Come

Torah Portion Exodus 10:1-13:16

Come. An excellent title given the reality that the Pharoah wanted them to go! The Hebrews, by this point had become a stench to the god of Egypt. The Pharoah was to prove yet again he must learn the hard way.

Come, said Moses to the people and Pharoah would not let them leave, yet again. The Pharoah called to his god Serapai, when the locusts came. Come, called Pharoah and his magicians but he did not come to save them. Instead, Moses came to notify Pharoah that the God of Israel would free Egypt from the locusts.

Come, my people, Moses cried out again but Pharoah, the god of the land, would not let them go. So, the Lord was to come with a darkness that could be felt on all the people of Egypt. Come! The Pharoah and his magicians cried to Ra, the god of the sun, to dispel the darkness! To bring his light! He did not. He could not. Instead, Moses came, and taught Pharoah yet again, only the God of the Hebrews could give them relief.

The final sign, was to come. The command went forth to the people who wanted to be spared from the God is Israel’s wrath. The god Pharoah was to experience what he had done to the people. He murdered the children, even the first born of the Hebrews as they were born and now the Pharoah would know this tragedy. The death angel was to come and teach the god of the Egyptians and all of their others gods; what the true God is capable of.

The Hebrews were to paint their door posts with the blood of the lamb they were to sacrifice in haste. Death was to come. They were to prepare the meal, the bread, and their belongings in haste. Their freedom was to come.

As the night came, the Hebrews and all others who heard and headed the command prepared their meals and waited in their daily clothing for the sign it was time to leave! The sign had come! It came with a great weeping in the early morning as each Egyptian who failed to paint their door post and wait expectantly for God’s redemption found that death had come to their home and their first-born was no more.

This day, the Passover or Pesach to this day is celebrated as divine intervention in the world on behalf of Israel who was enslaved and oppressed and whoes only hope was the Lord who not only delivered them; but did it in a way no one could deny it was indeed from the God of true justice and power!

It was Israel, who would leave with wealth, their children, and their lives from the land of slavery to service to their God. This torah portion ends with God; He did did come to set His people free! Come, He said to His people! Come, to the wilderness where He would redeem their first-born, educate them on His ways, and bring the next generation to His land. The land He had promised to their father Abraham.