Va’era – וארא : "And I appeared"
Torah : Exodus 6:2–9:35
Haftarah : Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
Gospel : Matthew 12:1-14

Thought for the Week:

God promised to deliver Israel from the burdens of Egypt. The good news of salvation is that, through faith in Yeshua, those burdens can be removed. Instead of sin we have forgiveness. Instead of guilt we have joy. Instead of condemnation, we have vindication. Instead of death and judgment, we have the gift of eternal life and grace.

Commentary:

I will deliver you from their bondage. (Exodus 6:6)

It is one thing to be burdened. It is even worse to be in bondage. A man might carry his own burden willingly, but it is far more difficult to carry it under the compulsion of another. The LORD told Moses that, in addition to taking Israel out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, He was going to deliver them from bondage to them.

There are many different types of bondages. Some might find themselves taken into literal bondage like the Jewish and Sabbatarian communities did during World War II or like t...