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
This is the portion of Scripture that will be read in synagogues around the world during this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service.  May you be blessed, refreshed, and inspired as you study God’s word with us at the start of the new year.
 
SHEMOT (Names)
Exodus 1:1–6:1; Isaiah 27:6–28:13, 29:22–23 (Ashk); Jeremiah 1:1–2:3 (Seph); Romans 12:1–21
 
“These are the names [ve’eleh shemot] of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family.”  (Exodus 1:1)
 
In last week’s Torah portion (Parasha), the first of the five books of Moses, Genesis (Bereisheet—In the Beginning), ended with the deaths of Jacob and Joseph.
 
This week, we begin the second book of the Torah, Exodus, called Shemot in Hebrew, which means names.
 
This Parasha describes the suffering of the Israelites under bondage to the Egyptians, the birth of Moses and his miraculous salvation from out of the Nile River.  It also describes his calling to deliver Israel and his encounter with Pharaoh.
 

The Finding of Moses, by Lawrence Alma Tadema
 
Like Moses, Like Yeshua
“The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.”  (Exodus 1:5)
 
Although only 70 descendants of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel) came into the Land of Egypt at Joseph’s invitation, they soon multiplied into such a great and mighty people that the new pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, felt threatened by them.  He feared that the Israelites might join Egypt’s enemies in battles against them.
 
“The Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.”  (Exodus 1:7)
 
To counter the growing strength of the Israelites, the Egyptians forced them into bitter labor, building store cities for Pharaoh and working the fields.
 

Morning prayer (shacharit) at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.

When they continued to multiply, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn males.  But at least two midwives, Shifrah and Puah, did not comply.  God, therefore, supernaturally protected their lives, blessing them with families and multiplying the Israelites even more (Exodus 1:16–21).
 
So Pharaoh turned to the Egyptians, commanding them to throw all male newborn Hebrews into the Nile River (Exodus 1:22).
 
The Levite parents of Moses had such great faith that in order to save their son, they defied Pharaoh's order and hid him for the first few months of his life.
 
But babies grow and, eventually, he could no longer be hidden, so they put him in a basket and set him afloat on the Nile among the reeds.
 
Even in this desperate circumstance, the protective hand of God was on this boy of destiny.  Pharaoh’s daughter spotted the basket.  When she saw the Hebrew baby inside, she had pity on him and took him as her own.
 
Instead of drowning in the Nile or dying at the hands of the Egyptians as the other newborn boys did, Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace as a prince of Egypt.
 

Reading from a Torah scroll using a yad (literally, hand) to follow the text
without obstructing the view of others who are following along.
 
This dramatic account of the infant Moses parallels the life of the infant Yeshua (Jesus), who was sentenced to death by the order of King Herod, among all the other Jewish male infants in Bethlehem.
 
“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.”  (Matthew 2:16)
 
Just as Moses was saved by his mother, so was Yeshua saved by the obedience and faith of His earthly father, Joseph, who was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt.
 
“Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.  So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.”  (Matthew 2:13–14) 
 
What irony that the very place of danger and death for the Hebrew babies in the days of Moses became a place of refuge for Yeshua when He was but a baby!
 
Jewish mother pushes a stroller in Jerusalem.  (Photo by opalpeterliu)

Egyptian Prince Moses Becomes a Shepherd
Because Pharaoh’s daughter drew the baby from the Nile, she called him Moshe (מֹשֶׁה) from the word moshech, meaning pull or draw
 
Moses grew up in the royal Egyptian palace, but it seems that the burdens of his fellow Israelites troubled him.
 
One day, he saw an Egyptian slave master beating a Hebrew.  Even as a young man, Moses felt the calling to deliver his people, but he stepped ahead of God’s timing.
 
In the process of defending this Israelite slave, Moses killed the Egyptian and fled to Midian to escape Pharaoh’s death decree over him. 
(Exodus 2:15)
 
Again in Midian, Moses expressed his calling as a deliverer by saving the daughters of the Priest of Midian who had come to the well where he sat.  They wanted to draw water for their flock, but shepherds tried to drive them away.  Moses intervened and watered their flocks for them.
 

Moses Defending the Daughters of Jethro, by Sebastiano Ricci
 
The Priest of Midian welcomed Moses to live with him and even gave Moses his daughter, Zipporah, as a wife
 
Moses spent the next 40 years shepherding sheep in the land of Midian, a period of time that God used to prepare him to shepherd His people Israel out of Egypt.
 
Only when the children of Israel cried out to God, did the time come for God to make His move:  “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”  (Exodus 2:24)
 
The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses from out of the flame of a bush that burned but was not consumed.
 
From the midst of this burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, God told Moses He had heard the cries of His People and was sending Moses back to Pharaoh in His name and His power on His behalf.
 

Moses and the Burning Bush, by Gebhard Fugel
 
By this point, this prince of Egypt had been so humbled by his lengthy wilderness experience that he seemed to lack confidence when it came to his role as a leader of a nation.
 
First, Moses asked for the name of the One sending him.
 
God answered with His name, Ehyeh Asher Ehyehאֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה.  Widely translated as I Am That I Am, the Hebrew grammatical form is actually in the future tense.
 
Therefore, God’s name is more accurately translated as
I Will Be What I Will Be.
 
The message to Moses is perhaps that God can look after the details of the future.  He will be to us whoever and whatever He chooses to be—father, friend, comforter, counselor, or even disciplinarian.  We can trust in God’s infinite wisdom to be who we need in our lives at each moment in time.
 
Even with this assurance, Moses still feels unqualified for the task, especially since he is slow in speech.  He begs God to send someone else; therefore, He allowed Aaron, Moses’ brother, to accompany him and act as Moses' spokesperson.
 
Yet, it is Moses to whom God first revealed His personal name
in Scripture.
 
Moses grabbed hold of the trust placed in him and delivered a command to Pharaoh with the full authority of I AM:   “Thus says the Lord, ‘Israel is My firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve Me.”’”  (Exodus 4:22–23)
 

Jewish men pray at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.
 
Like Israel, Like Us
There is much we can take from this story of Moses’ progression
in becoming a leader.
 
He was not ready for leadership overnight.  Likewise, we may understand that we have a calling on our lives, and this might become evident time and time again.  Still, we must wait for that time when the Lord chooses to release us into the fullness of our destiny.
 
As well, we might also feel incapable of accomplishing anything for the Lord, having lost much of our self-confidence through the trials and tribulations of life. 
 
Whatever our experience, it still remains true that submitting to God’s presence and following His direction is all we need to fulfill the destiny He has assigned to us.
 

A Jewish woman shops in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market (Photo by Dana
Friedlander / Go Israel)
 
We can also learn from the suffering of the Israelites.  Despite the tyranny forced on them by the Egyptians, the People of Israel still grew mighty in number.
 
Oppressive circumstances cannot prevent God from carrying out His purposes and fulfilling His promises.
 
We might suffer under some sort of bondage or pain for what seems like a very long time, but we can rest assured that God hears our cries.
 
He remembers the covenant we have with Him through our Messiah Yeshua, which provides a way out of our spiritual bondage and into our inheritance—if only we accept it.
 
Though God is true to His promises, we still need to keep crying out to Him for deliverance and waiting in faith and hopeful expectation to move on our behalf in our spiritual and our earthly afflictions.
 
God is not deaf, nor aloof to our suffering.  His arm is not too short to save:  “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”  (Psalm 34:17)
 

A husband helps his wife navigate the stairs at Masada in Israel.

Let My People Go
Though Moses entered Egypt and delivered God’s message to Pharaoh, nothing changed immediately.
 
Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews go.
 
Moses might have felt like he failed God, but God has a greater plan for even our failures, and they end in glorifying His name.
 
Through plagues and judgments (called makot in Hebrew, which can also mean beatings), God proved His position as the One True God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that the gods of the Egyptians had no power over Him.
 
Through these judgments, we also see that whatever a nation or even an individual does to Israel, for good or for evil, God will return it unto them:
 
“For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head.”  (Obadiah 1:15; see also Genesis 12:3)
 
Temple of Rameses II: As the Israelites grew in number, the Egyptians
began to fear them, so they forced them into labor to build Pithom and
Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh.
 
Parasha Shemot does not end with a mighty deliverance but, rather, with the situation becoming worse—if that were even possible.  Pharaoh made the Israelites’ labor more difficult by demanding that they find their own straw while also maintaining the same quota of production (Exodus 5:18).
 
In their bitterness, the Hebrew people turned on Moses and Aaron.  Moses responded by turning to the Lord.  With raw honesty, Moses asked why He had not delivered His people as He promised.
 
“Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people?  Why is it You have sent me?  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”  (Exodus 5:22–23)
 

A Torah scroll is honored by kissing the tzitzit (fringes)
and then touching it to the place where the reading
begins.  In Judaism, the Torah must be treated with
the utmost respect.  It is taught that whoever honors
the Torah will himself be honored.  
(Photo by
Francisco Martins)
 
We might also feel this way when it seems we are doing what God has asked us to do, and things get worse, not better.
 
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