Shalom everyone! This is Sarah and I hope that you all had a good week and are enjoying Shabbat now. The name of this week's Torah portion is: Va'era... וארא... meaning "I Appeared". This portion can be found in Exodus 6:2-9:35; Ezekiel 28:25-29:21; and Matthew 12:1-14.
When I agreed to my "big siblings" plan of writing something about the Torah portion, I had no idea that my turn would fall on this portion. Why did this have to be the one I have to write about? There is so much in this portion and I know that I will not be able to give it full justice, but I will try my best.
Exodus 6:2 - 9:35 is a very exciting portion, it's the history of the first Passover. It talks about the genealogy of Moses and Aaron and how YHWH commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh and to tell him to let His people go. You read about Moses doubting himself and YHWH telling him to have Aaron speak for him, Aaron's rod turning into a snake and then the 10 plagues.
Here are a couple things that stood out to me as I read over that section.
First, all throughout that portion it is all about YHWH saying, "I will do this" and "I will do that", "For I have commanded you". It was all about YHWH telling Moses and Aaron what to do. There was never a record of YHWH saying (in that portion), "Hey Moses, I am having a hard time thinking of another plague to put on the Egyptians, do you have any ideas?" No, YHWH was the one that made everything happen. YHWH is in control of you and me just as He was with Moses and Aaron, so I pray that we may hear His voice clearly and let Him work through us just as Moses and Aaron let Him work though Him.
Second, whenever I read this portion it has always been interesting to me how YHWH would harden Pharaoh's heart after each plague. Why did He not just turn the water into blood and call it good? It reminds me of the portion in Psalms that we read at Passover time, "It would have been enough". It does not say that Pharaoh hardened his heart, it says that YHWH hardened his heart, so it would have been enough ... BUT!!! YHWH wanted to show the people His signs and wonders (Exodus 7:3). YHWH is awesome! Look around you, look outside ... YHWH is amazing.
I know that there is SO much more that we can glean and learn from that story, but I've got to go so please read it through yourself and find out YHWH's wonders for yourself.
Shabbat Shalom... have a wonderful week and YHWH bless you. ~Sarah
No comments:
Post a Comment