Va'eira וָאֵרָא - And I Appeared
Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35
Reading #5 - Exodus 8:7–18
My Thoughts:
All of what Moses done is to prove that “...there is no one like Hashem our Elohim.” (verse 8:10) Moses is dealing with a Godless culture or really a culture of many gods. Ultimately, we know that Hashem just wants everyone to know Him and serve Him. Here is a way to show the Pharaoh who He is. And the Pharaoh does begin to see the “hand” of Elohim. In all the miracles of destruction. But, he is stubborn. He believes for a minute and then when things become good again, he dismisses it all. Isn’t that a lot like us? Our faith is so strong when we are witnessing Hashem’s miracles, and then grows weak when we get used to it all. Maybe it is time to appreciate, love and give glory to Hashem every day of our life!
Challenge:
Do you have any “frogs” or “lice” in your life that you cannot get rid of? Maybe it is time to turn it all over to G-d. Maybe it is time to believe He really does exist, and He really does love you. Take a minute to praise Him for all the good He has done in your life! And then ask Him to help you through this time of trouble. Guaranteed He will remove the frogs and lice, it just may not look like you think it should.
Reading #5 - Exodus 8:7–18
The magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat Hashem, that he take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to Hashem.”
9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “I give you the honor of setting the time that I should pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, and remain in the river only.”
10 Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.”
Moses said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like Hashem our Elohim. 11 The frogs shall depart from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”
12 Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to Hashem concerning the frogs which he had brought on Pharaoh. 13 Hashem did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields. 14 They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, and didn’t listen to them, as Hashem had spoken.
16 Hashem said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’” 17 They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice on man, and on animal; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal.
