Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 Va'era means “and I appeared” from the first words spoken by Yah to Moses in the beginning of these scriptures.
In this portion we read about:
Israel's deliverance assured
The family of Moses and Aaron
Aaron is chosen as Moses' spokesman
Aaron's miraculous rod
The first plague – waters become blood
The second plague – frogs
The third plague – lice
The fourth plague – flies
The fifth plague – livestock diseased
The sixth plague – boils
The seventh plague – hail
Here is what I would like to highlight from this portion:
In chapter 6:3 – 8 Yah recalls to mind, and reminds Moses, of the covenant that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and then makes known to Moses His intentions of bringing that covenant to pass because He has heard the groaning of His people which are in heavy bondage.
He then instructs Moses to make known to His people 7 promises:
I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians
I will rescue you from their bondage of slavery
I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments
I will take you as My people
I will be your God, then you shall know that I am Yah who brings you out from under the
burdens of the Egyptians
I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
I will give it to you as a heritage
Each year at Passover, the Jews recall to mind these 7 promises during their Passover Seder. They do this with the four cups of wine:
First cup – Cup of Sanctification, “I will bring you out”. This cup sets apart the remembrance of the Passover and how they were set apart and chosen by Yah as His people.
Second cup – Cup of Deliverance, “I will rescue you from slavery”. This cup reminds them of how Yah delivered them while bringing the plagues on Egypt.
Third cup – Cup of Redemption, “I will redeem you”. This cup reminds them of how they were redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb. This is the cup that Yeshua drank with His disciples on the night before His death; when He redeemed us by His blood.
Fourth cup – Cup of Restoration, “I will take you as My people, and I will be your God, I will bring you into the land and I will give it to you as a heritage”. This is the final cup during the Passover Seder Meal. It reminds them of how Yah will restore all things and bring them back to the land that He promised to their fathers, as an everlasting heritage. Yeshua (Jesus) told His disciples that He would not drink of this fourth and final cup until He drank it with them in His Father's Kingdom (Matthew 26:29). At that time, He will have “restored” the people to their land and the last 3 promises will have taken place.
Every Passover Seder Meal ends with the spoken phrase, “Next year in Jerusalem!”. As they look forward to this promise made so long ago, so should we also eagerly anticipate the time as followers of Yeshua; for at His coming He will rebuilt the tents of David and restore that which has been broken down. He will rule from His throne in Jerusalem, and His saints will be ruling and reigning with Him.
Oh, how I pray, “Next year in Jerusalem!.”
Shalom,
Leisa
