"Living Water" and the "Bread of Life" (with us forever)

[Ben Avraham]

PARASHAH: “B'shalach” (when he let go) EXODUS 13:17-17:16

We are coming down to the “showdown” where Pharaoh gets what he deserves for defying the God of Israel, going back on his word to “let Israel go”, you cannot pursue Israel without getting hurt, and Pharaoh and his army got to drink bitter waters, went off the “deep end” received a very fatal “water baptism”.

Yet before all this happens, there are some interesting verses. Exodus 17: 18 states that; “The children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt” yet it also states that Elohim did not lead them through the land of the Philistines because an encounter with them might bring war, frighten them, and cause them to go back to Egypt. But if they had weapons, why would they fear a battle? One can assume that even though they had weapons, they would be no good if they didn’t know how to use them.

We can say the same thing about the Bible, it is useless in the hands of one who does not know how to use it, or uses it in wrongful ways, inventing “strange” doctrines, or taking verses out of context. The Israelites were ex-slaves, not soldiers. Another question, where did they get the weapons? Were the weapons among the spoils of Egypt? They might have been. But here is another view of the words "being armed" when the Israelites left Egypt. This is looking at a spiritual and moral interpretation and understanding.

The word for “armed” in Hebrew which is used is “chamushim” the wise rabbis of old state this word has roots in the words “chamesh” (the number 5) and “chamishim” (50). So what does this tell us? It may have been the 5th generation after Yosef that left Egypt. If a generation is 80 years, it would add up to 400 years. Also, the number 5 symbolizes “grace”. So, the Israelites not only left Egypt with some spears and swords but they were also armed with the “grace” that Elohim bestowed on them. More importantly, they were armed with the protection, the blessings, and the leadership of Elohim who led them out of Egypt. The number “50” also reminds us of the “50 gates of understanding” which the ancient rabbis say are 50 questions that Elohim asked Job at the end of the Book of Job. Of course, these are just ideas one can think about.

When we look at scripture, we always look at both the literal and the moral/spiritual aspects of verses. They can tell us much more than meets the eye.

Another word for “armed” is “equipped”. One could also say that the Children of Israel went out of Egypt “equipped” with the “5” promises that Adonai gave to His people; 1) Elohim will deliver Israel from under the burden of Egyptian Slavery; 2) Israel will be REDEEMED by the ARM of Elohim-YHVH; 3) Elohim-YHVH will take Israel as HIS people and will be their GOD; 4) Israel will be brought into the chosen land of promise; 5) The promised land will be an INHERETANCE. It took Israel also 50 days from leaving Egypt to receive the Torah in the land of Midian.

Here is something else. It took God only one day to take Israel out of Egypt, and at the same time, destroyed the whole Egyptian army, yet it took 40 years to take "Egypt" out of "Israel." There was still a lot of mindset and philosophy from Egypt that left with the Israelites. Remember, they were in the land of Egypt for 430 years. In a way, they were part of that culture as well.

We are the same way, even though we are born-again believers, we still carry around the garbage related to our “Yetzer-Hara” (sin nature) but little by little, the Holy Spirit takes that from us as we mature in the faith.

We might wonder how many Israelites left Egypt, probably about 2 million, plus those Egyptians that “saw the light” plus the sheep and cattle, it was a huge people group that headed eastward across the Sinai Peninsula and then headed south after reaching “Midol” (an Egyptian army base, where weapons were stored).

We are told...” and it was told the King of Egypt that the people were fled” ...14:5. What? Didn't he already know that? Of course, he did, he let them go! It was probably a team of scouts that were sent out to track down the Israelites to see where they were going, and they gave their report back to Pharaoh.

Now this took place a few days later, now Pharaoh is sorry he let them go. What? Didn't he remember the plagues? Some people never learn, they love misery. Now Pharaoh musters together his entire army! Another mistake, never send out your entire armed forces, always leave behind reserve units. But Pharaoh was not a wise general. This probably took another few days, thus giving Israel about a week's head start, it would take quite a few days for about 2 million people to cross the Sinai Peninsula.

The names “Elohim” and “YHVH” are both used in this Parashah, “Elohim” is used at the beginning of this parashah, in Chap 13:17 meaning the “Strong, powerful God” yet the name YHVH, later on, shows the personal name, (coming from “Havayah” meaning “to exist”) shows the personal relationship as “Adonai” which we also say when reading YHVH, anytime the word LORD is used in scripture, it is the name YHVH.

Y

 

[Ben Avraham]

HVH takes them across the Sinai Peninsula to entice the Egyptians, to utterly finish destroying them thus ending the powerful rule of Egypt, Egypt never recovered from that defeat. The times of Egyptian power and glory under Thutmoses, Narmer, Cheops, and pharaohs of past dynasties were now at an end.

When the Israelites get to the beach, they get ready to cross, in Hebrew it is known as “Yam Suf” in English, it is known as “Nuweba Beach” it is a tourist resort today in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. We see that YHVH goes behind the Israelites to protect them, in the form of darkness to the Egyptians, yet light to the Israelites. To us as believers, Yeshua is our light, for us to follow, but to Satan, Yeshua is the conquering king, without the light of Yeshua, without the light of the Torah, we live in darkness, spiritual darkness.

Chapter 14:13 is interesting. Moshe says; “Fear not and stand still and see the SALVATION of YHVH” In Hebrew, the word “Salvation” is “YESHUAT” we have the name of our Messiah “Yeshua” plus the “Tav” Symbolically, we can see that Yeshua is part of Elohim, and He is moving to bring HIS people through the sea, It also reminds us that the “Tav” (T) symbolizes the covenant, it takes the form of the cross in Paleo-Hebrew. We have the name “Yeshua” and the “cross” He is saving his people from physical destruction by the Egyptians, and in the future, He will die to save the world from Spiritual destruction.

In gematria, “Yeshuat” adds up to 786. Reading from right to left, one way to understand the message of this sum of numbers is; “MAN achieves ETERNAL life (a new beginning) through the PERFECT God who is Yeshua, who is part of Elohim

Now YHVH tells Moshe to “lift up your rod and your hand” and cause the sea to part, and it did divide in two, we read that Israel crossed on “dry land” what with a strong wind to dry up the sea bottom. First, however, the order was given to "move forward" towards the Sea! This was an act of faith. The people moved forward and THEN, the Sea parted in two all night long.

Then, YHVH gives the order to Moshe to raise his hand over the water again, and the waters closed up again and drowned the Egyptian army, the army was halfway across, and we see something in the words, “hand” (Yad), and “rod” (Mateh) that make us think. The “rod” is a symbol of authority, of rulership. The “hand” is a symbol of “power and strength” The Torah speaks of YHVH revealing his “Holy Arm” the “arm is connected to the hand” The ancient Hebrew symbol of the “Yod” is the extended “arm and hand” so we can see the message here, “Moshe” is the authority as he shows his leadership by raising his rod, and his hand opens and closes the sea, thus demonstrating his strength and power, but of course, it is not HIS, it is GOD's leadership and strength, being revealed THROUGH Moses.

When the people follow Moses, it is as if they are following GOD, trusting in his leadership and strength. When we receive Yeshua as Messiah, we trust in HIM as our leader and our strength, and we follow HIM through his WORD, yet many hope that Yeshua will follow THEM! (not going to happen)

When we look at all this from a moral and spiritual insight (Derash) We have been rescued from Satan, by our Leader, who is strong, whose “hand” struck the death blow to Satan, whose “hands” bore the nails of Calvary's cross, and who leads us to a new life, we have been set apart, made "holy" to follow HIM for all of our days, (Should we choose to) of course it is a choice, but the “good Shepherd always “looks back” for his lost or misguided sheep, to lead them back to the fold.

We see other events that show God's protection and provision for his people, in verses 22-27 we see the “bitter waters made sweet” Moshe threw into the water “a tree” probably cut it down and threw it in, the waters were made sweet, the Torah is also called, “The TREE of LIFE” (Etz Chaim) that changes our bitterness to sweetness, from sorrow to happiness, from lost to saved.

In chapter 16, the provision of “Manna” in the desert “Bread from Heaven” (Lechem b'Shemayim) another provision from YHVH, it symbolizes “Yeshua the Bread of Life” and in chapter 17, “Water from the Rock” Moshe was told to “strike the rock” and he did with his staff/rod” and out it flowed water so that the congregation and the livestock could drink. This symbolizes “Yeshua the Solid Rock” (Yeshua HaTzur) and Yeshua who is the Living Water. (Yeshua Mayim Chayim). It also symbolizes that Yeshua was “struck ONLY ONCE for our sins at Calvary, ONLY ONCE meaning “nailed to the cross and died one time and one time only.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul tells about the "Spiritual Rock" that followed the Israelites in the desert to comfort them and to lead them. Miraculously, God provided them with water and bread for 40 years in the desert, plus HIS presence. Yeshua/Jesus is our "Spiritual Rock" who is with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Wherever we go, HE is with us. We all have a life journey ahead of us. We know not the number of years we will have on this earth, but we are promised HIS presence to guide us, and His WORD to guide us. We will always have HIS Water in this desert called "life on earth".

Shalom