Va’era, Genesis 6.2-9.35, Haftarah, Ezekiel 28.25-29.21
“Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.” Exodus 6.9 ESV
In this Torah portion, Va’era, meaning “and I appeared”, we see the beginnings of Israel’s Exodus. What began for Israel’s embryonic tribes in the comfortable womb of Goshen was now untenable. They must be birthed. Ten plagues, like progressive contractions forced Israel and Egypt to see the water break, the Red Sea part, and the baby emerge on the other side. Moses was speaking to both Pharaoh and Israel, but there was a problem. Pharaoh was plagued by heart disease, and Israel suffered from a broken spirit. Have you ever been so burdened that words sent to heal you could not sink in?
For the next few moments, I want each of us to listen again to the voice of the Lord. Listen as He speaks to your pain, commands your problems, and demands your release. Can we get healed enough to listen?
I. Speaking to Pain
“Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6.5-8 ESV
Once a famous preacher had become quite busy. His family respected that they had to share him with many others who were hurting. One day, the preacher’s daughter said, “Dad, I need to tell you something that happened at school, I will tell you quickly.” Her dad said, “Sweetie, you can tell me slowly, you have my full attention.” To which she replied, “Then listen slowly.”
In this new year of 2021, it is hard not to feel that we are being brought to a place of listening, really listen to the voice of God. But we must be healed enough emotionally to hear.
God’s word to Israel, is His words to us. Deliverance comes in stages.
- Brought out of Egypt, v. 6.6
- Delivered from slavery, Exodus v. 6.6
- Redeemed by an outstretched arm, v. 6.6
- Taken to be God’s people, v. 6.7
Be encouraged, Israel’s deliverance began with God hearing and remembering. God heard their groanings which could not be uttered, “I have heard the groaning of the people.” Literally, this describes words caught in the throat, unutterable groans, pained gasps the heart stirring God’s compassion.
The plague on this world in the last year should cause us to look with fresh eyes to Israel’s exodus. Many, in this year have found a deeper level of commitment and faith in God. Israel in Egypt reminds us that deliverance is a process. In order to move through its stages, we must be active participants. The first step is to listen as God speaks. Israel could not listen because of a brokenness. Voices of hurt and anger overwhelmed them. Can we identify? Voices of media, fears, and even other believers on the internet vie for attention that should be focused upon God’s voice. Yeshua came apart from the crowds, and the needy, to spend time with His Father. We must also! Let listening to Him be our goal this new year.
II. Commanding Problems
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 6.13 NKJV
Who or what is your problem? The verse above is interesting. God commanded both Israel and Pharaoh, to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt. Passive participants struggle to find their freedom. God will speak to addiction, oppression, a spouse, and even a dictatorial pharaoh, but in as much as the problem lies with us, He must speak to that also.
Yeshua met a man laying beside a pool of water where the sick were placed, hoping to be healed in the stirring waters. Thirty-eight years he lay paralyzed. “Do you want to be healed”, Yeshua asked. “Oh”, he replied, “I don’t have any one to help me get in the water. Even when I attempt to it, someone beats me to the pool.” Yeshua told him, “Arise, take your mat and go home healed.” What was the man’s problem? The man was sure it was the ones who refused to help, or the ones who took “his” blessing. A physician might simply treat paralysis as the problem. Later, when Yeshua found the man in the Temple, He revealed to him the real problem. “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you!” (John 5.1-11)
We might be quick to point our finger toward others, but often we also have to point inward. Be encouraged. God is commanding both the broken heart, and the abusive pharaoh to set us free.
III. Demanding Release
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Exodus 9.1 NKJV
Seven contractions of increasing pain came upon Egypt; still Pharaoh hardened his heart. But with each plague the distinction between God’s people and the Egyptians became clearer. And that is where our Torah Portion Va’era leaves us, still struggling for freedom at the end of chapter nine.
“So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.” Exodus 9.35 NKJV
Part of us would like to skip to Miriam and Moses’ songs of deliverance on the other side of the Red Sea, but it is good that we stop here, because then we can empathize with their process and ours. We feel the almost but not yet push for deliverance. Keep moving. God has commanded, we will see freedom if we faint not.
Conclusion
Ve’era, meaning “and He appeared”, are words of comfort in this Torah Portion. The God who appeared to our fathers as El Shaddai, is revealing Himself to us as “I Am”. Revelation takes time, and deliverance is a process. God both hears our stifled cries and sees ours tears. The same God who sent Moses to command Israel’s release, sent His own Son, Yeshua to bring us out of bondage to sin. I do not know what problems hinder you, but those painful contractions you now experience will ultimately bring you into the Savior’s loving arms. He has heard your muffled cry, now is the time to hear His voice.
Shavuah Tov From Zion
