Tag: Exodus 17

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Shabbat Torah

Promised Land and promised ‘rest’: Do we have enough faith to allow God to free us? (Numbers 13–14; Hebrews 3–4)

Promised land and promised rest: Do we have enough faith to follow God to freedom? (Based on Numbers 13 and 14; Hebrews 3 and 4.) Adobe Firefly AI image of a group of weary people walking up a hill from a dark, scary forest to a bright, restful place.

This study of the Torah reading שְׁלַח Shelach/Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15) reports of the 12 spies in Numbers 13–14 foreshadow the sending by Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) of the 12 and 70 apostles in the Gospels. Just as the spies were sent to scout the Promised Land, the apostles were sent to proclaim the coming Kingdom.

However, the Israelites’ lack of faith prevented them from entering God’s “rest,” a spiritual reality that believers in Yeshua the Messiah can now access. This “rest” is not a replacement of Israel’s role, but a fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. The Promised Land was a physical type and shadow of the eternal “sabbath rest” that believers can enter through faith in Messiah. This rest represents the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for His people to dwell with Him in peace and righteousness.

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Torah readings

Torah reading Beshalach (בשלח): Exodus 13:17–17:16

Studies in Torah

It took more to save Yisra’el from the House of Bondage than faith in lamb’s blood on the doorpost, as the Destroyer of the firstborn roamed the streets of Mitzraim during the first Passover. Then came being cornered at the Red Sea by a huge army and going into the desert without sufficient water or food. Discover the path of training in righteousness all believers in the LORD and His Passover (Yeshua the Lamb of God) must travel. It’s explained in this week’s Torah reading (בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach, “when he sent” or “after he had let go,” Exodus 13:17-17:16).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Bondage-breaking power of the Bread from Heaven and Living Water (Exodus 15–17; John 6; 1Corinthians 10; Hebrews 3–4)

Bondage-breaking power of the Living Water (Exodus 17; Matthew 14; Mark 6) and the Bread From Heaven (Exodus 16; John 6).

When we look at the Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent” or “after he had let go,” Ex. 13:17–17:16), we need to ask ourselves five big questions: Is God with us? Are we really free? Where are we going? How will we get our “daily bread”? Where will we find “living water”?

And via a number of parallel passages in the Prophets, Writings and Apostolic Scriptures, we learn that the answer to all those questions is Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Don’t leave your heart in Egypt: Faith to move forward to freedom (Exodus 17; 1Corinthians 10)

Don't leave your heart in Egypt: Faith to move forward to freedom (Exodus 17; 1Corinthians 10)

1Corinthians 10 was the apostle Paul’s midrash on Israel’s history, detailing how division arose among the children of Israel during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

In the Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent,” Ex. 13:17–17:16), we see that it didn’t take Israel very long to forget all of the miracles that God had rendered on their behalf for their freedom and struck out in anger against Moses and Aaron. These lessons can teach us how to trust our Deliverer, Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ) and follow Him to true rest for our restless souls.

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Discussions Torah

God, why does this keep happening to me? Mercy in the test retake (Exodus 13:17–17:16)

God, why does this keep happening to me? Mercy in the test retake (Exodus 13:17-17:16)

Why do the same challenges or problems keep hitting us again and again? Among the lessons from the Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent,” Exodus 13:17-17:16) is that ancient Israel kept getting and kept failing faith tests in the journey out of the house of bondage in Mitzraim (Egypt) and toward Sinai and the Promised Land.

While repeated testing suggests more maturity is needed as an heir of the Kingdom, it’s also part of the name (reputation) of the Holy One (Exodus 34:6-7)

God is being kind to you — showing favor and mercy — by allowing you to retake the test. Rather than being mad at God for a repeat of a test, we should be grateful for another opportunity to improve.

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Discussions Torah

Knowing when to speak and when to remain silent is wisdom (Exodus 13:17–17:15)

Impudent speech causes more problems than it solves. Ancient Israel, as they were delivered from the “house of bondage” in Egypt and moved towards Sinai, grumbled about their living conditions and their food, causing Moses a lot of stress and bringing God’s judgment on them.

In the 21st century, social media has made it easier to say things to a wide audience that we should keep to ourselves. The Torah reading (בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach, “when he sent,” Ex. 13:17-17:16) provides us practical tips on what things are wise to share and what things should be kept to ourselves or only spoken of with God alone in prayer.

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Discussions Torah

Are you ready to enter God’s rest? 5 questions to ask yourself (Exodus 13:17–17:16)

Cat resting from his hard work. Photo Patataj Patataj via Freeimages.com.

Am I really free from my old way of life? Am I going somewhere in life that leads to eternal contentment, or am I wandering through this existence, at the mercy of happenstance? These are some of the big questions tackled in the Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent”), covering Ex. 13:17-17:16. We can’t imagine what our ancestors in faith experienced as they witnessed God’s work during the Exodus from Mitzraim (Egypt). As they were leaving the house of bondage, were they really free or did they leave their hearts in Mitzraim, despite the cruelties and indignities they experienced there?