Parashat Beshalach: God’s Time and Purpose

Torah: Ex 13:1-17:16

Haftarah: 4:4-5:31

Brit Chadashah: John 6:15-71, 1 Cor 1:15

Main Points

The Israelites left Egypt, lead by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

Red Sea crossing.

The Song of Moses.

Bitter water made sweet at Marah.

God sends manna and gives water from a rock.

Israelites fight Amalek.

For a miracle to happen, there has to be a need. For a need to happen there has to be a lack of something. Our lack of something does not mean that we have sinned and are being judged. It does not mean that somehow God has forgotten us or let us go. Sometimes when things turn bad it means the opposite and God is on the way. Israel was set free from bondage and will remember that moment forever in the Festival of Pesach. Celebrating that feast, as well as the others, reminds us that we serve a delivering, miracle working God who loves us. He walks through the rough places, sends us encouragement to believe, and strengthens us so that we can know him personally in the power of his Spirit.  God also wants to leave a testimony for others. Israel had been in bondage and exile for around 430 years by some estimates. Just getting them out would have been easy, but God wanted more. He wanted to leave a testimony of his name so that both the Egyptians and Israelites could know him.

This week’s parashat picks up with Pharoah letting Israel go (at least temporarily). God led them so that they would avoid the Philistines, the most direct route. Instead, God lead them down through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The Torah states that Israel was equipped for battle, but they did not know how to fight with their weapons. At this point, in the infancy of their deliverance, they were equipped but their most powerful weapon was their obedience and faith in God. God told Moses to stop praying and start moving. The time had come, the Egyptian army was on its way, and God’s power was moving in response.

Deliverance, provision, and healing are many times linked to God’s timing. We can pray, our heart can be right, and at times God will withhold his intervention and answer. The striving of faith builds spiritual muscle, resolve, and purposeful praying. People see your suffering and the risks you take walking in faith.  Walking in faith is usually a risk that feels like you are being taken out of the frying pan and put into the fire. It Is a risk that makes your reputation, self-esteem, and sense of security vulnerable. Yeshua prepared his disciples for this type of life, and he is preparing us as well.

As Messianics, we understand God’s time. He sees our trials and has a designated appointment to lead us out. We don’t just keep God’s appointed times, he keeps ours as well. There is a tipping point where faith and prayer have been sown, and God begins to move. When God begins to move it is also our season to move. Many times, while waiting on God I am praying for God to bring his time, his plan, and his provision and close all doors he did not ordain. Does it look crazy to the casual on looker? Yes! I have had people look at me in complete dismay and confusion, accuse me of all kinds of things, or just write me off. They did it until God moved and I saw their look of pity change to one of awe. Sometimes God would open up a crazy opportunity, at other times a person would show up at my door with a check. At other times an option would come my way and I would feel the anointing of the Spirit resting on it. I can’t explain it all, but our waiting is part of our worship and is never waisted. 

We serve HaShem and him only. Our lives are not patterned after the world’s image or times. God’s time brings God’s wisdom, his provision, and his authority to move. We seek the righteousness of God’s way and time to establish his purpose and the awareness of his sovereignty. Even now God is moving far outside of your circles and what he will do in response to a little faith will shock you. You are his beloved and his courtship with his people never stops.

Living out God’s plan may seem crazy to some, but when it is time and God begins to move, he puts his sovereignty on display for all to see and he will do that for you. Don’t fret, be watchful. God can still split the sea and he still reigns, even over the nations (Ps 47).

Rav Calev Lehrer

Apostolic Messianic International

Next Feasts:

Purim begins sundown on March 13th and ends at sundown March 14th

Hebrew words to know:

Pained, Hurt, or Wounded- Farshadet- A Yiddish.

Parental Pride- Kvell; The Yiddish term typically used when a parent is beaming with pride (kvelling) over something their child has done.

Partiality or Favoratism- Maso Panim (litt, face lifting)

Plague- Makah

Pleasantly and Peacefully- B’darchei noam

Point of View or Worldview- Hashkafa” A Hebrew word for point of view, worldview, or outlook in life.