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Parashah Mishpatim

by with No Comment Exodus

Yehováh delivered the Royal Law on Mount Sinai. It is very important to understand that when we use the expression “The Royal Law”, it is because we are referring to the Law of the King or of the Kingdom, that is to say that it belongs to the Royalty of Yehováh; that is why it is of an unparalleled category.
Later in these chapters, Yehovah, the King, begins to hand down more detailed ordinances through Moses, which have to do with the new condition of a people who until now did not know what it was to be free. No. It is not the total absence of an authority that makes us free, but obedience to the laws established by that Supreme Authority.

The instructions we receive from Yehováh our Father encourage us to look out for the needs of others, rather than protecting our own. This philosophy clashes with that of the present world, where the permanent emphasis is on demanding respect for “our rights” to the point of totally ignoring our duties or obligations.

As we progress through the Torah, you will notice that nowhere does Yehovah, our Father, instruct us to adopt such a position; on the contrary, he will always be reminding us of the importance of taking care of those around us: parents, family, friends, etc., who may be in need.

The best role model for us is Yeshua, who modeled a role of servant or caretaker not only with his disciples but with all his contemporaries, when he healed them, provided them with food, instructed them and prayed for them, even to the point of death. Think about it: If Yeshua had demanded his rights, where would you and I be?

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Parashah Yitro

by with No Comment Exodus

At this point in the Exodus narrative we find Moses taking on the monumental task of judging the people of Israel. Sitting from morning to evening, Moses attended to the disputes and conflicts among the Israelites, seeking to impart justice according to divine will. His dedication to this task, while admirable, also showed the limitations of a single individual in the face of the complexities of governing and administering justice for an entire nation.

There is a change of course when his father-in-law, Jethro, gives him some excellent advice. This key moment will mark the beginning of a more structured judicial system, laying the foundations for the future legislation found in the giving of the Torah.

In Jewish thought it is understood that:

“The Torah considers any judge who judges with absolute truthfulness, even for a single hour, as if he had become God’s partner in the work of Creation.”

Talmud, Shabbat 10a

It is interesting that the Creator did not wish to judge each individual ‘personally’, but rather it was His will that men learn the ways of His justice and then be able to judge themselves.

Just as man was created in the image and likeness of the Creator, who is Judge and Sovereign of all Creation, so too must man learn how to execute justice in an impartial and responsible manner.

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Parashah B’shalaj

by with No Comment Exodus

Parashah Beshalach narrates one of the most outstanding episodes in the history of the people of Israel: the liberation from slavery in Egypt and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea.

The narrative begins with a description of the route taken by the people of Israel as they left Egypt. Instead of taking the most direct route to the Promised Land, Yehovah guides the Israelites into the desert to avoid possible conflicts with other nations. Soon, the pharaoh regrets having freed the people and pursues the Israelites with his army. Let’s look at some important aspects of this parashah that provide valuable lessons for our daily lives.

The parashah highlights the song of triumph of Moses and the children of Israel, known as the “Shirat HaYam” or the Song of the Sea, which celebrates the miraculous liberation. The story deals with the divine provision of manna and quail to feed the nation in the desert, as well as the importance of keeping the Shabbat.

Beshalach is a section rich in teachings about trust in Yehovah, gratitude for his miracles and the importance of obeying his commandments. This story continues to be a source of inspiration and reflection for the children of Israel and offers very valuable lessons about faith and redemption.

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Parashah Bo – Go

by with No Comment Exodus

The Exodus is an event in the history of the world that demonstrates Yehovah‘s control over the nations. It is a great lesson in how our Father is not only the Creator but also the day-to-day Governor of the Universe, even in things that we might consider irrelevant to Him. This event shows us that Yehovah can intervene in the most powerful realms, demonstrating that He Was, Is and Will Be.

The Commandment of Yehováh leaves no room for doubt. Pesach (Passover) is a celebration that we must observe if we consider ourselves part of His people.

Like the observance of Shabbat, which it is a sign that we are His children, the commemoration of Pesach is another credential that identifies us as those rescued by Him. Yehovah Elohim gives us clear instructions regarding this, and even if we find ourselves in the diaspora—outside the land of Israel—we must make our best effort to obey or at least demonstrate our desire to do so.

In fact, no one can truly celebrate Pesach today due to the absence of the House of Yehovah (the Temple). However, what we can do is remember this celebration, as it serves as an educational way to teach new generations about the great works of our Creator and Father, Yehovah.

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Parashah va’Era – I appeared

by with No Comment Exodus

The God who appeared to Abraham and made a covenant with him is the same God who appeared to Moses in the bush. Curiously, this parashah opens by questioning whether Abraham had known Him by His Name:

I appeared to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yehovah (Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh).
Exodus 6:2

It is a fact that the Almighty had indeed appeared to our patriarchs, not only Abraham, but also Isaac and Jacob, revealing His Name. There are examples of all of them calling on His Name, or erecting altars or calling places with the Name.

And there are two explanations to the verse quoted. One of them can be related to the Hebrew syntax, where the last portion could be understood as a kind of rhetorical question (at least according to the medieval biblical commentator Rashi): –[Had I] not made myself known to them by the name Yehovah?

On the other hand, we could deduce that despite having made Himself known to the patriarchs by that Name, they would not know the full magnitude of Yehovah’s power until the generation that experienced the exodus. This event, which would forever change the history of the family of Israel, would manifest the power of the Creator over His creation in a massive way, and would become a testimony for all future generations.

After making His existence manifest before the eyes of all Egypt, the Creator will manifest Himself by opening the Red Sea and at Mount Sinai, in order to create an impression on His people that would last for millennia to come.

This is the testimony that millions of people around the world fervently believe: that Yehovah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, has power over all His Creation; then, now, and until the end of time.

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Parashah Shemot – Names

by with No Comment Exodus

After a time of prosperity and enjoyment under Joseph’s rule, the children of Israel suddenly found themselves confronted with a challenge: slavery imposed by a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph’s history, much less appreciate what he had brought to Egypt. This period of oppression becomes a dark chapter for the Israelites, as they were subjected to forced labor in very cruel and difficult conditions.
However, in the midst of this adversity, an outstanding figure emerges: Moses, designated by Yehovah as the deliverer of the people. Moses will become a divine instrument for the deliverance of the children of Israel. Through a series of miraculous events and confrontations with Pharaoh; he will lead the people to freedom, beginning an epic journey known as: The Exodus.

At the end of this portion, Moses meets with his brother Aharon and together they appear before Pharaoh, asking him to let the Israelites go out to serve Yehovah. Pharaoh refuses and hardens his heart, increasing the workload of the slaves. It is then that Yehovah promises Moses that he will show his power and glory, and that he will bring out his people with a mighty hand.