As a family and with friends we have been studying the God's Word, the Torah (first 5 books in our Bibles) thematically. The study we are using helps us see how important everything that was written is and why it was written the way it was. It really isn't just a hodge-podge of information, but a well thought out, very directed writing of events and instructions for us to follow. If you are interested in studying God's word this way, here is the link:
Restoration of Torah - Thematic Studies
We just started on Exodus this last week, focusing on chapter 2 we learned many things about Moses and how this part of his story is thematically related to Noah, Joseph, Jeremiah, Hadad the Edomite, Jacob and to Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.
Moses was suppose to be thrown into the river, his parents hid him for three months then placed him in a basket (an ark) that was pitched within and without. Like Noah, he was saved from the judgement of death, through water in an ark that was pitched. The reasons for the details are so we can see a connection. Here is why:
With Noah, we see a judgement on mankind.
With Moses we see a judgement on Egypt.
With Noah we see how the righteous was saved through that judgement.
With Moses we see how the righteous are saved through the judgement on Egypt.
God establishes a covenant with Moses.
God establishes a covenant with Israel.
Moses is to inhabit the new earth with the hope that people will then follow God's instructions.
Israel is to inhabit the new land in hopes that people will then follow God's instructions through their example.
Moses grows up, becomes, more than likely, a co-regent in Egypt, and tries to stand up for what is right by standing up for the oppressed which backfires. His timing is off. He knows he has a purpose, tries to make it happen and has to flee for his life. He stands for the oppressed three times:
1. He ends up killing an Egyptian taskmaster
2. He breaks up a fight between two Hebrews, his brothers so to speak.
3. He defends Jethro/Rehuel's 7 daughters from the other shepherds and waters their flock.
This all teaches us about Moses' character and how he hated injustice, and wasn't afraid to stand up for the weaker person(s).
The next connection is how he meets his wife, at a well. Abraham's servant meets Issac's wife at a well, Jacob meets Rachael at a well and now Moses meets Zipporrah at a well. There is also a tie to kindness, Rebeckah waters all the camels, Jacob removed the cover off the well and then waters all the flock and Moses waters the flock after defending the 7 daughters. Interestingly there are three instances in the Torah and the forth is Yeshua meeting the woman at the well...what is the connection?
As a leader we learn that Moses has to go through a period of persecution/tribulation similar in some regards to Joseph. Thus showing us that Moses will be used to secure life for Israel in a way similar to that of Joseph.
1. He has a conflict with one of his 'brothers'.
2. Is then rejected in a similar fashion..."who made you judge and ruler over us?"
3. Moses flees or is exiled from his brethren.
4. Moses marries the daughter of a priest from a foreign land.
5. Moses goes to see how his brothers are doing.
6. Moses is reunited with his brethren who now accept his leadership.
How is this important to know? Here are just a few reasons:
1. Moses leads Israel out of Egyptian bondage of slavery/ Yeshua leads us out of the bondage of sin.
2. Moses was tested/trained in the wilderness for 40 years/ Israel was tested and purified in the wilderness for 40 years/ Yeshua was tested in the wilderness for 40 days.
3. Moses was given signs/miracles so Irael would believe that (YHWH) sent him/ Yeshua said they should believe because of the signs/miracles He did.
4. Moses was given power over leprosy/ Yeshua had power over leprosy, which was known to be the sign of the Messiah.
In 1 Kings 11:14-22 we find Hadad's story and the connections we can make to Moses, Joseph and Yeshua:
1. Hadad, Moses and Yeshua all male children are killed.
2. Hadad, Joseph and Yeshua, all destined to be leaders had to flee to Egypt, Moses had to flee from Egypt.
3. Hadad and Moses were raised in Pharoah's court.
4. Hadad and Joseph were given wives from royalty in Pharoah's court.
5. Hadad and Joseph found favor with Pharoah.
6. Hadad, Moses and Yeshua all returned to their people/homeland after the death of their enemies.
In 1 Kings 11:39-40 we find the same type of story with someone destined to be a leader/ruler fleeing to Egypt to spare their life. It appears the lesson we are to learn here is to be a true leader, you must experience persecution/tribulation. Even David goes through this type of persecution/tribulation/exile from his people. We are all called to be leaders (kings and priests), in God's kingdom, why should we expect anything less than this?
The Haftarah is the name given to the special readings from the Writings and the Prophets read alongside the Torah portions. For example, the Haftarah reading for last week was Jeremiah 1:1-2:3. The connections to the Torah portion is as follows:
1. The calling of both Moses and Jeremiah to be a prophet to the people.
2. Moses and Jeremiah are both reluctant, feeling inadequate.
3. YHWH God puts His words in Jeremiah and Moses' mouth.
4. An allusion is made back to the Exodus calling Israel the first born, judgement will come against those who harm Israel.
So, why is all this important to know? Because Yeshua states that Moses wrote of Him! When Yeshua is talking to the two on the road to Emmaus he tells them of Him from the beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, so it is important to understand what Moses wrote and why or we miss it all and come up with our own doctrines based on what we 'think' Yeshua said and not on what He REALLY did say. This is why there is so many denominations/divisions among us, we do not know or understand the WORD made flesh who dwelt among us teaching us ALL things that were written. You see, at the time of Yeshua, there were many divisions, based on the oral traditions. Any oral tradition that went against the WORD of YHWH God Yeshua denounced. He did not come to do away with the Torah (instructions of God) he came to fulfill...not one jot or tittle will pass away until He returns. Has He returned? Then we should be following His instructions....right? What are His instructions? Most would say, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and strength and your neighbor as yourself" leaving out the rest of the context which says, all the commandments (instructions, Torah) HANG on these two...that does not mean that is it, but ALL the rest can be hung from, these two summations.
So, what do we learn of the future Messiah in Exodus 1-6:1?
In Genesis we learn that anytime we see:
1. Pictures of resurrection,
2. Pictures of renewed life as a result of deliverance from impending death
3. Pictures of victory and life as a result of death
the Torah is trying to teach us about the Messiah.
Examples are:
1. The first living things were created on day THREE.
2.Torah's picture of resurrection of the Messiah is found in the Holy Days of YHWH God. Specifically, Day THREE of the Omer (First Fruits), Omer Wave Offering.
3. Jonah, should have died, but was delivered from the belly of the great fish on day THREE.
4. The binding of Issac (akeida), where Issac was being offered as an Olah (whole burnt offering) on day THREE, hints that Issac died and was resurrected from death figuratively. See Hebrews 11:17-19
So, in Exodus chapter 2 we find that Moses was suppose to die based on the Pharoah's decree that all male babies were to be thrown in the river, thus being killed. In Matthew chapter 2 we find that King Herod put out a similar decree to kill all the male children 2 years and under to prevent Yeshua from living. His life was spared as well, of course!
Moses' parents hid him for THREE months. Then, she 'obeyed' the decree by putting him in the river.
He was drawn out of the water by Pharoah's daughter, thus cancelling Pharoah's decree and giving him LIFE. This is a picture of life from death! Resurrection!
Joseph and Moses are thematically linked and therefore we can begin to see how knowing this changes how we study scripture. Joseph has a strong Messianic connection and therefore as a connection with Moses is visible we shall see how Moses and the Messiah are linked, I encourage you to go back and study the last 2 studies in Genesis on Joseph from the above link, it is a powerful story.
Moses is a shadow of the Messiah: Moses was set apart from the Hebrew slavery, he was raised as royalty and then had to become common, like his brethren, to lead them out of slavery and bondage to sin. Yeshua is royalty being YHWH God's only begotten son, became a common man, to lead us out of the bondage of sin and death. As Moses did not participate in the slavery of Egypt, so Yeshua did not participate in our sin nature, being perfect (keeping God's instructions). Moses stepped down from his position in Egypt to identify with his brethren, as Yeshua. See Philipians 2.
Moses' very life is a picture of the Messiah! There will be more connections as the story unfolds in the next few weeks, I can't wait, this is exciting!!!
~Have a blessed week!
