Beshalach - Day #4

Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out  

Torah Portion: Exodus:13:17-17:16

Exodus 14:26–15:26

14:26 Hashem said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Hashem overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. 28 The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus Hashem saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work which Hashem did to the Egyptians, and the people feared Hashem; and they believed in Hashem and in his servant Moses.

15 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Hashem, and said,

“I will sing to Adonai, for He has triumphed gloriously.

    He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.

2 Adonai is my strength and song.

    He has become my salvation.

This is my Elohim, and I will praise Him;

    my father’s Elohim, and I will exalt him.

3 Adonai is a man of war.

    Adonai is His name.

4 He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea.

    His chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.

5 The deeps cover them.

    They went down into the depths like a stone.

6 Your right hand, Adonai, is glorious in power.

    Your right hand,  Adonai, dashes the enemy in pieces.

7 In the greatness of Your excellency, You overthrow those who rise up against You.

    You send out Your wrath. It consumes them as stubble.

8 With the blast of Your nostrils, the waters were piled up.

    The floods stood upright as a heap.

    The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder.

    My desire will be satisfied on them.

    I will draw my sword. My hand will destroy them.’

10 You blew with Your wind.

    The sea covered them.

    They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 Who is like You, Adonai, among the gods?

    Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

    fearful in praises, doing wonders?

12 You stretched out Your right hand.

    The earth swallowed them.

13 “You, in Your loving kindness, have led the people that You have redeemed.

  You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.

14 The peoples have heard.

    They tremble.

    Pangs have taken hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

15 Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed.

    Trembling takes hold of the mighty men of Moab.

    All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

16 Terror and dread falls on them.

    By the greatness of Your arm, they are as still as a stone,

    until Your people pass over, Adonai,

    until the people You have purchased pass over.

17 You will bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,

    the place, Adonai, which You have made for Yourself to dwell in; the sanctuary, Adonai, which Your hands have established.

18 Adonai will reign forever and ever.”

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Hashem brought back the waters of the sea on them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea. 20 Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances. 21 Miriam answered them,

“Sing to Adonai, for He has triumphed gloriously.

He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.”

22 Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, its name was called Marah. 24 The people murmured against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 Then he cried to Hashem. Hashem showed him a tree, and he threw it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them. 26 He said, “If you will diligently listen to Adonai your Elohim’s voice, and will do that which is right in His eyes, and will pay attention to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am Adonai who heals you.”

Today’s Meditation:

Here is your answer to being healed. It is so clear, you don’t have to look anywhere else. Hashem says in 15:26 “He said, “If you will diligently listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, and will do that which is right in His eyes, and will pay attention to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am Hashem who heals you.” There you go. If you want healing, then listen to Hashem, do what is right, pay attention to His Law, and keep it. The problem is that no one teaches us what those statutes and commandments are. But if you stay with this daily devotion, you will learn as you go through the first five books of the Bible what they are. In His Law, you will find healing.

Today’s Challenge:

The Hebrew people are led out of Egypt with a huge miracle. The sea literally parts for them to cross. But, within three days, with no water, the doubts return. Did Hashem really tell them to leave? They are wondering. Did they do the right thing? Doesn’t that happen to you? Hashem will do something really huge in your life, and then, in just a short time, you face challenges, and you forget His faithfulness? If you have forgotten how loving and faithful Hashem is, remember what He has done for you today. Take a piece of paper and write down all the incredible miracles Hashem has done in your life. I promise it will help you navigate your situation.

Beshalach - Day #3

Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out  

Torah Portion: Exodus:13:17-17:16

Exodus 14:15–25

14:15 Hashem said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. 16 Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. Then the children of Israel shall go into the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 Behold, I myself will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in after them. I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians shall know that I am Hashem when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.” 19 The angel of Elohim, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them. 20 It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by night. One didn’t come near the other all night.

21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Hashem caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 In the morning watch, Hashem looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army. 25 He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from the face of Israel, for Hashem fights for them against the Egyptians!”

Today’s Meditation:

Imagine seeing a pillar of cloud. It protected them from the hot sun and obscured them from the Egyptians. It makes me wonder whether there are times in life when Hashem presents Himself between the enemy and us, hiding us from evil. I’m sure He does, and that is a very comforting thought. It is vital to pray for His protection every day over our lives and those we love. We should pray that He continues to present a cloud of covering between the enemy and us.

Today’s Challenge:

What do you need protection for in your life? Your finances, your health, your spouse, your children, your home? It is super important to ask Him for that protection. Ask daily. He is our Protector and our Shield. And I am grateful for that. Today, I challenge you to go before Hashem and ask Him for specific protection. Then praise Him for His faithfulness.

Beshalach - Day #2

Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out  

Torah Portion: Exodus:13:17-17:16

Exodus 14:9–14

14:9 The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

10 When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to Hashem. 11 They said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us out of Egypt? 12 Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13 Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Hashem, which He will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today. 14 Hashem will fight for you, and you shall be still.”

Today’s Meditation:

What a scene. The Egyptians are approaching the Hebrews, and suddenly doubt seizes them. Did they make a mistake following Moses away from their homes? Will the Egyptians catch up with them and destroy them? They were scared. 

Moses says to them, “Stand still,” and that Hashem will fight for them. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you doubted that Hashem was there to help you? I have. I have always had a firm faith in Hashem, but there have been times of crisis when I cried out to Hashem, and I wasn’t really sure He heard me. After all was said and done, I can see that He was there. And that He worked everything out for good. But, in the middle of it all, sometimes we do get scared. That’s when we have to hold on to our faith and stand still.

Today’s Challenge:

If you are in the middle of a crisis, then this Scripture today is Hashem speaking to you. He is telling you clearly to hold on, stand still, and know that He will fight for you. It may not look like He hears you or that He is doing anything, but I promise you He is. You will see. Pray and be strong.

Beshalach - Day #1

Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out  

Torah Portion: Exodus:13:17-17:16

Exodus 13:17–14:8

13:17 When Pharaoh had let the people go, Elohim didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Elohim said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”; 18 but Elohim led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “Elohim will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.” 20 They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 Elohim went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

14 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea. 3 Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Hashem.” They did so.

5 The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled. The heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him; 7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over all of them. 8 Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 14:2, we see a slight change in plans. They actually change directions. Some sages say that they went south instead of southeast. Hashem’s goal was to get them safely to the Red Sea, where He would perform His greatest miracle. It makes me think that sometimes in our lives, we see Hashem tweaking His plans for us. That happened to me last year. Hashem changed my places of work, and when it first happened, I didn’t understand. Now that I have been working in my new position, I can see exactly what He was doing. It was all meant for good. The important thing is that you are in His will daily. Seek His face, read His word, pray, repent, and follow Him. Ultimately, His plans will become yours.

Today’s Challenge:

Today, I challenge you to be flexible. If things aren’t happening the way you think they should, give Hashem a chance to show you why. As mentioned before, stay close to Him. Trust that whatever is happening, as long as you are obedient and prayerful, will soon make sense to you. Whatever change you are going through, ask Hashem to turn it all to good. Maybe praise Him for making it that way.

Bo - Day #7

Bo, בֹּא - Come!  

Torah Portion: Exodus:10:1-13:16

Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

Shabbat: Exodus 13:1–16

13 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”

3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Hashem brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today you go out in the month Abib. 5 It shall be, when Hashem brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Hashem. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you. No yeast shall be seen with you, within all your borders. 8 You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Hashem did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Hashem’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Hashem has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

11 “It shall be, when Hashem brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, 12 that you shall set apart to Hashem all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be Hashem’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. 14 It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Hashem brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Hashem killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore, I sacrifice to Hashem all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand Hashem brought us out of Egypt.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we learn about redeeming the firstborn. Interestingly, before the “golden calf” incident, all the firstborn males of Israel were to be involved in the priesthood. After the incident, only the Levites were designated for this. They did not participate in the event involving the golden calf. And since that time, all Jewish firstborn males have been required to be redeemed. There is a ceremony today called the “Pidyon Haben,” where a baby is presented to a priest and redeemed for five shekels (Numbers 18:16). It reminds me that, in reality, everything belongs to Hashem. He creates all of us to live for Him and return to Him.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 9, we read about having a sign of Hashem’s Law on our hearts. The forehead and the hand. These may represent our ability to think in our brains and implement with our hands. Our thoughts must reflect Torah, our love for Hashem, and our love for others. Our hands must perform all the duties and acts He requests of us. I challenge you today to take some time to review if your thoughts and actions are representative of Hashem’s light in your life. And work on areas that are not. Improve and be better. For Him. For others.

This Week’s Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

46:13 The word that Hashem spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt.

14 “Declare in Egypt,

    publish in Migdol,

    and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes:

say, ‘Stand up, and prepare;

    for the sword has devoured around you.’

15 Why are your strong ones swept away?

    They didn’t stand because Hashem pushed them.

16 He made many to stumble.

    Yes, they fell on one another.

They said, ‘Arise! Let’s go again to our own people,

    and to the land of our birth,

    from the oppressing sword.’

17 They cried there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise;

    he has let the appointed time pass by.’

18 “As I live,” says the King,

    whose name is Hashem of Armies,

“Surely like Tabor among the mountains,

    and like Carmel by the sea,

    so He will come.

19 You daughter who dwells in Egypt,

    furnish yourself to go into captivity;

for Memphis will become a desolation,

    and will be burned up,

    without an inhabitant.

20 “Egypt is a very beautiful heifer;

    but destruction out of the north has come.

    It has come.

21 Also, her hired men in the middle of her are like calves of the stall;

  for they also are turned back.

    They have fled away together.

They didn’t stand,

    for the day of their calamity has come on them,

    the time of their visitation.

22 Its sound will go like the serpent;

    for they will march with an army,

    and come against her with axes, as wood cutters.

23 They will cut down her forest,” says Hashem,

    “though it can’t be searched;

because they are more than the locusts,

    and are innumerable.

24 The daughter of Egypt will be disappointed;

    she will be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.”

25 Hashem of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants. Afterwards, it will be inhabited, as in the days of old,” says Hashem.

27 “But don’t you be afraid, Jacob my servant.

    Don’t be dismayed, Israel;

for, behold, I will save you from afar,

    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Jacob will return,

    and will be quiet and at ease.

    No one will make him afraid.

28 Don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant,” says Hashem;

    “for I am with you;

    for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you;

but I will not make a full end of you,

    but I will correct you in measure,

    and will in no way leave you unpunished.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation: 

In the crazy world we live in, a world of “G-dlessness”, but we have a promise. The promise is that all will be made well in the end. The Garden of Eden will be restored in a sense, because in eternity we live with Him once again. We see this promise in verse 27: “Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease…” I often think about what it will be like when we are in the Olam Haba (the world to come). Wherever there is chaos in this world, in the Olam Haba, there will be peace and ease. Something we should look forward to, prepare for, and pray for.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

In verse 28, we read that there will be consequences for all we have done. We will be punished. We receive that in our lives here on earth. For every sin we commit, there is a consequence. Whether you see it or not. And many times our sins affect others. Today would be a good day to take a hard look at your life. What are the things you have or do in your life that do not bring glory to Hashem? It’s time to correct them. It’s time to make things right.