A Journey through Va’era and the Battle of Belief
In Parashat Va’era, we are invited into a story of redemption and faith. This pivotal narrative is mirrored in Hebrews 3:7-19, where the author warns against hardening our hearts and exhorts us to enter G-d’s rest through faith.
"7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.10Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief."
The journey of the Israelites from Egypt is not just a historical account but a spiritual blueprint, reflecting humanity’s struggle with belief and obedience. The generations that experienced the wilderness faced trials so significant and otherworldly that they would shake even the strongest resolve—testing the endurance of most every human heart. They witnessed the plagues in Egypt—natural and supernatural phenomena that defied explanation—and endured the fear and uncertainty they provoked. Yet, through these trials, G-d’s power and faithfulness were revealed, forging them into a people who could grasp His might and mercy.
The Plagues: A Demonstration of G-d’s Power
The ten plagues unleashed upon Egypt were not just punishments but revelations of divine sovereignty. The Nile, a source of life, turned to blood, while frogs, gnats, and flies swarmed the land. Livestock perished, boils erupted, hail mixed with fire destroyed crops, and locusts devoured what little remained. Darkness engulfed Egypt, symbolizing spiritual blindness, and finally, the death of the firstborn broke Pharaoh’s resistance. Each plague escalated in intensity, underscoring G-d’s dominion over creation and His commitment to His covenant.
For the Israelites, these events were both terrifying and transformative. Shielded from the plagues’ worst effects, they were reminded of G-d’s protection and power. These trials prepared them for the journey to freedom and the fulfillment of His promises. As James 1:2-4 reminds us, trials test our faith and produce endurance, shaping us into the people G-d calls us to be.
"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
So that you might learn the strength and power and mercy of G-d. This is the wisdom which resonates within the parasha Va’era that we read this week. In this portion, we see the mighty hand of G-d at work, delivering His people from bondage in Egypt through signs and wonders. Yet, intertwined in this story is a significant truth: faith is the pathway to rest, but unbelief is a snare that keeps us from entering it.
The Garden of Eden: Rest Lost and Rest Restored
Let us step back to the very beginning, to the garden of Eden, where G-d rested after completing His work. Genesis 2:1-3tells us:
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made."
In the garden, Adam and Eve lived in perfect communion with G-d, walking in His Spirit, enjoying the fruits of His labor, and dwelling in the kingdom of heaven on earth. But the serpent’s deception introduced unbelief, which was produced from the seed of doubt, causing humanity to fall from that divine rest. Since then, the adversary’s strategy has remained the same: to sow doubt, to chip away at your faith, and to drive you away from the rest G-d intends for you.
The Shabbat is a sacred island, a sanctuary in time where all who believe rest in the hands of our Creator, allowing Him to shape and mold you into the men and women He designed you to be.
When G-d formed Adam and breathed life into him, everything was already complete. Man was placed into a finished creation, invited to partake in kingdom living by enjoying the fruits of G-d’s labor, not his own. Before the fall, Adam and Eve dwelled in the true rest of G-d, walking in His Ruach without awareness of sin or the limitations of their flesh. Though made from the earth, they lived in G-d’s likeness, pure and holy creations reflecting His glory.
The serpent’s cunning brought about the tragic fall of man, perverting the holiness and righteousness G-d had instilled. The adversary is fixated on the very things that bring joy to G-d. When G-d delights in His faithful creation and declares "it is good," the adversary sets out to corrupt and destroy what brings G-d happiness. This persistent effort to undermine G-d’s work may, in part, illuminate the depth of G-d’s compassion and mercy toward us. Though we choose to reject G-d, the seeds of doubt that led to that rejection often stem from the enemy’s deliberate attempts to distort the truth and lead us astray. Keeping that in mind the adversary’s eternal mission is to destroy G-d’s delight in His creation.
The story of Va’era echoes the loss of rest in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:1-3, G-d rests after completing His creation, inviting humanity into a divine rest—a state of harmony and communion with Him. But the serpent’s deception introduced doubt and unbelief, severing humanity from this rest. Since then, the adversary has sought to undermine our faith, knowing that belief is the pathway back to G-d’s rest.
Shabbat is a weekly reminder of this truth. It is a sacred time to cease from labor and trust in G-d’s provision. Before the fall, Adam and Eve lived in G-d’s rest, walking in His Spirit and enjoying the fruits of His labor. Their expulsion from the garden marked humanity’s separation from divine rest, but through Yeshua, we are invited to re-enter it. As Hebrews 4:9-11 states,
There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God. … Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
Throughout the generations from the beginning of time, the enemy has gained momentum, using deception to turn people away from the true rest found in G-d. This rest, meant to restore and renew, is the very essence of Shabbat—a reminder of G-d’s completed work and an invitation to live in His Spirit, despite the chaos of a fallen world. In Va’era, we witness Pharaoh’s hardened heart—a symbol of the unbelief caused by the deception of the enemy. Despite the miracles performed by G-d through Moshe and Aharon, Pharaoh refused to trust and obey. His resistance served as a warning for us: that unbelief can blind you to the wonders of G-d and keep you enslaved to the flesh. But for those of us that do believe there is hope that the rest lost to Adam and Eve is not gone forever.
It is important to point out that entering G-d’s rest through belief is far from simple. It is a path burdened with challenges, as every genuine act of faith becomes a target for relentless attacks by the adversary. The moment you step out in belief, declaring your trust in G-d, you provoke an immediate response from the forces that oppose Him. The adversary does not attack where there is no threat; instead, he focuses his efforts on those who demonstrate strength and conviction.
These attacks often take many forms—doubts planted subtly in your mind, circumstances designed to test your resolve, or endurance, they are distractions that pull your focus away from G-d. The adversary uses fear, confusion, and discouragement to chip away at your confidence, hoping to make you question the very foundation of your belief. He seeks to magnify your struggles, distort your perceptions, and exploit your vulnerabilities in an effort to separate you from the rest and peace that G-d offers. Therefore, to enter this rest, it is of great necessity that we guard ourselves against unbelief.
The Armor of G-d: Guarding Against Unbelief
As unbelief often creeps into our lives through doubts, distractions, or spiritual attacks, the armor of G-d equips us to stand firm against these challenges. Each piece of the armor plays a critical role in fortifying us against unbelief and aligning us with G-d’s pathway toward spiritual and physical peace. To stand firm, we must put on the full armor of G-d (Ephesians 6:10-18):
The Helmet of Salvation: Protects our minds from doubt by reminding us of our secure relationship with G-d.
The Breastplate of Righteousness: Guards our hearts, aligning our actions with G-d’s commands and strengthening our faith.
The Sword of the Spirit: Equips us with G-d’s Word to counter the enemy’s lies.
The Belt of Truth: Anchors us in G-d’s truth, enabling discernment in our decisions.
The Shoes of Peace: Provide stability, allowing us to walk confidently in faith despite challenges.
Faith: The Key to Rest
Faith is the key to unlocking G-d’s promises. The centurion in Matthew 8:10-12 exemplifies this faith. Recognizing Yeshua’s authority, he believed that a single word from Him could heal his servant.
"Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Yeshua marveled at this faith, declaring it greater than any He had found in Israel. The centurion’s trust was pure and unwavering, rooted in his recognition of Yeshua’s divine power.
The centurion’s understanding of authority shaped his faith in the most significant way. As a soldier, he knows that when he gives a command, it is executed without question. He applies this same principle to Yeshua, acknowledging that Yeshua's authority over sickness and creation is absolute. This belief stands in stark contrast to the doubts and questions that many in Israel had about Yeshua. While the children of Israel constantly sought signs and debated His identity as the Mashiach, the centurion exhibited unwavering trust. He did not require further proof; he simply knew who Yeshua was and believed in the power of His word. Similarly, our faith must be nurtured. Proverbs 3:5-6 urges us to
“trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Faith, or belief, is the key to unlocking the promises of G-d. It allows us to experience His rest even in the midst of trials. When we honor the Shabbat and rest in G-d’s provision, we declare our trust in Him, rejecting the enemy’s lies.
A Call to Believe
Va’era reminds us of the importance of belief. It was belief that sustained Moses as he confronted Pharaoh, belief that enabled the Israelites to cross the sea, and belief that empowers us today. Let us heed the warning of Hebrews 3:13 to exhort one another daily, ensuring that our hearts remain soft and receptive to G-d’s voice.
As we reflect on Va’era, may we recommit ourselves to faith. Through belief, we enter G-d’s rest, experiencing His peace even amidst trials. Let us put on the armor of G-d, stand firm against unbelief, and walk in the confidence of His promises.
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