Va'era: Preparation
- Melissa Collins
- Jan 17
- 17 min read
Why We Prepare Before We Enter Rest
There is a reason Yahweh told Israel to prepare before holy moments.
Before Sinai, there was consecration. Before Passover, there was instruction. Before Sabbath, there was gathering, remembrance, and intention.
Shabbat is not something we rush into at the end of a busy week hoping rest will magically happen. Shabbat is something we enter prepared—with hearts aligned, eyes open, and minds anchored in truth.
That’s why we do pre-work.
This is a time we look forward to in anticipation. One that we want to be ready for.
Not to earn anything. Not to prove anything. But because what we behold, we become.
When we take time before Shabbat to search the Scriptures, we are doing more than studying—we are training our hearts to recognize Yahweh, His patterns, His voice, and His ways. We are quieting Egypt’s noise before we step into God’s rest.
This week’s Torah portion, Va’era, is foundational. It's not just history. It is identity formation. It teaches us who God is, how He redeems, how He marks His people, and where the story is going. So, let’s walk through it together. Before we gather for Shabbat, I want to invite you into something deeper than preparation — I want to invite you into pattern recognition.
So here is the heart of this week’s pre-work.
1. What are Yahweh’s seven “I Will” statements?
6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with [f]an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore[g] to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ Exodus 6: 6-8
This in biblical hermeneutics is called “inclusio” or sometimes called an envelope structure or framing device. Literary teachers call it a chiasm where you see mirrored patterns (A-B-C-B-A) In other words everything points to that middle part, that is packing the punch. I call them bookends, and these bookends are markers. 🏁
So, let’s look at our bookends first. This is the God’s reintroduction to His people. They’ve been enslaved in a foreign land. They’ve heard of Him, but they don’t know Him.
So in other words, here we have God saying something like this. Listen. This is who I am. Let me show you who I am. Then He makes his promises that are just as much His identity as they are promises. And this is how He is going to reveal Himself, through fulfilling His promises. In Hebrew thought they say, God’s name is not a label — it is His nature revealed through deeds.
1. I will bring you out (our leader, our shepherd, our guiding light, our defender)
2. I will deliver you (our messiah, our savior)
3. I will redeem you (he gives us value and worth, cleans us up)
4. I will take you as My people (our family, community, neighbor, fellowship, and reputation)
5. I will be your God (our husband, our head, our protector, our name)
6. I will bring you into the land (our provider and our protection, our home)
7. I will give it to you as an inheritance (provider and giver of good things to us who don’t deserve it, legacy)
Seven is the perfect number of completion, covenant, and divine fullness. This is covenant language.
So this chiasm teaches us:
You will understand who I am by watching what I do — and once I finish, you will know Me.
And right now they know of him as I am.
Last week, Moses asked God. Who am I? God basically said it doesn’t matter who are. Tell them about me.
God said, “I AM WHO I AM”. And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ Exodus 3:14
So I asked myself, what else does this make me think of? Oh, I know!
The 7 I Am Statements of Yeshua.
1. I AM the Bread of Life (John 6) Egypt didn’t feed us. He does. And the test tell us that we don’t live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And Yeshua is that word made flesh. Again we see He is our provider.
2. I AM the Light of the World (John 8) He is our guiding light, our leader.
3. I AM the Door (John 10) He is that door that we enter through, the gate, and no one goes to the Father except through Him. Chpt 14.
4. I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10) our leader, our protector
5. I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11) our redeemer, our husband
6. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14)
7. I AM the True Vine (John 15)
This can’t be coincidence. Coincidence isn’t even a kosher word. Here we find basically the exact same expression of being so much more than a name or title. It’s identity and relationship being revealed to us.
Yeshua also said in the most explosive of these statements, John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I AM” They knew exactly what He meant. He was quoting Exodus 3. He came in all authority of the Father.
This is progression. God first begins to reveal to us who He is through what He will do. He does it, but the story isn’t finished. He is wooing us into relationship with Him. So His words come down in flesh as Yeshua. In all authority of Yahweh, perfect. And He shows us first hand who he is. We’ve seen who He was. Now we are seeing who He is. Now let’s take a look at who is to come.
· “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Rev 1:8)
· “I am the First and the Last” (Rev 1:17)
· “I am the Beginning and the End” (Rev 22:13)
He closes the loop here with these Revelation bookends. The same Yeshua who said, “Come and see” now says “Surely I am coming quickly.”
When do we normally read these, apart from this Torah portion?
We read these as part of our Passover Sedar. In short, because we don’t want to focus solely on the escape. We need to know and understand Who is redeeming us. And then also as preparation and trust building for a later final and greater exodus when God completes what He started and fully dwells with His people.
2. What were the names of Moses’ parents?
Exodus 6:20 Amram & Jochebed (special shoutout to my 2 year old granddaughter McKinley 💗 This is her favorite bible trivia – that she taught me!)
Jochebed is now one of my favorite Matriarchs and often overlooked. She is one of the first examples of civil disobedience, carrying a greater fear of the Lord than fear of a ruler. Her very courageous faith is so openly rewarded. The Lord not only allowed her to watch Moses grow up but brought Moses back to her to nurse. Can you even imagine the gratitude and praise from her?!?!
She also birthed both Spirit & Truth, Instruction and Intercession, Torah & Priesthood, through Moses & Aaron. She never preaches. Her name is obscurely mentioned, but we wouldn’t be where we are today without her courageous faith and fruitfulness!
What tribe were they from? How were they related?
Amram married Jochebed, his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses.” (Exodus 6:20)
· Jochebed was Amram’s aunt
· Amram was the son of Kohath
· Jochebed was Kohath’s sister
While laws and instructions were certainly already given at this time. We saw sacrifices and clean/unclean in Genesis. We don’t know if they knew that this kind of marriage would be forbidden in Leviticus 18. But Yahweh’s purpose is greater and isn’t inhibited by fleshly circumstances. However, it is neat to realize that the priesthood coming together through the line of Levi.
So why Levi before Judah? We need instruction first. Our King later. Yeshua comes first as a lamb before a ruling lion. And we are a bride, who needs preparation, before we meet our King our Husband.
Redemption always starts at the altar before it moves to the throne. We first have to repent, be redeemed, and then restored to our husband.
3. One reason for the Exodus and the judgments was to free Israel and bring them into the Promised Land. What are other reasons given in Scripture?
Scripture teaches that the Exodus was not only about freedom from slavery, but about the revelation of God’s identity, glory, and covenant purposes.
God brought Israel out of Egypt so they would know Him as the LORD, so His name would be proclaimed among the nations, so He could dwell among His people, and so His power and faithfulness would be displayed through judgment and redemption. The Exodus reveals God as righteous Judge, faithful Redeemer, and covenant-keeping King.
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”— Exodus 7:5
“On all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.”— Exodus 12:12
“For this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”— Exodus 9:16
4. What was the first sign performed before Pharaoh?
8 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ” 10 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Exodus 7
5. What was the first judgment (plague)?
Waters to blood.
17 Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. 18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe[e] to drink the water of the river.” ’ ” 19 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’ ” 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. Exodus 7
How many days did it last?
Exodus 7:25 And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river.
6. What was the second plague?
Exodus 8:6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
7. What was the third plague?
Exodus 8: 16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” 17 And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
8. When did the magicians begin to acknowledge the power of Yahweh?
The third plague:
Exodus 8: 18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”
9. What was the fourth plague?
Exodus 8: 24 And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.
10. When did God begin to make a distinction between Egypt and Israel?
The fourth plague.
Exodus 8:22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. 23 I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” 11. Why do you think God made that separation at that moment?
12. How many plagues were there in total?
Ten
Bonus: What correlation can we draw here?
Timing & pattern for universal then distinction.
The first three plagues are universal, but something very interesting happens at the 4th. God draws a clear boundary. Literally a line in the sand that says His people are marked by protection, as a clear sign.
Fast forward to Mt Sinai. We are given ten commandments, but again, we see something very interesting in scripture regarding the 4th.
“The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath… It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever.”— Exodus 31:16–17
Here again, at number four, God establishes a sign, a boundary and a marker of identity. Just as Goshen distinguished Israel during the judgement at the original Exodus. We see the Sabbath distinguishes His people once again.
In Book of Exodus, Yahweh explicitly names the Sabbath as His sign:
“Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”— Exodus 31:13
Key features of the Sabbath as God’s sign:
It marks belonging (“between Me and you”)
It requires trust over productivity
It restrains buying, selling, and labor
It declares that provision comes from God, not constant work
The Sabbath is a weekly act of resistance against slavery, Pharaoh, and endless economic striving.
It says:
I serve Yahweh, not the system.
Now let’s compare to the Book of Revelation:
“It causes all… to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark…”— Revelation 13:16–17
This is not random symbolism.
Key features of the beast’s mark:
It also marks belonging and allegiance
It is tied directly to economic participation
It enforces constant productivity and compliance
It replaces trust in God with trust in the system
It is imposed by coercion, not covenant
Where Sabbath says stop and trust, the mark of the beast says work, comply, or starve.
Sabbath (Yahweh’s Sign) | Mark of the Beast |
Given by covenant | Enforced by coercion |
Sign of belonging to God | Sign of allegiance to the beast |
Rest from buying/selling | Permission to buy/sell |
Trust in God’s provision | Dependence on the system |
Freedom from slavery | Economic bondage |
Written on time | Marked on body |
Obedience from love | Compliance from fear |
This is not accidental — it is a deliberate counterfeit.
Egypt was an economic prison and Pharaoh controlled labor, time, and survival.
The Sabbath was given to ensure Israel would never become slaves again.
The beast’s system reverses that:
Control of food
Control of trade
Control of survival
Control of allegiance
This is Pharaoh reborn, now global.
Many will tell you today that you don’t have to follow the law or commandments, that they were done away with. But that’s also the message of the lawlessness one. The spirit of the antichrist is here today.
Yeshua said that he did not come to abolish the law, and he was clear that if we love Him, we’ll keep his commandments. I don’t know about you, but I am happy to serve Him. And He was surely right, they are not burdensome.
But He did promise us, it won’t be easy. We are called to pick up our cross daily, die to our flesh and follow Him, to walk as He walked, our Jewish Messiah. So keeping Sabbath may make you different, it may be uncomfortable, and it may cost you something. Today it may cost you some friends. Tomorrow it may cost you even more. But that greater distinction is worth far than anything that this world can offer.
Revelation 22: 14 “Blessed are those who do His commandments, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.”
In the end, it’s not your denomination, your culture or your race. You are identified by Faith in Jesus and obedience to God’s commandments.
Revelation 14:12 “Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
13. What was the fifth plague?
Exodus 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, 3 behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. 4 And the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ” 5 Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” 6 So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. 7 Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.
14. What was the sixth plague?
Exodus 9: 8 So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10 Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast.
14. What was the seventh plague?
18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. 19 Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.” ’ ”
20 He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. 21 But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
Bonus Study
How do these events compare to the judgments in Revelation?
Slavery vs Deliverance
Exodus: Israel is enslaved under Pharaoh. There is forced labor, economic control, loss of freedom. God hears their cries and moves to redeem
Revelation: The world is enslaved under Babylon/ The Beast system. There is economic control or coercion. God hears the saints and acts decisively.
Signs, Wonders, Judgements, Witnesses, Songs
Exodus
Ten plagues strike Egypt
Judgements expose Egypt and their gods as powerless
God reveals “I am the LORD”
Moses and Aaron leads signs, miracles, judgements
Song of Moses
Revelation
Seals, trumpets and bowls strike the Earth
Judgements expose the world and their kings as powerless
God revels His holiness and sovereignty
Two witnesses Revelation 11: 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
Song of Moses Rev 15
Distinction between God’s people and the world
Exodus:
4th plague God separates Goshen
Israel is protected while Egypt is judged
God marks His people by protection
Revelation
God marks His people in Rev 7
God protects His people Rev 12:6
God protects his people
Exodus – the Red Sea drowns Pharaoh and his army
Revelation 12: 15-17 the serpent tries to down God’s people, but God has the earth swallow up the water
Obedience / Testing / Perseverance
Exodus
Israel has to apply the blood of the Lamb to the doorposts
Tested in the wilderness and taught to trust
On a journey to the Promised Land
Revelation
We have to apply the blood of the Lamb to the doorposts of our heart
We’ll be tested in tribulation and taken to the wilderness
On a journey to New Jerusalem
God will dwell with His people
Exodus
God dwells with His people first by pillar of clouds / fire to lead them
Then dwells with them in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness
Revelation
The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them Rev 21:3
# | Plague in Book of Exodus | Exodus Reference | Revelation Parallel | Revelation Reference | Shared Theme |
1 | Water turned to blood | Exod. 7:14–25 | Seas & waters become blood | Rev. 8:8–9; 16:3–4 | Life source corrupted |
2 | Frogs | Exod. 8:1–15 | Unclean spirits like frogs | Rev. 16:13 | Unclean spirits, deception |
3 | Gnats (lice) | Exod. 8:16–19 | Earth struck, torment follows | Rev. 8:7; 9:1–6 | Dust → judgment |
4 | Flies (distinction made) | Exod. 8:20–24 | God seals His servants | Rev. 7:1–4 | Separation of God’s people |
5 | Death of livestock | Exod. 9:1–7 | Widespread death & destruction | Rev. 9:18; 16:3 | Economic collapse |
6 | Boils | Exod. 9:8–12 | Painful sores on followers of beast | Rev. 16:2 | Bodily judgment |
7 | Hail & fire | Exod. 9:13–35 | Hail mixed with fire | Rev. 8:7; 16:21 | Heaven’s warfare |
8 | Locusts | Exod. 10:1–20 | Demonic locusts | Rev. 9:3–11 | Total devastation |
9 | Darkness | Exod. 10:21–29 | Darkness over the beast’s kingdom | Rev. 16:10 | Removal of false light |
10 | Death of firstborn | Exod. 11–12 | Final judgment / fall of Babylon | Rev. 18; 19:11–21 | Decisive judgment & deliverance |
Why do you think Passover was commanded to be remembered and rehearsed every year?
1. To Remember - “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD… forever.” Exodus 12:14
a. Remember what sets us apart
b. Remember who our Redeemer is
c. Remember Who is in control
2. To Rehearse - “When your son asks you… you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover…’” Exodus 12:26–27
a. Without rehearsal, future generations may forget, and relying on God may feel risky
b. The hearing the story, the rehearsing the dinner, learning the symbolism and the pattern engrains and become recognizable & it develops their identity
c. Recognition of this pattern will empower them to discern, resist and follow the Lamb through judgement
Because it is the same old war. And each year we decide our choice. Pharoah or Yahweh. Slavery or Servitude. Egyptian economy or God’s provision. Fear or Obedience.
Read these prophetic passages with this Torah portion in mind:
• Jeremiah 16:14–15
• Jeremiah 23:7–8
• Jeremiah 31
• Isaiah 11:11–12
• Ezekiel 36:24–28
• Zephaniah 3:20
Write down what you see. Ask Yahweh what He is revealing about redemption, regathering, covenant, and the final Exodus.
The first exodus is local. It sets the precedence and the pattern.
The second exodus is global. It’s the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.
It is Sinai magnified. Where the finger of God once wrote His law on tablets of stone – This time the finger of God will write His law directly and personally on our hearts and in our minds. God has never and will never abandon His Torah. He is magnifying it and making it more intimate than ever. It’s no longer about external, fleshly deliverance. It’s internal, spiritual freedom!
The first exodus is the blueprint.
The second exodus the final masterpiece.
Final Invitation
This is why we do the homework before Shabbat.
So that when we rest,we rest awake.
So that when we worship,we worship in truth.
So that when the Lamb calls,we recognize His voice.
“Here is the perseverance of the saints—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”(Revelation 14:12)
May we be a people who remember, rehearse, and recognize the pattern—and who are ready to follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
Shabbat Shalom.
Comments