每週一妥拉 2013/1/6-/1/12
從古時起，世界各地的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經，從摩西五經（妥拉）到先知的書（先知書）。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱，其出自經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節，耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂，讀了一段先知書（以賽亞書61章）。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容，不僅提供我們機會，與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容，在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上，聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。
這週的閱讀（1/6-1/12）稱為『顯現』（Va'Era）『我是耶和華，我從前向亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各顯現為全能的神』，讀經進度為：
妥拉：出埃及記6:2-9:35
先知書：以賽亞書66:1-24
註：當安息日剛好在月朔（新的猶太月份）時，先知書會特別讀到以賽亞書66章，代替原來以西結書28:25-29:21的閱讀。
*出埃及記 7:1. 『耶和華對摩西說：我使你在法老面前代替神，你的哥哥亞倫是替你說話的。』在希伯來原文中並沒有『代替』這兩個字。我們是祂的身體，藉此祂以一種很真實的方式釋放祂的旨意『在地上如同在天上』。
*出埃及記7:9-10. 『法老若對你們說：你們行件奇事吧！你就吩咐亞倫說：把杖丟在法老面前，使杖變作蛇。摩西、亞倫進去見法老，就照耶和華所吩咐的行。亞倫把杖丟在法老和臣僕面前，杖就變作蛇。』希伯來文在這裡所翻譯出來的字並不是蛇，希伯來文提到蛇一般是用nakhash這個字，例如在伊甸園中誘惑夏娃的那條蛇。這裡用的字則是tanin，翻譯為鱷魚。尼羅河的鱷魚從古時就為人所懼怕（遠勝過其他受造物），因為它喜好掠食人。在創世記1:21裡，tanin是神所造出的『大魚』，但此受造物通常被用來比喻與神對立的靈界或自然界力量。
在以西結書29:3裡（這週的先知書內容），tanin則被翻為怪物，用來描述另一位法老（或掌控他的靈界勢力），『埃及王法老啊，我與你這臥在自己河中的大魚（怪物）為敵。你曾說：這河是我的，是我為自己造的。我─耶和華必用鉤子鉤住你的腮頰。』（在耶利米書51:34同樣的字也被翻譯成『怪物』，在那裡以色列人說：巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒像『大魚（怪物）』將我吞下。）在詩篇74:13則將其描述為『水中大魚（水中怪物）』，神將它的頭打破以拯救那些信靠它的人。在以賽亞書27:1說：『耶和華將殺海中的大魚（龍）。』
現代希伯來文對新約啟示錄12:3-4『有一條大紅龍，七頭十角…站在那將要生產的婦人面前，要吞吃他的孩子。』此紅龍稱為tanin，而12:9清楚說到『大龍（tanin）就是那古蛇（nakhash），名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但』。在詩篇91:13裡大蛇（tanin）就是龍，那些住在至高者隱密處的，必住在全能者蔭下的人將踐踏大蛇（龍）！
所以，在出埃及記7:15變作蛇的杖，藉由信心成為『神的杖』（4:20），它很有可能變作很可怕的怪物（tanin），吞吃其他可怕的受造物，或是變作有權柄的杖，將尼羅河中的水變為血（7:17）。簡而言之，杖成為權柄的象徵，摩西藉由杖在法老面前代替神（7:1），而神透過摩西彰顯祂自己至高的屬靈能力，可以擊敗、征服並吞吃所有反對的靈界勢力。
*出埃及記7:14. 『耶和華對摩西說：法老心裡固執，不肯容百姓去。』主知道法老的心剛硬，從一開始的奇事與災難，我們看見法老的心變得越來越剛硬（7:13, 22），或自己硬著心（8:15）。在8:29, 32經歷蒼蠅之災後，摩西特別警告法老不可再行詭詐，但『這一次法老又硬著心』。最後，到了9:12特別說到『耶和華使法老的心剛硬』。在這裡描繪出人的選擇與責任，以及神的預知和主權。在摩西禱告讓大雨、冰雹與雷轟停止後，法老『就越發犯罪；他和他的臣僕都硬著心。法老的心剛硬。』（9:34-35）
*出埃及記8:23. 『我要將我的百姓和你的百姓分別出來。明天必有這神蹟。』分別這個字的字根是『從危險中贖回、救贖與搶救』，這也記載在詩篇25篇的最後一句話『神啊，求祢救贖以色列脫離她一切的愁苦。』以色列將會得知神已救贖她脫離一切的愁苦，藉由彌賽亞所成就的工，最後不僅會救贖以色列，還會救贖一切受罪綑綁的人。
*以賽亞書 66:2b, 5a. 『但我所看顧的，就是虛心痛悔、因我話而戰兢的人（希伯來文：Haridim）。你們因耶和華言語戰兢的人當聽祂的話。』極端正統猶太教稱自己為哈勒定（Haredim），意指『戰兢的人』，就是出於這幾節經文與意思：『你們因耶和華言語戰兢的人當聽祂的話。』然而，他們因著大發熱心，許多人活在屬靈黑暗的世界裡，與秘術活動緊密連繫在一起。將他們與那種黑暗綁在一起的正是敵彌賽亞（敵基督）的靈，牠盡其所能讓他們遠離真道─這道『太初』就與神同在，道就是神，是世界的光。
請禱告：對主敬畏的啟示在這些雅各的兒女中得以延伸，使得賜給每一個人的『真光』（約翰福音1:9），可以照亮他們裡面的黑暗，彰顯出天父在祂兒子裡面所供應的愛。禱告他們的耳能被打開，『來聽主這道，這道從太初就有，並與父神同在。』
*以賽亞書 66:22-23. 『我所要造的新天新地，怎樣在我面前長存，你們的後裔和你們的名字也必照樣長存！每逢月朔、安息日，凡有血氣的必來在我面前下拜。這是耶和華說的。』
下週的閱讀進度（1/13-1/19）被稱為『進去/來』（Bo），妥拉─出埃及記10:1-13:16；先知書─耶利米書46:13-28。
馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis）
於耶路撒冷
THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parasha) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.
The readings for 6-12 January 2013 are called Va'Era-"And I Appeared" (to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El Shaddai):
TORAH: Exodus 6:2-9:35
HAFTARAH (Rosh Chodesh Eleventh Month): Isaiah 66:1-24
(NOTE: Because this week's Sabbath falls on Rosh Chodesh (Head of the new Hebrew Month), a special reading from the Prophets replaces the usual one Ezekiel 28:25-29:21).
*Exodus 7:1. "So the LORD said to Moses: 'See, I have made you Elohim (Literal Hebrew) to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet." The word "as" before "Elohim" is not in the Hebrew. In a very real way, we are God's body through whom He looses His will "on earth as it is in Heaven."
*Exodus 7:9-10. "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Show a miracle for yourselves.' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent'.and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent" (NKJV). The Hebrew here translated "serpent" is a different word and may designate a different creature than that used for the snake from which Moses fled (Exodus 4:3 and 7:15). There the word was nakhash, the common Hebrew word for snake (such as that which tempted Eve in Eden). Here the word is tanin, used in modern Hebrew for "crocodile" or "alligator" (The Nile Crocodile has been feared from ancient times for its propensity, more than any other of the specie, to prey upon humans). In Genesis 1:21 tanin is a "great sea creature" created by God. But this creature is also often used as a metaphor for spiritual or physical powers in opposition to God. In Ezekiel 29:3 (Part of this week's Haftarah), this word tanin is translated "monster" (NKJV), and depicts another Pharaoh (or the spiritual power controlling him), "Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster (tanin) who lies in the midst of his rivers, who has said, 'My River is my own; I have made it for myself.' But I will put hooks in your jaws." (The word is also translated "monster" in Jeremiah 51:34 where it pictures Nebuchadnezzar swallowing up sinful Israel "like a tannin."). In Psalm 74:13 it is depicted as a many headed "sea monster" (NASB) whose heads God can break in delivering those who trust in him. And in Isaiah 27:1 the NASB reads, "And He will kill the dragon (tanin) who lives in the sea."
In the Modern Hebrew translation of the New Covenant Scriptures, the "great, fiery red dragon having seven heads" of Revelation 12:3, who stands before the woman clothed with the sun to devour her baby, is call a tanin.and in 12:9 both tanin (dragon) and nakhash (serpent) are equated with "the Devil and Satan." Lastly, in Psalm 91:13 (NASB, margin) "tanin" is the dragon which those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty, will trample underfoot!
And so, the rod which had become a serpent nakhash (Exodus 7:15), through Moses' obedient faith became in his and Aaron's hands "the rod of God" (4:20), which could become a different fearful creature (tanin) which swallowed up other fearful creatures (7:12), or it could become a scepter of authority which could turn the waters of the Nile, over which the Pharaoh's claimed sovereignty (Ezek 29:3 above), into blood (7:17).
In short, the rod became the symbol of authority through which Moses would be God to Pharaoh (7:1), through whom God would manifest Himself as the supreme spiritual Power who would defeat, subdue and swallow up all other opposing spiritual powers.
*Exodus 7:14. "So the LORD said to Moses: 'Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go." The LORD knew that Pharaoh's heart was hard (Two words are used for "hard" or "hardened" in these passages, one meaning "heavy" or "settled", the other "tightened", "strengthened" or "fortified". Through the early signs, wonders and plagues, we see Pharaoh's heart growing hard according to its own nature (7:13, 22), or his actively hardening his own heart (8:15). In 8:29, 32, after the plague of flies, Moses especially warns him against continuing to do this, "But Pharaoh made his heart heavy and insensitive this time also." Finally, in 9:12 it is specifically stated that "the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh." We have here depicted both the choice and responsibility of man-and the foreknowledge and sovereignty of God. After Moses prays that the rain, hail and thunder cease, Pharaoh "sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard."
*Exodus 8:23. "And I shall set a ransom between My people [in Goshen] and your people." (Robert Alter Translation; see also NASB margin). The word "ransom" is often translated here as "difference"-but everywhere else in the Bible the root means "to ransom, to redeem, to rescue from danger". It is in the last sentence of Psalm 25- "Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles." Israel would learn that God was already redeeming him out of his troubles.and, through the work of his Messiah would eventually redeem not only Israel but all peoples from the bondage of sin.
*Isaiah 66:2b, 5a. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble [Hebrew: haridim] at His word." Ultra-Orthodox Jews are often called by the name "Haridim", taken from these verses and meaning, "those who tremble, and are fearful at His word." Yet, for their great zeal, many live in a world of spiritual darkness, laced with occult practices (The men dress in black to revere old rabbis of a past century). Binding them in that darkness is an anti-Messiah (anti-Christ) spirit, which does all in its power to keep them from coming into a knowledge of the true Word-That which was in the beginning with God, which was God, and which was the Light of the World.
PLEASE PRAY that true revelation regarding the fear of the Lord would extend to these sons and daughters of Jacob-that the "true light that gives light to every man" (John 1:9) would shine into their darkness, revealing the Love offered by the Father in His Son. Pray that their ears will be open to "Hear the Word of the LORD"-the Living Word which was In the Beginning, One with the Father.
*Isaiah 66:22-23. " 'For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD."
Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week, Bo ("Come"-in to Pharaoh) will be: TORAH: Exodus 10:1-13:16; HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 46:13-28]
