Parashat Va’era – Year 3 – The Plagues of Egypt: A Firm and Just Judgement.
Shabbat Shalom, Nazarene family.
This week we will study the parashat Va’era, portion of year 3, where we will see how Yahweh sends new plagues upon Egypt: lice, flies, death of livestock, boils, and hail. We will learn that even though the Egyptian magicians cannot imitate the signs, Pharaoh continues to harden his heart. We will read that Yahweh makes a distinction between His people and the Egyptians, protecting the Hebrews from each plague. These signs demonstrate His power and authority over the entire earth. In this passage, we will see that Yahweh does not forget His people, and that His judgments are firm, just, and purposeful.
Shemote (Exodus) 9:16-18
16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power inyou, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.
18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.
This week corresponds to the reading of the texts (in bold):
- Shemote (Exodus) 6:2-7:7 / 7:8-8:15 / 8:16-9:35
- Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 66:1-6 / 66:7-14 / 66:15-24
- Mattityahu (Matthew) 12:1-21 / 12:22-37 / 12:38-50
Summary of the weekly study, Year three:
Shemote (Éxodus) 8:16-9:35
In these verses, Yahweh sends a series of plagues to demonstrate His power over Egypt: lice covering men and animals, swarms of flies, a pestilence that kills Egyptian livestock, painful boils, and a hailstorm that destroys everything in its path. Each plague strikes harder, but Pharaoh continues to harden his heart. Yahweh distinguishes between the Egyptians and His people, demonstrating that He protects those who obey Him. In this passage, we learn that Yahweh is just in His judgment, patient in His purpose, and faithful in His protection of His people.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 66:15-24
In these verses, Yahweh declares that He will come with fire and judgment to punish the rebellious, especially those who practice pagan rites and eat unclean things. However, He also reveals that He will gather people from all nations who did not know Him, and they will proclaim His glory. Yahweh promises that He will take priests and Levites from among them, and that every month and every Sabbath, all flesh will come to worship Him. In this passage, we learn that Yahweh will bring perfect justice, extend His glory to all nations, and be worshiped by all, eternally.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 9:43-62
In these verses, some scribes and Pharisees ask Yeshua for a sign, but He responds that the only sign will be that of the prophet Jonah, who spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, thus pointing to His own death and resurrection. He then speaks of how a wicked generation does not recognize true repentance or the presence of Yahweh. Finally, He declares that His true family are those who do the will of the Father. In this passage, we learn that sincere obedience is more valuable than any external sign or blood ties.
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Enjoy this fun activity with the whole family. Inside you will find development questions for the three weekly sections (Torah, Haftarah and Brit Chadasha). While the older ones discuss the questions and their answers, the younger ones can color the picture related to the teaching, solve a maze, find the 7 differences and much more. We encourage you to do it week by week and instill in your children the habit of studying Yahweh’s word as a family.
We hope you and especially your sons and daughters enjoy this effort. For it is through the study of the Scriptures that we can come to understand the love and care that Yahweh has always had for us. And also to perceive that He has been taking care of even the smallest detail, so that we can take care and enjoy all that He gives us. That is why it is so important that our children learn and grow up knowing that they are loved by the Creator of all that exists.
Shalom.
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