Va'eira - Day #4

Va'eira  וָאֵרָא - And I Appeared  

Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35

Exodus 7:8–8:6

7:8 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Perform a miracle!’ then you shall tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.’”

10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Hashem had commanded. Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments. 12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Hashem had spoken.

14 Hashem said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he is going out to the water. You shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him. You shall take the rod which was turned to a serpent in your hand. 16 You shall tell him, ‘Hashem, the Elohim of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. Behold, until now you haven’t listened.” 17 Hashem says, “In this you shall know that I am Hashem. Behold: I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18 The fish that are in the river will die, and the river will become foul. The Egyptians will loathe to drink water from the river.” 19 Hashem said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”

20 Moses and Aaron did so, as Hashem commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 The fish that were in the river died. The river became foul. The Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river. The blood was throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Hashem had spoken. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he didn’t even take this to heart. 24 All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, for they couldn’t drink the river water. 25 Seven days were fulfilled, after Hashem had struck the river.

8 Hashem spoke to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Hashem says, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs. 3 The river will swarm with frogs, which will go up and come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the house of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs. 4 The frogs shall come up both on you, and on your people, and on all your servants.” 5 Hashem said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6 Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

Today’s Meditation:

Snakes, blood, and frogs. Moses' first three miracles to the Pharaoh. Moses is conveying to Pharaoh what the Elohim of the universe is telling him, to let His people go. But, just as Hashem warned Moses, the Pharaoh does not listen. Many people have to suffer and eventually lose their lives. All because they were not listening to Hashem's voice.

Don’t we do that? At times in our lives, Hashem speaks to us directly. Maybe not audibly, but we know it when He does. And many times we do not listen. Maybe His task seems too big, or unreal, or we doubt He even told us to do something. I can tell you from experience. Better to take the risk that, if Hashem has asked you to do something, you do it. Trust me, you will regret it forever if you don’t listen. He tells us what to do that will change the course of the world. We must listen.

Today’s Challenge:

I have challenged you before to practice listening to Hashem's voice. This is so when He does call you to do or say something, you recognize His voice. Sit quietly, pray, and ask Him a question. See what you hear, write it down. If it feels like it was from Hashem, then do it. Keep practicing this. The more you try to listen, the more you will hear Him.

Shemot - Day #4

Shemot, שְׁמוֹת - Names  

Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1

Exodus 3:1–15

1:3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to Elohim’s mountain, to Horeb. 2 Hashem’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

4 When Hashem saw that he came over to see, Elohim called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!”

He said, “Here I am.”

5 He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” 6 Moreover, He said, “I am the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob.”

Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at Elohim.

7 Hashem said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

11 Moses said to Elohim, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve Elohim on this mountain.”

13 Moses said to Elohim, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”

14 Elohim said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and He said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 Elohim said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My Name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.

Today’s Meditation:

How amazing that Hashem speaks to Moses and gives him a direct order. He orders him to return to Egypt and lead His people into the Promised Land. Hashem has heard the cries of His people and is now ready to act. Moses just must be jarred. He is comfortably living in the mountains with his new family and has now been called to this enormous task. After he is called, he asks Hashem what is the name of Him who is calling? It is essential to know when Moses shares this vision with the people. Hashem reveals His eternal Name to him: “I AM.”  Hashem assures Him that Moses can carry out this great task because He will be with him. Another promise is that he can worship Hashem on this very same mountain. 

Today’s Challenge:

Has Hashem asked you to do something that you didn’t think you’d be able to do? He would not call you to do something big unless He were with you. Think about what He asked you to do in the past few days or weeks. Did you do it? Did you carry out the task? Did you believe He was with you and helped you? If you are hesitant or afraid to move forward, remember this story of how Hashem called Moses and His promises. Do what He says, and you will be amazed at the outcome.

Vayechi - Day #4

Vayechi, וַיְחִי - And He Lived  

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Genesis 49:1–18

49 Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.

2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob.

    Listen to Israel, your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,

    excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.

4 Boiling over like water, you shall not excel,

    because you went up to your father’s bed,

    then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers.

    Their swords are weapons of violence.

6 My soul, don’t come into their council.

    My glory, don’t be united to their assembly;

for in their anger they killed men.

    In their self-will, they hamstrung cattle.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce;

    and their wrath, for it was cruel.

I will divide them in Jacob,

    and scatter them in Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you.

    Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies.

    Your father’s sons will bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s cub.

    From the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down, he crouched as a lion,

    as a lioness.

 Who will rouse him up?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,

    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he comes to whom it belongs.

    The obedience of the peoples will be to him.

11 Binding his foal to the vine,

    his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine,

    his robes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes will be red with wine,

    his teeth white with milk.

13 “Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea.

    He will be for a haven of ships.

    His border will be on Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,

    lying down between the saddlebags.

15 He saw a resting place, that it was good,

    the land, that it was pleasant.

He bows his shoulder to the burden,

    and becomes a servant doing forced labor.

16 “Dan will judge his people,

    as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan will be a serpent on the trail,

    an adder in the path

that bites the horse’s heels,

    so that his rider falls backward.

18 I have waited for your salvation, Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

Jacob is prophesying over his sons in this reading. Can you imagine having the spiritual insight to gather your children together before you die and speak into their futures, good and not so good? And what would it be like for the sons to hear what he was saying? Would there be words of repentance, resolve, and restitution? Or did they quietly accept his words? All we know for sure is that Hashem was in it all. I’m sure Jacob trusted in that.

Today’s Challenge:

If you have children, what would it be like to gather them and speak into their future? Would they accept or reject your words? If they are younger, you can start doing this gradually. Occasionally, during special times, address the areas that need adjustment and complement the areas of success. Sometimes, parents raise their children without ever encouraging, praising, or offering words of help to foster growth and change. It’s essential to do this. It will help your children to grow up to be responsible. Try this if you are able. If you don’t have children, then try it with the young people that Hashem places in your life. All this will make for a better world.

Vayigash - Day #4

Vayigash וַיִּגַּשׁ - And He Drew Near  

Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27

Genesis 45:19–27

45:19 Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. 23 He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”

25 They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. 26 They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he didn’t believe them. 27 They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.

Today’s Meditation:

So, after many years, Jacob hears his son Joseph is alive. Can you imagine? You thought you had lost someone really close to you, and you really hadn't. There may be hope for your prayers. If anything, know that Hashem always answers prayers in some way and at some time. Just be patient. And keep praying. Be encouraged. He loves you.

Today’s Challenge: 

It’s all about prosperity. Joseph has blessed Jacob’s sons. Has your family been blessed by a relative? If so, it is essential to acknowledge this blessing. Pray and ask Hashem how you can do that. Just be careful not to feel indebted or obligated to the person who gave. Accept it as a gift and be gracious.