Monthly Archives: April 2018

Mighty Response to Iranian Belligerence (Randyjw; April 24, 2018)

The book of the Bible we commonly refer to in English by the name of Exodus, is actually termed Sefer Shemot in Hebrew, the meaning of which is “Book of Names,” due to its beginning lines, “Ve-el-eh shemot b’nai Yisrael…”: “And these are the names of the Children (lit. can be also read ‘Sons’) of Israel…”.

Exodus contains the accounts to which Jewish holidays bear adherence to our ancient Jewish traditions and holidays, several of which are: the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai to the Children of Israel, which is known by our holiday name of Shavuot; and Pesach, or “Passover,” referring to the time when, after 430 years, we were delivered from our slavery under the Pharaoh of Egypt through the petitions of Moses and his brother, Aaron (the future first Levite), to release us to let us worship our G-d, as we please.

Pharaoh did not wish to lose his free labor force, and refused consistently to let us go. Through ten plagues rained down by G-d upon Egypt, he finally must relent, when realizing that his decisions will merit G-d’s consequences for his refusal to acquiesce. So, our Israeli family moved from Egypt and were on our way to Israel (Canaan), when G-d decided to harden Pharaoh’s heart, again, in order to serve Pharaoh’s iniquity upon himself. When we reached a sea boundary, Pharaoh and his chariot cavalry had almost caught up with us. G-d told Moses to stretch his rod out over the sea so that we could pass through it on dry ground. When Pharaoh tried to follow with his chariot cavalry, Moses let the rod down and the sea closed upon the Egyptians and drowned them. It is commanded of us by G-d to retell this story annually, since from that time, which we do, and we also hold a special Seder, as well.

There are numerous instances in the Tanach (Jewish Bible) which refer to the presence of G-d being accompanied in cloud or in fire. Some of the fire references occur in these instances: on the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai to Moses for the Jewish People; during the challenge of Elijah the Prophet (Israel) to the worshipers of the false gods of Ba’al to distinguish the real Lord, versus any fake; hail and brimstone raining down on the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah; and the eternal flame within the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple.

Fire is also used by G-d as a guiding light to lead our people in our path, as is cloud. Pillars of each formed before us and behind us in order to light our way and to obscure our passage from our enemies. These occurrences are frequently mentioned in the Tanach. One such instance is the chapter in Genesis describing this phenomenon, read in verses twenty and twenty-one of the thirteenth chapter.

Thus it reads:

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+13%3A20-21&version=KJV)

In other such instances, fire was used against those who trespass against G-d by committing attacks against the Jewish people as being surrogates to G-d’s word. Cloud coverage from G-d is often used to obstruct our enemies’ paths against us, while ensuring our safety. Plentiful examples abound in the Tanach, but here is an example where the Lord separates us as we depart Egypt, from the Egyptians desiring to recapture us (the entire Chapter of Exodus 14, in Hebrew and in English, follows: scroll down to verses 19 and 20 — or read it in full, if you prefer):

(https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.14?lang=bi&aliyot=0)

Here is a good example in modern day of such instances occurring, in this must-read article regarding Iranian belligerence against Israel, and a mighty response, following:

Berkowitz, Adam Eliyahu. “Are Natural Catastrophes in Iran End-of-Days Divine Retribution?”; Breaking Israel News.com; April 24, 2018:

(https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/106487/divine-response-to-iranian-threats-sandstorms-and-earthquakes/)