This Week Torah Portion - וָאֵרָא (Va’era) - “I appeared.”

Torah - Exodus 6:2 - 9:35

Prophets - Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21

Gospel - Luke 11:14-22

Torah Summary…

The second reading from the book of Exodus and the fourteenth reading from the Torah is named Va'era, which means "And I appeared."

The title comes from the first words of the second verse of the reading, which says, "And I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as Yehovah Almighty" (Exodus 6:3). The portion begins with four expressions of redemption whereby Yehovah promises to bring Israel out of the Egyptian bondage. The narrative progresses to tell the story of the first seven of the ten plagues that Yehovah unleashed on Egypt.

Torah Outline…

Exodus 6:14 | The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron
Exodus 6:28 | Moses and Aaron Obey God's Commands
Exodus 7:8 | Aaron's Miraculous Rod
Exodus 7:14 The First Plague: | Water Turned to Blood
Exodus 8:1 The Second Plague: | Frogs
Exodus 8:16 The Third Plague: | Gnats
Exodus 8:20 The Fourth Plague: | Flies
Exodus 9:1 The Fifth Plague: | Livestock Diseased
Exodus 9:8 The Sixth Plague: | Boils
Exodus 9:13 The Seventh Plague: | Thunder and Hail

Torah Treasures…
(A mighty hand and an outstretched arm)

“Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, “I am Yehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.” Exodus 6:6

The language of “with a mighty hand and outstretched arm” is very much associated with Yehovah”s role in the exodus and is often repeated in the prophets. Ezekiel 20:33-38, Jeremiah 32:21 are a couple.

This expression becomes the repeated description. When Moses wrote the “repetition of the Torah” (The book of Deuteronomy), he almost exclusively used the expression to recount the exodus events and to lay out the logic of Yehovah’s Torah.

“You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yehovah your Elohim brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm.” Deuteronomy 5:15

“The great trials which your eye’s saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which Yehovah brought you out. So shall Yehovah your Elohim do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. Deuteronomy 7:19

“Yet they are your people, even your inheritance, whom you have brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm. Deuteronomy 9:29

“Know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of Yehovah your Elohim– His greatness, His mighty hand, and outstretched arm.” Deuteronomy 11:2

“...and Yehovah brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and wonders.” Deuteronomy 26:8

When King Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, he recounted Yehovah’s testimony from the exodus and used the same phrase.

“For they will hear of Your great name and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm; when he comes and prays toward this house,...1 Kings 8:24

When it comes to the Greater Exodus, we should not be surprised to discover that the same phrase, “with a mighty hand and outstretched arm” is used by Ezekiel to describe the Greater Exodus.

Ezekiel lays out the irrefutable evidence that there will be a future exodus equal to the creation, the redemption, and the second coming of the Messiah.

Shabbat Shalom!!!