Means of Salvation

This week's Torah Portion, Shemot שְׁמוֹת (Names), based on Exodus 1:1-6:1, has a lesson that is a wonderful and proper way to begin our new year. This part of scripture introduces us to God's people, the descendants of Israel, who are being liberated and called out of the world to represent, honor, and worship the Creator God of the universe. In it, we have five full chapters that cover so much ground that we can take this week's lesson into pretty much any direction we want. I feel lead by the Spirit to focus on God's method of deliverance through the Hebrew word study of the verb Atza יָצָא "to exit". In Hebrew, verbs have many voices. An unique and different way of understanding how things occur and why. In most modern languages, English included, there are only passive and active voices that help the reader or listener understand who is doing what to whom. Hebrew, however, is particular in a way that these voices are used to offer varying levels of involvement between the passive and active forces. Let me explain by introducing the focus verse of this week's lesson:

"I am the LORD your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Exodus 20:2

Though the verse is not found in the chapters for this week's portion, the event mentioned in it is happening in the narrative for the next few weeks. I chose this verse because it becomes a focal point of identity for the people of God from here on out. In key moments where God is speaking with His people He reminds them that He, "brought them" out of Egypt, or in a more literal sense, "caused them to exit" Egypt. What I find fascinating is not this statement in itself, but the voice used in Hebrew for this statement every time God reminds them of it. The conjugated Hebrew verb used is in statement is the following: הוֹצֵאתִיךָ, which is the first person common singular Hiphil form. It is the most intense active causative voice in the Binyamin (building) blocks for expressing a though. That is, the subject, God, is actively causing the object, Israel, to do something (to exit - יָצָא) without doing it Himself. But it is even more interesting. The verb is also saying that He, God, caused "you", singular, to exit Egypt. We all know that God delivered the people out of Egypt collectively, but the way He is stating this in Hebrew is as if He was speaking to a single person. Before I dive deeper into what I am trying to say here, let me translate this verse in a very literal way from Hebrew to English:

20:2 אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים׃

"I am Yahovah, your personal God, who has caused you (individual person) to exit from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery" Exodus 20:2

What's so interesting about all this? It is a small nuance, but once you understand it is a HUGE and SIGNIFICANT difference. God didn't remove people from Egypt by force or acting directly upon the Egyptians or the Israelites. He put circumstances and events into motion that CAUSED you to deliver yourself out of Egypt. We know by now that everything God has registered in His Word is used to bring to our minds events that we experience today. His Word has direct impact in your life today. So let's take some time to examine this truth and see how it impacts us today, shall we?

The first interesting information from using this particular voice is that it makes salvation personal. Salvation is individual. Salvation requires personal action on our part. Not just acknowledgement, but also action. God doesn't rip you out of the world (symbolically represented here by Egypt). God doesn't force you to leave sin behind (symbolically represented here by the "house of slavery"). God gives you and I everything we need to be delivered and redeemed. Everything that will CAUSE and EMPOWER us to exit Egypt. However, God would never forcibly make you or anyone do something that will affect your eternity. That is why I often say, "God doesn't take anyone hostage," and "salvation is a choice and you can lose your salvation if you change your mind." God will not hold you hostage based on your past choices. Free will is always your option, even if that means leaving Him behind. The point is, both parts of this statement: "I am YOUR God" and "who caused YOU to exit Egypt" are not made to the collective people, but to a single person. I would be as if God is speaking to a group of people, but is looking you straight in the eyes and is saying "you" and "yours" individually.

The second interesting part is that He isn't saying He took you by the hand and saved you out of Egypt, but He used people (Moses and Aaron) and circumstances (the plagues) so that you can walk out of Egypt by your own choice on your own two feet. To be clear, if you are trapped in a burning building and you are crouched in a corner frozen by fear, and a fireman runs into the building, picks you up, and takes you outside, then that fireman has saved you and took you out of a burning building without any effort from you. That is not what God did with Israel and it is not what God does for your salvation. The other analogy using the same story would be: you are trapped in a burning building and you are crouched in a corner, frozen by fear. The fireman uses his hose to clear out the scorching fire from around you and to clear a path for you. He then uses a bullhorn to call your attention and begins to guide you so that you can get up and exit the building in safety. As you follow the instructions, the fireman continues to aid you, combat the fire and guide you out of danger until eventually you are outside safe and sound. That is what and how Adonai saved His people. Salvation is the same way. God has done everything that He needs to do to "CAUSE" you to be saved. Now it is up to you to respond and follow Him into safety. It is up to you to follow Him and obey into sanctification and a life without sin. Eventually leading you to eternal life with Him. And here is where most people get "lost". We think that because salvation is free and not earned, that we don't have to do anything. That is irrevocably false. Salvation takes decision to initiate and effort to progress into a life of sanctification. It takes decision, both intellectually to receive, and actively to activate.

Adonai will guide you out of the burning building. Trust His ways and follow His lead.

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. It is just as the Scripture says: 'Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 10:8-11

It takes decision intellectually, "believe in your hear", and actively to activate, "confess with your mouth". You have to both believe and confess (act). I'm not preaching a works based salvation, but I am preaching that salvation is the first step and a life with God takes a lifetime of decision, daily sacrifice, and daily devotion.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'" Matthew 16:24-25

God has given you the means of salvation. Don't let it pass you by and begin acting on it today. There is no message more powerful to save than the Gospel of Christ. Happy 2026 and I pray you have a blessed week. Shalom Ve'Shavuah Tov!