January 16, 2026 – Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
Va’eira 5786 (2025)
Exodus 6:2-9:35; Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Va’eira, the name of this Torah portion refers to God appearing. The book starts with the story of God appearing to the forefathers and giving them the land of Canaan.
“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them.
I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.” (Exodus 6:3-4 NIV)
God confirmed to Moses that having seen the suffering of the Hebrews in Egypt, He had a plan. That is why Moses was going to go and speak to the Pharaoh and become the leader of the Hebrew slaves. But Moses felt uncertain of himself and did not feel that he was up to the task. Moses appealed to God that he was not a speaker. But God had already chosen his brother Aaron and to be his spokesman.
“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?” (Exodus 6:12 NIV)
When Aaron and Moses appeared before the Pharaoh, his magicians were initially able to produce the same miracle that happened with Moses’ staff. It also happened that the Pharaoh behaved exactly the way God had expected him to do. In fact it is important to know that Pharaoh hardened his heart before God ever hardened his heart.
“Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts:
Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.” (Exodus 7: 11-13 NIV)
Plagues
One calamity after another now fell on Egypt. Each time another plague appeared, Pharaoh asked Moses to pray for him and Egypt. But afterwards he hardened his heart again.
These are the plagues in the Torah portion:
“…all the water was changed into blood.” (Exodus 7:20 NIV)
“So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land.” (Exodus 8:6 NIV)
“…gnats came on people and animals.” (Exodus 8:17 NIV)
“Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.” (Exodus 8:24 NIV)
”All the livestock of the Egyptians died…” (Exodus 9:6 NIV)
“So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals.” (Exodus 9:10 NIV)
“When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt…” (Exodus 9:23 NIV)
What happened to the Hebrews who were also living in Egypt and witnessing these terrifying phenomena? It is comforting to know is that there was a difference God made between the area of Goshen where His people, the Hebrews, were living and the rest of the land.
“I will make a distinction between my people and your people…” (Exodus 8:23 NIV)
Pride and Judgement
What stands out in the prophetic word from prophet Ezekiel are two main things.
First that Egypt was prideful. And that this pride was a reason that Egypt would face judgment.
“Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD…Because you said, “The Nile is mine; I made it…” (Ezekiel 29:9 NIV)
The second thing is that the prophet saw Israel relying on Egypt as its source of strength. But after Egypt was humiliated, it would never again be their source of help.
“Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 29: 16 NIV)
Herein lies a lesson to all of us. We should always go to God first with all our issues before going to other people for help.
In the New Testament James emphasizes two things: first, God desires our spirit and second, God opposes the proud.
“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4: 5-6 NIV)
In the case of Egypt, there was governmental or national pride. In Israel there was wrong reliance on another nation. James describes these as personal attitudes too. All of this is relevant to us living today.
The Holocaust
How would all the above be relevant to the Holocaust?
What we need to understand is that the Pharaoh in Egypt, forcing the Hebrews into hard labor and wanting to kill their male children, was a prototype of all the ancient enemies of the Jewish people. He was like Amalek, an enemy the Jews will in fact face in every generation. Pharaoh was proud.
Pharaoh did not only use the Jews for hard labor but by killing the males wanted to kill all of them. This was the kind of situation that happened in the concentration camps. Many companies benefitted from Jewish slave labor for instance in the satellite camps of Auschwitz. But they did not care about the workforce because there was an endless supply of new slaves. They were made to do senseless work. They were not given tools. They were hungry. The purpose was to murder.
God was already in the story, but it would be a while before they left Egypt. So it was in Nazi Germany. God had not forgotten His people, but liberation took its time.
*For an explanation of the terms see the first The Torah Portion Blog.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 NIV
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 NIV
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Isaiah 60:1 NIV
…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Torah Scrolls were attacked and desecrated during the Holocaust. The enduring images of the Kristallnacht (November 9-10,1938) are those of synagogues on fire and Torah Scrolls burning. Some of these desecrated Torah Scrolls disappeared, others were buried. Some were lovingly rescued and are on display in museums in various locations.
