Parashah #15 Bo: "Come"
Exodus 10:1-13:16
In this week's Torah portion, Yisrael's deliverance from slavery in Egypt finally comes to fruition, and this event is commemorated in the Feast of Pesach (Passover) from generation to generation. Four passages in this portion remind us that HaShem doesn't redeem us for our own sakes only, but also so that we will proclaim His Name and His deeds to our children and grandchildren. Consider the following passages: "ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have made him and his servants hardhearted, so that I can demonstrate these signs of mine among them, so that you can tell your son and grandson about what I did to Egypt and about my signs that I demonstrated among them, and so that you will all know that I am ADONAI." (Exodus 10:1-2) "When your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this ceremony?' say, 'It is the sacrifice of ADONAI's Pesach, (Passover) because (ADONAI) passed over the houses of the people of Isra'el in Egypt, when he killed the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" The people of Isra'el bowed their heads and worshipped." (Exodus 12:26-27)
"Matzah is to be eaten throughout the seven days; neither hametz nor leavening agents are to be seen with you throughout your territory. On that day you are to tell your son, 'It is because of what ADONAI did for me when I left Egypt.'" (Exodus 13:7-8) "When, at some future time, your son asks you, 'What is this?' then say to him, 'With a strong hand ADONAI brought us out of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. When Pharaoh was unwilling to let us go, ADONAI killed all the firstborn males in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of humans and the firstborn of animals. This is why I sacrifice to ADONAI any male that is first from the womb of an animal, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.'" (Exodus 13:14-15) Though these passages may seem slightly unrelated, as two deal with keeping Passover, one deals with declaring HaShem's works to the next generation, and one deals with pidyon HaBen (redemption of the firstborn), they show us what we need to do in order to make sure our faith lives on in our children and grandchildren.
Two passages, Shemot 10:2 and Shemot 13:7-8 give us instructions to tell our children what HaShem has done for us and how we commemorate His deeds. These passages imply that we should tell our children and grandchildren these things whether they ask or not. Conversely, Shemot 12:26-27 and Shemot 13:14-15 tell us that our children will ask us questions and we must always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). Together, these Scriptures imply a principle we sometimes forget in the busyness of life, but it is crucial to remember and act upon if our faith is to endure beyond our generation. Our L-rd Yeshua commands us to make talmidim (disciples) of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). In our zealousness to obey this command, we often look outside our own families for people to disciple, not realizing that our most important disciples to raise up for HaMashiach are our little ones in our families and congregations. As the passages state above, there are things we must impart to our children and grandchildren whether they ask us about them or not. We must also encourage them to ask us questions so that this treasure we carry called faith can be passed onto them and it will become their own. We are also taught through this week's Torah portion that our children and grandchildren won't learn about HaShem by osmosis. We must actively teach them in all things, at all times. This is hard work, but it is our calling and HaShem will give us the grace and wisdom we need to accomplish this 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week task. As it is written: "He raised up a testimony in Ya‘akov and established a Torah in Isra'el. He commanded our ancestors to make this known to their children, so that the next generation would know it, the children not yet born, who would themselves arise and tell their own children, who could then put their confidence in G-d, not forgetting G-d's deeds, but obeying his mitzvot." (Psalms 78:5-7) Let us make raising up talmidim our number one priority.
Shalom uvracha,
Hadassah