God has a Powerful Hand, Yet He Chooses to Use...

30 Jan 2026

B'shalach "When He Sent Out"

TORAH: Exodus 13:17 - 17:16 | PROPHETS: Judges 4:4-5:31 | GOSPEL: Matthew 14:22-33

The Exodus story has God’s hand all over it — literally.

The Torah Portion this week is called B'shalach which means “When he sent out.”

The Exodus is about to reach its climax as we discover — is not Egypt, and not even Israel.

If you take a few minutes to read Exodus 15, you’ll see cleary  the powerful hand of God at work. God is making a name for Himself like never before. Let’s look at two distinct ways He did this.

First, God describes Himself in Exodus 15 as a "Man of War" — stretching out His strong hand with signs and wonders to destroy the enemy: Egypt and later the Amalekites. Often He demonstrated  powerful arm through His servants Moses and Aaron, commanding them to “stretch out your arm” with the staff of God, initiating destruction through the plagues, the Red Sea, and victory over Amalek.

On the other hand, God’s arm also stretches out to save Israel to Himself – Passover

also through testing  Why? So they would see that their salvation was not by them, and ultimately not for them, but so they would choose to serve and embrace God over Egypt.

Whether it was fear at the Red Sea or thirst in the desert, God’s strong arm again works through his servant — splitting both the sea and the rock.

All of this will prove what Isaiah 59 declares: “The LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save.”

Despite Israel’s history of rebellion, the chapter goes on to say that His own arm brought salvation for Himself. Salvation in Hebrew is Yeshua. His arms stretched out brought salvation not only for Israel, but for all nations.

After the victory over the Amalekites, an altar is raised and named YHWH-Nissi — The LORD is my Banner — declaring before Israel that their identity and authority are found in the Lord – the nations trembled in fear at this.

God’s arm and standard is being raised in a strong way today. . .not just for Israel but for us as nations:

Isaiah 49:22 - Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, And set up My standard for the peoples; They (the nations) shall bring your sons in their arms, And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders;

YHWH-Nissi —God’s hand and standard is being raised today beckoning for us to respond not in fear like nations of old but embrace His children Israel by bringing them home in your arms.

Just like the Exodus story, God chooses to use His servants to be His arm – He is inviting us to participate in the greatest Exodus story that will bring Himself ultimate glory.

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NEXT PORTION 6 Feb 2026 Yitro "Jethro"

TORAH: Exodus 18:1-20:23 | PROPHETS: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6 | GOSPEL: Matthew 19:16-26