Tag: miracle

Parashah Va-ayrah (and I Appeared) Exodus 6:2 – 9

Leave a comment

And so it begins: Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh and tell him (it seems Moses is not requesting anymore, but demanding) to let the people go. Pharaoh refuses, and God pummels Egypt with miraculous events to convince Pharaoh to obey God. The rod to snake, the water to blood, and the frogs from the river are all miracles that the Egyptian magicians can duplicate. But the next plague, the plague of gnats, the magicians are helpless to create or stop. This is the first sign that demonstrates God’s absolute preeminence over the magicians and gods of Egypt.

Next the plague of flies is sent, and God “ups the stakes” with this plague by not only doing something that the Egyptian magicians and gods cannot duplicate or control, but God sends this plague against all of Egypt except in the land of Goshen, where His people live.

Pharaoh begins to weaken a little, setting conditions on the release of the Israelites to go into the desert and worship, but Moses holds fast to God’s command that everyone and every animal go forth; all of Israel and all of Israel’s possessions. Pharaoh refuses, and the next plagues attack that which Pharaoh refused to allow Israel to take: all the people (men, women and children) and their cattle. But only the people and cattle of the Egyptians. The next plague was against the produce of Egypt, with the hail destroying the flax crops, but again, none of these plagues affect the Israelites in Goshen.

I saw one commentary on this, in which the author was giving a drash on the idea of bondage; he showed the relationship between how God was freeing the Israelites from human bondage to the Egyptians in the same way that Yeshua (Jesus) has freed humans from spiritual bondage to sin. I thought that was a good message, which is why I mention it here, but it’s not the message I will bring today.

I feel that what we need to talk about is how Pharaoh, in spite of the absolutely undeniable proof of God’s existence and power over him, his magicians and his gods, still chose to defy God. When you’re reading this, aren’t you asking yourself, “What is it with this guy? Hello! Anyone home? Think, McFly, think! C’mon- get with the program, already!”? I know I do. I can’t believe how anyone, even the Pharaoh, could be so stubborn in the face of overwhelming power. Yes, this is a new one for the Pharaoh- I mean, in all fairness to him, the Pharaoh has grown up in a world where he is the all-powerful one, himself, and has never had to move over and make room for someone greater than him. He probably isn’t really believing this, and maybe, even, thinks that after Moses entreats God to stop each plague, that he, Pharaoh, commanded Moses to make it stop. Who knows for sure?

The bible tells us that God hardened Pharaoh’s, heart, but could that have been through a lifetime of being an absolute ruler? Maybe the hardening God did of Pharaoh’s heart was not just there and then, but had been part of God’s plan from before that Pharaoh was even born?  Maybe, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?

The lesson for us, I would like to offer, is that we need to help others see the power and glory of God in everything that happens. I would guess that most everyone reading this (especially those who have blessed me by being a follower of this blog-ministry) know the Lord, or at least recognize His existence and influence, but what about the rest of the world?

What I am trying to say (and not doing a good job of) is that people need to see the wonder, power and proof of God’s existence in everyday miracles, which happen all the time. I am not talking about hail from a clear sky, or rivers being split open, but about events that happen every day . For instance, what about a Tsunami? Isn’t that a force to be reckoned with? Sure, scientists will tell us it is the natural result of an underwater earthquake, but doesn’t God use the natural to show His supernatural power? That is what the world fails to recognize, just as Pharaoh failed to recognize (and accept)- God uses the natural to show that He is supernatural. We have fallen into a sort of ennui when we see supernatural occurrences because, I believe, when we can explain how something happens we think that it can’t be a miracle anymore. Yeah, I watched that Tsunami, I see that volcanic eruption, I lived through a hurricane…so what? It’s nature, it’s based on coincidental weather manifestations, it’s not a miracle.

My Webster’s Dictionary (1993) defines a miracle as, “A supernatural event or happening regarded as an act of God.”  What it doesn’t define is, what is an ‘Act of God’?

As far as I’m concerned, when I breathe that is an act of God. When I eat something and it gets broken down to it’s molecular level in my stomach and intestines, then is distributed to each and every one of the mitochondria in each and every one of the billions of cells in my body so that I can move, walk, talk, act, think…that is an act of God.

When my heart beats and the blood carries life to my body, which is why God said never to eat the blood (Leviticus 17:11), that is a miracle, a divine intervention by God, an act of God that continues to occur. From you and I being able to breathe, to everything else that happens in the universe, every moment of every day, all are a miracle that God has made happen. He has set the ball rolling, and whether He controls which way it goes or just lets it roll whichever way it wants to for a while, it is still an act of God that made it go and keeps it going.

Miracles are all around us and we, as Believers, need to explain to people that even a natural occurrence is something God has caused or allowed to happen. God is in charge of everything, and just because we can duplicate what He does or because we can explain in scientific terms the mechanics of the occurrence, doesn’t mean it isn’t a miracle.

The only thing that can’t be explained is how people can deny God’s existence, power and influence in the world. That is what I cannot explain; this is what I consider something that has no explanation in the natural, that there are still people who refuse to believe in God.

What’s the “take-away” today? This: look for the miracles, show the miracles to others, and proclaim God’s power and glory in every little miraculous thing you see to everyone you talk with. Hit them between the eyes with it (I am talking figuratively) by explaining that that just because we can explain how something happens doesn’t mean it isn’t a miracle.

Let me leave you with this little joke:

Scientists can now read the complete human genome, and in a meeting of the great scientists of the world they decided that with this knowledge they will soon be able to cure any disease or malformation, so God isn’t really necessary anymore. God asks them, “Can you make a living human being from a handful of clay?” The scientists gather and confer, then tell God they believe they can. God says to them, “Show me.” They go out and get a large clump of clay, and when they bring it into the laboratory God says to them, “Oh, no! That’s my clay- you have to make your own clay.”

If a miracle can be defined as an act of God, and we know God created the universe and how it all works, then everything that happens in the universe is, by definition, a miracle. Our job is to teach this to those that refuse to see and accept the truth of it.

Parashah Beshallach (It came to pass) Exodus 13:17 – 17

Leave a comment

The Israelites are in the desert, free from Egyptian slavery. However, now the Egyptians (mainly Pharaoh) have realized what they did, and are regretting their letting the Israelites go. So Pharaoh gets all his chariots together and rides out. I don’t believe he wanted to  kill them all, for what good would that do? He wanted to bring them back.

In any event, the Israelites thought he wanted to kill them all, and they were stuck: the Red Sea on one side and Pharaoh’s chariots on the other. And now we see the salvation of the Lord, one of the most well-known stories of the bible, come to pass. God miraculously keeps the army at bay with the pillar of cloud and fire, while he lights the way for the Israelites to walk through the now separated waters of the sea. Pharaoh is allowed to follow as the Israelites are just getting through, and God leaves them stranded in the midst of the waters, which He then brings back down upon them, totally destroying the army of Pharaoh.

The rest of this parashah is like an outline of how God provided for the people all through their desert travels, against their kvetching and whining: He gave them meat, he gave them bread, He gave them water. When they came to water that was not safe, He made it safe. When they were attacked, He fought for them.

This small parashah tells us that everything we need, God provides for us. And more than that, it demonstrates God’s love for His children, even in the wake of their distrust. Despite seeing the most marvelous and unbelievable miracles anyone could ever see, when some problem arose the people immediately complained and totally forgot the wondrous and miraculous things that God had done so far that proved He could provide. It’s like saying, “OK. You’ve destroyed Egypt, you’ve split the sea, you provided bread in the morning and meat at night, you’ve brought forth water from the rock, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME TODAY?”

Oy! What a bunch of nudniks!

It’s an easy lesson to learn today, easily understood, and almost impossible for us to remember when some “disaster” befalls us: God is able. God is able to provide our needs: God is able to rescue us: God is able to protect us: God is able to keep His promises: God is able!!

So when you have tsouris, when you feel let down by others, when you doubt that God is with you, get real! Get your head back on straight and remember what God has done for you in your life so far. Really- if you are that weak in faith and trust that one little thing goes wrong and you think God has abandoned you, you don’t deserve His blessings!

Lucky for you, and for me, too, that God is more forgiving and compassionate to us than we are to each other. I truly believe, and I tell Him, that if I lived a thousand years and never received another blessing, I have already received more than I could ever deserve. It’s true, and that is why I keep getting blessed: not because I deserve it (although when we obey God and His Torah, He does bless us) but because God is a God who loves to bless His children. He is a God who protects us, He is a God who loves us enough to chide and punish us when what we do is dangerous to our salvation, and He is a God who will deliver on His promises.

The problem is not with God, it is with us: He keeps covenant, we break it. He deserves worship and honor, we deserve death. He protects and provides, we don’t appreciate it. He is faithful, we are not.

The good news is we can change, and when we allow the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) to lead us we do change. Little by little, step by step, we make progress spiritually. And it shows in our daily activities. We are all going though the desert, and we all look forward to the Promised Land at the end of our journey. Just like the Israelites, when we allow God to lead us and follow His path, we will be protected, provided for, and will eventually arrive at our (eternal) land of milk and honey.

Don’t kvetch, don’t think the grass is greener on the other side (trust me, it isn’t), and don’t hold on to the past. When all looked lost with the sea ahead of them and death behind them, God asked Moses (Exodus 14:15), “Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” I believe God was telling Moses (as well as you and me) to walk in faith and watch what happens. God is a God of action, not sitting around and waiting. When we walk in faith, even into the sea, or into the burning furnace, God will provide and protect. We need to move, we need to demonstrate our faithfulness; and when we do, God will be there.

God is able.

Holy Doesn’t Have to Mean Boring

Leave a comment

Do you think that when Yeshua was at that wedding (you know, the one where He turned water into wine) that He was standing all alone in the corner, a wallflower not dancing or joining in the fun? I don’t. The Bible doesn’t specifically say anything about that, but it does tell us He cried when Lazarus was dead, so we know He is willing to show emotions. When He felt compassion for the people, He had to be showing feeling, don’t you think? I have to think that when Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, then almost immediately lost faith, Yeshua had to be disappointed and the tone of His voice must have shown that.

If we are to love God and love each other, how can we do that if we are emotionally dead, being stoic and serious all the time?

I like to joke around, sometimes to excess, and sometimes a little more blue than some might think a “Believer” should be (you should have heard me before I cared what God thought; actually, it’s probably better that you haven’t), and I can often relieve tension with a funny comment. This is a gift from above, and when I use it as it should be used, I have to think that God is pleased with what I do.

I can’t believe that Yeshua was dry and always serious. In the Bible He is always talking about God and the way that God wants us to act (that’s called Torah!) After all, the Bible is the manual and what’s important is to have it full of the truth of God and how to please Him. So it’s only natural that the main text will be composed of those things Yeshua did and said that relate directly to His announcement and demonstration of the Kingdom of God. But don’t you wonder, even a little, if Yeshua ever just “talked” with the Disciples? Maybe a little kibbutzing over a nosh?

I think He had to. There had to be “normal” discourse at times because to get through to people you need to be able to communicate effectively, and effective communication is two-way. I can’t think that Yeshua never had a normal conversation about something other than God.

Maybe I am wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time and won’t be the last time): I will be the first to say we can’t make an argument from nothing, and there is nothing (I can recall) in the Gospels that indicates Yeshua had conversations that were not about God. I am not totally confident about this, either (in case you hadn’t picked up on that) because I also believe that to be holy we need to be separated, we need to talk and act differently from the rest of the world. But what about amongst ourselves? Can’t we joke with each other? Can’t we have a little fun?

God gave us a sense of humor, so shouldn’t we be using it? If we are to do what Yeshua did, and we have a sense of humor, can I make a “backward” argument that Yeshua, therefore, must have also joked around now and then; at least, with His Disciples?

I am rambling on a bit today; maybe I won’t get a whole bunch of “Likes” for this blog. Maybe I will get some conversation going. Maybe I am just shouting into the wind.

I want to be holy as God says we should be, and I want to use the gifts He gave me in a way that will glorify Him. I will keep on joking, and making every effort I can, worm that I am, to make the humor acceptable in all circles. And still, I will make jokes to get the attention and to give happiness to those that need a little “blue” in their humor. I will do as Shaul (Paul) did (Corin. 9:22) and be whatever I have to be to get the attention of the person I am talking with so that I can get the message of God to them. I know I was afraid to seek the Lord and turn myself over to Him because the image of “holy” people is one of being stoic, never laughing, never smiling, always talking about God and, basically, boring to be with. I love the Lord and love talking about Him, but I need a break now and then to just have regular conversation. How can I know how to comfort someone if all I do is relate to God and not to that person?

I want to show that God’s influence in my life has been wonderful, and that since I gave myself over to Him I am not becoming a different person, I just am becoming a better me. I didn’t lose myself when I came to God; yes, I found “it”, but I also found myself, and I found the completeness of worship that was always missing. What I found was what had been calling to me since I was a child: I found relationship with the Lord and completeness in my Judaism. I have come full-circle, a Jewish person who knows his Messiah. The Jewish people were separated for God, and promised that in the Acharit HaYamim (the End Days) God will bring us back to Him, and that our Messiah will be the means to which we are rescued from not just dispersion throughout the Diaspora, not just from separation from our ancestral lands, but separation from God.

This news about Messiah ain’t boring: this is good stuff! We should be joyful and happy, we should show that in all we do. And if we can’t present, and represent, the Lord in a emotionally strong manner than how “happy” can we be, really? If we are always emotionally contained, and “proper” and “in control” then who would believe that we are joyous, elated and free? Can you be ecstatic without a smile? Can you talk about your most enjoyable experience without a tear in your eye? Or jumping up and down? Maybe being a little “Pentacostal” is important to demonstrate the uncontainable joy that knowing the Lord gives us.

Being holy doesn’t mean being boring; it just means being separated, and separated doesn’t mean being “bad” different, it just means being different.

As the French say, “Vive la différence!”