Va'eira - Day #7

Va'eira  וָאֵרָא - And I Appeared  

Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35

Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

Shabbat: Exodus 9:17–35

9:17 because you still exalt yourself against My people, that you won’t let them go. 18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded, even until now. 19 Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. The hail will come down on every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn’t brought home, and they will die.”

20 Those who feared Hashem’s word among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses. 21 Whoever didn’t respect Hashem’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field.

22 Hashem said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on animal, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”

23 Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and Hashem sent thunder and hail; and lightning flashed down to the earth. Hashem rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

27 Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. Hashem is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28 Pray to Hashem; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”

29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to Hashem. The thunders shall cease, and there will not be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Hashem’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you don’t yet fear Hashem Elohim.”

31 The flax and the barley were struck, for the barley had ripened and the flax was blooming. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they had not grown up. 33 Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to Hashem; and the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go, just as Hashem had spoken through Moses.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 9:20, we learn that those who “feared” Hashem’s Word, believed Him, and put their animals inside. Those who did not fear or believe left their animals in the field. The result was as it always is. Those who feared and were obedient were blessed; their animals were saved. Those who were not lost their livelihoods. Another strong lesson to be learned. We must fear Hashem and follow His Word. That includes all we can do in the Torah, even if no one around you understands.

Today’s Challenge:

One thing is for sure: the Pharaoh changes his heart quite a bit. When things are bad, he wants Moses to call upon Hashem. When things are good and fixed, he doesn’t even believe in the  G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He forfeits his brief faith. Are you like that? Do you call upon Hashem in the hard times, but when things are fine, you even doubt He is real? It is best to practice praising Him, especially in the good times. Remember Him daily and share His love with others.

This Week’s Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

28:25 “‘Hashem says: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will dwell in it securely. Yes, they will build houses, plant vineyards, and will dwell securely, when I have executed judgments on all those who scorn them all around. Then they will know that I am Hashem their Elohim.”

29 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3 Speak and say, ‘Hashem says:

“Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,

    the great monster that lies in the middle of his rivers,

that has said, ‘My river is my own,

    and I have made it for myself.’

4 I will put hooks in your jaws,

    and I will make the fish of your rivers stick to your scales.

I will bring you up out of the middle of your rivers,

    with all the fish of your rivers which stick to your scales.

5 I’ll cast you out into the wilderness,

    you and all the fish of your rivers.

You’ll fall on the open field.

    You won’t be brought together or gathered.

I have given you for food to the animals of the earth

    and to the birds of the sky.

6 “All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Hashem, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7 When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and paralyzed all of their thighs.”

8 “Therefore Hashem says: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you. 9 The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am Hashem.

“Because he has said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it;’ 10 therefore, behold, I am against you, and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia. 11 No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.”

13 “For Hashem says: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered. 14 I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. They will be a lowly kingdom, there. 15 It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations anymore. I will diminish them, so that they will no longer rule over the nations. 16 It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after them. Then they will know that I am Hashem.”

17 It came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet he had no wages, nor did his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it. 19 Therefore, Hashem says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her multitude, take her plunder, and take her prey. That will be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he served, because they worked for me,’ says Hashem.

21 “In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am Hashem.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

It is clear that at some point, Hashem brings down Egypt. And we know from history this is true, and may be true again in the future. Their cruelty to G-d’s people brings eventual destruction. It reminds me of the times in Scripture where Hashem says, “If you bless Israel, you will be blessed. If you curse Israel, you will be cursed.” We need to support Israel in every way—through prayer, financial support, and positive speech. It is Hashem’s Land and His people. And someday we hope to return with His people to the Land to love and serve Him forever.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

How can we become a part of Israel? How can we be a part of the gathering back to the Land? Simple. Follow and obey His Commandments, support and love His people (and those around us), and join Israel spiritually. Ask Hashem to be a part of His Chosen. Believe, repent, forgive, and love Hashem with your whole heart, soul, and being. Study and follow His Word.

Va'eira - Day #6

Va'eira  וָאֵרָא - And I Appeared  

Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35

Exodus 8:19–9:16

19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is G-d’s finger,” but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Hashem had spoken.

20 Hashem said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he comes out to the water; and tell him, ‘This is what Hashem says, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21 Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground they are on. 22 I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, to the end you may know that I am Hashem on the earth. 23 I will put a division between my people and your people. This sign shall happen by tomorrow.” 24 Hashem did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses. In all the land of Egypt, the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies.

25 Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your G-d in the land!”

26 Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so, for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to Hashem our Elohim. Behold, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, won’t they stone us? 27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Hashem our Elohim, as he shall command us.”

28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Hashem our Elohim in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray for me.”

29 Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you. I will pray to Hashem that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only don’t let Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Hashem.” 30 Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to Hashem. 31 Hashem did according to the word of Moses, and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. There remained not one. 32 Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he didn’t let the people go.

9 Then Hashem said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Hashem, the Elohim of the Hebrews, says: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, 3 behold, Hashem’s hand is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence. 4 Hashem will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt; and nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”’” 5 Hashem appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow Hashem shall do this thing in the land.” 6 Hashem did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. 7 Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the livestock of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he didn’t let the people go.

8 Hashem said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt.”

10 They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal. 11 The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12 Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as Hashem had spoken to Moses.

13 Hashem said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Hashem, the Elohim of the Hebrews, says: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15 For now I would have stretched out My hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth; 16 but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth…

Today’s Meditation:

Flies, killing of livestock, and boils destroy the Egyptians, and Pharaoh still does not relent. But now we see Hashem separating His people from the disasters. He literally sets them apart. This is a reflection of the future of His people. The Jewish Nation will be set apart from the rest of mankind forever. However, they will be commanded to be a light to the other nations, so that others may come to Hashem to know Him and serve Him. We all want to be grafted into this set-apart nation. So that when the Mashiach returns, we will be in Jerusalem and in the Land serving Him forever.

Today’s Challenge:

What can you change in your life to start living a set-apart life? The most obvious is following Hashem’s Commands, His Law. Even simple things, such as observing Shabbat on Saturday, refraining from eating unclean foods, and celebrating the annual Feasts. You may want to try doing this soon. It is simply obedience.

Va'eira - Day #5

Va'eira  וָאֵרָא - And I Appeared  

Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35

Exodus 8:7–18

8:7 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 a man and on an animal.

Today’s Meditation:

In all that Moses has done, he proves 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 wants everyone to know Him and serve Him. Here is a way to show the Pharaoh who He is. And the Pharaoh begins to see the hand of G-d 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 strong when we witness Hashem’s miracles, but it grows weak when we become accustomed to them. Maybe it is time to appreciate, love, and give glory to Hashem every day of our lives.

Today’s 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 Hashem. Perhaps it is time to believe that He really does exist and that 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 the way you think it should.

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.