Questions for Parashah #48

Putting some discussion questions together mid-week is a feature that I want to commit to in order to help us think about the weekly portion and guide our discussion when we get together on Shabbat. So here are several questions on this week's portion.

Exodus 4:14 – 6:1
Isaiah 55:12 – 56:7
Acts 7:35-37

1. In Exodus 6:1, whose hand is the strong hand (compare to Ex. 3:19 and 13:3)? Are there any other biblical references as to what (or who) the strong hand or strong arm of the LORD represents? Besides examples from the Exodus narrative, list up to five other instances where the arm of the LORD is revealed.
2. Comparing Exodus chapters 4-6 to Stephen's defense in Acts 7, in what ways (2 or 3 specifically) is Yeshua the "prophet like Moses" (Deut. 18:15-18)? What does Yeshua have to say in the book of John concerning those who do not receive his words, but consider Moses a prophet?
3. Concerning Aharon as Moses' spokesperson, our passage records that Moses shall be to him as "Elohim" - literally God or gods. What is meant by this declaration? Is the LORD considering a man, Moses, to be God? Are there other examples in the scriptures where men or created beings are called gods?
4. How did Aharon get a day off from brick-making to go meet Moses in the wilderness (Ex. 4:27)? Did he have a place of prominence or authority among the slaves?
5. There are many questions, both linguistic and interpretive, concerning the circumcision of Moses' son. The text states that the LORD sought to kill Moses, and implies that he was a dead man on account of not circumcising his son. The translation in the Chumash is different from most English translations, but the explanation there is 100% satisfactory. Other there other data that need to be factored into this event to really comprehend what was going on?
6. In Isaiah 56, addressing eunuchs and foreigners, what in the consistent, specific action correlated with covenant membership and with "keeping justice, and doing righteousness?" What does the centrality of that action/observance teach us?
7. How does the context of Isaiah 56 help expand or elucidate the Synoptic gospel accounts (Matt. 21:13, Mark 11:15) of Yeshua's action of cleaning out the money changers and quoting Is. 56:7?

Interesting note: the Chumash picks up on the Hebrew grammar concerning the donkey that Moses placed his family on during the trip to Egypt. Because Ex. 4:20 uses the definite article, "the", in connection to the donkey, we might infer that it was no ordinary donkey but a special donkey. The sages infer that this was the same donkey as Abraham rode, the donkey that went to Mount Moriah, and it will be the same donkey that Messiah will ride (Rashi). The important thing to note is that even a small word in the Torah ("the") can reveal something about the Messiah, and so we should be careful with each word. Of course, it's stretching it to say that it was the exact, physical, literal donkey in all cases, but as a figure it points right to the triumphal entry. A very special little donkey, indeed, not just "a" donkey but "the" donkey!