An Early Release?

Thoughts on Parashah Shemot

Exodus 1:1 – 6:1

In this week’s Parashah we are introduced to the great hero Moses.   As the reading opens, we find that the children of Israel have become slaves in Egypt.   A far cry from the position we find them in at the close of the book of Genesis only one week ago.   We’re told that Moses was born from the line of Levi.   In fact, if we skip forward to chapter 7 (in next week’s Parashah) we learn that Levi was Moses’ great-grandfather.   That’s not so far removed.    Now the book of Exodus tells us in chapter 12, verse 40 that the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt for 430 years total.   Now, I know people lived a long time back in those days, but does the life span from Levi to Moses add up to that many years?

Let’s take a look at the Scriptures to see what we’re told.   First in Genesis 46:11, we see that Levi and his son Kohath both came down to Egypt.   Kohath was Moses’ grand-father.  In Exodus chapter 7, we learn that Kohath lived a total of 133 years and his son (Moses’ father) lived a total of 137 years.   If you add these two’s life spans up and add Moses’ 80 years (the age Moses was when he led the Israelites out of Egypt), you only get 350 years.  And it is not even that many because Moses’ life included some of the years of his father’s, Amram’s, life.   As well, Amram’s life included some of the years of Kohath’s life and some of Kohath’s life was spent outside of Egypt before he came down to Egypt with Levi.   So it is actually less than 350.    So what are we to make of it when Exodus 12:40 tells us that they spent 430 years in bondage in Egypt?   How long were they in Egypt anyway?

To find the answer, we have to first go back and look at the first mention of the slavery.   We find that in Genesis 15:13.  Here HaShem is telling Abraham:

“Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.”

Notice that HaShem didn’t say “Egypt”.   He just said “a land that is not their own.”   Now, Abraham’s offspring started with Isaac and from his birth Isaac was in a land that was not his own.   Abraham even had to purchase a burial plot for his wife (Isaac’s mother) when she died because he didn’t own any land there.   So if we start with the birth of Isaac and count forward let us see how many years we get.

In Genesis 25:26, we learn that Isaac was 60 years old when Jacob was born.    So that’s 60.  We learn in Genesis 47:9 that Jacob was 130 years old when he went down to Egypt.   That’s now a total of 190.   That means that 190 years were spent outside of Egypt; in Canaan.  Canaan was a land that they did not own….not yet anyway.   That means 210 years were spent in Egypt to get the 400 years.

But wait!   There’s more!

Exodus 12 tells us 430 years….not 400!   Rashi, the great Jewish rabbi and commentator, explains this by saying the 30 years is what was between the prophecy in Genesis 15 up to Isaac’s birth.    There are also other explanations out there from various Biblical commentators on the 30 years.   At any rate, you could say the actual time in Egypt was 240 years.    Either way, it’s less than 430 and even more so, less than 400.

Yet, you can’t ignore Rashi’s explanation.   He mentions that in Genesis 42:2 that Jacob instructs his sons to go down to Egypt to purchase food.   The Hebrew word used in that passage for “go down” is “redu”.  The numerical value of the Hebrew letters in the word (resh, daleth, vav) is 210.     Resh’s value is 200.   Daleth’s value is 4.   Vav’s value is 6.   210.  Interesting…no?

So what do we make of Exodus 12?   Is it a contradiction?   Yes and no.   We can’t take it literally.   It’s using “Egypt” as a euphemism or metonym of sorts.   A general term that means “a land that is not their own.”

What does all this mean?  How does this affect the price of tea in China?   The Scriptures are packed with lessons under the layers.   HaShem’s Word is like an onion.   When you peel back a layer, there are many more there waiting to be explored.   If we don’t take the time to search these things out, we will miss out on many wonderful things!  How many times have you read through the Exodus story and just went right over the part about the 430 years?   How many times did it not connect that “Hey, wait a minute.   Something doesn’t add up here.”   Did it ever occur to you that the 400 years started with the birth of Isaac?   It didn’t to me.   This was something new for me and it’s brought a whole new appreciation for this story to my life.

Prophecies are complex.   Most times we read the surface of a prophecy in the Scriptures and think we have it figured out.   Most times, we’re wrong.

We need to read the Scriptures for what they say and not read our doctrines into the Scriptures.  The Scriptures should shape our doctrines, our doctrines should never shape the Scriptures.

A World Of Hurt

Thoughts on Parashah Vayechi

Genesis 47:28-50:26

This week’s parashah reading is found at the tail end of the book of Genesis.  As we close out the first book of the Bible, we learn many things.  However, one of the most important things we learn is the importance of the Word itself.

Genesis 47:28 Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt: These were Jacob’s best years. When Jacob heard that Joseph was both alive and still loyal to the Torah, “the spirit of Jacob…revived.” (Gen. 35:27)   It would thus seem that Jacob’s seventeen years in Egypt were the happiest in his life because he was there reunited with Joseph and proud that his son had been faithful to his instruction, withstanding all his tests—from those of slavery to those of public office.

Nonetheless, when Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch (the Tzemach Tzedek) was a young boy, he asked his grandfather, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi: “How could it be that the best years of Jacob’s life were those he lived in Egypt, the epitome of decadence?”

His grandfather answered: “It is written, ‘[Jacob] had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to make advance preparations in Goshen.’ (Gen. 36:28)  Rashi quotes the Midrash’s interpretation of this verse: Jacob sent Judah to set up a house of study so he and his sons could study the Torah in Egypt. (Tanchuma, ed. Buber ad loc)  When we study the Torah, we become closer to God, so in this way it is possible to live good years even in Egypt.”

Yet, if, indeed, it was the presence of a house of Torah study in Egypt—rather than being united with Joseph—that made Jacob’s last years there his best, could he not have set up a house of study in the land ofIsrael all those years.   Rabbi Shneur Zalman answered that the Torah is the antidote even to Egypt; because the Torah connects us to God Himself, who is beyond the limitations and evil of Egypt, when we study the Torah we are immune to the detrimental effects Egypt can otherwise have on us. (Likutei Sichot, vol. 10, pp. 160 ff.)

In reading the above quote, if we keep in mind the age old connection of Egypt being a symbol for “sin”, we have a powerful truth.  If we stay in the Word and study it as often as we can, the sinful world we live will have little affect on us.   However, it goes beyond just reading the Word; we have to “study” it.   When we study something, we’re not just reading.   We are acquiring what we are reading.   So there is a difference between reading the Bible and studying the Bible.   The difference is a matter of life and death.

The world we live in today is do dark.   One is not hard pressed to find a way to sin and slip in the darkness of this world.   It’s at every turn, at our finger tips on our computers, smart phones, TVs, radio, books, you name it.   The entire world today is “Egypt”.  Yet the Word of God is powerful.   Its our “lead shield” to the world’s “kryptonite.”    It opens our eyes to the things around us so we can see if something is good for our souls or not.   It is a lamp unto our feet.   It shows us the way to live and guides us around dark allies and averts us from serious harm.   That’s not to say the world won’t touch us or bad things won’t happen.   After all, you can’t go swimming in a sewer without picking up a bit of stink.

We must strive to be like Jacob and live in our “Egypt” with the Word of God ever in our sights.   Who knows…it could turn out to be the best years of your life!

Setting The World On Fire

Thoughts on Hanukkah

It’s that time of year again.  Hanukkah is fast approaching.  There are many aspects to the holiday of Hanukkah and many lessons we can learn from the stories that come out of that time when the Maccabees stood up and fought.   I’m sure many blogs and books have been written about those lessons and maybe even  the point I want to make here has already been written about.  But that’s the point isn’t it?  Just because someone else is doing the work, doesn’t mean we are any less obligated to do our part.   We all have an obligation to do our own part; to do our part in being a light to the world.   We are to make sure that when we take our final breath we can honestly say “I was one of the flames that set the world on fire.”

The Jewish people were forced by the Greeks into renouncing their faith and to take up pagan practices and worship false gods.   Daniel spoke about this in Daniel chapter 11.   Just as the prophet foretold, so it happened.

“He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant (of God), but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” – Daniel 11:32

When the Macabees miraculously drove the Greeks out of Jerusalem and took the Holy Temple back, it was in ruins.  It was a time of darkness.   There were many who turned away from the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.   Spiritual darkness.  The menorah in the Temple was put out.  According to Leviticus 24 the menorah was to be lighted from evening till morning continually.  They found one jar of olive oil that could be used to light the menorah and it would only last one day.  A great miracle happened there and the menorah stayed lighted for eight days (until more oil could be made and obtained).  Apparently the light of the menorah was important to God.  So we should understand it shouldn’t we?  What was the purpose of the menorah in the Temple?

 “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12

 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.” – John 12:46

Also, who can look over this passage?

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105

It’s pretty clear that Yeshua is the Word of God made flesh.  Yeshua is saying that He is the embodiment of the Word of God; He’s following it perfectly.  He’s saying that we should follow Him (do as He does) and we will have light.  We will know how to live and follow Him.  During the time of the Macabees, the ones who turned their back on God and did what the Greeks told them to do (on penalty of death), were turning their backs on the Light.  They chose to walk in darkness and forsake God’s commandments.

The Master calls us to walk in the Light.   I love His teaching from the “Sermon on the Mount” most of all:

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:15-16

There are several important points here.  One, we are the light of the world.  Which means that we are followers of God and we shouldn’t be secretive about it (hiding it under a basket).  We are to let everyone know about it.   Two, we are not to let them know about it with words.  It’s our actions that let them know.   When we follow God and His ways at home and out in the world, everyone takes notice.   Especially in today’s world that is so full of darkness.  When someone steps out and is a lighted menorah, people take notice.

Don’t believe me?  One simple flame can be a huge impact to a darkened world.  Find one single candle and turn out all the lights in the room you are in.   Do this at night time so there is absolutely no light.  When it’s pitch black, light the candle.   The darkness doesn’t overtake the candle’s light.  Instead, the light takes over the darkness; it pushes it back.   As it is in the physical world, so it is in the spiritual.   When we follow God and become a light to the world around us, we are pushing the darkness back.  However, we do this by action and not by words alone.

We can learn many things from Hanukkah this year, but one of the most important things we should remember is the lesson of the Macabees and set the world on fire.

“…but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” – Daniel 11:32