Tag Archives: Exodus

Shabbat Shalom Preparedness

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YHVH Commands Man to Work for Six Days

One can’t fully appreciate the Sabbath unless one has worked during the previous six days, and, in turn, has a need for and, hence, a reason to rest. In fact, YHVH commands man to work for six days and bring in or to gather all his food. No gathering of food is to occur on the Sabbath.

Six days ye shall gather it [manna]; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none. (Exod 16:26)

After one has labored intensely all week, one is ready to rest, and happily so! It’s time to “kick back” and to enjoy the fruits of one’s labors, and then to lift one’s spiritual sights above the mundane plain in order to discover (or reconnect with) the greater and higher meaning life, which should involve loftier aspirations than merely slaving away for transitory material necessities and wants.

The Preparation Day: Preparing for the Sabbath

Prepare food for Shabbat on the six day (Friday).

Prepare food for Shabbat on the sixth day (Friday).

The Creator not only commands man to work for six days as a precursor to resting on the seventh day, but to fully enjoy the peace, rest and sanctity of the Sabbath, the Scriptures instruct man also to prepare ahead of time for this day.

And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily … And he said unto them, This is that which YHVH hath said, To morrow is the rest of the set-apart Sabbath unto YHVH: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (Exod 16:5, 23; see also Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31)

Not only should food preparation be on our “to do” list for the sixth day, but consider doing the following as well to insure one’s full enjoyment of the Sabbath:

  • Have clothes washed and clean for the Sabbath.
  • Fill the car with gas if you have to travel to be with a congregation.
  • Do all your shopping, so that no buying or selling has to occur on the Sabbath.
  • Prepare your own personal “Garden of Eden” by cleaning the house, mowing your grass.
  • Think and plan ahead what activities you might want to do on the Sabbath that will edify you and your family spiritually and bring you closer to Elohim.

Once all your work is done, and you’ve prepared for the Sabbath, now sit back and enjoy!

Shabbat shalom from my family to yours!

 

 

The Prophetic Implications of the The Song of Moses

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Exodus 15:1, This song. This Song of Moses may be more aptly titled, “The Song of the Redemption,” for it is a song about our Heavenly Redeemer, as we shall now discover.

Pharaoh and his army drowning in the Red Sea.

Pharaoh and his army drowning in the Red Sea.

I will sing. Will this Song of Moses be sung again in the future? In Revelation 15:3, we see that the glorified bride of Yeshua will be singing the Song of Moses. Why is she singing this joyous song? Because YHVH has delivered her from his judgments of wrath that he is pouring out upon a wicked end times world. These same redeemed Israelites are those whom YHVH has brought out of Babylon the Great as part of the second exodus of redeemed Israelites from the nations where they have been long scattered and spiritually enslaved. The Song of Moses here (in Rev 15:3) also relates to the Song of the Lamb. As we shall see next, the Song of Moses in Exodus 15 does relate to Yeshua the Lamb. Exodus 15:2, The LORD [Heb. Yah]. Yah is the shortened form of YHVH. The verse goes on to say about this same Yah “that he has become my salvation [Heb. Yeshua].” It literally says that YHVH has become Yeshua! This is yet another Tanakh (OT) prophecy confirming the deity of Yeshua. I will praise him. The KJV translates this phrase as “I will prepare him a habitation.” The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach has, “I will build him a sanctuary.” Couple this with verse 17, which speaks of “the sanctuary [Heb. miqdash],” which YHVH has made for his dwelling, and we have a solid reference to the Tabernacle of Moses, which YHVH instructed the Israelites to build, so that he could dwell among them (Exod 25:8), and commune with them (verse 22). What’s more, everything in the tabernacle pointed to Yeshua, the salvation of YHVH, and to his death on the cross to redeem man from sin and bring him into close communion with the Father in heaven! Exodus 15:6,12, Your right hand. Three times this phrase is found in the Song of Moses. Who is the outstretched arm or YHVH? It is Yeshua (Isa 53:1 cp. Isa 52:10; 40:10; Ezek 20:34–35) who is presently at the right hand of Elohim (e.g., Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; etc.). Exodus 15:12, The earth swallowed them. Even as the earth (or seas) swallowed up Pharaoh (a picture of Satan) who was attempting to destroy YHVH redeemed people, the earth will come to the rescue of the end times saints who have fled into the wilderness after leaving the Babylon the Great world system (Rev 12:16).

 

When Does the Biblical New Year Start?

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Exodus 12:2, Month. It is the Hebrew word chodesh (Strong’s H2320/TWOT 613b) meaning “the new moon, month, monthly, the first day of the month, the lunar month.” It is found in the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament) 276 times and is translated in the King James Version as “month” 254 times, “new moon” (20 times), and “monthly” (1 time). We see that from these definitions that the terms “month” and “new moon” are synonymous. It has been understood for millennia that ancient Israelites began their month with the new moon.

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Why was it important for the Israelites to know when the new moon occurred and when the month began? The dates of the annual biblical festivals that YHVH gave to Israel and instructed them to observe were determined based on when the new moon occurred (Lev 23:5, 6, 24, 27, 34).

The next question to answer is this: when does the biblical month begin?

For modern astronomers the term “new moon” means something different than it did to the ancients, including those who YHVH inspired to write the Bible. Ancient calendars were determined by the moon, while modern ones are not. Some biblical expositors teach that the new moon begins when the moon is in conjunction or in line with the earth and the sun and is in its dark phase. Others believe that the month begins just after the moon has moved out of its dark phase and begins to show a sliver of light, which is called the visible or crescent new moon. Who is right?

Some Bible teachers claim that there is no place in the Scriptures that specifically states that the new moon begins at the first visible sliver after being dark for several days. Therefore, they reason, it is an assumption to say that it does, and therefore, the new moon should be determined from its conjunction with the earth and sun while it is in its dark phase. While on the surface, this may seem like a valid argument, one important verse in the Scriptures, however, and some simple logic quickly disproves this notion. It is Genesis 1:14.

And Elohim said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons [moedim/biblical festivals], and for days, and years.”

In this verse we see that the sun and the moon are “signs” for seasons, days and years. The word “sign” is the ­Hebrew word owt/ אות (Strong’s H226; TWOT 41a) meaning “sign, signal, mark, token, emblem, signboard, standard.” In the Tanakh, owt describes such visible (not invisible) signs as Noah’s rainbow (Gen 9:12–13, 17), Cain’s mark (Gen 4:15), circumcision (Gen 17:11), and the Sabbath (Exod 31:13, 17; Ezek 20:12). In addition, owt is used some 80 times in the Tanakh to refer to miraculous signs. These include the plagues of Egypt (Exod 7:3; Deut 4:34, etc.), the sign of the virgin birth of the Messiah (Isa 7:11, 14); YHVH miraculous signs to Gideon (Judg 6:17) and King Hezekiah (2 Kgs 20:9; Isa 38:7). In addition, Aaron’s rod that budded was a sign or token (Num 17:25). Many more examples could be given.

What do all these examples of how the Bible uses the Hebrew word owt have in common? They were all a visible sign that one could see. This is the definition of the word owt and how it is used in the Hebrew Scriptures. Simply stated, the visible sliver of the new moon fits the definition of owt as used in Genesis 1:14, while the astronomical conjunction (when the moon is in its dark phase and is invisible to the eye because the earth is between the moon and the sun) does not. Psalm 104:19 is definitive biblical proof that the moon’s purpose is to determine the biblical feasts when it says YHVH “appointed the moon for seasons [Heb. moedim, which means ‘appointed times’ or ‘biblical holidays’].” The moon cannot be a visible sign to determine seasons or biblical festivals if it is hidden or dark.

The fact that ancient Israelites determined the new moon based on the sighting with the naked eye of the moon’s sliver has been substantiated repeatedly by historians and religious scholars over the past 2000 years. 

 

The Fall of Egypt and the Fall of Babylon the Great

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Exodus 10:3, Thus says YHVH Elohim of the Hebrews. What Moses did would be similar in our day to going to the president of the U.S., who is the head of the most powerful and advanced nation on earth, and saying, “The God of the people of El Salvador says to you…” How much impact would such a demand have on the president? However, when YHVH deputizes a person for a divine mission, YHVH, the Creator of the universe, and just one person make a majority!

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How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? The sovereign Creator ultimately demands that all submit to his will and purposes. Those who refuse to do so imperil themselves. The Scriptures record that YHVH held other leaders accountable for exalting themselves against him—for refusing to humble themselves:  Nebuchanezzar (Dan 4:19ff), Belshazzar (Dan 5:22), Zedekiah (2 Chron 36:12), Lucifer (Isa 14:13ff) and Herod (Acts 12:21–23).

Furthermore, those who put their trust in false gods will come under the judgment of the one supreme and true God. As Elohim judged the false gods of Egypt one by one and brought that arrogant nation down, he will do the same in the end days with Babylon the Great and the gods of this world.

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We see a striking parallel between the plagues YHVH brought upon Egypt and those he will bring upon the rebellious inhabitants of earth just prior to Yeshua’s second coming. For example, the seventh plague of the seventh vial is an ultimate expression of the fierceness of Elohim’s wrath upon a rebellious and still blaspheming world (Rev 16:17–21). Seventy-five pound hailstones will fall from heaven and the earth will quake beneath. There will be no hiding place from Elohim’s wrath. Additional end-time plagues that replicate those of Egypt include grievous sores to come upon men (Rev 16:2), the seawater and fresh water turning to blood (Rev 16:3–4), and darkness upon the earth (Rev 16:10). After this, Babylon the Great will fall (Rev 18:2), even as ancient Egypt fell under the mighty blows of YHVH’s judgment.

Psalms chapter two summarizes the rebellious arrogance of men, and their conspiracy against the Creator to keep control of their kingdoms. Elohim will laugh at them from heaven and will send his Son to judge them and to break their kingdoms in pieces with a rod of iron. Kiss the Son now and worship him if you expect to escape these judgments (Ps 2:12)!

What gods do we have in our lives that we are holding on to? Each of the plagues against Egypt was a direct strike against one of the many gods of Egypt (Exod 12:12; Num 33:4). (See notes at Exod 7:14.)

 

Egypt’s Plagues—A Lesson for Us?

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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. Modern man worships these same false gods, and YHVH will bring his judgements against them in the last days.

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  • The first plague was the water turning to blood. This was 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 was frogs. This was a judgment against pride (frogs puff themselves before they croak) and environmentalism or animal worship. In America, for 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 refuses to repent and turn from its arroant and wicked ways?
  • The third plague was lice. This was 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 was flies, which was 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 was the death of the livestock. This is a judgment against transportation and commerce.
  • The sixth plague was boils, which was a judgment against the Egyptians obsession with their bodies and faith in medical science.
  • The seventh plague was hail, which was a judgment against their agriculture industry and earth worship.
  • The eighth plague was locusts. This was 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 was darkness. This was a judgment against Egypt’s intelligentsia and religious system, which was spiritually devoid of the light of truth.
  • The tenth plague was the death of the firstborn, which was a judgment against Egypt’s future and posterity.
  • The destruction of Pharaoh and his armies in the Red Sea was a judgment against Egypt’s political and military might.

Is YHVH Elohim bringing America and other “Christian” nations under judgment for the sins they have committed against him even as 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 just to name a few possible judgments against a nation that has turned its back on Elohim and the Bible.

Exodus 8:22; 9:4, 26, YHVH separated the children of Israel from the Egyptians in that he spared them from the last seven plagues.

What does this teach us about the judgments of Elohim? The Israelites were made to go through the first three plagues only. Do YHVH’s people ever experience trials and tribulations? (Read 2 Tim 3:12; Heb 11, the entire chapter; Rev 7:9–14.) Do the saints need spiritual refinement in order to be the bride of Yeshua who is without the spot and wrinkle of sin? (Read Eph 5:27; 1 Cor 3:9–17.) The saints may go through tribulation, but will they have to experience Elohim’s wrathful judgments unto death upon a wicked world? (Read 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9 cp. Rev 6:17; 7:2–3.)

Other examples of the saints going through tribulation, but then being delivered before Elohim poured out his wrath upon the wicked include Lot in Sodom, and Noah at the flood.

 

Redemption: The Strong Arm of YHVH to Save His People (pt 1)

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Exodus 6:6–8, I will. In this passage, YHVH reveals to Moses the seven steps of Israel’s redemption, which are actually promises of what YHVH will do for Israel.

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, “I am YHVH, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem [Strong’s H1350, ga’al meaning “to buy back, ransom for money”] you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments, and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you an Elohim, and you shall know that I am YHVH your Elohim, which brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am YHVH.” (Exod 6:6–8, emphasis added)

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Here we find listed the seven steps of redemption YHVH lays out for Israel. YHVH uses his covenant name (YHVH) three times during the seven promises: at the beginning, middle and end. He wraps his covenant promises in his covenant name for emphasis.

YHVH is telling Moses (and us, too!!) to just believe him! Believe his Word; trust that he is who he says he is (which is what his covenant name implies: I am who I am, or I will be what I will be; i.e., I will be your All Sufficient One and will meet your every need … So just trust and believe!)

Redemption involves three things.

First, Continue reading →

 

YHVH—Memorial Name of God

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Shabbat shalom to everyone from our family to yours! 

Here’s a  little Sabbath treat for everyone. Enjoy…

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). Exodus 3:14 and 15 read as follows:

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 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 [Heb. shem] for ever, and this is my memorial [Heb. zeker] unto all generations.

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Here are some examples of how various Bible versions translate the name of YHVH:

  • I Am That I Am (KJV)
  • I Am Who I Am (NAS, NIV, NKJV
  • I Am That Which I Am (YLT)
  • I Shall Be As I Shall Be (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach)
  • I Will Be What I Will Be (The Gutnick Edition Chumash, JPS)
  • I Will Be There Howsoever I Will Be There (The Schocken Bible)
  • I Am the Being (LXX, Brenton)

Exodus 3:15 states that YHVH is the name 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 the Hebrew word zeker (Strong’s H2143) and means “remembrance, memory.”

It must be noted here that we don’t refer to YHVH as I Am, for were we to do so it would be necessary to say “I Am,” and in all reality, we aren’t the I Am, but YHVH is the I Am. Just so there is no confusion when communicating YHVH’s name in every day speech, the Bible uses, not the Hebrew ehyeh meaning “I Am,” but the form of the verb which means “He Is.” In this way, every time we say his name we’re glorifying him, and not inadvertantly glorifying ourselves.

In writing, I use the Hebrew letters yud, hey, vav, and hey (or in English YHVH). Why is this? Because there are many possible ways to pronounce YHVH when transliterating it into English, and I don’t want to offend anyone by not spelling it your favorite way. So I just use the consonants as found in the Scriptures.

However, for those who are curious, I pronounce YHVH as Yehovah, or Yehowah. Many say Yahweh. I used to also, until it become clear to me that Yehovah seemed more correct. This can become a matter of discussion and debate, but I don’t choose to go there. Study out the subject for yourself and do what you think is right. Just keep an open mind, and be gracious to others who are of a different opinion.

Blessings to you all!