While I was doing my scripture study, this Shabbat, Yahuah revealed something to me that truly blew my mind. I began the morning with a prayer and set out to find all of the prophecies from the old testament that foreshadowed Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) coming in the new testament. Before noon, I had about nine sticky notes in the old testament that corresponded to about three scriptures all found within Chapter 1 and 2 of Matthew, in the new testament (post coming soon, in Yahuah’s timing). During this process, something caught my eye and I couldn’t get past it.
— Here it is —
After Mary gave birth to Yahshua, an angel appeared to Joseph and commanded him to take Mary and Yahshua into Egypt to flee from Herod who sought to kill Yahshua. This was done to fulfill the prophecy found in Hosea. I was taught this in Sunday school and in the many Christian schools that I attended growing up. I always kept going; nothing ever stuck out to me. Today was different.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Hosea 11:1)
It had dawned on me that Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel), brought his people, the Israelites, into Egypt where they eventually became slaves. Of course, while he was alive, they weren’t slaves. They lived in the Goshen working to feed themselves. If you recall, before this came to be, the land was facing a famine. Yahuah found favor with Joseph and helped him interpret Pharaoh's dream and guided Egypt in preparing for it. So, while the land around Egypt suffered, Egypt was prepared — saving its people and the Israelites. For the full story, please read Genesis 39-47.
When Moses came along, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for four hundred thirty years and Yahuah sent him to deliver his people.
“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.”(Exodus 12:40)
Yahuah sent ten plagues against Egypt (three also affect the Israelites, but we’ll discuss that later). The ten plagues were significant because the plagues correspond with the gods and goddesses that Egypt worshipped during that time. They would have prayed to these deities but nothing would happen until Moses would pray to Yahuah. Proving that Yahuah is the one true God. For the full story, please read Exodus 3-12.
It is also important to note that Pharaoh was also included within the worship structure; he was seen as a god, the most powerful because he was thought to be Ra, the sun god, manifest in the flesh. So, the significance of the plague “the death of the firstborns” in which Pharaoh lost his firstborn, is tremendously significant because it foreshadows the death of Yahshua — the firstborn of the true living God. This was also prophesied by the Zechariah
" And it will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication: they they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieve for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)
I would have never made the connection if it was not for my recent reading. Over and over again, Yahuah forbid the Israelites from going back to Egypt for any reason (Deuteronomy 17:16, Jeremiah 42:19) both spiritually and physically. Now, all of a sudden, He commands Joseph to bring Yahshua — His firstborn— into Egypt.
His ways surpass all understanding. It is my belief that He did not allow the Israelites to go back to Egypt for three reasons:
He had delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:14). By going back to ask for help or buy anything from them would show the world that Yahuah may not be as great as portrayed. Instead, He said, that He would bless Israel so that there is no need for going back if they obeyed Him(scripture) .
Egypt represents spiritual and physical bondage (Exodus 13:14). Over and over again, prophets warned Israel about the blessing for obeying and the punishment of disobeying Yahuah’s laws, statutes, and commandments (Deuteronomy 28).They would be sent to spiritual Egypt and would be in physical bondage. This happened over and over again to the people Israel, and this is still the plight of Israel today (Deuteronomy 28:68).
If they would have gone into Egypt for pleasure, then the symbolism of Yahshua going into Egypt would have been missed. Granted, the Israelites steadily disobeyed Him and did it anyway, but He never commanded them to go back into Egypt until Yahshua.
Wow, my mind was blown! The connect seems so clear to me. Have you ever made this connection/parallel? Everything Yahuah does is for a reason. I've come to learn that the old expression “nothing is ever new under the sun” is definitely true. Because of this, I am beginning to understand that EVERYTHING was set in motion by Yahuah to fulfill his plan and purpose for this life. No matter who you are and what you believe, we are all a part of His master plan.
Well, I can’t wait to see what else Yahuah will reveal to me in my studies. I hope you continue to join me on this journey. Please, let me know what you think and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future.
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