NEWSLETTER MESSAGE PART II--”GETTING THE BUGS, FROGS, AND PLAGUES OUT OF THE KEHILLAH KEDOSHAH”

Now that we have hopefully managed to get you to become a part of His Universal “kehillah kedoshah”, it’s time to join together to see what He would have us to do in regards that are currently plaguing us all. We’ll do that by starting with the reading and exploration of Exodus chapters 3 through 7 and just what led up to the events that led to the commemoration of what our Jewish brethren would call a “Passover seder”:

Exodus 3

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up."

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you [1] will worship God on this mountain."

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, `What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. [2] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.'"

God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, `The LORD, [3] the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

"Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, `The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-- appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.

And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--a land flowing with milk and honey.'

"The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, `The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.'

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.

So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.

"And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.

Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians."

[12] The Hebrew is plural.
[14] Or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE
[15] The Hebrew for LORD sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for I AM in verse 14

Signs for Moses

4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

6 Then the Lord said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous[a]—it had become as white as snow.

7 “Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.

8 Then the Lord said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.”

10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.”

Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”

19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”

24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses[b] and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it.[c] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.

29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

Footnotes

Exodus 4:6 The Hebrew word for leprous was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
Exodus 4:24 Hebrew him
Exodus 4:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

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Exodus 5

New International Version

Bricks Without Straw

5 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’”

2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”

3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

4 But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!” 5 Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”

6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

10 Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’” 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” 14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”

15 Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”

19 The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

God Promises Deliverance

22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.

Exodus 6

New International Version

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”

2 God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,[a] but by my name the Lord[b] I did not make myself fully known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.”

12 But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips[c]?”

Family Record of Moses and Aaron

13 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

14 These were the heads of their families[d]:

The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.

16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.

18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.

19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the clans of Levi according to their records.

20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri.

22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.

23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.

25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.

These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.

26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.” 27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.

Aaron to Speak for Moses

28 Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”

30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Footnotes

Exodus 6:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai
Exodus 6:3 See note at 3:15.
Exodus 6:12 Hebrew I am uncircumcised of lips; also in verse 30
Exodus 6:14 The Hebrew for families here and in verse 25 refers to units larger than clans.

Exodus 7

New International Version

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

The Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16 Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. 17 This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”

19 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels[a] of wood and stone.”

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. 21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

22 But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. 23 Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the river.

We can also find some encouragement even in the trying days we currently reside in now...not only through the writer of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, but in particular words right from the very lips of the Savior Himself...

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Whatever is has already been,

and what will be has been before;

and God will call the past to account.[b]

16 And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,

in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment

both the righteous and the wicked,

for there will be a time for every activity,

a time to judge every deed.”

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Footnotes

Ecclesiastes 3:11 Or also placed ignorance in the human heart, so that
Ecclesiastes 3:15 Or God calls back the past
Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit

John 14

New International Version

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

Footnotes

John 14:1 Or Believe in God
John 14:7 Some manuscripts If you really knew me, you would know
John 14:17 Some early manuscripts and is

Hebrews 10:19-39

New International Version

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[b] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

“In just a little while,

he who is coming will come

and will not delay.”[c]

38 And,

“But my righteous[d] one will live by faith.

And I take no pleasure

in the one who shrinks back.”[e]

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)

I know that all of this Scripture is probably a lot for you to read...so let’s say I’ve been thinking about taking a unique take on the story of Pesach/Passover/Exodus (taking a lot of dramatic license to do it, of course--so please bear with me on this) in a little better way to translate into our modern-day venacular...Here’s the best I could come up with for now. Imagine if you will hearing THIS broadcast on your radio or watching this on your TV and see what you might think:

“...And welcome to AmeriTrade Park in Memphis, Egypt with tonight’s broadcast of our game between Pharoah’s Golden Mummies of Egypt and the Goshen Golden Calves. Hello, everybody--I’m Cory Van Doozy with your play-by-play call joined tonight by color analyst Mark Waffleberg. A lot’s on the line for both teams tonight--with the members of the Golden Mummies not only playing for national pride, but for cheap labor and the threat of a death penalty from Pharoah himself if they lose. As for the Golden Calves, if they win tonight’s game, they not only win their freedom from slavery from Egypt, but also centuries worth of back wages to boot. Let’s go right to the field for the playing of the National Anthems of both teams--first the Israeli national anthem of “Hatikvah”...”

(After the anthem plays--) The Golden Mummies, meanwhile, have opted NOT to play a national anthem at all--for they feel that Pharoah is his OWN national anthem all by himself. Instead, we’ll go straight to the game’s first pitch brought to you by First Incompetence Bank where “...we don’t know where your money is--and furthermore, we don’t care anyway!” The pitch to the catcher from Pharoah himself is wide and high to the outside--but nonetheless it’s a pitch. The head umpire shouts, “PLAY BALL!” as both teams head to their respective dugouts to start the game. The Golden Mummies will be the home team in tonight’s contest while the Golden Calves will bat first for Mo and Aaron and the children of Israel...

The Golden Calves and the children of Israel come at a slight disadvantage to the heavy-handed bats and pitching arms of the Golden Mummies--so it may literally take more than a few miracles to win tonight’s game and, ergo, their freedom. Pharoah himself, meanwhile, is well-known here in the majors for his irascible temper and impatience for anyone who might stand in their way. We’re expecting a sellout crowd here in Ameritrade (as socially distanced as is possible, of course) to see what could either be a massacre and slaughter OR in contrast a very well-fought and played game that truly is one of extremely high stakes on both sides. Tonight’s pre-game show is brought to you by Mo and Aaron’s Divine Pest Control--”...We deliver Divine results.” It’s the Golden Calves of Goshen vs. the Golden Mummies of Egypt coming up here at AmeriTrade. We’ll start tonight’s action with the lineups and the keys to the game after these messages. You’re listening to the BSPOP E-Newsletter Radio Network…”

(NOW--ALLOW US TO JUMP TO THE POST-GAME SUMMARY...I PROMISE YOU...THIS WILL BE FUN….)

“...Thank you for staying with us for what was a very surprising and dramatic baseball game indeed that will go into the annals of baseball history indeed as the Golden Calves of Goshen pull out a win in extra innings over the Golden Mummies of Egypt and win their freedom and back wages. To say that we’re still in shock over what happened would be a massive understatement. Here’s Mark for the post-game recap summary…”

“...Cory, it truly was a game for the recordbooks indeed--and one that I don’t think will ever happen again. Now, it didn’t exactly start that way for the Golden Calves--but lots of Divine intervention was truly THE major key above all else in the Golden Calves’ triumph over the Golden Mummies. The first two innings were pretty much a dud for the Golden Calves as--despite Mo and Aaron’s best offensive attempts at Pharoah in first turning their rod into a snake in the first inning, then in the second blood--Pharoah’s magicians (also known as their infielders) met Mo and Aaron’s efforts toe to toe in the first two frames and shut down the Rams’ offense ice-cold with two back-to-back three-up, three-down innings. Pharoah’s bats were also able to pick away at the Rams’ defense with one run in the first and another in the second to make the score after the end of two Golden Mummies 2, Golden Calves 0.

The Calves tried a change of tactics in the top of the third--this time by introducing frogs to their offense. They almost succeeded in getting additional men to the bases--but with a cry of “Tomorrow!” Pharoah once again shuts down the Golden Calves’ bats and leaves them holding the bag with a two-run Golden Mummies lead after two and a half. (As for the frogs, no confirmed word yet as to whether or not Pharoah will have to sleep in the bed at home tonight with said frogs….) In the bottom of the inning, though, Mo and Aaron manage to throw a curveball or two into the proceedings through the introduction of a plague of gnats to Egypt that quickly earns the respect of even the Egyptian magicians’ bats. But Pharoah still remains unimpressed and his bats do still manage somehow with two outs to add two more runs to his total now making the score Golden Mummies 4, Golden Calves 1.

In the top of the 4th, though, we do see some things finally begin to change for the Calves. The Calves’ bats come alive after Mo and Aaron on their God’s behalf threaten Pharoah with unexpected major fly infestation all throughout Egypt. The split screens tell the story here--TONS of fly balls (literally--I actually mean this...ACTUAL baseballs with FLIES covering all over them) not only throughout the whole ballpark, but also throughout Egypt as well. But in Goshen--it’s quieter than a church mouse there.

Mo and Aaron’s squad take advantage of the sudden fly ball opportunities to send baserunners to the corners and steal bases any chance they might get. This unusual strategy does help the Golden Calves tie up the score at 4 as a result of three stolen bases coming from the Calves’ baserunners as the Golden Mummies’ infielders were distracted by the fly infestation that couldn’t be otherwise taken care of by flyswatters or insect spray. We finally get to see a kink in Pharoah’s armor when we suggests that Israel do their sacrifices in the land of Egypt. But after Mo and Aaron point out cultural differences and the need to get out of town, Pharoah finally relents a bit enough to ask Mo and Aaron to perform fly ball removal. But even after the flies are gone, Pharoah still holds the line defensively and keeps the game tied at four going into the 5th.

The fifth frame at first starts in similar fashion to the 4th, but with livestock disease instead of fly balls being the plague d’jour of the game. The texts on the cell phones of the managers (even Pharoah’s as well) were popping up all over the place from ranchers and the USDA complaining of sudden outbreaks of mad-cow disease, colic, and other potentially fatal devastating livestock conditions all over Egypt. But in Goshen, once again the land there goes scot-free. Despite this setback, Pharoah and the Golden Mummies still manage to hold the line defensively through the bottom of the inning to maintain the 4-4 tie.

Then the call from the Lord comes to Mo and Aaron in the dugout in the 6th inning to take soot from the ballpark heating system and toss it in the air. As the two obey the Lord’s command, a sudden rash of injuries amongst Pharoah’s outfielders caused by boils downs them for the rest of the game. Both centerfield and rightfield will require substitutions as the EMTs rush on the field to assess their injuries. They’re immediately followed by the magicians in the infield who can’t do diddly-squat either. At least two or more of Pharoah’s star players are sidelined for the rest of the game. Mo and Aaron take advantage of yet another sudden turn of events via single-shot homers--one by the DH to rightfield and by the catcher to center. (Replay track--”...And it’s going towards the wall in center--ADIOS, BASEBALL, GOODBYE!!”) The Golden Calves break the tie and take the lead at 6-4 with six innings in the books.

Mo and Aaron tell Pharoah at the start of the 7th of all the hail and thunderstorms coming his way if he continues his insane hardheartedness and refusal of the Almighty’s demands. Some of Pharoah’s own officials at the sound of this start heading for the hills. But Pharoah stubbornly decides to keep playing on. In the middle of the batter’s count with two outs at the top of the 7th, massive hail and thunderstorms spread all throughout the ballpark and also Egypt. At the sight of these storms and sound of hail while the pitcher pitches low and inside for a full count, the umpires call time and stop play for a rain delay. After a delay that lasted for about an hour, the Golden Calves’ relief pitcher sends a blazing fastball to strike the batter out as the players head to the dugout for the seventh-inning stretch with the 6-4 lead still in the Calves’ hands. But in the bottom of the 7th, Pharoah hardens his heart again and responds with a two-run RBI with bases loaded to send the score back to a 6-6 tie. This game summary at the seventh-inning stretch is brought to you by Shoot Yourself In The Foot Orthopedic Clinic. If your seventh-inning stretch isn’t what it ought to be, then go check out the friendly folks at Shoot Yourself In The Foot to scope out what’s wrong and get you back on your feet again…

After all the firepower displayed by the bats on both sides in the 7th, it was up to each team’s relief pitchers to snuff out the fires and keep their respective teams in the hunt for the win. With locusts coming from all sides from the pitcher’s mound, the relief pitchers were finally successful in producing three-up, three-down innings with pitches that surprized batters on both sides and subsequently continuing that 6-6 tie into the 9th.

As the final frame of regulation starts, the DH for Mo and Aaron accidentally hits a foul ball into the grandstands which knocks out a crucial transformer device that not only blacks out power throughout Ameritrade, but also throughout the rest of Egypt as well. After electric company technicians spend an hour’s game delay trying to restore power, Pharoah’s team shows signs of tiredness as Pharoah starts to give an offer for a face-saving Golden Mummies game forfeit. But Mo and Aaron respond to Pharoah--”NO DICE--not a hoof shall be left behind!” The stalemate continues as we now go into extra innings still tied at 6…

Pharoah’s firstborn son takes the mound in relief for the Golden Mummies at the top of the 10th against the Golden Calves and immediately walks his first three batters--all with full counts. You can see the strain truly showing on Pharoah’s son as both Pharoah and the Golden Mummies catcher both approach Pharoah’s son for a quick conference on the mound. Meanwhile, Mo and Aaron decide after a call from the Lord to send a pitchhitter named the Angel of Death to the plate. Here’s how that final at bat went...play the tape!!!

(Replay:) “...The Angel of Death had a superb hitting record in the minors, but this is his first ever appearance in the big leagues...so anything can happen here…

...The conference on the mound breaks up--and Pharoah’s son sets up for his first pitch to the Angel--a strike down the middle, 0-1...The Angel sets up for a bunt, but bunts it foul for an 0-2 count. Pharoah’s son delivers a wide and outside pitch to make it 1-2. Pharoah’s son steadies himself as the Angel sets up to bat again. Another fastball left and inside, but misses--2 and 2. Time’s running out for the Angel….He finds a ball he likes, but hits it behind the screen--the count still remains at 2-2...Pharoah’s son walks around the mound and spits, then goes to the rubber for the next pitch as the Angel hits a fly ball that drifts into rightfield and goes foul.….still 2-2...Pharoah's son seems to be missing some firepower to his stuff...curveball goes low and in dirt...catcher hangs on to it, but now faces a full count...

And now, the set, the pitch--Angel gets a good one to sail the distance to centerfield as the base runners start running....the ball sails into the warning track....As the centerfielder jumps high to the fence, the ball stays up….IT’S GOING, GOING---ADIOS, BASEBALL, BYE-BYE...IT’S GONE AND IT’S HISTORY!! AND WHAT’S THIS???? Pharoah’s son himself as he watches the ball clear the fence suddenly collapses on the mound as the Angel of Death hits a four-RBI grand-slam, bases-clearing, walk-off home run in his very first major-league appearance to win the game in extra innings for Mo and Aaron and the children of Israel!!!

But the celebration on the Golden Mummies side of the field is much more subdued as Pharoah tends to his collapsed son on the field. You can see him literally mouthing the words, “YOU KILLED MY BOY!”, towards the Golden Calves dugout and especially towards Mo and Aaron. This has GOT to hurt Pharoah now regardless of what you might otherwise think!!! The EMTs are heading towards the pitcher’s mound right now....We’re getting something from our reporter in the Golden Calves’ dugout...Tom, what are you seeing?”

“Cory,--we just got an unconfirmed report that Pharoah’s son may have just instantly died of unexpected cardiac arrest. Details are still a little sketchy right now--but you can clearly see at a closeup angle that Pharoah is now truly upset and distraught about something...and it’s NOT just the fact that the Golden Mummies just lost a tough game in extra innings. We’re going to try to confirm that report for you...Back to you, Cory, in the booth…”

“Thanks, Tom….UNBELIEVABLE, isn’t it? In what was his FIRST major league at bat, the Angel of Death, as a PITCHHITTER, no less...not only hits a grand-slam base-clearing home run with bases loaded in extra innings, but also winning the game, freedom from slavery, and over 400 years of back wages due to the Israelites with a long-sailing shot to centerfield....WOW--I’ve never seen anything like this in my whole life…” (End replay)

As the EMTs continue to tend to Pharoah and his son with all quiet on the field, we’ll take an extended break for station ID and messages from our sponsors as we pull together the totals and stats to what was truly the most remarkable baseball game I’ve every seen in my life...The final score from here at Ameritrade Ballpark in Memphis, Egypt: the Goshen Golden Calves--10; the Golden Mummies of Egypt--6 in 10 innings!! What a game...what a game indeed!! That’s your tale of the tape for tonight’s game...stay tuned for the post-game show brought to you by Mo and Aaron’s Divine Pest Control--”We deliver Divine results…’--coming to you after this extended break for station ID and messages right here on the BSPOP E-Newsletter Radio Network!!!”

(END DRAMATIC PRESENTATION!)

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In light of events that have surrounded what has been a very unique and interesting year, we figured you probably could use this little shot of frivolity and laughter at all the trials we’ve been facing. And just as important--a friendly reminder from your state department of highways that not everything is necessarily going to, pardon the expression, hell in a handbasket. If my most recent visits to several churches in Lubbock the past few weekends are any indication of the health of what seems to be His Universal ‘kehillah kedoshah” these days, consider the following...At one church, the creativity of the pastor and the praise and worship team (who, FYI, are fellow alumni of one of the colleges I went to) was evident when after his sermon, they basically performed the Gospel according to Bob Seger to the tune of “Against The Wind”.

The next weekend, I finally was able to observe Trumpets/Rosh Ha’Shanah with a Messianic congregation that I had not been able to personally drop in and visit in at least a couple of years or so. The faces and leadership were now obviously different this time--but it still nevertheless is a joy that they are still attempting to fulfill their mission for the Master in Lubbock for over 20 years even after the passing of several of their past leadership. And in another group the next morning, get this--within ONE morning’s time, I was a personal witness to at least one salvation, one baptism, one announcement of the completion of a major building program and upcoming move to a larger facility, and even one marriage proposal to boot. If all of that was not personal spiritual food and fuel for hope in the growth of our churches, then as our charismatic friends might say--’...your wood’s probably wet.”

As I once again took the 2nd Corinthians 5:7 Express northbound home for Plainview, it was definitely food for thought to remind me that He did say to us before He left a couple of things above all else--(1.) that we’re STILL not home yet and have got a lot of work still to do...and (2.) He did also tell us that we are still supposed to “...occupy until I come.” No matter what political issues may face us in this world today or differences of opinion...He asked me to remind you above all else that He still has a pretty good-sized “kehillah kedoshah” that transcends international borders; cuts down racial, economic, and denominational divides; and goes beyond all limits to get the word out about His Glorious Gospel and Kingdom and (above all else) a gracious living Father who loves and cares for us and a Bridegroom chomping at the bit to finally take us to a wonderful place we’ve never been to or imagined. It is THIS Blessed hope that should keep us all going in what may be some trying days ahead for all of us. And it is also what the Rav’ Shaula/Apostle Paul wanted so desperately to communicate to the Thessalonians to literally comfort each other with these words.” Let’s not forget so fast that HE FOR SURE is COMING BACK! Why? Because He’s already come once--and if He has already done so, then why would we doubt that He’s coming back for us and His “kehillah kedoshah” again? For that, the very least we can do in the meantime is to do OUR part to OCCUPY until He comes and get the word out to others in our various spheres of influence as best as we can. As Maimonides’ 13th Principle of Jewish Faith states, “...I believe that at a time pleasing to the Creator that there will be a resurrection of the dead--and though Meshiach may tarry, I shall wait expectantly until He comes.” May THAT day come as speedily as possible even in OUR days--but yet NOT be one minute sooner or later than absolutely necessary so that more of the people we may each love will also have their appropriate chance before that time comes to join us in the final “kehillah kedoshah’...

Wishing you AND ALSO believing and standing with you for all the best this Fall Festival season of 2020--from our “kehillah kedoshah” to yours,

Coy Reece Holley

CoyRH/SEATC Clerical Services, Broken and Shattered Promises Online Publishing, AND Broken and Shattered Promises Ministries

Plainview, TX

PART I can be found here at http://coyrhseatcbspm.wixsite.com/walking/2020-fall-newsletter-part-i ...

PART II at http://coyrhseatcbspm.wixsite.com/walking/2020-fall-newsletter-part-2

Collage Message-- http://coyrhseatcbspm.wixsite.com/walking/men-s-walk-103-collage-message ...

Game Summary-- http://coyrhseatcbspm.wixsite.com/golden-calves-golden-mummies-game-s ...

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Moses Returns to Egypt

Footnotes

Exodus 5

New International Version

Bricks Without Straw

God Promises Deliverance

Exodus 6

New International Version

Family Record of Moses and Aaron

Aaron to Speak for Moses

Footnotes

Exodus 7

New International Version

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

The Plague of Blood

We can also find some encouragement even in the trying days we currently reside in now...not only through the writer of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, but in particular words right from the very lips of the Savior Himself...

A Time for Everything

Footnotes

John 14

New International Version

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

Jesus the Way to the Father

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

Footnotes

Hebrews 10:19-39

New International Version

A Call to Persevere in Faith

Footnotes