The Christian Bible includes what is called “The Old Testament” but which is really a version of ancient Jewish Scriptures, more properly called, “The Law (Torah), The Prophets and The Writings”.
When one reads The Torah, one wonders if there is a missing Book. At the end of the Book of Genesis, we are left with Joseph as virtual Governor or Prime Minister of Egypt and his family in the Pharaoh’s favour. This must have been a time of prosperity.
Then, with the opening of the Book of the Exodus, we find the descendants of that same family in conditions of brutal slavery, in Egypt. Obviously, during the 400 years in between, something drastic had happened, in between the two Books.
In Exodus, we are told: “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.” (Exodus: Ch.1, v.8) http://www.ishwar.com/judaism/holy_torah/book02/book02_001.html
It seems that there had been a dynastic change in Egypt and those once favoured by the previous royal family were now out of favour. Such is often the case in the political realm but the new regime chose not only to persecute those who served the previous dynasty, but also to enslave the entire nation that had descended from Joseph and his brothers.
We are then told that God took Pity on the suffering descendants of Israel and their families and gave them a great leader, Moses. God also gave the new Egyptian Pharaoh an opportunity to repent and act justly – but the Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and continued the persecution.
God then punished Egypt, released the suffering peoples from bondage and gave them a new set of Laws, Rules and Regulations, so that they could form their own independent Nation - a Nation that would become a “Light unto the world” - with God as its King.
The Book of Samuel then tells a poignant story of how the people of God’s Kingdom on Earth chose, approximately 400 years later, to be like all other peoples and have a mortal king. (First Book of Samuel: Ch. 8, v. 1-21) http://ebible.org/web/1Sam.htm
The Writings tell us of the results of that choice, while The Prophets tell us how God kept trying to bring the people back – to no avail. Earthly Politics is such a tempting delusion.
Nevertheless, God continued to work and when the people had matured, so that they no longer needed animal sacrifice, The Temple was destroyed and the Jews were dispersed throughout the world, so that others might have an opportunity to learn of the Just and Merciful God and that those who believe need no mortal ruler, merely practical administrations.
One wonders if any of our “leaders” know of “The Law, The Prophets and The Writings” - or of Joseph and the Just and Merciful God.
Perhaps, as we join with our Jewish Brothers and Sisters in commemoration of their Deliverance from oppression, we may also remember all the Prophets and Teachers of Divine Law - and follow their advice.
We wish EVERYONE a Peaceful, Joyous and Transcendent Passover/Pesach !
Paul V. Rafferty
PLEASE READ:
Tzav-Passover: The Seder Plate
A Microcosm of Your Psyche
http://meaningfullife.com/oped/2006/04.08.06$Tzav-PassoverCOLON_The_Seder_Plate.php
Please also see:
Festival of Freedom
Passover: April 2-10 2007
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default.asp
PASSOVER 2007, 5767 http://www.kashrut.com/Passover
When one reads The Torah, one wonders if there is a missing Book. At the end of the Book of Genesis, we are left with Joseph as virtual Governor or Prime Minister of Egypt and his family in the Pharaoh’s favour. This must have been a time of prosperity.
Then, with the opening of the Book of the Exodus, we find the descendants of that same family in conditions of brutal slavery, in Egypt. Obviously, during the 400 years in between, something drastic had happened, in between the two Books.
In Exodus, we are told: “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.” (Exodus: Ch.1, v.8) http://www.ishwar.com/judaism/holy_torah/book02/book02_001.html
It seems that there had been a dynastic change in Egypt and those once favoured by the previous royal family were now out of favour. Such is often the case in the political realm but the new regime chose not only to persecute those who served the previous dynasty, but also to enslave the entire nation that had descended from Joseph and his brothers.
We are then told that God took Pity on the suffering descendants of Israel and their families and gave them a great leader, Moses. God also gave the new Egyptian Pharaoh an opportunity to repent and act justly – but the Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and continued the persecution.
God then punished Egypt, released the suffering peoples from bondage and gave them a new set of Laws, Rules and Regulations, so that they could form their own independent Nation - a Nation that would become a “Light unto the world” - with God as its King.
The Book of Samuel then tells a poignant story of how the people of God’s Kingdom on Earth chose, approximately 400 years later, to be like all other peoples and have a mortal king. (First Book of Samuel: Ch. 8, v. 1-21) http://ebible.org/web/1Sam.htm
The Writings tell us of the results of that choice, while The Prophets tell us how God kept trying to bring the people back – to no avail. Earthly Politics is such a tempting delusion.
Nevertheless, God continued to work and when the people had matured, so that they no longer needed animal sacrifice, The Temple was destroyed and the Jews were dispersed throughout the world, so that others might have an opportunity to learn of the Just and Merciful God and that those who believe need no mortal ruler, merely practical administrations.
One wonders if any of our “leaders” know of “The Law, The Prophets and The Writings” - or of Joseph and the Just and Merciful God.
Perhaps, as we join with our Jewish Brothers and Sisters in commemoration of their Deliverance from oppression, we may also remember all the Prophets and Teachers of Divine Law - and follow their advice.
We wish EVERYONE a Peaceful, Joyous and Transcendent Passover/Pesach !
Paul V. Rafferty
PLEASE READ:
Tzav-Passover: The Seder Plate
A Microcosm of Your Psyche
http://meaningfullife.com/oped/2006/04.08.06$Tzav-PassoverCOLON_The_Seder_Plate.php
Please also see:
Festival of Freedom
Passover: April 2-10 2007
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default.asp
PASSOVER 2007, 5767 http://www.kashrut.com/Passover