The 4 Stages of Redemption + VIDEO - Freedom to be Slaves, plus some more thoughts before Pessah

 light of 5 Nisan 5781

 

 

 

 

 

 by Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher | first published here

When G‑d sent Moshe to Egypt to free Israel, the Torah states, “And Moshe took his wife and sons and mounted them on the donkey” (Shmot 4:20). Why is it important that Moshe took his family on a donkey? Rashi makes a strange comment on this verse, “the Donkey that Moshiach will utilize to usher in the Final Redemption”. How do we understand this odd comment of Rashi’s? Can a donkey live for thousands of years? And why will Moshiach not drive a Lexus or a Volvo? What’s up with the Moshiach and the Donkey?

 

The explanation is that Rashi is speaking metaphorically. Rashi means that when G-d appointed Moshe to be the Redeemer of Israel, He set those cosmic forces in motion that will culminate and climax with the coming of Moshiach.

 

Also, the pattern of the Exodus and the Final Redemption is the way a donkey walks, two steps forward and one step back. The road to Redemption in the Exodus and Moshiach’s Coming is not straight forward. There will be many setbacks as it was in Egypt. Things did not go smoothly. But the Final Redemption Process is moving forward and CANNOT BE STOPPED.

 

As the prophet Michah states (7:16), “As in the days of your leaving Egypt, I (G‑d) shall show them marvelous wonders.” The prophet’s words imply that the Exodus from Egypt is the precedent for the Final Redemption.

 

The Midrash Tanchuma states, “Just as in Egypt, I (G‑d) shall redeem you in the Messianic future and shall perform miracles for you.”

 

Indeed, gradual, phased redemption is already found in Egypt, as in the 4 redemption expressions with which G-d addresses Moshe, “Therefore tell Israel that I am G‑d.

1. and I will remove you from the suffering of Egypt,

2. and I will save you from your enslavement.

3. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.

4. and I will take you to Me as my people

… I will be for you G‑d.” (Shemot 6:6,7).

 

These verses refer to the 4 stages of redemption. The 1st stage constitutes a lightening of Israel’s physical hardship, although they continued to be Pharaoh’s slaves.

 

The 2nd stage constitutes the total cessation of their enslavement. Even so, Israel was not yet free but still under the control of the Egyptian King.

 

With the final plague of the killing of the firstborn came the 3rd stage, in which Israel was redeemed totally with great miracles and great judgements.

 

Yet Israel was still mired in the 49 levels of impurity. Finally, came the 4th stage, in which we were taken to be G‑d’s Chosen People.

 

At the time of the redemption Israel was not worthy of it, and yet G-d still redeemed us. This is stated in the Midrash Shemot Rabba, “G‑d said, ‘If I consider Israel’s deeds, they will never be redeemed. Whom shall I then consider? The merit of and the promise to their righteous and holy Avot.’ ”

 

It is Israel’s lack of merit which delays redemption. Therefore, before introducing the 4 expressions of redemption, G‑d says, “Therefore tell Israel that I am G‑d.” On this verse the Midrash Hagadol comments, “I(G‑d) know that Israel will constantly rebel against Me and anger Me. Even so, I (G‑d) shall redeem them for the sake of My Holy Name. “

 

The redemption comes when Israel recognizes Hashem as our G‑d, as occurred during Stage 4 of the redemption process which was at the Sinai Revelation.

 

Yet the Torah goes on and brings a 5th expression of redemption: “And I will bring you to the land which I swore that I will give to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. I will give it to you as an inheritance, for I am G‑d.” (Shemot:6:8).

 

From the redemption from Egypt we learn that complete redemption consists of the freedom of Israel (“I will redeem you.”) and living in Eretz Yisrael, (“I will bring you to the land.”) and belief in G‑d and fulfillment of His Mitzvot (“I will be for you G‑d”) (Shemot:6:8)

 

The Final Redemption will reach completion by a gradual process, like the Exodus from Egypt. Thus, the Zohar states that the Exodus from Egypt is the Road Map and the Long and Winding Road to the Final Redemption.

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Some thoughts about our situation, particularly with regard to the virus and the va((!nes, before Pessah:

 

• The first thing we need to do is call out for Mashiah and GEULAH SHLEMAH! The situation this year could get much worse than the past year has been. If HQB"H doesn't intervene, the future of humanity as a whole is at stake...I seem to recall that this is a prophetic scenario, but I don't remember the source; see next bullet.
  
• WARNING FOR THE WHOLE WORLD: A PDF with an executive summary and presentation (can access here or here), and three videos to explain it in lay language (Vernon Coleman | Mike Adams | Del Bigtree), contain the warnings of Geert Vanden Bossche, Ph.D, DMV, vaccine insider par excellence, are what I have right now to explain it. I hope that I have put all this into an understandable order. Considering the pressure on people to get vaccinated, it's ironic that the vaccinated people will, according to the scenario presented by the vaccination insider, be the ones to spread very deadly versions of the virus, and yet the unvaccinated are the ones who are considered the second-class citizens and who will be blamed for it all...
  
• ...and that people who love each other are sometimes (perhaps many times!) on both sides of the new divide. The Jewish People need to see through this attempt to further divide us and fight it. This is a big test for us! The stakes are high, and we can either bring the world through this or suffer along with them and delay the redemption further, may that never be! Personally, I have been including the vaccinated among the people I pray for daily. I'm not an anti-vaxxer — I took my flu shot (a prophylactic if I ever heard of one) back in October 2020. But as Dr. Vanden Bossche says, being in the heat of a pandemic is no time for a prophylactic vaccine protocol!

Many thanks to NS for finding most of this information and posting it. I watched all of it before posting here.

 

Lastly, from the prophet Zecharia, chapter 8 — found at the "Cave of Horror" (Wikipedia | news story):

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth each one with his neighbor; truth, and judgment of peace you shall judge in your cities. And let no one think evil of his neighbors in your heart, nor shall you love a false oath — for all these are what I hate, says the Lord.

I particularly like this article by Rivka Levy. I hope we can find the balance she calls for there; it is very much in the spirit of the verse above.