Parsha Page

  Shalom
  to you,

Wellsprings of Torah,  www.TorahWellsprings.org
Rick Wills - Messianic Elder,  Mishareth@TorahWellsprings.org

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Sidra Overview

The Ancient Triennial Sedarim
Sidra 52 Vorad, Hail

 

Torah, Exodus 9:22 - 10:20

    The Lord said to Moses, “Hold out your arm toward the sky that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, upon man and beast and all the grasses of the field in the land of Egypt.”

    Moshe warned Pharaoh that Adonai would continue to demonstrate His power in order to spread His fame, now that power is revealed in the seventh and eighth plagues, the hail and locusts. The hail is the first plague to take human life, and the court advisors and magicians increasingly encourage Pharaoh to obey Adonoi. Pharaoh seems to give in and acknowledge the supremacy of HaShem. But, as before, his heart is stiffened and he does not let God’s people go.

    Verse 10:2 continues to expand upon the purposes of the plaques, now spreading from showing Adonai’s power to the nations, to telling Moshe that this is so that he can tell his descendants about what He did to Egypt and about His signs, so that they will all know that He is Adonoi.

Qeriath, 1 Samuel 6:6-15

    The Philistines have captured the Ark of the Covenant. Wherever it was kept within Philistia, there was a plague, believed to be bubonic plague.  This disease caused tumors, and was spread by rats. The mice are also ravaging the grain in the fields, which adds insult to the Philistine god Dagon. Now the priests of Philistia have told the leaders to send the Ark back to Isra'el.  They say, in Verse 6: " do not harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts. As you know, when He made a mockery of them, they had to let Isra'el go, and they departed."

    Clearly, the Philistines recognize now that Adonai is the same God that carried Isra'el out of bondage in Egypt, and that He could ravage their land just as He did to Egypt. So, the Ark is sent back to Isra'el on a cart with no driver, along with a gift of gold.  When the Isra'elites in Beth-shemesh saw the Ark, they were overjoyed.  The Levites took the ark off the cart, and the people used the cart to build a fire, and sacrificed the cows pulling the cart to Adonoi.

Da'ath, Revelation 1:12-17

    Yochanon is now seeing Yeshua manifested in his cell on the island of Patmos.  Yeshua is standing amidst 7 golden menorahs, which represent 7 Messianic communities.   He is wearing robes like those that would be worn by the Cohen HaGadol. The description reminds us of His position as the future King and Judge. Yeshua is seen in great power, wielding the two-edged sword, which is the Word of God. He will use that sword to judge the nations.

Igarath, Peter 5:1-14

     Kefa now addresses the leaders of the Messianic Congregations, telling them to shepherd the people entrusted to them willingly, with proper constraint. Their motives are not to be for their own personal gain, but a desire to please God. In this way, they will receive glory from Yeshua when He appears again. Along with that, the less experienced must submit to the leaders, and everyone should treat each other with humility. We must maintain vigilance, since Satan is constantly looking for some way to make each one of us stumble.

Conclusion

    Torah tells of the great demonstration of Adonai’s power in Mitzrayim (Egypt). Qeriath shows the Philistines coming to recognize Adonai’s might, and releasing His ark. In Da'ath we see that Yeshua will also wield the power of HaShem. And Igarath instructs that the leaders how to serve willingly and in humility to bring praise to Adonai. And in each of these, the intent of this demonstration of power is to have the entire world recognize Adonai as our One True God, and to worship Him alone.

 

Barukh HaShem,
George Robinson