Parashat Va’era - ‘and I appeared…’

Saturday 17 January 2015                   Tevet 26  5775

Parashat Va’era   -   ‘and I appeared…’                              By Shelley Wood Gauld
Ex 6:2-9:35, Ezek 28:25-29:21, Rev 16:1-21

“You may be an ambassador to England or to France ~ You may like to gamble, you might like to dance ~ You may be the heavyweight champion of the world ~ You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls ~ But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed ~ You’re gonna have to serve somebody ~ It may be the devil or it may be the Lord ~ But you’re gonna have to serve somebody…” (‘Gotta Serve Somebody’: Bob Dylan’s last hit single that won him a Grammy Award in 1979)

The battles that rage on this earth are but reflections of a greater invisible spiritual battle. In his song, ‘Gotta Serve Somebody’, Jewish singer-songwriter, Robert Allen Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan) underscored a pivotal biblical principle: ‘… we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12) There is a battle for the soul going on from which no man, woman or child is exempt.  On this battlefield are no fences on which to sit and observe the action with impunity. And attempts to heed and obey the commands of both of the opposing Captains only bolsters the power of the Adversary. At a certain point, the dividing line of choice must be crossed: “It may be the Adversary or the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” This imperative has eternal repercussions. 

At the end of Parashat Shemot, we hear Moses complaining that instead of helping his people, obeying HaShem’s instructions had only made matters worse… The suffering of the Israelites had increased, not lessened. Mizrachi explains that the reason Moses’ request was followed by an immediate intensification of oppression, was that the punishment of the Egyptians could not commence until their “measure of sin” had reached its fullness. With the added cruel decree to deny straw to the slaves, the process of the punishment of Egypt, leading to the Exodus, could begin… That was an essential component of the battle plan.

“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am Adonai. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.” Ex 6: 6, 7

HaShem’s edict to Moses concerning the downtrodden Israelites was fourfold ~ and it was glorious… They would soon be freed from forced labour, rescued from their terrible oppression, saved with great judgements, and received as HaShem’s own people. Surely these words, remembered by means of drinking four cups of wine during the Pesach Seder each year, could not have been sweeter… But the battle plan did not end there. These people were being freed from servitude in Egypt in order to worship, and serve, HaShem… The Exodus was, essentially, the crossing of the line; from the control and oppression of the Adversary, to loyalty and obedience to HaShem. With Israel’s marching orders would come a new kind of servitude; a bowing of wills to the God of the Patriarchs. In a few short weeks they would be saying: “All that He has said we will do.” (Ex 19:8).

The Hebrew word for Egypt, ‘Mitzrayim’, means ‘Narrow Place’ ~ and, as with B’ney Yisra’el, it is in the ‘narrow places’ of our lives, the constricted places of intense struggle, that we cry out for deliverance… This theme of release from suffering, captivity and bondage reappears in the words of Isaiah, read by the ‘Prophet like Moses’ at the commencement of His ministry. Luke records that Yeshua stood up during a Shabbat service in the synagogue of Nazareth and claimed that the following scriptures referred to Himself:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…  This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Isaiah 61:1, 2 & Luke 4:18, 19

To the Adversary, this was not only a statement of intent, it was a declaration of war... This ‘King of the Jews’ was a foe to be feared. This Mashiach, ‘Anointed One’, was about to set the Adversary’s captives free. He alone would make escape ~ the exodus from enemy territory ~ possible for all willing to submit to His Kingship… And in return, His people would be more than willing to serve Him, always… with grateful, loving hearts... Nachamu ami….