Last week we saw the 7 things G-d would do to save
the Israelites out of Egypt. G-d didn't ask our opinion
and he didn't need our help. In the same way, there
is nothing that we do to obtain our salvation or earn
a place in the olam habah (the world to come). G-d
does it all for us. Some groups tend to lean toward
an "easy believism" where all one needs
to do is to pray and G-d will do the rest. We never
see this in Scripture. For e.g. in Ex. 12:1ff the
people needed to secure the lamb according to G-d's
instructions, sacrifice the lamb at the right time
and put the blood on the doorpost in order to be saved.
Prayer would not have sufficed; they needed to obey
G-d's command given through Moshe.
It
is important to see that in these passages Israelites
and gentiles (erev rav-mixed multitude) were involved.
All of them were spared by the same rules. There was
no differentiation. See Ex.12:43-49.
The
Israelites were also told to go to their neighbor's
homes and ask the Egyptians for silver and gold jewellery
and clothing… (Chap. 12:35). They packed their
carts and walked out of Egypt…they didn't leave
on a flying carpet. Yes, G-d gives us everything that
we need to do his will but we need to do our part;
we need to be doers of the word, not only hearers
(James 1:22).
An
important drash to draw from this portion is that
once G-d saves us, He gives us the rules and requires
our obedience to him for our own sake. G-d wants us
actively involved in working in His kingdom and our
response is critical for our own benefit. Whenever
we break his rules, we suffer the consequences.
If
G-d is truly in us, than our word becomes our bond.
If we do not do what we say we will do, this is evil.
It is better to honestly admit that we can't or won't
do something than to break our word once it is given.
Yeshua said "let your yes be yes and your no
be no, anything more than this comes from the evil
one." Matthew 5:37. Many people interpret this
as allegorical or they spiritualize it. The truth
of the matter is that we need to be more concrete
and active in our role as believers in practice. "…We
are G-d's work of art, created in Messiah Yeshua for
the good works which G-d has already designated to
make up our way of life." Ephesians 2:8-10
Let
us obey and serve him in truth, this is true worship.
Rabbi Percy Johnson
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2008 Use by Permission
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