Commentary - Year 1 Sabbath 46

Exodus 3:1 - 4:17   -   Isaiah 49:11-19   -   Psalm 42   -   Romans 9:1 - 10:1
 

Shevat 27, 5762 / Feb 9, 2002

I Adar 3, 5765 / Feb 12, 2005

I Adar 3, 5768 / Feb   9, 2008

- Two commentaries follow -

Umoshe / Now Moses   SCRIPTURES should be read first

I Adar 3, 5765 / Feb 12, 2005

Who defines God?

Today’s portions are about who God is. While we may think that anyone who would worship a wood or stone idol is lacking some gray cells, we nevertheless commonly make our own definitions of our God. Consider this: God tells us who He is; we do not get to define Him with our little understanding – that would be idolatry. We all need to leave our own prejudices, and take care to learn who God says He is.

Exodus 3:

(1)     Here we see God stating by what name He would be called.

(2)     We also see Him granting signs to validate for His people His call to Moses.

(3)     We further see God stating what He would do in the near future – and what others would do.

In the Psalm, we are to contemplate where our God is.

In the Haftarah, we read that Yahweh is compassionate toward His people.

In Romans, we find that God makes known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy – including Gentiles, which He prepared beforehand for glory.

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Moses was told (v.14) that God is the “I Am” (Eh-yeh). He then was told (v.15) that God’s Name for all generations is “Yahweh”, meaning “I Was, I Am, I Will Be,” – the Eternal. This is an expansion of “I Am”. His Name, Yahweh, is used when referring to His character of Gracious / Merciful One. It is used 24 times in today’s Torah portion alone. Beginning with Genesis 2:4, it is used about 7000 times in the Tanach (Torah, Prophets, and Hoy Writings), far more than any other proper noun. It is used by all sorts of people, over many centuries. The most-oft repeated commandment in Scripture is to praise the Name Yahweh (Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 113:1). To Isaiah God said, “I amYahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8). This name indicates that God is eternal in all of His attributes, such as omnipotence, omniscience, holiness, and grace.

It can be difficult for us to get used to calling God by a different name than that which we are used to using. We are to use His Name reverently, not as a common word. We use it when reading it in Scripture – we do not substitute words of a different meaning (such as Adonai, Lord, or Hashem) for God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19). We use it when singing His praise with the inspired Psalms (Colossians 3:16). We use it when blessing His Name for His benefits.

Adonai, a Hebrew name which translates Lord, is used a few times in Scripture. The term refers to a master over slaves. It is used in conjunction with Yahweh – Adonai Yahweh (Ezekiel 2:4). Adonai or Lord is an appropriate title for God, but it is not a substitution for His Name Yahweh.

It is an untruth that it is not pronounced by rabbinic Jews – they commonly teach that it is to be used reverently and therefore sparingly, as using it in vain is a serious sin (Exodus 20:7).

Another Biblical name of God, Elohim, is a Hebrew term referring to His position as judge of His creation: it was judged very good (Genesis 1:31). This name is also used in conjunction with Yahweh – Yahweh Elohim (Genesis 2:4), referring to the Gracious God who is Judge of His creation.

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When Yahweh is graciously granting a special pronouncement to His people, He verifies it with signs – actions which we call miracles or wonders, because they are so out of the ordinary that we see them as supernatural. He did this when He sent Moses to deliver and instruct His people, and He did it when He sent Yeshua to deliver and instruct His people. He has also granted signs at many other times. However, this is not a reason to accept every tale of miracles that people claim to have seen, or claim ability to perform. Such claims are often self-aggrandizing, and often not apparent – not wondrous at all, but only causing wonder about their verity.

Alongside granting signs, Yahweh states clearly what He is about to do, and how people will react!

Moses was told to throw his staff on the ground, and it then became a snake. He was told to pick it up by the tail, and it then became a stick again (v.4:1-5). This was a sign.

Moses was told to go to the Pharaoh with the elders of Israel and request in the Name of Yahweh the he let God’s people go. Moses was then told that the Pharaoh would not listen until God performed certain signs. Every detail would come to pass just as the Ruler of the Universe had said.

So we say regularly, “Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, Ruler of the Universe . . .”.

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In today’s contemplative poem (Psalm 42) – now contemplate this – we read (v.3): “They say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ ” Where is your God? Is He above all, ruling over His creation, and acting graciously on your behalf? If he is anywhere else, he is an idol of your own creation.

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In today’s Haftarah portion (Isaiah 49:13) we read, “Yahweh has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted.”

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In his Epistle to the Romans, through Paul we are granted detailed understanding of some of God’s ways.

By using the story of Abraham’s children – Ishmael and Isaac, Paul is teaching that God’s Covenant (promises) is not for all of the natural descendants of Israel, but for the spiritual. “It is not as though the word of God has failed” (v.6). It is that, as God says of Himself, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (v.15).

The application of God’s covenant is not according to one’s parentage – “It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God” (v.8); “who were born, not of blood” (John 1:13). It is not through one’s own will – “It does not depend on the man who wills” (v.16); “not of the will of the flesh” (John 1:13). It is not according to a man’s works – “It does not depend on . . . the man who runs” (v.16). It is not through another man’s ability to convince – “not of the will of (another) man” (John 1:16). It is only dependent “on God who has mercy”.

The conclusion is: A remnant of natural Israel will be saved, and a remnant of the Gentiles will be graffed in to that number. “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved” (v.27). “Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith” (v.30); and we know that such faith itself is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

After such clear teaching, Paul anticipates the reaction: “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?’ ” (v.19). Here is where idolatry comes in: men who are as but worms, creating a God who fits their own doctrine. “Who are you, O man, who answers back to God?” (v.20).

God says that His Name for all generations is Yahweh. He is the eternal in all of His attributes, and does not change. He says that He maintains the right of determining life and death, and He controls who are His own and who are created for destruction. He holds all of the rights. We may acknowledge a Sovereign God, or make our own idols according to our own desires.

Then Paul says, “Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Our desire and effort should be toward seeing others come to repentance and faith. Knowing that God will use His Word to work repentance and faith in others is the motivation for evangelization, and the basis for sticking to His Word in all such endeavor.

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Shevat 27, 5762 / Feb 9, 2002

As prophecy ceased for many ages prior to the coming of Yeshua, so too did vision and prophecy cease for a time prior to Moses (Matthew Henry).

     The years of Moses seem to be divided into three forty-year periods.  Moses spent the first forty years as a prince in Pharaoh’s court.  Here, Moses was a “somebody.”  His second forty years was as a shepherd in Midian.  Moses, thus, became a “nobody.”  His third and final forty years was as God’s prophet sent to redeem God’s people from slavery.  At last, Moses has grown to be a leader and an example to “everybody.” (Matthew Henry, Jon Courson)

     Likewise, Yeshua was a “somebody.”  Yeshua was with God in the beginning and through Him all things are made (John 1:3).  Yeshua became a “nobody.”  In speaking about Yeshua to the synagogue at Philippi, Paul said, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7).”  Like Moses, Yeshua grew to be the leader and example of “everybody.”   “Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Yeshua haMashiach is Lord, to the glory of God the Father  (Philippians 2:9-11).”

     The Tenach and the Apostolic writings are replete with examples of God’s patience and the patience of God’s people.  Moses must have felt God’s calling early on.  A prince in Pharaoh’s court doesn’t usually kill an Egyptian to protect an Israelite slave.  Moses must have thought that forty years was long enough to begin his calling.  But, Yahweh was thinking eighty years (guess who won).  Yahweh’s great patience toward the development of his people forces His people to realign themselves to that patience.  Even Yeshua had to wait some thirty years before beginning His calling. 

     In our reading, Moses is finishing his second forty-year period.  Moses has been employed by his father-in-law (a relationship not unlike Jacob’s experience).  Tending a flock is a rather lowly position for someone of Moses’ Egyptian education and experience.  Here, Moses learns meekness and contentment (Matthew Henry).  Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:12-13).”  We are not to be idle in our patience for what Yahweh has for us, but industrious.  Even if our employment is lowly, it pleases Yahweh to see His people working while they wait on Him.  Paul said sternly to the synagogue of the Thessalonians, “In the name of the Lord Yeshua haMashiach, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us (2 Thessalonians 3:6).”   To a large degree, idleness separates us from Yahweh and from Yahweh’s people.  Was Moses more industrious as a Prince in Egypt, or tending flock for his father-in-law?  As a prince, Moses ran away from Egypt in defeat but, as a hard working Shepard, Moses met with God. 

     Who was Moses’ father-in-law; this priest of Midian?  This land is in the northern part of the Arabian peninsula.   Midian himself was the son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians.   Midian means “strife.”  So, Moses’ father-in-law was the priest of strife.  Perhaps at this time, there was strife between

Moses and Yahweh?  Perhaps Moses felt let down; that Yahweh’s calling had taken too long to develop.   We with little patience can succumb into believing Yahweh has forgotten us.  When in fact, Yahweh is diligently and patiently making preparations for us.

     At Yahweh’s timing, the Angel of Yahweh appeared to Moses in a flame out of the midst of a thorn-bush that was not being consumed by the flames.  “Thorns’ is part of the original curse (Genesis 3:18).  In judgment, these thorns are aflame, and in grace, they are not consumed.  These Egyptians, a “thorn in the flesh” of enslaved Israel, were about to experience Yahweh’s flaming wrath.  But this wrath would not consume Egypt but,  would allow Egypt to continue thereafter.  Also, there is the idea that this type of thorn-bush has the appearance of a many-sided Menorah (Doug Dolly).  If true, this many-sided Menorah could also be depicted in the book of Revelation’s description, “Seven golden lamp stands (Revelation 1:12).” 

     Moses is wooed and drawn by this fiery site.  In the same way, the multitudes were drawn in to listen to John the Baptist; to witness the miracles of Yeshua; and to a lesser extant, to be drawn by the good news of salvation through repentance and faith in Yeshua haMashiach.  It is man’s compulsion to respond to God’s call, and it is God’s sovereign choice to decide whom He calls.  God is orderly and respectful of His Word.  He does not unnecessarily repeat Himself due to man’s  preoccupation.  God first gets His subjects attention.  Here, it’s a burning bush.  It can be a visit from an angel or a blinding light that knocks one from their donkey.  After attention is attained, God makes “an offer one cannot refuse.”  These intimate biblical encounters with Yahweh are not requests of prophets, but commands from the King of the Universe.  Moses failed to persuade Yahweh to choose someone else through excuses and Jonah failed to escape his calling in traveling great distances.      

     The burning bush was not set directly in front of Moses.  Rather, it was placed in such a position that Moses had to “turn” to examine it.  This turning is symbolic of repentance;  to turn from one’s course and turn back to Yahweh.  As soon as Yahweh sees that Moses has turned aside to examine the burning bush, Yahweh speaks saying, “Moses, Moses!”  The repetition of Moses’ name communicates Yahweh’s excitement.  In typifying repentance, Yahweh is excited at initiating communication and fellowship.  Yeshua’s parable about the prodigal son also shows the Father’s excitement to reconcile with a repentant child.   Also, the duplication of Moses’ name could allude to another Moses yet to come, namely Yeshua haMashiach. 

     Moses was not to come too close to the burning bush, and he was to remove his sandals.  This relationship Moses would have with Yahweh would have parameters.  Moses would learn reverence and obedience for Yahweh.  Presumably, at this time Moses would have acquired some possessions.  Removing one’s sandals was a sign of transferring one’s property to another.  In essence, Yahweh purchased Moses and all that he owned (Ruth 4:8, Amos 2:6; 8:6).  Likewise, the book of Acts records “All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had (Acts 4:32).”    “Remember the people you purchased of old… (Psalm 74:2).”  “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God… (Revelation 5:9).”      

     And He said, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6).” Yahweh states three times that He is God (of the patriarchs) but, first He states He is the God of thy father (singular).  Here, and elsewhere, the Torah is communicating the oneness of a triune God.  Moses hid his face from this revelation because complete comprehension of the triune God remains hidden from man. 

     The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance

(2 Peter 3:9).”  Though Israel has been in bondage for some time, Yahweh says that He has now come down to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Egyptians to bring them up  unto a good and spacious land.  This is because He has seen and heard and known their afflictions (Exodus 3:7-9).  It’s not that Yahweh is slow in responding to Israel’s captivity.  Israel originally stayed in Egypt out of necessity (famine) and remained out of comfort.  Here, Yahweh doesn’t want to leave any Israelite behind.  He doesn’t want any to “perish” in Egypt, but all to “desire” to leave Egypt.  Cruel captivity over time ensures all of Israel will want to leave Egypt.  Likewise, the “chosen in Yeshua since the foundation of the world” are given trials of various kinds to ensure their affixed desire for redemption. 

     “And now come, I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10).”  Yahweh doesn’t conclude with a final command to “Go, I will send thee unto Pharaoh.”  Instead, Yahweh says, “Come, I will send thee unto Pharaoh.”  Yahweh is telling Moses that Yahweh Himself is joining Moses on this endeavor.  Moses is not being given a pep talk and told to “go get ‘em.”  Moses is being told to join Yahweh in returning to Egypt to redeem God’s people.

     But this divine invitation to join Yahweh on His mission seems overwhelming to Moses.   Forty years ago, Moses presumably would have jumped at the chance.  Now, in learned meekness Moses tries politely not to accept the invite.  “Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh (Exodus 3:11).”   God’s repetition that “He will be with Moses” (Exodus 3:12)  forces the unwilling prophet to reason his way out of this.  Unlike the many named gods of the Egyptians, Moses may have assumed the true God did not have a personal name.  So, the unwilling prophet says, “When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, ‘The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you,’ and they shall say, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say unto them?  There!---that should put the matter to rest.  Without a name and amidst the other named Egyptian gods, Israel was sure to disbelieve Moses’ story.  But God replies with a revelation…the tetragrammaton, “I am that I am.”  Four Hebrew consonants Y,H,W,H. thought of to this day as being so holy that substitutes are given so as not to error when speaking or writing it (i.e., Hashem, Lord, etc,..).  

     “I AM THAT I AM” denotes God’s unchanging character, the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Also, it communicates God’s totality.  Name anything, and I AM.  In metaphor’s God is everything.  God is a rock.  God is a tall mountain.  Also, Hebrew names have meanings.  But meanings carry limitations.  God has no limitations to His nature.  If we call Him something that denotes His grace, we invariably exclude things like His love, judgment, power and so on.  Therefore, I AM THAT I AM truly encompasses the eternity that is God, and the futility of the human mind in comprehending it.  “Why do you ask my name?  It is beyond understanding (Judges 13:18).”

     Moses is told to repeat to the elders of Israel what Yahweh is telling Moses.  In this, Moses is to become God’s prophet.  Yahweh repeats the description of the promised land by naming 6 peoples who currently reside there (Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites).  Why name six when elsewhere in scripture, more peoples are added?  These six peoples may represent six-thousand years of allotted world history followed by one-thousand years of the messianic kingdom (Yeshua’s 1000 year reign), “A land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:17).” 

     Moses is instructed to further tell the elders of Israel what Yahweh will do, “and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt…”  Yahweh emphasizes his spoken Word.  He doesn’t merely communicate what He will do, Yahweh says that He has already spoken what He will do.  Yahweh gives the integrity of His Word to console Israel and to build up her faith.  God does not lie. 

     Moses remembers a time when in the course of “saving” his people (killing the Egyptian), he was asked a question that he could not answer (Who made you judge over us?).  That time, the Israelites did not listen to Moses nor view him as a redeemer.  Yahweh alleviates these memories in promising to Moses that this time “they shall hearken to thy voice (Exodus 3:18).”   When Moses played the role of King in redeeming his people, Israel did not listen.  Later, when Moses played the role of Priest in redeeming his people, they listened.  Moses’ impatience in attempting to save Israel prematurely (by killing the Egyptian) thwarted his own typology as Messiah.  We know now the reverse to be true.  When Yeshua came down as Priest to redeem his people, they did not listen.  When Yeshua returns as a conquering King, they will listen. 

     Yahweh gives Moses a thorough prophetic briefing.  Moses has been told Pharaoh will not let the Israelites go and Moses will survive the experience in Pharaoh’s presence.  Moses has not forgotten that a previous Pharaoh tried to kill Moses for his crime in murdering the Egyptian.  After forty years, Moses must have been taken off the Egyptian FBI’s 10 most wanted poster. 

     Yahweh further briefs Moses that Yahweh will unleash many wonders against Pharaoh.  “Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 1:6).”  In Yahweh’s timing and after much preparation, when one of his own is finally called for active duty, Yahweh promises to be with him on the endeavor.  One is not called for service and left alone.  Moses remembers the loneliness as a fugitive when he first tried to save Israel on his own.  Yahweh promises this time will be very different.  

     Moses is further told that Pharaoh will ultimately acquiesce and allow Israel to go.  In addition, upon exiting Egypt, every Israelite woman is to ask her Egyptian neighbor and house mate for many Egyptian material items.  In this way, Israel will leave Egypt with much spoil.  As Yahweh is handing out assignments for this great movement, women are not excluded.  Everyone has a role to play.  “Now you are the body of Yeshua, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27).” 

     Does it not seem strange to take all kinds of spoil into the wilderness for a short three day journey to make a sacrifice to Yahweh?  Apparently, Pharaoh is not going to be told all of Yahweh’s plans.  To Pharaoh, Moses will request a three day journey into the wilderness for a festival.  To Yahweh, Israel is leaving Pharaoh forever to live in a land flowing with milk and honey.  Yahweh never told Moses to disclose or request the complete release of Israel.  Likewise, Yeshua did not disclose his plans to Satan.  “We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).”  Just as God kept Pharaoh in the dark about His plans, so too did Yeshua keep Satan in the dark about His plans.  Yeshua said to his disciples, “I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming (John 14:30).” 

     The parallels abound.  Just as Moses antagonized Pharaoh with multiple plagues, so too did Yeshua antagonize Satan by casting out thousands of demons, curing multitudes of people, and speaking out against the kingdom of Satan.  And just as Moses and the Israelites took spoil from Egypt, Yeshua took spoil from Satan, “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8; Psalm 68:18).”

     With each moment of this conversation with Yahweh, Moses is reduced to the core issue of his hesitancy; his lack of faith.  After many assurances, Moses still says, “But behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice, for they will say, Yahweh has not appeared to thee (Exodus 4:1).”  At this, Yahweh does not yet become angered.  After all, Yahweh always backs His new Word with signs and wonders:  “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles… (Hebrews 2:4).”  Moses is about to be given signs and wonders as Divine evidence to back his words.  The staff is thrown to the ground and it becomes a snake.  Startled, Moses runs away from the snake.  But something happens to Moses.  Moses’ training has already begun.  God commands Moses to pick up the snake by it’s tail (a dangerous maneuver) and Moses does not even  hesitate.  Moses first ran from the snake, and now he picks it up by it’s tail; overcoming layers of fear and faithlessness.  The lesson continues.  Moses obeys Yahweh and puts his hand into his bosom.  But when his hand became leprous, the panic that overtook Moses with the snake never materialized.  Further obedience and faith healed his hand of the leprosy.  Yahweh’s instruction and patience continue.

     In regression, Moses argues that he is handicapped in two areas.  One, he has never been eloquent and two, he is a slow speaker.  Against those who say Yahweh only does positive things, Yahweh declares that He created the mouth, and that He makes some dumb, makes others deaf, gives sight and makes blind.  Yahweh declares by this resume that He will be with Moses’ mouth, and will teach Moses what to say, resolving Moses’ two handicaps.  Moses’ faith seems strong enough only for one of Yahweh’s two promises; namely, to teach Moses what to say.  This was the last straw and Yahweh was noticeably upset.   He gives Aaron to Moses to be his mouthpiece, and like a parent finally loosing patience, Yahweh sells Moses on the idea that Aaron would be like a prophet to Moses and Moses would be like a god to Aaron.  Persuaded, Moses is told to take his staff which will be used to perform signs.  The greater Moses, Yeshua haMashiach, would not need such a crutch to perform His signs.  Yeshua’s faith is perfect and His authority is perfect.  But, even in Yahweh’s anger, it’s good to know He provides for our weakness.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, haMashiach died for us” (Romans 5:8).

     Yahweh’s anger can have consequences.  Aaron became the source for many troubles Moses would face.  Aaron aided the worship of the golden calf, fashioning the calf and building the altar himself (Exodus 32:1-6).   Aaron’s sons blasphemed God with impure offerings (Leviticus 10:1-7), and Aaron openly revolted against Moses (Numbers 12:1-8) (David Guzik). 

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.”

(Isaiah 40:11)

     The Isaiah passage gives an example of Yahweh’s leadership of His chosen people both through Moses and ultimately through Yeshua haMashiach.  The Israelites following Moses were fed miraculously in the wilderness, Yeshua miraculously fed multitudes in the wilderness, and continues to feed his flock spiritual nourishment through His Word.  Yahweh gathered Israel and gently led them to the promised land.  Even fighting for them in their battles.  Yahweh draws His chosen to faith in Yeshua haMashiach who’s yoke is light.  Yeshua will return, fighting our battles by a sword that comes from His mouth.  For now, the pace is patient and slow, allowing for the weakest to complete the journey to the promised land; paradise.

“And all the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not heed or consent.”

(1 Kings 20:8)

     The passage in 1 Kings speaks of the people of Israel disobeying an unjust request from a gentile King and being delivered by Yahweh as a result.  The Israelites disobeyed Pharaoh when he ordered them to kill all male babies at birth.  Israel was ultimately freed from Egyptian bondage.  Yeshua disobeyed a Roman Governor when he requested the true identity of Yeshua.  Through Yeshua, Yahweh freed His chosen from the kingdom of darkness and brought them to the kingdom of light. 

     When obeying man means disobeying Yahweh, the choice is clear.  “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial (2 Peter 2:9).”    

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God.”

(Psalm 42)

     The purpose of these redeeming acts through Moses and ultimately in Yeshua, is to be reconciled in relationship to Yahweh.  Instead of desiring the comforts or familiarity of Egypt, Israel is to desire Yahweh.  Where Egypt’s false gods gives many sufferings---Yahweh gives new life.   Likewise, this world of sin gives many sufferings but, Yahweh  gives new life through Yeshua.  We are not freed to go our own way.  We are freed in order to walk in union with Yahweh through Yeshua.   

(Romans 9:1 – 10:1)

     In the Romans passage, Paul is making the case for Gentile and Jewish inclusion into true Israel through faith in Yeshua haMashiach.  He does so by distinguishing between the “Israel of the flesh,” and the “Israel of the spirit.”  Paul contends that the true definition of an Israelite rests with Yahweh’s choice, and not strictly by ancestry.  Paul refers to the Torah, to the beginnings of Israel to prove his point.  “Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned (Romans 9:7; Genesis 21:12).”   Isaac was Abraham’s promised child.  So, it’s not the children of the flesh, but the children of the promise (spirit) that are reckoned as descendants.  

     Next, Paul indicates that Isaac’s children also signify an Israel within an Israel.  Esau the first born (Israel of the flesh) ought to have received the blessing as the first born.   Yet, due to God’s sovereign choice, the younger brother, Jacob (Israel of the spirit) is chosen by Yahweh to be given the blessing.  This indicates that Yahweh is not bound to honor traditional norms, nor man’s way of thinking.  Yahweh has always maintained His sovereign right to choose whom He will bless.  Anyone, Jew or Gentile, who like Abraham, believe in the promises of Yahweh are considered true Israel and are given the rights of citizenship.  Inclusion into the “Israel of the flesh” was by a circumcision of the flesh.  But this rite of passage was only a shadow of the spiritual circumcision of the heart.  Gentile and Jewish believers in Yahweh through faith in Yahweh’s ultimate promise, Yeshua haMashiach, receive the fulfillment---circumcision of the heart, and are thus, grafted into true Israel.  The two previously separate groups (Jew and Gentile) may now worship together in a synagogue on Shabbat, they may eat together, they may learn Torah together, and celebrate “new moon” and the festivals together.  These “Shadows” have always taught anticipated spiritual truths.  Upon their continuing fulfillment (Yeshua), they remain as eternal instructional memorials:  “Your Word, O Lord, is eternal (Psalm 119:89; see also Exodus 28:29, 30;16, 31:17; Joshua 4:7; Acts 10:4).”      

     Through the imperfections of both Jew and Gentile, Yahweh’s perfect law could not bring righteousness.  Instead, “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Habakkuk 2:4).  This righteousness with the “Israel of the spirit” has always existed alongside the “Israel of the flesh.”  Throughout the Torah and the hafTorah we see Israelites with faith, and Israelites without faith.  The distinctions are only made more clear with the fulfillment of Yahweh’s promise (Yeshua) coupled with the invitation of the gentiles to faith.       

     How can Moses speak so clearly to twenty-first century Gentile and Jewish believers in Yeshua?  Because Moses is not only the patriarch for the “Israel of the flesh,” Moses is also the patriarch for the “Israel of the spirit.”  In fact, we are privileged to be his intended audience. 

Shalom in Yeshua haMashiach,

Christopher Byrne 

Readings:  

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who chose us from among all peoples by giving us Your Torah.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

(uMoshe hayah ro’eh et-zen / Now Moses was pasturing the flock)

Reader 1*  Amen. ¹ Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. ³ So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up."

Reader 2*  Amen. ⁴ When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." ⁵ Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." ⁶ He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. ⁷ Yahweh said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. ⁸ "So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. ⁹ "Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

Reader 3*  Amen. ¹⁰ "Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." ¹¹ But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" ¹² And He said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain." ¹³ Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" ¹⁴ God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" ¹⁵ God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

Reader 4*  Amen. ¹⁶ "Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. ¹⁷ "So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey."' ¹⁸ "They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.' ¹⁹ "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. ²⁰ "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. ²¹ "I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. ²² "But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians."

Reader 5*  Amen. ^4:1 Then Moses said, "What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you.'" ² Yahweh said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A staff." ³ Then He said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. ⁴ But Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail "-- so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand-- ⁵ "that they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Reader 6*  Amen. ⁶ Yahweh furthermore said to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom." So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. ⁷ Then He said, "Put your hand into your bosom again." So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. ⁸ "If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign. ⁹ "But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground."

Reader 7*  Amen. ¹⁰ Then Moses said to Yahweh, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." ¹¹ Yahweh said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? ¹² "Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say." ¹³ But he said, "Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will." ¹⁴ Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Moses, and He said, "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵ "You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. ¹⁶ "Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. ¹⁷ "You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs."

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

______________________

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who selected good prophets, delighting in their words which were spoken truthfully.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness."

Isaiah 49:11-19

Reader 8*  Amen. ¹¹ "I will make all My mountains a road, and My highways will be raised up. ¹² "Behold, these will come from afar; and lo, these will come from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim." ¹³ Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For Yahweh has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted. ¹⁴ But Zion said, "Yahweh has forsaken me, and Yahweh has forgotten me." ¹⁵ "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. ¹⁶ "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. ¹⁷ "Your builders hurry; your destroyers and devastators will depart from you. ¹⁸ "Lift up your eyes and look around; all of them gather together, they come to you. As I live," declares Yahweh, "you will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride. ¹⁹ "For your waste and desolate places and your destroyed land – surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you will be far away.

1 Kings 20:8 (1-30)

Reader 9*  Amen. And all the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen or consent."

Psalm 42   (To be sung.)   For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

¹ As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? ³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" ⁴ These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. ⁵ Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. ⁶ O my God, my soul is in despair within me; therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. ⁷ Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. ⁸ Yahweh will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life. ⁹ I will say to God my rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" ¹⁰ As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, while they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" ¹¹ Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Romans 9:1 – 10:1

Reader 10*  Amen. ¹ I am telling the truth in Messiah, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Messiah for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the Temple service and the promises, ⁵ whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. ⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named." ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." ¹⁰ And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one.

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of Ages, righteous throughout all generations.

You are the faithful God, promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,

for all Your words are true and righteous.

Faithful are You, Yahweh our God, and faithful are Your words,

for no word of Yours shall remain unfulfilled;

You are a faithful and merciful God and King.

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."

© 2004  Beikvot HaMashiach
(Followers of the Messiah)