Mikketz (It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:-44:17
Mikketz(It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:-44:17
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 3:15-4:1
Today our Torah portion continues with the story of Joseph in Egypt and his reunion with his brothers. We see his rise to power in Egypt after he was able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. In Genesis 42:7-8 we are told he was able to recognize his brothers when they came before him to request food for their families and flocks. Amazingly, he was able to control his emotions and allowed them to continue to explain their situation. They did not know before whom they had actually bowed down to make their petition for food. No doubt Joseph remembered the dreams he had shared with his brothers years earlier and was now seeing them actually happen. His brothers did attribute their present state to their actions against Joseph when they sold him into slavery.
Va’era (And I Appeared) Ex. (Sh’mot) 6:2-9:35
Torah Portion: Va’era (And I Appeared) Ex. (Sh’mot) 6:2-9:35
Today we read about a huge change in the world’s concept of G-d, or at least for those of us who have a faith in the L-rd. It begins with our Jewish brothers and sisters and later through Yeshua was made available to all who believe.
In Exodus 6:2 we read, “And G-d spoke to Moshe and said to him, I am the L-rd. “ This word L-rd, in Hebrew, is the Holy Name of G-d, which encompasses the entire nature of G-d. Here in Exodus we see G-d instruct Moshe to go to the people and tell them that, “The G-d of your fathers has sent me to you,” Exodus 3:13-15. Moshe asked, when I go to them and they ask what is His name what shall I say? The L-rd replied, “I Am who I Am sent me.” Further on in these verses the L-rd went on to say, “This is My Name forever.”
Ve’era Exodus 6
Torah Portion: Ve’era Exodus 6:2-9:35
HafTorah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Romans 9:14-33
I want us to begin by looking at the idea of Pharaoh’s free will or lack of, and the impact it had on his life. I also want us to look at Moses and how he dealt differently than Pharaoh with this introduction to Adonai.
Let us start with clarifying the purpose of the plagues. What was the purpose? Look at Exodus 7:2-5. The purpose was to introduce G-d to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. Then in Exodus 9:14-16 another purpose was to introduce G-d to the entire world.