Parashah Va’era Comments (Rev. Dec 2013)
As we begin reading Parashah Va’era, this week’s Torah portion, God declares He will make Himself known by a new name. In addition to El Shaddai (often translated “God Almighty”), God declares He is to be known by the Hebrew letters Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey (YHVH), commonly vocalized as “Yahweh” or rendered “Jehovah.”
Exodus 6:3 — “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
This can seem confusing because the name YHVH is used in Genesis, and the patriarchs call upon that Name. Looking more closely, we see what God is teaching Moses about His character: how He makes Himself known.
In Genesis, God is revealed as El Shaddai—God Almighty, the Nourisher and Provider. “El” means “God,” while “Shaddai” is linked to abundance and sufficiency (often associated with nurture). El Shaddai grants barren Sarah a son, commands fruitfulness, and promises multiplication.
Genesis 17:1–2 — “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.’”
Genesis 28:3 — “And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.”
Genesis 35:11 — “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.”
Genesis 48:3–4 — “God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz… ‘Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee… and will give this land to thy seed… for an everlasting possession.’”
Genesis 49:24–25 — “…by the God of thy father… who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep… blessings of the breasts and of the womb.”
He is the God of promises, working largely through “natural” means—granting fruitfulness so Israel multiplies greatly. Their swelling numbers even contribute to their enslavement under Pharaoh.
Exodus 1:10–11 — “‘Come, we must deal shrewdly with them…’ So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor…”
In Scripture, a “name” expresses character. God tells Moses that the patriarchs knew the promises of El Shaddai, but they did not experience YHVH as He is about to reveal Himself—God’s holiness and direct intervention in history.
Exodus 3:5 — “Do not come any closer… Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
In Genesis, God is the Provider. In Exodus, God makes Himself known as YHVH—the Holy One who confronts empires. He commissions Moses, establishes the prophetic office, and challenges Egypt, the superpower of its day. God even declares Pharaoh’s existence serves His purpose:
Exodus 9:16 (Amplified) — “But for this very purpose have I let you live, that I might show you My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
Thus, in Exodus, God is not merely behind the scenes. YHVH steps into history as Judge and Redeemer, revealing Himself to Israel and the nations. He comes to fulfill His promise to bring Israel into the land flowing with milk and honey.
Plagues as Judgment on Egypt’s Gods
Tony Robinson (Restoration of Torah) describes the plagues as judgments upon Egypt’s false religion—its deities, rituals, and powers. Consider how each plague exposes the impotence of specific gods:
1) Nile to blood — Khnum, Sati, Hapi, Osiris, Hathor, Neith, Sobek, Apepi judged.
2) Frogs — Heka judged.
3) Lice — Seth, Geb, Ra, Osiris judged.
4) Swarms — Uatchit (Wadjet), “Beelzebub,” scarab cults judged.
5) Murrain on livestock — Ptah, Apis, Hathor, Osiris judged.
6) Boils — Ptah, Osiris, Sekhmet, Imhotep, Serapis, priesthood/ash-rite judged.
7) Hail — Nut, Geb, Amun-Ra, Osiris, and Pharaoh judged.
8) Locusts — Sobek, Ra, Shu, Geb, Osiris judged.
9) Darkness — Nut, Hathor, Amun-Ra, priesthood judged.
10) Death of firstborn — Heka, Isis, Min, Horus, Bes, Seker, and Pharaoh judged.
The plagues display who is truly in control. Through Moses, YHVH liberates His people; Israel even departs with treasures granted by the Egyptians. Moses leading Israel out prefigures Messiah freeing believers from sin and death. Scripture intentionally echoes these themes.
How Yeshua Is Like Moses
Early persecution: Pharaoh’s decree against Hebrew infants; Herod’s slaughter in Bethlehem.
Exodus 1:22; Matthew 2:16
Power over the waters and provision: Water to blood vs. water to wine; sea opened vs. walking on the sea; manna vs. multiplied loaves.
Exodus 7:20; John 2:9 (cf. Cana); Exodus 14:21; John 6:19; Exodus 16:4; Mark 6:41–44
Torah and fulfillment: Moses writes Torah; Yeshua fulfills it.
Deuteronomy 31:24; Matthew 5:17
Forty-day fasts, foreknowledge of death, leadership of twelve, mediation, faithfulness: Parallels abound—see passages cited throughout the article (Exodus 34:28; Numbers 31:2; Deuteronomy 1:15; Exodus 20:19; Numbers 12:7; Luke 4:1–2; Matthew 16:21; Luke 6:13; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 3:1–2).
Yeshua likens Himself to the stronger one who overpowers the “strong man” (hasatan), freeing his captives.
Luke 11:21–22
As Moses plundered Pharaoh by leading Israel out to inheritance, Messiah rescues people from the bondage of sin to share in the Kingdom prepared by the Father.
From Genesis to Exodus—Two Aspects, One God
El Shaddai (Genesis) depicts God working personally and often indirectly—granting fruitfulness and covenant blessing. YHVH (Exodus) reveals the Holy One who directly intervenes, saves Israel, and judges His enemies. Egypt becomes a picture of the world under hasatan with its counterfeit powers.
Even the pictographic origins of the Hebrew letters are evocative to some interpreters: Yud (hand), Vav (nail), and Hey (window/“behold”), which many see pointing to redemptive themes. Whatever the reader’s view of letter-pictures, Scripture itself consistently reveals YHVH as Redeemer of Israel and Savior to the nations.
Echoes Toward the Future
These patterns hint at Messiah’s comings—first working chiefly through transformed individuals, then returning in power to set the world right. As in Exodus, God’s acts are remembered across generations—and one day will be experienced anew.
Joshua 2:10; 1 Samuel 4:8
We do not know the day or hour, only that His salvation arrives “in the twinkling of an eye.” Therefore, we live ready.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for Your love letter to us: Your written Word in Scripture and Your living Word, Yeshua HaMashiach. May we delight in and be strengthened by both, and be ready to share the hope of Your Kingdom. Amen.
