For Today and understanding the days to come

BO “Go”

TORAH: Exodus 10:1-13:16HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 46:13-28

B’RIT CHADASHAH: Luke 2:22-24, John 19:31-37All scripture references: The Scriptures 1998+ unless otherwise noted 2

BOAnd יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his

servants, so that I show these signs of Mine before him,

(Exodus 10:1 )

“Bo” spelled “Beit-aleph” =“come”, “enter”, “come with”, “bring near”, “go out”, “go”, or “go in”.

8TH PLAGUEAnd Mosheh and Aharon came in to Pharaoh and said to

him, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of the Hebrews, ‘Till when shall you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go,

so that they serve Me. ‘Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, see, tomorrow I am bringing locusts within your

borders. ‘And they shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one is able to see the land. And they shall eat the rest of what has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. ‘And they shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the

Mitsrites, which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this

day.’ ” …Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and Aharon in haste, and said, “I have sinned against יהוה your Elohim and against you. “And now, please forgive my sin only this once, and pray to יהוה your Elohim, that He would only turn away

this death from me.” ..(Exodus 10:3-19 )

“locusts” is “arbeh” (aleph-reish-beit-hey) “swarming locusts”. also“floodgates”, as in the floodgates of heaven, that open up during hard rains. The locust was an attack on Anubis, the god of the fields, especially cemeteries.

The equivalent Aramaic word for “arbeh”, in the Aramaic Targum is “gova”. The word “gova” is used in Revelation 9:1-11, the locusts that come out of the pit.

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth:and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of

the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there

came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the

earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

related to “geva”, which means “height”, “coming down from on high” as with judgment.

Then I shall repay you the years that the swarming locust (ha arbeh) has eaten, the young locust (ha yeleq), and the (chaseil) consuming locust,

and the (gazam) gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25

DARKNESS

However, יהוה hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not let the children of Yisra’ĕl go. And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and let there be darkness over

the land of Mitsrayim, even a darkness which is felt.” ..and there was thick darkness in all the land of Mitsrayim for three days.

They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, while all the children of Yisra’ĕl had light in their

dwellings. (Exodus 10:20-23)

DARKNESSThis kind of darkness is talked about throughout Scripture. First Abram:

And it came to be, when the sun was going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Abram, that see, a frightening great

darkness fell upon him. (Genesis 15:12 ). And, this is the same darkness mentioned at the giving of the “Ten Commandments” in ..

“Do not fear, for Elohim has come to prove you, and in order that His fear be before you, so that you do not sin.” So the people stood at a distance, but Mosheh drew near the thick

darkness where Elohim was. (Exodus 20:18-21)

And he said to them, “Let יהוה be with you as I let you and your little ones go! Watch, for evil is before your face! (Exodus 10:10 )

Then he said to them, “You better hope יהוה is with you because when I let you and your little one go…..beware for RA is in front of

your faces!”

Hebrew word is Ra, and was a chief god of Egypt. He was the sun god, the god of light …and Pharaoh considered himself to be the son of this god.

Pharaoh is setting forth the challenge of the Elohim of the Hebrews versus the sun god Ra!

The light of Egypt verses the light of יהוה!

And no wonder! For Satan himself masquerades as a messenger of light! (2 Corinthians 11:14 )

RA

Ra was the ancient Egyptian sun god, and was viewed as the creator of all life. This false god was identified primarily with the noonday sun and represented light, warmth, and growth to its worshipers. It is depicted as a man with the head of a hawk, bull, ram, or solar orb, and its symbols were sometimes combined with other gods. Darkness represented the complete removal of Yahweh’s presence from the Egyptians, while the light (of His presence) continued to remain over the Children of Israel. His presence (i.e. His faithfulness) was with them.

RA

And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the esteem of Elohim lightened it, and the

Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23 )

Darkness snuffed out life; without light life ceased. Scripture said that no one could move, they were

paralyzed for those three days. Without the life support of light even the air around them

was immobile, fire could not even burn. This plague was so terrible they could actually “feel” the

darkness.

SUN WORSHIPThe pattern of how worship of the sun has continued throughout history.

In ancient Babylon, the kings served as high priests of the sun god, Bel-Marduk.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 ed., the celebration of the winter solstice around December 25 was regarded as the birthday of the sun. It was a major holiday associated with gift-giving and the sacred evergreen tree

Persia was Babylon’s successor and the ancient Persian religion centred on the worship of Mithras, the god of light.

The Greeks of Asia Minor identified Mithras with their ancient sun god, Helios.

Then Alexander the Great travelled to Egypt to the Temple of Amon-Ra to be proclaimed by the priests as the literal son of the sun god.

In 274 AD Aurelian established the sun-god as the supreme god of the Roman Empire.

CONSTANTINE

Constantine, considered Rome’s first “Christian” emperor, was himself a devotee of the sun god.

The famous vision of the cross as he marched on Rome came to him from the sun.

The sun appeared on most of his coins and his own statue at Constantinople bore the rayed crown of the sun-god. His coins were inscribed: “Sol Invicto Comiti” (Committed to the invincible sun).

While claiming to be a “Christian”, Constantine maintained the title “Pontifus Maximus” the high priest of paganism.

In 321 AD, Constantine enacted laws that all courts of justice, inhabitants of towns, workers were to be at rest on Sun-day, doing away with

the Sabbath. The term used was “the venerable day of the sun.” The observance of Sunday (associated with sun

worship), has thus worked its way right on down through the medieval period to modern times.

Contrary to what we’ve been told, it was not יהוה that authorized the change from a 7th day Sabbath to the 1st day of the week.

Constantine decided to improve ways church worshipped.

Less than one year after his conversion: “I am going to make plain to them what kind of worship is to be offered to God. . . What higher duty have I as emperor than to cause all to offer God true religion and due worship.”

SUN GOD He saw himself as the sun god,

he believed this so much that he had יהוה 's Biblical lunar calendar changed to a solar calendar to have the people pay homage to him and take the focus off the God of Israel.

Without God’s lunar calendar directing and guiding them, Yahweh’s people lost their heritage and their identity. They even began to see יהוה’s celebrations as strange

and foreign.

The establishment of his solar calendar worked, and many were led astray into the worship of Babylonian celebrations like Christmas and Easter.

SUN GOD Constantine even named the days of the week after

Babylonian gods to have the people pay homage to the gods he worshipped.

Thus we readily accept the days of the week as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday etc. not realizing they are so named in honor of pagan gods.

So don't let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival

or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat. These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah.

(Colossians 2:16-17 CJB)

Day of the Week Pagan God1st Day Sunday Sun god

2nd Day Monday Moon goddess

3rd Day Tuesday Tyr

4th Day Wednesday Odin

5th Day Thursday Thor

6th Day Friday Frigga

7th Day Saturday Saturn

SATURN

MONTH PAGAN GODJanuary Janus, the Roman mighty one of portals and patron of

beginnings and endingsFebruary Februa, a Roman festival of purification

March Mars, the Roman mighty one of war

April Aprilis, indicating a time of Fertility

May Maia, the Roman female deity of growth or increase

June June, the female mighty one of the marriage, the wife of Jupiter in Roman mythology. She was also called the "Queen of heaven

July Roman emperor Julius Caesar

August Octavius Augustus Caesar, emperor of Rome

September Latin septem, meaning "seven

October Latin octo, meaning "eight

November Latin novem, meaning "ninth

December Latin decem, meaning 'ten'

JANUS FERUA MARS

APRILIS MAIA JUNE

So,WHY did man decide to name the days of the week (which ended up being named after Pagan gods), when the Bible commands us NOT to use pagan deity names?

Because, like everything else, Satan made sure that God's commandments were confused and ignored....

(Hosea) 2:16-17 And it will be in that day," says Yahuwah, "you will call Me 'My Husband' and no longer call Me 'My

Lord' and I will take from her mouth the names of the pagan deities and they will not be remembered by their name

anymore

 (Exodus) 23:13 And in all that I have said to you give heed and make no mention of the name of other elohiym nor let it

be heard from your mouth

DECEMBER 25The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 also originated in the 4th century.

The Church wanted to cover the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity’s existence.

The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year.

Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people’s birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

DECEMBER 25December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ’s Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival celebration.

This was the Roman version of Christianity.

It was polluted and mixed and filled with pagan rituals.

Christmas was slow to catch on in America.

The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual.

The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days,

not taught in most public school history classes.

Ezekiel is taken through a vision to the temple of יהוה and shown many detestable things, and the MOST detestable thing was this. There are men worshiping in the temple of יהוה, but they are participating in some facet of sun worship, which causes their backs to face the ALMIGHTY יהוה! Worship of the sun in יהוה’s own house! יהוה hates the mix in our worship.

Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You are to see still greater abominations than these.” And

He brought me into the inner court of the House of יהוה. And there, at the door of the Hĕkal of יהוה, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the Hĕkal of יהוה and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves eastward to the sun.

(Ezekiel 8:15-16 )

Eze 8: 3 The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to

jealousy stood. 4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.5 Then he said to me,

"Son of man, look toward the north." So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.6

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things

that are even more detestable.“

7 Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, "Son of man, now dig into

the wall." So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.

9 And he said to me, "Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here." 10 So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. 11 In front of them stood seventy

elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud

of incense was rising.

12 He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol?

They say, 'The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land. '" 13 Again, he said, "You will see them doing things that are

even more detestable."

Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You are to see still greater abominations than these.” And

He brought me into the inner court of the House of יהוה. And there, at the door of the Hĕkal of יהוה, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the Hĕkal of יהוה and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves eastward to the sun.

(Ezekiel 8:15-16 )

DAY OF יהוהThere is darkness in the “Day of יהוה”“And I shall give signs in the heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke, the sun is turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה. “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be

delivered1. ..(Joel 2:30-32). Woe to you who are longing for the day of יהוה! What does the day of mean to you? It is darkness, and not light, as when a man flees יהוה

from a lion, and a bear shall meet him; or entered his house, rested his hand on the wall, and a serpent shall bite him. Is not the day of יהוה darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

(Amos 5:18-20 ) Near is the great day of יהוה, near and hurrying greatly, the noise of the day of יהוה. Let the mighty man then bitterly cry out! That day is a day of

wrath, a day of distress and trouble, a day of waste and ruin, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of

ram’s horn and alarm ... “And I shall bring distress on men, and they shall walk like blind men .. their blood shall be poured out like dust and

their flesh like dung.” (Zephaniah 1:14-17 )

CALENDER CHANGE“This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first

month of the year for you. (Exodus 12:2 )The very first commandment given to Israel, before the last plaque happens and it was “change your calendar”. The calendar of Egypt was based on the sun

יהוה commanded the Israelites to base their calendar on the moon. They were no longer to have anything to do with worshiping the sun or with the sun god, Ra.

CALENDER CHANGEThe beautiful concept of light had been so perverted by the evil one. Teaching them the truth about light will be a part of Elohim freeing His people from Pharaoh’s rule and Egypt’s influence.

And He will do this by starting with the celebration of the New Moon. Based on this calendar, the events of the Passover will be remembered and celebrated each year as an everlasting ordinance!

‘And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה throughout your

generations – observe it as a festival, an everlasting law. (Exodus 12:14 )

FIRST MITZVAHThe first mitzvah of the Torah to the Children of Israel is that of "sanctifying the month" (KIDDUSH HACHODESH).

This involves counting the months of the year from Nissan, the month of redemption, and, when the Sanhedrin sits in the Land of Israel, taking testimony from witnesses who have sighted the new moon in order to declare the start of the new month.

Marking time from the point at which the moon, having briefly disappeared from sight, begins to wax and grow, is a sign of constant regeneration and vitality.

The sign of the crescent was taken over by Islam, but the unique power of the crescent of the new moon as a symbol of renewal is known only to the Children of Israel, who observe the commandment of Sanctifying the Month.

יהוה’s lunar calendar establishes the timing of His moedim/feast days called the paths of righteousness, an aspect of the walk of holiness He has called His people to.

ROSH CHODESH

Rosh Chodesh is the Hebrew term for “New/renewed moon”

Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our festival day. (Psalms 81:3)

Rosh Chodesh is a time to come together with other believers and “sound the shofar”!

ROSH CHODESHThe moon is a heavenly body that cannot produce its own light. Israel also has no light of its own, but she would learn she was to be a light to the nations. On Rosh Chodesh the moon’s light breaks forth from the darkness and brings light to the world as a reminder to us of our calling and purpose. Our purpose is to bring the light of salvation to the world. We are to be reflecting the light of Torah into a dark world.

For the command is a lamp, And the Torah a light1, And reproofs of discipline a way of life (Proverbs 6:23)

Torah and Yehushua is the Living Torah!

Therefore יהושע spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of

life.” (John 8:12)

The light that we are reflecting, is the light of Torah, which is Yehushua! When we love Yehushua by keeping His commandments, we reflect that light into a dark world:

“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands. (John 14:15)

Yehushua also said:

“You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a

lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who

is in the heavens. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Rosh Chodesh is the exact day when יהוה’s presence filled the tabernacle:

And it came to be in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Dwelling Place was

raised up. … And the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the esteem of יהוה filled the Dwelling Place. ..(Exodus

40:17-35)Thus every month on Rosh Chodesh, we are able to watch that little sliver of moon pierce the darkness and we are reminded of our purpose…. shine forth His light! Be renewed!

“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand. “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall

come to worship before Me,” declares יהוה. (Isaiah 66:22-23)

DEATH OF FIRST BORNMoshe said, "Here is what Adonai says: 'About midnight I will go out into Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of

Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the slave-girl at the hand mill, and all the firstborn of the livestock. There will be a horrendous wailing throughout all the land of Egypt — there has never been another like it, and there never will be again. (Exodus

11:4-6 CJB)

The death of the firstborn was an attack on Pharaoh, the god-king. Pharaoh was considered a god, as was his firstborn son who would succeed him on the throne.the firstborn of people and animals in general were often worshipped. Pharaoh was considered an incarnation of Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the giver of life. Because Pharaoh’s son was considered a god, when he died it was as if a god of Egypt had actually died.

NISSANYour animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats. " 'You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, and

then the entire assembly of the community of Isra'el will slaughter it at dusk. (Exodus 12:5-6 CJB)

The month of Nissan is governed by the astrological sign of Aries (T'LEH, the Ram), called the "head" or first of the constellations, since this is when the annual "regeneration" of the world begins in springtime.

The Egyptians, who were masters of astronomy and astrology, worshipped sheep (Gen. 46:34).

The commandment to the Children of Israel to take young sheep, ritually slaughter and eat them,

I WILLFor that night, I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both men and animals; and I

will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt; I am Adonai. (Exodus 12:12 CJB)

At Midnight, on the 14th day of Abib, יהוה killed all the first-born in Mitzrayim, of man and beast. But, the Children of Yisra‟el, and those of the “mixed multitude”, who obeyed the instructions LIVED.“And I shall be revealed in the land of Mitsrayim on that night…‟. “He” passed through not an angel” and “I and not a seraph” and “I and not a messenger”. Only יהוה, Who gives life, can take it. The concept of meting out judgment to Mitzrayim, while showing mercy and salvation to Yisra‟el, are the attributes that are revealed in the Name “Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey”.

TODAYToday the world is witnessing cataclysmic, earth-shaking events. The last thing that any of today's cultured classes want to admit of is evidence of the "finger ofיהוה " behind all the turmoil. Natural disasters have their sources in scientific fact, and when those facts are stretched to the breaking point then the finger is pointed at man as the source of nature's breakdown:

• Pollution and overpopulation;• Abuse of the planet's natural resources have set laws

of nature awryOur greatest minds tell us that political and social upheaval are the result of past and present colonialism and economic injustice.

Pharaoh's necromancers were able to turn the Nile to blood. Like today's soothsayers, Pharaoh also wanted to believe that all phenomena, no matter how powerfully devastating and directed, are basically explainable and explicable.

If they can recreate the plagues of Egypt, no matter how self destructive that recreation may be, then this is a great comfort.

If we can explain what is happening all around us via our intellect then we don't need to search for a greater answer.

then we don't need to search our hearts.

Pharaoh bounce back after each and every plague and dig in his feet once again and deny that there is a יהוה in the world.

GOD’S CHILDRENWhile יהוה was raining destruction down upon Egypt, He was simultaneously communicating with His people, giving them instruction.He told them to be ready to relate the wonders He was working to their children and their children's children for all time. (Exodus 10:2) He told them to take note of the new moon and to use it to take control of time and thereby take control of their own destiny. He told each household to acquire a lamb and to be ready to slaughter and eat it, in what would be the most extreme and outrageously politically incorrect act of their day

GOD’S CHILDRENHe told them to take the blood from the Pesach lamb and to paint their doorposts red, so that they would no longer see themselves as being just like everyone else, but as being special and in possession of a יהוה given mission. And the most miraculous thing happened, in fact the only miraculous thing:

They listened and obeyed. (Sh’ma)

Because Israel took upיהוה 's great challenge to team up with Him and change the world forever, His efforts were not in

vain, and His presence was revealed in the world and acknowledged by all.

Sh'ma Yisra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

Barukh sheim k'vod malkhuto l'olam va'ed.Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.

Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is One.You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.

COMING OF יהושע“As in the days when you came out of the land of Mitsrayim,

I shall let him see wonders.” (Micah 7:15)