In this brief study, we will see how YHVH was using various experiences in the Israelites’ lives to instill obedience to his Torah-law as a way of blessing and life for them, and how his Torah-Word would guide them safely to the Promised Land. Torah is the Hebrew word found throughout Scripture that means “YHVH’s instructions, teachings, or precepts in righteousness.” We will discover how these lessons apply to us as we move forward in our spiritual walk to our promised spiritual inheritance.
Please note how the bolded phrases below a) relate to YHVH’s Torah-law, and b) relate to our everyday spiritual walk.
- Exodus 13:21, “And YHVH went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” How does YHVH guide his people today? (Read Ps 119:105; John 16:13; Rom 8:14.)
- Exodus 14:20, “And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.” (Study 1 Cor 1:18; 2:14; Matt 10:16–25 to see how YHVH’s spiritual light guides and protects the righteous and, at the same time, is darkness or foolishness to the wicked.)
- Exodus 15:25–26, “And he cried unto YHVH; and YHVH showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of YHVH thy Elohim, and will do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am YHVH that heals you.” Here we see that diligent obedience to YHVH and his Torah brings life and health and protects us from devastating diseases. (Consider Pss 91 and 103.)
- Exodus 15:27, “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the waters.” Water in Scripture symbolically represents the Torah-Word of Elohim (Deut 32:2; Eph 5:26). This oasis in the wilderness symbolically and prophetically represented many things. Twelve wells represents spiritual leadership (e.g. the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles), whose responsibility it is to proclaim the good news message of salvation, and to teach YHVH’s Torah to show people how to walk in righteousness after being redeemed from enslavement to sin. The 70 palms symbolize the elders that ruled Israel (later called the Sanhedrin), who made judicial rulings based on YHVH’s Torah (see Exod 18:20–26; Deut 17:8–13). Yeshua established his own Sanhedrin when he appointed 12 disciples (later, apostles) and then 70 more disciples and sent them out to spread the gospel message, and to advance the kingdom of Elohim at the devil’s expense (Luke 10:1–11, 17).
- Exodus 16:4, “Then said YHVH unto Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my Torah-law, or not.’” In Scripture, bread from heaven often symbolizes the Word of Elohim and points to Yeshua the Word of Elohim made flesh and the spiritual bread of life. When we feed on the spiritual bread from heaven, we will be spiritually nourished and energized (see John 1:1–2, 14; 6:25–58).
- Exodus 16:23, “And he said unto them, This is that which YHVH has said, ‘Tomorrow is the rest of the set-apart Sabbath unto YHVH. Bake that which you will bake today, and boil that you will boil; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.’ And Moses said, ‘Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto YHVH. Today you shall not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.’” The seventh-day Sabbath or in Hebrew, the Shabbat, was, and still is, pivotally foundational in the life of YHVH’s people. It was a major spiritual stepping stone or portal into a deeper walk with Elohim. The Shabbat was literally the covenantal sign between YHVH and his people that distinguished them from the heathen nations around them. It was a set-apart or holy time of fellowship, communion and spiritual instruction, and part of the societal glue that held the people of Elohim together and kept them on the straight and narrow path of holiness. YHVH intended the Sabbath to a great blessing to his people forever (Isa 58:11–14) including during the future millennial reign of Yeshua (Isa 66:23).
- Exodus 16:28–30, “And YHVH said unto Moses, ‘How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that YHVH has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.’ So the people rested on the seventh day.” Again, we see the central role the Sabbath played in the life of Elohim’s people. The Sabbath is not only a specific day at the end of each week that YHVH blessed and sanctified and when he commands us to rest from our creative activities as he did (see Gen 2:2–3; Exod 20:8–11), but the Sabbath has future prophetic implications as well. It pictures the spiritual Promised Land of Elohim’s eternal kingdom into which Yeshua will lead his redeemed, faithful and glorified saints when he returns (read Heb 4:1–11).
- Exodus 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Who and what is that rock? It all points to the Torah-Word of Elohim, both the Written Torah and Yeshua (note Isa 8:14; Matt 7:24–27; 1 Cor 10:4), for Yeshua is the rock our salvation (see Deut 32:15; Pss 18:46; 62:2, 6; 89:26; 95:1).
- Exodus 17:12, “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” What does the stone spiritually represent? (See Deut 32:15; Pss 62:2; 95:1; Isa 17:10; 44:8; Matt 7:24–27; Rom 9:33.)
Yes, YHVH teaches fundamental truths in day to day life, as you would teach your children. Just like a good parent!
Yes. Hence the name “children of Israel.” We fool ourselves to think that had we been there, we’d have acted any differently. Many of us act like the children of Israel in many ways without even knowing it. Different actors with different costumes and different stage, but the same plot because human nature hasn’t changed.
A rock is something you can stand on-rest on, have a higher vantage point from, build on or with, it’s solid, a fortress.
Don’t you love the Bible’s metaphorical analogies? They are so simple to understand for those who a heart mind to perceive, and are so loaded with wisdom, understanding and applicability to our daily lives. Your pithy and wise sayings and comments help us to see this. Thank you.
Thx, but they re not mine, they are His! All glory to YHVH!
To add to Carol’s valuable comment, a rock (boulder) does not change, in contrast to organic matter. Elohim says of himself: “….I Adonai do not change…..” (Malachi 3:6). We can rely on Him!
SHaLoM Sheen Lamed Mem.
(Destroying the Authority of Chaos)
The Rock was to be struck only once as Yeshua was to be crucified only once.
But because of a lack of shalom within the camp, the rock was struck a second time, causing great offence.
Shalom, John