Starting after Sukkot 2024, Hallel Fellowship switched to a three-year cycle of Torah and parallel Bible readings (2024–2027), outlined by TorahResource. While there’s ancient evidence for a triennial cycle, a major benefit is to provide more time to mine more of Scripture for lessons.
Readings
- Exodus 6:2–7:18
- Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
- Acts 7:30–35
Corresponding reading in the 1-year cycle
Insights from this week’s reading
Who were the pharaohs who knew and didn’t know Yosef?
- “Who Was Joseph’s Pharaoh?” by Julia Goddard, Let the Stones Speak (March–April 2025)
- “The Hyksos: Evidence of Jacob’s Family in Egypt?” Let the Stones Speak (March–April 2025)
- “Who Was the Pharaoh of the Exodus?” by Julia Goddard, Let the Stones Speak (March–April 2023)
- “Who Was the Pharaoh Who ‘Knew Not Joseph’?” by Brent Nagtegaal, Let the Stones Speak (March–April 2025)
Threads connecting the passages
God’s self-revelation and covenant
Exodus: God reveals Himself as YHWH, the covenant-keeping Redeemer, in contrast to His patriarchal name El Shaddai (Ex. 6:2–3).
Ezekiel: God promises vindication of His name among the nations when He regathers Israel (Ezek. 28:25–26).
Acts: Stephen recalls God’s covenant fulfillment through the rise of Moses, prefiguring Messiah.
Deliverance from oppression
Exodus: Israel’s redemption from Pharaoh.
Ezekiel: Promise of release from foreign domination.
Acts: Moses as a type of deliverer, paralleling Yeshua.
Judgment of world powers
Exodus: Plagues as judgments on Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s pride.
Ezekiel: Judgment on Egypt and Pharaoh (Ezek. 29).
Acts: Reminder that Israel often resists God’s chosen deliverer, yet God prevails.
Key Hebrew & Greek terms
Exodus 6:2–7:18
- יְהוָה YHWH — “I am the LORD” (Ex. 6:2–3). Stresses covenant faithfulness.
- Also: Gen. 15:7; Isa. 42:8.
- גָּאַל gaʾal — “redeem” (Ex. 6:6). Covenant redemption language.
- Also: Lev. 25:25; Ruth 4:14.
- אוֹת ʾot — “sign” (Ex. 7:3). God’s wonders as markers of divine authority.
- Also: Gen. 1:14; Isa. 7:14.
Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
- קִבֵּץ qibbēṣ — “gather” (Ezek. 28:25). Future regathering of Israel.
- Also: Isa. 11:12; Jer. 31:10.
- קָדַשׁ qadash — “be sanctified” (Ezek. 28:25). God’s holiness vindicated.
- Also: Lev. 10:3; Ezek. 36:23.
- שָׁפַט shaphat — “judge” (Ezek. 29:3). Judgment on nations and kings.
- Also: Ps. 82:8; Isa. 2:4.
Acts 7
- ἀνατρέφω anatrephō — “brought up/educated” (Acts 7:20–21). Emphasizes divine preparation of Moses.
- Also: Luke 4:16 (nurturing context).
- σοφία sophia — “wisdom” (Acts 7:22). Moses received Egyptian wisdom, yet true wisdom is from God.
- Also: Prov. 8; 1 Cor. 1:24 (Messiah as wisdom).
- λυτρόω lytroō — “redeem/deliver” (cf. Acts 7:35, in the wider speech). Echoes Hebrew גָּאַל.
- Also: Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18.
Messianic insights
- Moses as a type of Messiah: Both are chosen redeemers, rejected at first but later vindicated (Acts 7:25–35).
- Exodus & redemption as Messianic pattern: The plagues prefigure Messiah’s final victory over evil powers (Rev. 15–16).
- Ezekiel’s regathering & future kingdom: Messianic hope that Israel will be restored under Messiah’s reign, vindicating God’s holiness before the nations.
- Stephen’s testimony: Shows that the covenant story always pointed forward to Messiah Yeshua, who brings ultimate redemption and kingdom restoration.
Studies
The illusion of control: Negotiating with God (Exodus 8–9; Isaiah 34–35; Hebrews 12)
In this study of Exodus 8–9, we explored how Pharaoh’s attempts to negotiate with God revealed the futility of seeking control over true submission. We examined the motivations behind biblical negotiations — whether for personal gain or to save lives — and why God honors one over the other. Via parallel passages Isaiah 34–35 and Hebrews 12, we also discussed the destruction of Esau/Edom, compared how pagan gods and the God of Israel love humanity, and reflected on how authentic repentance and selfless motivations matter most when relating to God and others.
Standing strong or standing stubborn: What’s the difference? (Exodus 6–7)
What does it really means to have a “hardened heart,” like what cause the pharaoh of Egypt at the time of Israel’s Exodus? Three Hebrew words translated “harden” help us see the spiritual condition at work at that time and with us today. This study reflects on the balance between God’s actions and our choices, and how we can pray for softer hearts and “lips” to become more open, compassionate and effective in our internal and external lives.
This study of Genesis 18 further explores Abraham’s faith journey. His bargaining for the lives of the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah highlights why the LORD knew he was the right choice to establish a legacy of overcoming the world and staying on Heaven’s path of justice and righteousness. This startling example of the LORD’s active presence and involvement in human affairs is far removed from the accusation that He’s an “absentee landlord.”
A parallel passage in Luke 8 reveals how the parable of the sower, the healings of the bleeding woman and dead girl, and the Shema (“Hear, O…
Walking blamelessly before God: A ransomed life moving toward spiritual maturity (Exodus 6–9)
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…
Torah reading Va’era (וארא): Exodus 6:2–9:35
It’s no coincidence that the freedom of Yisra’el from bondage in Mitzraim was accompanied by 10 plagues and the release of mankind on the coming Day of the LORD comes after seven plagues. Why such drastic measures are required to give people freedom is behind this week’s Torah portion, וָאֵרָא Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35).
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 Messiah and apostle Paul (Exodus 6–9)
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…
How the plagues of Egypt reveal the Messiah (Exodus 6:2–9:35)
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)
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
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.
Hard Hearts and Sovereign Plans: Why Pharaoh Didn’t Listen
The 10 plagues against Mitsraim (Egypt) were judgments against the false deities of the land, to show the descendants of Yisra’el (Israel) and the people of the land Who was the true God.
Moshe of ‘uncircumcised lips’ learns The Name (Exodus 6)
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?
Exodus 7-8 — Aharon’s rod ‘eats’ the magicians’ rods; the first three plagues on Mitsraim
The people of Israel didn’t follow Moshe (Moses) initially. Moshe didn’t believe that Pharaoh would hear him either. God affirmed Moshe yet God told Moshe and Aaron to go to Pharaoh anyway. God had a plan to elevate Moshe and Aharon (Aaron) in the eyes of Pharaoh and the people of Israel. The first three plagues were unleashed on Mitsraim (Egypt) but the magicians of Mitsraim have the same power and Pharaoh doesn’t want to believe that the hand of the Creator is at work in Moshe and Aharon.
When God Reveals His Name: Lessons from Exodus 6
In today’s discussion, we explored Exodus 6, focusing on God’s promise to deliver Israel and the meaning behind His name, “I Am, that I Am.” We talked about Moses’ doubts, the Israelites’ broken spirits under oppression, and how God’s actions fulfill His promises. The group reflected on the importance of faith during hardship, the pattern of God revealing Himself, and the significance of genealogy in understanding Israel’s story. We also connected these lessons to our own spiritual journeys.
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