Moshe and Aharon both took deep breaths as they approached the king of Egypt. They had a radical message to take to the ruler. Nevertheless, it had to be done. The Almighty had spoken to Moshe and now Moshe had to speak to Pharaoh. With butterflies in his stomach and a frog in his throat, Moshe began to speak. His brother also presented the Israelite case before Pharaoh. Their message was simple and their message was heard. "Here is what YHWH the Mighty One, the Elohim of Israel, says "Let my people go so that they can celebrate a festival in the desert to me," Shemot 5:1.
These powerful words fell on silence and Pharaoh shifted in his huge throne. He was definitely uncomfortable with this message. His eyes seemed to dart wildly from side to side. They seemed to be looking for something or someone. His face moved as he looked at his statues, as he looked at his gods. Perhaps he was searching for an altar to "YHWH" but he could not find it. Then, almost without a sound Pharaoh stood and spoke with a booming voice, "Who is YHWH that I should obey when he says to let Israel go? I don't know YHWH, and I also won't let Israel go."
Pharaoh knows well the gods of Mitzrayim (Egypt). Yet he does not know or recognize the Elohim of Israel. Pharaoh doesn't know YHWH so Pharaoh doesn't obey YHWH.
Even today a distorted view of Father YHWH leads man to disobedience to His word and rebellion against his ways. To answer Pharaoh's question (and maybe yours) let's look to the events of this week's parasha. Just who is the Elohim of Israel? The answers might surprise you.
He is an Elohim to be feared
Early on in this portion Pharaoh instructed the midwives of Egypt to kill the children of the Hebrews if a boy was being born. Yet, the Torah states that the midwives disobeyed the ruler of Egypt because they feared Elohim. Fear, or deep respect, for YHWH will lead to obedience to YHWH. And obedience always leads to blessing. Evidently the midwives feared Elohim more than they feared Pharaoh. Their defiance to a ruler of this world brought blessing from the Ruler of the universe.
Fear though is a tricky thing. Fear of Elohim leads to profit but fear of man leads to bondage. If you fear something or someone then this emotion could lead you to act irrationally or be scared of events. For example, Pharaoh was motivated by fear to kill the Hebrews. The Talmud says that astrologers had warned Pharaoh that a savior was to be born to Israel soon. This caused Pharaoh to be afraid of what could happen in the future. So in response to his fear of man, Pharaoh sought to kill off all possible boys who could grow and become the Redeemer that was prophesied. The midwives preserved the lives of the Hebrew boys because they feared or respected YHWH. Fear of man leads to death, while fear of YHWH leads to life. When the Elohim of Israel is feared, actions of righteousness are performed and blessings come.
He is an Elohim Who hears prayers
"During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to Elohim. Elohim heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac / Yitz'chak and with Jacob / Ya'acov. So Elohim looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them," Exodus / Shemot 2:23-25.
The Israelites prayed for many years about their slavery. They groaned about their harsh conditions. YHWH heard their prayer and responded. He listened and He answered. The Elohim of Israel hears prayer and responds.
He is Elohim of the mountain
In this parasha the burning bush is set aflame atop Mount Horev. This peak is also called Sinai and the "mountain of Elohim" throughout the scriptures. This is the mountain where YHWH reveals himself to Moshe. He tells Moshe that Israel will assemble at this very place to worship as a nation freed from bondage and slavery. Consequently it is here, on the mountain of Elohim that the Torah is given to Moshe. Mount Horev is a place of worship, a place of holiness; it is a place of YHWH. Here the "the glory of YHWH was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel," Shemot 24:17. Many Bible teachers also agree that it was on Horev that Y'shua's transfiguration took place, thus revealing the glory of YHWH Y'shua.
You see, mountain peaks are very important to the message of the Bible. Much of the Messiah's ministry and life took place on mountaintops. The mountain is a place where man can do aliyah or ascension to meet with YHWH. "Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of the Elohim of Ya'acov. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The Torah will go out from Zion, the word of YHWH from Jerusalem," says Micah 4:2. The mountain is a place of meeting for instruction from YHWH.
On these high peaks Moshe was instructed to go to Pharaoh, Torah was given to Israel, and Y'shua delivered the "sermon on the Mount." The mountain of Elohim is where YHWH is revealed as teacher. It is where man goes up and YHWH comes down and life is forever changed. Notice the eternal pattern here - man goes up and YHWH comes down.
The Elohim of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov
"Then he said, "I am the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Avraham, the Elohim of Yitzchak, and the Elohim of Ya'acov." At this, Moshe hid his face, because he was afraid to look at Elohim," Shemot 3:6. It is here that this eternal phrase of the patriarchal name is first used. The mighty one of Israel is the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov.
For Moshe each name must have brought to mind how YHWH had interacted with these patriarchs in times gone by. For us this title should still do the same. YHWH is a personal Elohim. He appeared and related personally to the founding fathers of the faith. He called out to Avraham, He appeared to Yitzchak, and He wrestled with Ya'acov. "Like the patriarchs each person should believe in YHWH on the basis of personal investigation, not merely tradition," says the classic Jewish book "Etz Yosef." As Father YHWH He was with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov He was with Moshe. And is with us today.
This name is also a direct reference to the resurrection power of YHWH. Y'shua quoted the Torah and said, "But about the resurrection of the dead-have you not read what Elohim said to you, 'I am the Elohim of Avraham, the Elohim of Yitz'chak, and the Elohim of Ya'acov? He is not the Elohim of the dead but of the living." You see Avraham was dead yet YHWH is the Elohim of Avraham. Just as He was, and Is, and Is to come YHWH is the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov.
The Elohim Whose name is YHWH
When you meet someone, usually the first thing you do is tell that person your name. Next you hear them tell you theirs. When a name is exchanged a bond is made. Well, the Elohim of Israel has a personal name. This designation is to be remembered forever and used for all eternity. When a person calls on the name of YHWH a bond is made and blessings abound. "Anyone who calls on the name of YHWH will be saved," says the scriptures.
"Elohim also said to Moshe, 'Say to the Israelites, 'YHVH, the Elohim of your fathers-the Elohim of Avraham, the Elohim of Yitzchak and the Elohim of Ya'acov-has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation,'" Shemot 3:14. What was spoken to him was four Hebrew letters that mirror the verb form of "to be." These four letters are "yod-hey-waw-hey" or "YHWH." This is THE name of the creator. "YHWH" is found over 6800 times throughout the scriptures hidden behind the capitalized term "Lord" in English Bibles. The Jewish Publication Society says, "YHVH was probably pronounced "Yahweh," but in Second Temple times, as an expression of reverence Jews began to avoid uttering it, substituting "Adonai" and other surrogates." Why though would the Creator of the Universe reveal His name to Moshe, tell Moshe to use it, and command it to be used for all generations if He wanted to be called something different? The Elohim of Israel is YHWH. Moshe used His name and so should we.
Who is YHWH?
Much more can be discovered about YHWH in this weekly Torah account. Just a little reading will discover that He is the Elohim of worship, the Elohim of miracles and wonders, and the Elohim of Israel. What also takes place in this parasha is the defiance of Pharaoh. Remember that is was Pharaoh who declared "Who is YHWH that I should obey when he says to let Israel go? I don't know YHWH, and I also won't let Israel go." This trap of rebellion is easy to fall in if you don't become acquainted with the truth about the Elohim of Israel.
The events that followed the dramatic conversation between Moshe and Pharaoh occurred to respond to that simple question. The miracles, the plagues, and even the exodus are answers to Pharaoh's query. In our current portion, a battle began between the "gods" of Egypt/Mitzrayim and the Elohim of Israel. The god of the Nile, the sun, the animals, and the god of Pharaoh will soon be triumphed over. Pharaoh will finally obey YHWH and let Israel go. This will occur when Pharaoh at long last understands that YHWH is THE Elohim of the Universe.
Honestly though, it is hard to obey someone you don't know. Many people don't obey the commandments of the Torah because they don't understand the Elohim of the Torah. So, get to know Father YHWH. Times of deception are now ending with the restoration of all things. This restoration includes a proper understanding and knowledge of YHWH the Almighty. Discover in this parasha and throughout scripture just Who YHWH is. When you do you'll be amazed, humbled, and led to obedience.
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