Greetings friends
We have opened the door and reached the introduction to freedom, and once you have a taste of it, you don’t want to give it up.
As Dorothy said to Toto – “we are not in Kansas anymore.”
We crossed a line last week when we began this new book – so different from the others. We were told it is the book of names – which did not necessarily mean a lot, but will as we read further. This week alone, we find out a little bit more about Moses and Aaron and have our first introduction to the magic wand of Aaron, and G0d introduces himself to the world with the most powerful calling card of all time – still reverberating to this day as we read about the first seven plagues of Egypt and realize they weren’t just then – they’re now in each of our individual lives.
You are now going to get your first glimpse - your first inkling, your first hint at a promised land – and you know what - you have a promised land. We all do.
When we think of the exodus – we think of three things – and like a great book, play, or film - they almost serve as introduction, climax, and finale - they are – the plagues, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the ten commandments.
You could do an entire book on those three things, and we live those three things throughout our lives.
We discover the dominant theme of Exodus is G0d’s becoming known, something which is connected explicitly here to the rescue from treatment and to the “judgments” that will occur in Egypt. It will continue to be stated several times as a reason for the miraculous plagues. It was not to punish the Egyptians, not to seek retribution, or to end slavery. It was to be known.
It is about G0d’s great calling card to man and a reminder that we can make bricks without straw. We actually spend much of our lives making bricks without straw. Your doubts and fears keep you in slavery; you face a situation that seems hopeless. What can you do? Finding a way, persevering, overcoming - That, my friends, is making bricks without straw. But even when things seem dark - God makes a way where there is no way! That is faith. That is one of the great lessons in this book.
Let us now free ourselves from the tyrants of negative thinking: we have been slaves to doubts, fears, and apprehension; let us be delivered as Moses delivered the Children of Israel; let us come out of the Land of Egypt, the land of constraint; out of the House of Bondage.
G0d’s introduction to the world is via the plagues of Egypt. He had said how, when, why and what and none of it had to do with punishing the Egyptians for their treatment of anyone or for a world of slavery but if you took a poll, almost everyone would say that was the reason. And all these plagues are not long-ago events but current. They still occur in our lives. The first seven are in this reading – almost any one of which could have been nationally fatal:
Blood contains the life force of man through which our souls, our ki; our nefesh, our ruach flows.
Frogs are a nuisance.
Lice are bloodsuckers and pests and disturb.
Beasts are the swarming mob that can sweep you up as either a victim or a member.
Pestilence is a plague that kills and destroys the food supply and has social implications.
Boils are another form of disease, but this one brings discrimination because it is about what you see and judge.
Hail was a destructive force that wiped out whatever food supply was left.
In a scant week, we see the next three – and to many, they are the true big three, although the ones from this week left Egypt bereft.
Keep practicing forgiveness and use this time to continue to forgive those you need to forgive and ask forgiveness from those you need to seek forgiveness from and give thanks and celebrate your freedom and joy; do not succumb to fear – and please feel free to share this audio and video with any you think might enjoy it, and of course, enjoy all of our past audio and video episodes which are available on our YouTube channel. This episode will be posted on our channel - click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show in the 2024 cycle.
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Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life. Do not give in to the fear that is so prevalent, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance – as always - if you have any questions or suggestions or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.
And remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know - that I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.
Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others, and in doing so, be safe, my friends. Be happy and may you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles and make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and incredible awesomeness.
And remember – your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star and continue to be a miracle in someone’s life and light the light of love. May the year bring all your hopes, dreams, and wishes to fruition.
Blessings
RD
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