Standing Strong |
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Bo—Enter
Exodus 10:1– 13:16 Jeremiah 46:13– 28 Luke 22:7– 30 Revelation 5:1– 14 |
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The tensions between Pharaoh and Moses continue to escalate this week.
As the plagues continue, Pharaoh is looking for some compromise whereby he can be certain the Hebrews will return after worshiping G-d in the wilderness. After the plague of darkness Pharaoh says the Hebrews can go but they must leave their livestock behind. He must have been thinking that if they don’t come back at least we have the benefit of the livestock, or surely they can’t get through the desert without livestock to eat on their journey. Moses does not give into this and insists all livestock must go with them and even pushes Pharaoh further by saying Pharaoh must also give livestock to make an offering to the Hebrew G-d.
Just think how this must have incensed Pharaoh. Not only will you let us go, but you must worship our G-d over your gods. I can almost see the rage that must have shown in Pharaoh's face at this change of request that when offered a middle ground Moses doesn’t move toward a middle ground but even insists on more than what he first asked. “WHERE DID THIS MAN LEARN TO NEGOTIATE?!” Is it any wonder that Pharaoh states that if Moses sees his face again he will die. The anger must have been almost impossible to control. Pharaoh was used to being treated as a G-d and this Hebrew treats him in this manner.
Now we come to the night of Passover. Pharaoh’s own rage has stated what G-d had already told Moses would happen back chapter 4 verse 23, even before he returned to Egypt: the firstborn must die.
How many times when the Passover Seder is told do we forget that this final outcome of the firstborn having to die was know from so long before? G-d was very clear as to what would happen, yet by this point Moses had doubted what was to happen. He questioned G-d repeatedly about his role in all this. He had waited days since the telling of the death of the firstborn to Pharaoh. The L-rd told Moses to tell the people to select a lamb on the tenth of the month and keep it until the fourteenth in their homes. What do you think Pharaoh was thinking during this time? It had been days since Moses’ decree and here nothing had happened. “No one is going to die.”
Now G-d Himself steps in. Moses doesn’t get used to demonstrate a miracle or wonder. G-d goes out into the land of Egypt. He isn’t using man for His wrath and power over the Egyptian G-ds to be seen. Everyone who is not under the protection of His chosen people will feel His wrath. All those who went into join the Hebrews to escape the wrath of G-d had to be under the same law as shown in 12:43-49. The stranger was circumcised and became as a native of the land in the L-rd’s eyes.
G-d allows everyone to come to him, even after such mistreatment. One law for the native born and the stranger who dwells among you.
This does raise the question of modern Judaism that states there are lesser laws, Noahide laws, for those who are not Jews. Those who worship the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are called by G-d to live by the same laws. This applies even to the point of circumcision for partaking in the Passover as stated in this week’s parasha.
Hmmm. How does this apply to us today?
Selah. |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |