The story of the Exodus is a focal point of Jewish liturgy and prayer. Not a day goes by where the events of Moshe and Pharaoh are not recited and lifted up in prayer before the L-rd. This event is the most recognized and remembered historical event in all Jewish history, bar none. And well it should be, for it marks the transition of Bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel) from slavery to freedom, from a people to a nation. Its significance even goes beyond the physical and reaches into the spiritual aspects of life itself. Yes, the Exodus has its roots in creation. Man was created with free will, a characteristic he used to choose the easy way instead of G-d’s way. Because of that human tendency, inherent in all of us, we all have became slaves to the author of sin, Satan. By our own choosing we have sold ourselves into slavery. Bnei Yisrael sold themselves into slavery during the famine in Egypt so as to get food. What looked like a good and reasonable solution at the time, turned out be their unraveling when Pharaoh turned against them. G-d had to send Moshe, His deliverer, to Bnei Yisrael to show them the way out of their bondage: Shemot {7:1} HaSHEM said to Moshe, "Behold, I have made you as G-D to Pharaoh; and Aharon your brother shall be your Navi (prophet). So too, HaShem came to earth as Yeshua (G-d in the flesh) with His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to deliver us from the hold Satan had over us.

The Exodus is more than just a Jewish historical experience, it is the universal, ultimate triumph of good over evil for all peoples, nations and tongues who are willing to follow Yeshua out of Mitzrayim (Egypt).

Now that I have given you this background on the Exodus, there is a Scripture that I would like to focus in on in this Parasha. It is not the most memorized Scripture in the Bible but it is none the less extremely significant, especially today in our aging society:

Shemot {7:7} Moshe was eighty years old, and Aharon eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Old age is not a deterrent to G-d, in fact in many ways it is an advantage to Him. Moshe after years of tending sheep in the desert had mellowed. He went from a prince to a shepherd, from a warrior to a pacifist. But there was a purpose in this. G-d had to tame him, He had to train him and prepare him for the task at hand. Hot heads are of no use to the L-rd, they are all self with no compassion. But neither are pacifists useful to G-d, because they can be all apathy with no action. Our G-d is a G-d of balance He neither wants us to be hot heads nor pacifists and some times it takes us a long time to be changed into the balanced, useful person He wants us to be.

Let’s face it, with the passing of years comes a wisdom based on experience, pain, hardship, success and failure. Old age means roots that go down deep so that they are not panicked by sudden storms. Yet, today many older people have the attitude of: "Let the younger generation do it." Today's older people relegate themselves to the classification of senior citizens, expecting to do less and get more. But here we see G-d specifically choosing two older men, one 80, the other 83. He put them in charge of confronting the most powerful nation on earth and its self proclaimed divine leader. Do you know why He chose them? It takes years before one can truly surrender to the L-rd, but ultimately with that surrender comes obedience and availability.

G-d was not asking Moshe and Aaron to go to Pharaoh with a show of force, He was not sending them there for a military victory, because that is not what G-d is looking for, or else man would get the glory. He sent them there to give Pharaoh one very simple message: Shemot {7:17} Thus says HaSHEM,.. You see, the battle belongs to the L-rd and it is a spiritual battle in which age has no baring.

Here the battle is against Pharaoh who represents Satan and Moshe who represents G-d, but the battle belongs to the L-rd. The same scenario is being played out in the lives of people all around you right now. People who have sold themselves into the slavery of sin and they need someone to show them the way out. Are you a "senior citizen?" G-d needs your wisdom, your surrender and your availability. Your age is not an issue!

Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada.

Copyright 2002