In Hebrew many words have both a positive meaning and a negative meaning. These type words are known as contranyms. Satan has had a hay-day with contranyms. Emphasizing the meaning one way and flipping the word on its head to lead people down the wrong path. He’s also had a hay-day in changing the meaning of words through societal and religious influence.

Gay used to mean happy. Societies influence changed it to a perverted lifestyle (which none trapped in it are happy). Now youth use the term to mean ‘lame’ (another play on words). The enemy is performing evolution schemes in every realm of life’s food; most significantly by changing words, the seed, by ‘genetically modifying’ them to where they can’t impact society the way the Creator intended.

Yeshua said in Matt. 7:13,14 that we need to ‘enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way is the way that leads to destruction and many will go that way; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leads to life and few there be that find it.

Isaiah 5:20-23 spoke of our society way too clearly when he said, ‘Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous men.

In our Torah portion this past weekend we began to see the reasoning behind the 10 plagues and the reason why Yahweh ‘hardened’ Pharaoh’s heart (there are two words that are used for harden: strengthen & harden…fascinating study. Audio is available by request).

In the book of Exodus, Sh’mot, the Israelites and those who identified with them through the blood of the Lamb, were in a ‘strait’! They were in a tight place. A place where they would learn that they could depend upon Yahweh for all things and that that there was no other El like Him (Ex. 9:16)!

With each encounter the Egyptian slave master entreated Moses & Aaron with a manipulative ploy. Moses wanted the people to be set free so they could go serve Yahweh; literally to put them on the straight and narrow path…so they could enter into the strait gate. Pharaoh on the other hand wanted to keep them in Egypt, Mitzraim, a strait, tight quartered place. One straight and narrow led to obedience and freedom. Pharaoh’s straight and narrow path led to obedient bondage and slavery.

The scheme is no different today. Our taskmasters, mas, aka tax-collectors, have the same system in place. Let’s take a quick look at their strategy to keep us in Mitzraim, the strait and narrow place of obedient bondage and slavery.

Pharaoh was willing to let Israel go worship Yahweh, but he put a stipulation on it…don’t go very far away and while you’re there, pray for me (Ex. 8:28). In other words, you can go, but don’t leave Don’t be a fanatic about your faith. Stay close to me. I’ll take care of you. It’s dangerous out there. I need you and you need me. Your Elohim appears to make a nice addition to my pantheistic smorgasbord.
Pharaoh will let you go serve Yahweh, but he will demand that you leave your wife and kiddos behind. “Don’t worry Moses, I’ll take care of them for you! Don’t you know how that it’s too dangerous out there for your wives and children (Ex. 10:7-11)? The battle for our wives and kiddos! Sound familiar?
Pharaoh in his bargaining manner will allow Moses to go serve Yahweh with the ‘little ones’ but now he says ‘to leave behind their possessions, their wealth in the form of cattle’ (Ex. 10:24-26). “You know Moses, it’s okay for you to be fanatical in your desire to serve the Elohim of the Hebrew people. It’s fine that you take your ‘little ones’ with you. But leave your wealth back here in Mitzraim! We’ll help you invest for the best retirement possible.” Appease your Elohim, but don’t serve Him with all you have!

Finally, because Moses didn’t relent in compromise, Yahweh does something unexpectedly amazing…we’ll see what that looks like, Yah-willing on Shabbat!

Daily we are approached with compromise! Be tolerant! Don’t be a fanatic about serving Yahweh. Ok, be a man, if that’s what you think a man looks like, but leave the family behind! They need their freedom to experience life to the fullest. When they grow up they can choose to follow if they would like. Alright, alright, you can go, but don’t use all your resources to serve Yahweh! C’mon man! Don’t you think you’re getting a little fanatical?

The Mitzraim straight and narrow is difficult if you compromise and the straight and narrow path of serving Yahweh is difficult if you don’t compromise. Either way, it’s difficult. Only one way leads to life.

Choose wisely my friend,

Alan