Torah reading Va’era (וארא): Exodus 6:2–9:35

Readings

Exodus 6:2–9:35
Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
Revelation 16:1–21

Studies

The following are notes and recordings of discussions led by Hallel Fellowship teachers on passages in Va’era.

Walking blamelessly before God: A ransomed life moving toward spiritual maturity (Exodus 6–9)

Jeff January 13, 2024

In this study of Torah reading וָאֵרָא‎ Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35), Pharaoh’s unyielding heart despite God’s plagues on Mitzraim (Egypt) foreshadows humanity’s futile rebellion against the authority of the Creator, as echoed in Revelation. Pharaoh’s “hardened” heart yields briefly with his son’s death, which challenged both his lineage and Egypt’s deities. Pharaoh’s obstinacy is part of a prophetic role for Israel to bear witness to the global importance of God’s names El Shaddai and YHWH. That role, which reaches its fullness in Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), has come with persecution toward those who uphold the righteousness and…

The gospel according to Moses

Daniel January 21, 2023

Some may think that the gospel started with the Bible books named after it. But that good news of the Kingdom of Heaven long preceded — and prepared the way for — the arrival of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ). In the Torah reading וארא Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35), we see how Moses foreshadowed the gospel message and the work of the Messiah.

Could Pharaoh have repented? Lessons from the Messiah and apostle Paul

Could Pharaoh have repented?: Lessons from Messiah and apostle Paul (Exodus 6–9)

Daniel January 1, 2022

The God that spoke to the Pharaoh of Joseph was the same God Who spoke to the Pharaoh of Moses, who we meet in the Torah reading וארא Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35). God does not change or grow, but He expects us to grow and change for the better. When we do, He is pleased. When we don’t, He is not pleased. God showed great favor to the “Pharaoh who knew Joseph” because this Pharaoh accepted the warnings given to him by God and by Joseph. He and his people were blessed because of his humility and wisdom. Similarly, the chief…

Messiah is revealed in Egypt's plagues (Exodus 6:2-9:35)

How the plagues of Egypt reveal the Messiah (Exodus 6:2–9:35)

Daniel January 16, 2021

Yeshua (Jesus) said that all the Scriptures tell us about Him. With this in mind, let’s go through each of the plages in the Torah reading וארא Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35) learn how plagues God inflicted on Egypt had parallels in the life and teachings of Yeshua Himself.

Do we live as if the Creator is really in charge? (Exodus 6:2–9:35)

Jeff January 25, 2020

The Torah reading Va’era (Ex. 6:2–9:35) is the first of two accounts of how the 10 plagues on Mitzraim (Egypt) humbled a superpower of the time to bring freedom not just to Israel but to the entire world. How much more would Heaven’s sending the quintessential Son of Man to humble the “prince of the power of the air” win freedom for Israel, and by extension the whole world.

Exodus 6:2–9:35: Name dropping the first seven plagues on Mitzraim

Jeff January 9, 2016

The Torah passage Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35) covers the first seven plagues on Mitzraim and the revealing of the Name of the LORD. Elohim’s dealing through Moshe with the pharaoh of Mitzraim to let Yisra’el out of bondage explains Elohim’s plan to save the world from its bondage to the fantasy of self-sufficiency without the Life-giver and Life-sustainer. It’s a preview of the final seven plagues of Revelation 15–16.

Moshe of ‘uncircumcised lips’ learns The Name (Exodus 6)

Richard February 8, 2014

Moshe (Moses) in Exodus 6 said his lips were “uncircumcised” and insisted that prevented him from sharing The Name of God to Yisra’el (Israel). We know about circumcision of a man’s privates and metaphorically of the “heart,” but what is this, and how is it connected to sharing knowledge of The Name?

God reiterated His call of Moshe, Aharon; Levi, Reuben, Shimon noted as leaders of Israel (Exodus 6)

Richard February 27, 2010

Try to put yourself into Moses shoes here. His first presentation with Pharaoh doesn’t go very well—just as Moses had told God it wouldn’t. His confidence is even lower now than it was before. Yet God does not change His mind about his call on Moses and Aaron.

Moshe of ‘uncircumcised lips’ learns The Name

Moshe in Exodus 6 said his lips were “uncircumcised” and insisted that prevented him from sharing The Name of God to Yisra’el. We know about circumcision of a man’s privates and metaphorically of the “heart,” but what is this, and how is it connected to sharing knowledge of The Name?

Exodus 7–8

Aharon’s rod ‘eats’ the magicians’ rods; the first three plagues on Mitzraim

The people of Israel didn’t follow Moshe initially. Moshe didn’t believe that Pharaoh would hear him either. God affirmed Moshe yet God told Moshe and Aharon to go to Pharaoh anyway. God had a plan to elevate Moshe and Aharon in the eyes of Pharaoh and the people of Israel.

The first three plagues were unleashed on Mitzraim but the magicians of Mitzraim have the same power and Pharaoh doesn’t want to believe that the hand of the Creator is at work in Moshe and Aharon.

First four plagues against Mitzraim

The 10 plagues against Mitzraim were judgments against the false deities of the land, to show the descendants of Yisra’el and the people of the land Who was the true God.

Exodus 9

Plagues of locusts, darkness, death of first-born against Mitzraim

The plague against the firstborn seems harsh because the innocent died because of the faults of the leadership of Mitzraim. However, like with the life of Yosef, that plague is a foreshadowing of the future death of an innocent Firstborn, Yeshua the Mashiakh.