Parasha: Shemot – Names
Torah: Shemot 1:1 – 6:1
“9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after. 12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task Avinu has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” (Ec 1:9-14)
Man seems to be predestined to repeat his mistakes throughout history.
“Then Avinu said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.” (Ge 15:13)
“Avinu saw the people of Israel — and Avinu knew.” (Ex 2:25)
“Then Paro commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”” (Ex 1:22)
So the Nile river became the method of choice to “control” the Jewish population in Egypt. Today we call it “abortion” but it’s goal is the same. It just has different parameters. We say that it has to be done before the first trimester. Paro had it done after the birth occurred.
The consequence of both methods is the same.
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am Avinu, when I have gotten glory over Paro, his chariots, and his horsemen.”” (Ex 14:18)
Notice that “Paro and his horsemen” were Egyptian males.
“The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Paro’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.” (Ex 14:23)
“clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for Avinu fights for them against the Egyptians.”” (Ex 14:25)
“30 Thus Avinu saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that Avinu used against the Egyptians, so the people feared Avinu, and they believed in Avinu and in his servant Moses.” (Ex 14:30-31)
The Egyptians used the Nile river to kill the helpless sons of Israel. Avinu used the power of the sea, approximately seven hundred and fifty feet deep, to destroy both Paro and his mighty men.
Approximately thirteen hundred years later we have another despot trying to kill the sons of Israel. Different parameters – same consequence.
“16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” 19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of Avinu appeared in a dream to Yosef in Egypt,” (Mt 2:16-19)
One more thought: We have performed approximately sixty million abortions since the early 1970’s. We have polluted the land with blood. When the right time comes to fruition, the consequence will be executed.
““But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites (Americans) is not yet complete.”” (Ge 15:16)
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