Exodus 6:2-9:35
“God spoke to Moshe; he said to him, ‘I am Adonai. I appeared to Avraham, Yitz’ak and Ya’akov as El Shaddai’” (Exodus 6:2-3).
Excerpt:
Boils, Boils, Boils – Plague 6
“Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, ‘Take handfuls of ashes from the kiln and throw it into the air before Pharaoh’s eyes. They will turn into a fine dust all over the land of Egypt and become infected sores on men and animals in the land of Egypt’” (Exodus 9:8-9).
The sixth plague judgment is against Thoth, the ibis-headed Egyptian god of medicine and theology. In Hebrew this plague is called shechiyn or inflamed spots –– the root for ‘burning.’ There was so much physical suffering with this judgment that the Egyptians called on this god to cure their pain; however, Thoth’s healing powers could not override the judgment of ‘I Am.’
Even the magicians cannot escape the ‘burning’ and become so infected that they could not carry out their priestly duty of taking the ashes of human sacrifices and casting them into the air. Floating human ashes in the wind over the people of Egypt was considered a blessing. Now, however, the ash remains of human sacrifice burn the flesh of the Egyptians –– including their cats and dogs.
Pharaoh’s response: “But Adonai made Pharaoh hardhearted so that he didn’t listen to them” (Exodus 9:12).
With the completion of the second set of three plagues, Adonai reveals to Egypt that He distinguishes between souls: the sin-darkened idolatrous souls of the Egyptians and the souls of His chosen people. As ‘I Am’ reveals Himself to Pharaoh as Judge; He proves Himself the Protector of Isra’el.
Selah
The plagues have a two-fold purpose: to ‘smite Egypt’ and draw Elohim’s people closer.
“Adonai said to Moshe, ‘Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, “Here is what Adonai says; ‘Let my people go so that they can worship me. For this time I will inflict my plagues on you, yourself, and on your officials and your people; so that you will realize that I am without equal in all the earth. By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth. But it is for this very reason that I have kept you alive – to show you my power, and so that my name may resound throughout the whole earth”” (Exodus 9:13-16).
The next three plagues prove Adonai’s power as the Creator. There is no other god equal to him in the heavens above or the earth below. These judgments will be experienced not only by the Egyptians, but also by Pharaoh. While Adonai could just wipe the Egyptians off the face of the earth, He wants His Name to resound in Pharaoh’s ears.
“So it [the beast] opened its mouth in blasphemies against God to insult his name and his Sh’khinah, and those living in heaven; it was allowed to make war on God’s holy people and to defeat them; and it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. Everyone living on earth will worship it [the beast] except those whose names are written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb slaughtered before the world was founded” (Revelation 13:6-8).
For a complete copy of this Torah portion, the readings from the Prophets, gospels, letters, and study questions, please purchase Open My Eyes: Wonders of Torah.
©2018 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.