“BO – Come!” Exodus 10:1–13:16; Jeremiah 46:13-26 This week’s
Torah portion speaks about the last three plagues over Egypt,
where God showed the mighty Pharaoh His great power. The final
plague follows with the triumphant Exodus of the people of
Israel from Egypt, from slavery into freedom. Jewish scholars
explain that the first nine plagues are divided into three-year
cycles. Before each three-year cycle, the LORD commanded Moses
early in the morning to stand before Pharaoh in the presence of
many (7:15; 8:16; 9:13) to forewarn him of what was coming
(7:17; 8:17). The third time Moses stood before Pharaoh, at the
beginning of the third cycle, it came without warning (8:12). In
the beginning, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, he refused to let
the people go, but then he did allow the people to sacrifice to
the God of Israel. Then he said it was okay for the men, women
and children to leave Egypt, but without the livestock and
finally God had the victory, calling the children out with
wealth and blessings. Even Ph