Daily Bible Portion (Friday)
Daily Bible Portion – 6 of 7
"AND I APPEARED"
(Weekly Reading>>Exodus 6:2-9:35, Ezekiel 28:25-29:21, Romans 9:14-17, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Revelation 16)
The Fifth Plague - On Livestock
(Exodus 9:1-7)
Yahweh again warned Pharaoh of the consequences for not responding to “Let my people go, so that they may worship Me…” A terrible plague fell on Egyptian livestock in the field. The working domestic animals of horses, donkeys and camels and the pasture animals of cattle, sheep and goats died.
This fifth plague struck Apis who was the bull god. His counterpart was Hathor, the cow goddess. The Egyptians held many beasts as idols in their land. The lion, wolf, dog, cat, ape, and goat were very sacred to them, as well as were the ox, heifer, and ram (Khnum) especially. The soul of their god Osiris was believed to reside in the body of the bull, Apis. The plague that struck the Egyptian livestock was a type of anthrax carried by the flies.
Pharaoh sent men to investigate and was told that not one of the animals belonging to the Hebrew people where touched by this terrible plague. This hardened Pharaoh’s heart further.
The Sixth Plague - Boils
(Exodus 9:8-12)
With no warning to Pharaoh, Yahweh told Moses and Aaron,
This plague was an attack on Thoth (Imhotep),who was the god of medicine, intelligence and wisdom. The Egyptians had several medical deities to whom, on special occasions, they sacrificed humans. They were burnt alive on a high altar, and their ashes were cast into the air, that with every scattered ash a blessing might descend upon the people.
Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. (Exodus 9:10)
With the shaming the Egyptian god of Thoth not even the magicians could stand before Moses. Boils are also called skin anthrax, a black abscess that develops into a pustule. These can be caused by impurities in the blood that threaten the immune system through a diseased spirit, a heart filled with bitterness or sexually transmitted diseases.
The Seventh Plague - Hail
(Exodus 9:13-35)
This was the last set of plagues against Pharaoh. Moses was told again to rise early in the morning to confront Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says, ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship Me.’ ” If Pharaoh again refused, a force of such that had never been seen before would hit Egypt.
I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. Therefore…
And with this, Yahweh told Pharaoh to issue a warning for people and animals to not be outside in the field during the storm or they would die.
This attack against Nut, (the sky goddess and the mother of Osiris) was a plague that struck at the height of the flax and barley harvest. Just as Yahweh destroyed Nut’s husband Geb’s crops (mentioned in the third plague), this outbreak was an attack on Isis, goddess of life and Seth the protector of crops.
Some people obeyed the warning, but those who stayed in the field died. As Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, Yahweh sent thunder, hail and lighting flashing down to the ground. The huge hailstorm struck everything in the fields, both men and animals, ruined any crops growing (flax and barley) and stripped every tree. Only the land of Goshen was protected from the hail.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “This time I have sinned. Yahweh is right and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to Yahweh for we have had enough…” Moses left the city, an unclean place, to pray so that they would know that the earth was Yahweh’s. This did not stop Pharaoh from sinning and he again hardened his heart.
Today…
The Exodus of the Israelites is a living parable for us today. It was intended to free Yahweh’s people from bondage and bring them, His covenantal betrothed people back to personal relationship with Himself. This story of the plagues cautions us to not embrace the ways of the nations or the sin of assimilation will cause us to lose our identity which brings a spiritual and physical destruction. The plagues act as a warning system designed to deliver us if we have “ears to hear.” The apostle Paul in the New Testament mentions that these things are to be examples for our generation. Paul warns us of the plagues and mentions that is why many today are sick, weak and have died. It was Paul's mission to bring back the exiled Israelite's and those among them who had "ears to hear" Israel is a mixed multitude today just as the day they were brought out of Egypt with an out streached arm. A time comes when there will be an even greater exodus again comprised of a mixed multitude including all twelve tribes who were scattered into the nations.
Yahweh is as Faithful to the Curse as He is to the Blessing
He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Yeshua said..
Are we to fear Yahweh’s return in what is commonly called the end times? There are shepherds that teach fearful things will happen to believers at that time but are they correct in this? In John’s book of the Revelation of Yeshua, many plagues are mentioned, but John’s fellow apostle Peter, says we are to look forward to Yeshua’s coming and not to fear. Fear does not come from Yahweh’s kingdom and is not one of His attributes. If we believe Yahweh we will walk in His righteous ways then what will we have to fear? And just what are His righteous ways? It is written that being obedient to Yahweh and abiding in His Word and celebrating at His appointed times brings the blessings; in doing this we also learn to trust and walk by means of His Faithfulness. To believe is walking hourly, daily, monthly and yearly in His teaching and instruction. This secures our faith. Faith in Hebrew also means to drive a stake, to secure a structure, as in the tabernacle, Yahweh’s pattern for how to live in Him.
Torah is only considered a cold and harsh book of laws in the Greek/Western Post Constantine understanding of the word. These radical changes did not occur until the fourth century. In Hebrew thought, Torah is deliverance - the written principles of heaven for life on earth that deliver us from the Olam Hazeh (evil thoughts, deeds and actions) within us and teaches us Yahweh’s ways. Torah describes in detail how His heavenly Kingdom is governed and how we are to mirror that government here on earth. It is a gift from our Creator’s hand, as He desires to have a like-minded relationship with His inheritance.
Fear comes from lack of direction in understanding and from following man’s knowledge not Yahweh’s. This is the lifeless seed of Pharaoh (or the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil). As believers, we have Yeshua the living Seed of the Tree of Life, in us. We, who are born of this Seed, walk in the Spirit of Yahweh, not after the lifeless seed of man. We need His understanding so we do not fall into the pride or ignorance of Pharaoh. Be on guard against false teaching and false prophets. A true prophet in the Messianic Era/last days will not teach the sheep to fear but will teach the difference between clean and unclean, holy and unholy and about Yahweh’s Feasts, Sabbaths and New Moon celebrations through the Spirit (heart) of Yeshua. It is up to us to seek out biblical teachers, right associations and fellowship with like-minded individuals; to discern good from evil by the standard of Yahweh’s Word. (Ezekiel 44:23-24; Deuteronomy 28)
continues tomorrow...
"AND I APPEARED"
(Weekly Reading>>Exodus 6:2-9:35, Ezekiel 28:25-29:21, Romans 9:14-17, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Revelation 16)
The Fifth Plague - On Livestock
(Exodus 9:1-7)
Yahweh again warned Pharaoh of the consequences for not responding to “Let my people go, so that they may worship Me…” A terrible plague fell on Egyptian livestock in the field. The working domestic animals of horses, donkeys and camels and the pasture animals of cattle, sheep and goats died.
This fifth plague struck Apis who was the bull god. His counterpart was Hathor, the cow goddess. The Egyptians held many beasts as idols in their land. The lion, wolf, dog, cat, ape, and goat were very sacred to them, as well as were the ox, heifer, and ram (Khnum) especially. The soul of their god Osiris was believed to reside in the body of the bull, Apis. The plague that struck the Egyptian livestock was a type of anthrax carried by the flies.
Pharaoh sent men to investigate and was told that not one of the animals belonging to the Hebrew people where touched by this terrible plague. This hardened Pharaoh’s heart further.
The Sixth Plague - Boils
(Exodus 9:8-12)
With no warning to Pharaoh, Yahweh told Moses and Aaron,
Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 9:8-9)
This plague was an attack on Thoth (Imhotep),who was the god of medicine, intelligence and wisdom. The Egyptians had several medical deities to whom, on special occasions, they sacrificed humans. They were burnt alive on a high altar, and their ashes were cast into the air, that with every scattered ash a blessing might descend upon the people.
Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. (Exodus 9:10)
With the shaming the Egyptian god of Thoth not even the magicians could stand before Moses. Boils are also called skin anthrax, a black abscess that develops into a pustule. These can be caused by impurities in the blood that threaten the immune system through a diseased spirit, a heart filled with bitterness or sexually transmitted diseases.
The Seventh Plague - Hail
(Exodus 9:13-35)
This was the last set of plagues against Pharaoh. Moses was told again to rise early in the morning to confront Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says, ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship Me.’ ” If Pharaoh again refused, a force of such that had never been seen before would hit Egypt.
I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. Therefore…
And with this, Yahweh told Pharaoh to issue a warning for people and animals to not be outside in the field during the storm or they would die.
This attack against Nut, (the sky goddess and the mother of Osiris) was a plague that struck at the height of the flax and barley harvest. Just as Yahweh destroyed Nut’s husband Geb’s crops (mentioned in the third plague), this outbreak was an attack on Isis, goddess of life and Seth the protector of crops.
Some people obeyed the warning, but those who stayed in the field died. As Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, Yahweh sent thunder, hail and lighting flashing down to the ground. The huge hailstorm struck everything in the fields, both men and animals, ruined any crops growing (flax and barley) and stripped every tree. Only the land of Goshen was protected from the hail.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “This time I have sinned. Yahweh is right and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to Yahweh for we have had enough…” Moses left the city, an unclean place, to pray so that they would know that the earth was Yahweh’s. This did not stop Pharaoh from sinning and he again hardened his heart.
Today…
The Exodus of the Israelites is a living parable for us today. It was intended to free Yahweh’s people from bondage and bring them, His covenantal betrothed people back to personal relationship with Himself. This story of the plagues cautions us to not embrace the ways of the nations or the sin of assimilation will cause us to lose our identity which brings a spiritual and physical destruction. The plagues act as a warning system designed to deliver us if we have “ears to hear.” The apostle Paul in the New Testament mentions that these things are to be examples for our generation. Paul warns us of the plagues and mentions that is why many today are sick, weak and have died. It was Paul's mission to bring back the exiled Israelite's and those among them who had "ears to hear" Israel is a mixed multitude today just as the day they were brought out of Egypt with an out streached arm. A time comes when there will be an even greater exodus again comprised of a mixed multitude including all twelve tribes who were scattered into the nations.
If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name Yahweh your God, Yahweh will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you (Deuteronomy 28:58-60).
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did. (1 Corinthians 10:6)
All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.(1 Corinthians 10:11)
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did. (1 Corinthians 10:6)
All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.(1 Corinthians 10:11)
Yahweh is as Faithful to the Curse as He is to the Blessing
This is why some of you are sick and weak, and some have died.(1 Corinthians 11:30)
He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love Yahweh your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For Yahweh is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
Romans 11:22 Note then the kindness[blessings] and the severity[curses] of God: severity[curses] toward those who have fallen[continue in sin], but God's kindness[blessings] to you, provided you continue in his kindness[blessings]. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
Galatians 6:7-8 "Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful[lawless] desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death[curses]. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life[blessings] from the Spirit."
Romans 7:14 For we know that the Torah is of the Spirit.....
Yeshua said..
Matthew 5:17-18 'Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses or the writings of the early preachers. I have not come to do away with them but to complete them. I tell you, as long as heaven(witness #1) and earth(witness #2) last, not one small mark or part of a word will pass away of the Law of Moses until it has all been done.
Are we to fear Yahweh’s return in what is commonly called the end times? There are shepherds that teach fearful things will happen to believers at that time but are they correct in this? In John’s book of the Revelation of Yeshua, many plagues are mentioned, but John’s fellow apostle Peter, says we are to look forward to Yeshua’s coming and not to fear. Fear does not come from Yahweh’s kingdom and is not one of His attributes. If we believe Yahweh we will walk in His righteous ways then what will we have to fear? And just what are His righteous ways? It is written that being obedient to Yahweh and abiding in His Word and celebrating at His appointed times brings the blessings; in doing this we also learn to trust and walk by means of His Faithfulness. To believe is walking hourly, daily, monthly and yearly in His teaching and instruction. This secures our faith. Faith in Hebrew also means to drive a stake, to secure a structure, as in the tabernacle, Yahweh’s pattern for how to live in Him.
Torah is only considered a cold and harsh book of laws in the Greek/Western Post Constantine understanding of the word. These radical changes did not occur until the fourth century. In Hebrew thought, Torah is deliverance - the written principles of heaven for life on earth that deliver us from the Olam Hazeh (evil thoughts, deeds and actions) within us and teaches us Yahweh’s ways. Torah describes in detail how His heavenly Kingdom is governed and how we are to mirror that government here on earth. It is a gift from our Creator’s hand, as He desires to have a like-minded relationship with His inheritance.
Fear comes from lack of direction in understanding and from following man’s knowledge not Yahweh’s. This is the lifeless seed of Pharaoh (or the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil). As believers, we have Yeshua the living Seed of the Tree of Life, in us. We, who are born of this Seed, walk in the Spirit of Yahweh, not after the lifeless seed of man. We need His understanding so we do not fall into the pride or ignorance of Pharaoh. Be on guard against false teaching and false prophets. A true prophet in the Messianic Era/last days will not teach the sheep to fear but will teach the difference between clean and unclean, holy and unholy and about Yahweh’s Feasts, Sabbaths and New Moon celebrations through the Spirit (heart) of Yeshua. It is up to us to seek out biblical teachers, right associations and fellowship with like-minded individuals; to discern good from evil by the standard of Yahweh’s Word. (Ezekiel 44:23-24; Deuteronomy 28)
continues tomorrow...