Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, February 22, 2025\
Shabbat Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Grace and Israel’s Exodus
Grace Part 10
By David Harwood
Adonai influenced the emotions of Israel’s adversaries.
This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under heaven. When they hear the report about you, they will tremble and twist in anguish because of you.’ (Deuteronomy 2:25)
No one will be able to stand against you—Adonai your God will put the fear and dread of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has promised you. (Deuteronomy 11:25)
The Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures (The Septuagint) translates dread and fear with words we’d find familiar. They are transliterated into English as trauma and phobia.
Israel did not have an awe-inspiring army. However, the God who was with them had a reputation for giving Israel victory. When the Canaanites heard the report of Israel’s exploits, and of the God who caused them to overcome their adversaries, they were traumatized (Joshua 2:11).
Something similar happened to the Egyptians. In the same way the Lord put the fear and dread of Israel upon their adversaries, so He put an inclination to favor Israel upon their oppressors.
How much favor?
He influenced the Egyptians to view Israel with the type of favor (chen/charis) that motivates a wealthy person to enrich a favored person.
Here’s the report in Exodus.
God promised Moses that when Israel was liberated, they would be recompensed for all their labor that was the result of their bondage.
“Then I shall grant these people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. So it will happen that when you go, you will not leave empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house for silver and gold jewelry and clothing. You will put them on your sons and your daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:21–22)
The aforementioned promise was fulfilled in two stages. Step one: in Exodus 11 we find the beginning of outrageous chen/charis.
Adonai gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians.
Indeed, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaoh’s servants and in the eyes of the people. (Exodus 11:3)
We just read that Israel had grace/favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. Moses, Israel’s deliverer and the agent of Egypt’s judgment, was like a celebrity. Also, consider: this favor immediately preceded the Passover. Pesach was a world-changing demonstration of divine favor. Look at this pattern: First, Israel was under the blood of the Lamb. Then they were liberated, and, in the midst of Egypt’s mourning, they received favor.
So Bnei-Yisrael acted according to the word of Moses. They asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing.
Adonai gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and let them have what they asked for. So they plundered the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:35–36)
God influenced the emotions of Israel’s adversaries in both Egypt and Canaan. He put the dread of Israel on one group, and favor towards Israel on the other.
If Adonai treated Egypt as He did the Canaanites, the interaction might have resembled a mugging: “Your money or your life.” But God had a different strategy. He gave the Egyptians a favorable view of their former slaves.
How?
Perhaps it was by His continually demonstrating His favor towards Israel. The result of that favor may have been that Egypt took notice. Perhaps they realized that it is good to bless those the Creator favors.
The ancient covenant pattern remains to this day:
My desire is to bless those who bless you, but whoever curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 22-Feb-2025 24th of Sh’vat, 5785 Parashat Mishpatim
Ex 23:26-24:18 Jer 34:8-22; 33:25-26 1 Ti 1:3-11