Exodus 14–20; 1 Chronicles 5–18; Psalms 150; and Matthew 1–6
Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. The full year’s Bible Reading Schedule can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.”
If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.
Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 9/2 through 9/8/2012
Exodus 7:14, The ten plagues. The ten plagues were Elohim’s judgment against the gods and idols of Egypt (Exod 12:12; 33:4; Num 33:4). Here are the list of plagues and possible suggestions as to which gods of Egypt YHVH was judging.
The first plague: water turns to blood—a judgment against abortion (the Egyptians threw their babies into the Nile for sacrificial purposes) and against materialism (since fewer children mean fewer expenses for a family, and the Nile River was the source of Egypt’s prosperity).
The second plague: frogs — a judgment against pride (frogs puff themselves before they croak) and environmentalism or animal worship. In America, fore example, after 9/11, how many bumperstickers did we see that had the words “pride” on them, and “God bless America” as if YHVH is duty-bound to bless America? How can YHVH bless a nation that refuse to repent and turn from its wicked ways?
The third plague: lice—a judgment against pride and narcissism (self worship), since the Egyptians were highly focused on their personal appearance and hygiene, their appearance and in shaving of body hair.
The fourth plague: flies—a judgment against devil worship, occultism and witchcraft (i.e., the whole religious system of Egypt). A biblical name for Satan was Beelzebub, or lord of the flies (Matt 2:25–27; Luke 11:15–19).
The fifth plague: Livestock died—a judgment against transportation and commerce.
The sixth plague: boils—a judgment against the Egyptians obsession with their bodies and faith in medical science.
The seventh plague: hail—a judgment against their agriculture industry and earth worship.
The eighth plague: locusts—a judgment against Egypt’s food production. The Nile River and its delta was one of the bread baskets of the ancient world and a source of great wealth to Egypt.
The ninth plague: darkness—a judgment against Egypt’s intelligentsia and religious system, which was spiritually devoid of the light of truth.
The tenth plague: the death of the firstborn—a judgment against Egypt’s future and posterity.
The destruction of Pharaoh and his armies in the Red Sea—a judgment against Egypt’s political and military might.
Is YHVH Elohim bringing America and other “Christian” nations into judgment for the sins they have committed against him even has he brought judgment against the gods of Egypt? What are the similarities between gods of ancient Egypt and those of western and Christian culture? In America, for example, in recent years, there has been a marked increase in adverse weather conditions, natural catastrophes, terrorism, bank and financial failures, personal and corporate bankruptcies, high unemployment and inflation rates, and high foreclosure rates on homes to name a few possible judgments against a nation that has turned its back on Elohim and the Bible.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. (2 Chron 7:14–20)
Nehemiah 2, In many of our spiritual endeavors, we are not unlike Nehemiah whom YHVH tasked with rebuilding the broken down and burned walls of Jerusalem to protect the house of YHVH (i.e., the temple) from the enemies of Israel.
Like Ezra, Nehemiah’s predecessor, he faced and had to overcome many physical and spiritual obstacles to complete his divine mission. His initial walk around Jerusalem to survey conditions was prophetic of the battles he’d soon be facing to rebuild the wall.
Before he could celebrate the victory of a completed wall, he’d have stare down the enemies of YHVH face to face.
First he passed through the Valley Gate, which is a prophetic picture of the valley of the shadow of death of David’s famous twenty-third psalm. This death may even include the death of our vision (i.e., the death to our own personal plans and wishes as opposed to those of YHVH).
Next he came to the Serpent Gate, which is a picture of everything Satan, the Adversary and Accuser of the brethren, will throw at you to hinder you from completing the task YHVH has given you.
Then he encountered the Dung (or Refuse) Gate. This is a spiritual picture of all the garbage the enemy throws at us to keep us from fulfilling our divine mission. This could include things such as physical distractions, false accusations, false brethren, the heathen around us, hindering demonic spirits, physical sickness, lack of finances, doubt, fear, discouragement and unbelief.
Next Nehemiah came to the broken down and burned gates of Jerusalem representing all the broken and failed dreams and attempts of our past to accomplish YHVH’s purposes in our lives including past personal failures and defeats at the hands of our physical and spiritual enemies.
It was necessary for Nehemiah to encounter and to overcome all these obstacles, which, in reality, he used as stepping stones to his success. These passage points served to bring him to the place of victory resulting in the spiritual outpouring represented by the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, which he arrived at next. These last two spots in the ancient city of Jerusalem that are references to water are clear spiritual allusions to and are biblical Hebraisms representing the waters of YHVH’s Word or truth (i.e.,the Torah), as well as to the outpouring of the Spirit of Elohim. Spirit and truth combined are what all true worshipers of YHVH need in order to lead them into the deeper waters of a spiritual relationship with the Father as Yeshua indicates in John 4.
In these times of trials and pressure from all sides, may YHVH grant you, as he did to Nehemiah, the strength of vision and faith to overcome the obstacles in your life. May they become mere stepping stones to victory for the glory of Elohim and the advancement of his spiritual kingdom.
Exodus 3:14–15, I AM THAT I AM. The name YHVH is Elohim’s memorial name forever. It reflects that fact that he is; that he is undefinable in human terms, and that he has always existed. This is the name by which he is to be remembered (not forgotten as is the case with the ineffable name concept of the rabbinic Jews whereby the names of deity or forbidden to be used).
14 And Elohim said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM (EHYEH ASHER EHYEH YHVH RAT YHVH): and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM (EHYEH YHVH) hath sent me unto you. 15 And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHVH (YHVH) the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name (shem) for ever, and this is my memorial (zeker) unto all generations.
Here are some examples of how other translations translate the name of YHVH:
Verse 15 states that YHVH is the Moses was to use when referring to I AM THAT I AM. Both the former and latter are forms of the Hebrew verb hayah meaning “to be.” YHVH instructed that YHVH was to be his memorial name forever. In other words, humans were to use YHVH to remember him by. There is no indication here that it was YHVH’s intention that his name was to be forgotten or hidden through euphemisation. The word memorial is defined as follows:
Strong’s H2143 zeker; from 02142; TWOT – 551a; n m; KJV – remembrance 11, memorial 5, memory 5, remembered 1, scent 1; 23; memorial, remembrance, memory
Exodus 6–13; Nehemiah 3–13; 1 Chronicles 1–4; and Psalms 143–149
Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. The full year’s Bible Reading Schedule can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.”
If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.
Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 8/26 through 9/1/2012
What Is the Timing of the Exile?
Christian teaching says that Israel was in exile in Egypt for 400 years (Gen 15:13; Acts 7:6) or for 430 years (Gal 3:17). Some see a contradiction in these two numbers, which to nonbelievers “proves” that Scripture is not inspired by Elohim, but rather is the work of men.
The Jewish Sages, on the contrary, say that the 430-year count started when Abraham left Ur, and that the 400-year count started when Isaac was born and that the Egyptian exile lasted for four generations only, or about one-third of the 400 years. The accounting of this is found in Genesis 15:13–16,
And [YHVH] said unto Abram, “Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land [eretz] that is not theirs [the land of Canaan and Egypt], and shall serve them [the last half of their bondage in Egypt]; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation [goy], whom they shall serve, will I judge, and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And you shalt go to your fathers in peace; you shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation [after having been exiled into Egypt] they shall return again [return to the land of Canaan], for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”
Another point of interest in this regard is Jochebed, the mother of Moses. She was the daughter of Levi (Exod 2:1; Num 26:59) and was married to Amram the father of Moses and the grandson of Levi. Jochebed was the aunt of Amram (Exod 6:16–20). If the Egyptian exile were 400 years, as many believe, then Jochebed would have been around 320-340 years of age at the birth of Moses. This is an unlikely scenario since the biblical record shows us that the lifespan of humans was between about 110 to 150 years at this time. However, if the time of the exile were four generation as noted above (Gen 15:16) then she could have been between 80 to 120 years of age at Moses’ birth, which is in the more likely realm of possibility. The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash confirms this math. It says Jochebed was 130 when Moses was born (p. 297) and that at the time Moses returned to Egypt Israel had been living there for 210 years, 116 since the servitude began and 86 since the beginning of the backbreaking oppression (p. 300).
Why the Exile?
The purpose of the exile was to prepare Israel for its inheritance. Egypt was the “boot camp” to prepare them for the rigors of the wilderness journey so that they could then take the land of Canaan. Egypt was an incubator where Israel grew from 70 to more than two to four million people. Israel literally became a hardened army ready to go in and dispossess the Canaanites of their land and in turn repossess it.
Furthermore, YHVH could not allow Israel to dispossess the inhabitants of the Promised Land until the time was right. Scriptures says that the sins of the Amorites had to come to the full (Gen 15:16). YHVH is just and gives nations ample time to repent before judging them.
Genesis (Beresheit) is the book dealing with beginnings and eventually its overarching theme is divine election. YHVH is choosing certain people (according to his divine will and sovereignty) to accomplish his purposes.
Exodus (Shemot) is the book whose principle theme is redemption—Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Mitzraim). Here we learn how YHVH saves his people and we are shown that his people are redeemed in order to worship him.
Redemption is perhaps the main theme in Exodus. It is best delineated in the following passage,
Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, “I am YHVH, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your Elohim; and you shall know that I am YHVH your Elohim, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am YHVH.” (Exod 6:6-8, emphasis added)
Obedience to and worship of YHVH is another major theme in Exodus.
And he said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be a token unto you, that I have sent you, when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve Elohim upon this mountain.” (Exod 3:12, emphasis added)
And I say unto you, “Let my son go, that he may serve [Hebr. awvawd, Strong’s H5647] me, and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, even your firstborn.” (Exod 4:23, emphasis added)
And you shall say unto him, “YHVH Elohim of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve [Hebr. awvawd, Strong’s H5647] me in the wilderness, and, behold, until now you would not hear.’” (Exod 7:16, emphasis added)
The Basic Outline of Exodus
Leviticus (Vayikra) gives instructions on how to worship YHVH.
Numbers (B’midbar) gives us instructions pertaining to our spiritual walk and warfare in the “wilderness” of life.
Deuteronomy (D’varim) gives instructions to the younger generation preparing them to enter the Promised Land. Contained within is a recapitulation of the main tenets of the Torah, as well as the addition of some new laws, heart and prophetic issues pertaining to Torah obedience.