Read Time: 5 Minutes
In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Bo, we encounter one of the most dramatic and spiritually profound moments in Scripture: the final plagues upon Egypt, the institution of Passover, and the great Exodus of YAH’s people. At the heart of this narrative lies a powerful, enduring truth: it is the blood of the lamb that saves, and it is that same blood that secures our names in the Lamb's Book of Life.
“Come Into Pharaoh” – The Invitation to Join YAH’s Work
The portion opens with a Hebrew word rich in meaning: Bo. While often translated “Go,” at Almond House we understand it in this instance as “Come.” In Exodus 10:1, YAH tells Moses, “Come into Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart.” This is not a command to go alone, but an invitation to join YAH where He is already at work. YAH is already in Pharaoh’s palace—the true King confronting the wicked ruler and a representation of Satan. This small linguistic insight reminds us that in every divine assignment, YAH goes before us. He is our vanguard, our rear guard, and our present help.
When Moses and Aaron enter Pharaoh’s court, they do so with a holy boldness that comes from knowing the One who sent them. Later, after delivering YAH’s warning, Scripture notes simply: “He turned and went out from Pharaoh” (Exodus 10:6). This turning away—vayifen vayetze—is a bold act of spiritual defiance. In ancient Eastern custom, one never turned their back on royalty. Yet here, Moses (or perhaps the divine “He” referring to God Himself) turns away, demonstrating that Pharaoh’s authority is null before the King of Kings.
Following this act of turning away, Egypt is plunged into tangible darkness—a darkness so thick it could be felt. This darkness was more than a physical phenomenon; it was a spiritual condition. A world that turns its back on YAH is a world left in darkness. Yeshua later echoed this reality during His crucifixion, when darkness covered the land for three hours (Luke 23:44). The connection is unmistakable: when YAH withdraws His presence, only darkness remains.
This darkness stands in stark contrast to the light and deliverance being prepared for Israel. It serves as a sobering reminder: there is no neutral ground. We either dwell in the light of YAH’s presence or in the spiritual darkness of a world that rejects Him.
Pharaoh: A Portrait of Ungodly Conduct
Throughout the narrative, Pharaoh embodies everything that opposes YAH: duplicity, pride, broken promises, and outright rebellion. He says “yes” one moment and “no” the next. He hardens his heart despite overwhelming evidence of YAH’s power. In this, he mirrors the character of the evil one, whom Yeshua described as “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Pharaoh’s conduct is a mirror held up to the world’s systems—systems that still pressure believers to compromise, to abandon the moedim (appointed times), and to prioritize the demands of earthly rulers over the commandments of YAH. Like Pharaoh, these systems are double-minded, unstable, and opposed to truth. As believers, we are called to be single-hearted, steadfast, and as good as our word—letting our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no (Matthew 5:37).
The Blood on the Doorposts: Obedience and Revelation
The climax of Parashat Bo is the plague on the firstborn and the simultaneous institution of the first month of the biblical year (Exodus 12:2). This is not coincidence—it is divine design. The death of the firstborn represents the ultimate consequence of rebellion against YAH, while the new month symbolizes a new beginning, a reset for YAH’s people.
But why the firstborn? From the beginning, YAH told Moses that Israel was His firstborn son (Exodus 4:22–23). The plague was a judicial response to Pharaoh’s oppression and his attempt to destroy YAH’s chosen. Yet even in judgment, YAH provided a way of salvation—one that points directly to the ultimate Firstborn, Yeshua HaMashiach.
YAH’s instruction was precise: take a lamb without blemish, slaughter it at twilight, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintel of each home. That night, the Lord would pass through Egypt, striking every firstborn, but He would pass over any house marked by the blood.
This act of obedience was both physical and prophetic. For the Israelites, it was a simple yet profound act of trust. For us, looking back through the lens of Messiah, it is rich with symbolic meaning.
Why the doorposts and lintel? Some Messianic insights suggest that the blood applied in this manner formed shapes reminiscent of Hebrew letters:
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Heh (ה), symbolizing breath, revelation, and the divine name.
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Chet (ח), representing life, grace, and eternity.
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Tav (ת), the ancient sign of a cross, meaning covenant, truth, and YAH’s seal.
YAH, who exists outside of time, may have embedded in this act a message for all generations: salvation comes through the blood of the Lamb, applied at the entry point of our new lives when we leave Egypt (the world) through the blood stained door.
The Egyptian Context: Names Written in Stone
The Egyptians believed that one’s name was an essential part of their eternal existence. To ensure immortality, they inscribed their names in stone—especially on the doorposts and lintels of their homes, the only stone elements in otherwise mud-brick houses. When YAH told Israel to apply the lamb’s blood to these very structures, He was effectively saying: “Your eternal security is not in your name written in stone, but in the blood of the Lamb covering your name.” This is a powerful foreshadowing of the Lamb’s Book of Life, where the names of the redeemed are written by God Himself (Revelation 3:5; 13:8).
Scripture tells us that a “mixed multitude” left Egypt with Israel (Exodus 12:38). These were Egyptians and other nationalities who aligned themselves with the God of Israel. They, too, applied the blood to their doorposts. They, too, were saved.
This beautifully prefigures the inclusive call of the gospel. Salvation is not based on lineage or nationality, but on faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and in the blood of His Lamb, Yeshua. As Ruth declared, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). This is the heart of Messianic faith: Jew and Gentile, one in Messiah, saved by the same blood.
Today, we may not have stone lintels or wooden doorposts, but we have doorways in our lives: our eyes, ears, choices, and decisions. The question is: Are these entry points covered by the blood of Yeshua? Is His truth our lintel, His grace our doorpost?
Our names are either written in the world’s temporary ledgers—like Pharaoh’s stone inscriptions—or in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The blood of Yeshua is the only ink that ensures our names remain for eternity.
Conclusion: From Exodus to Eternity
Parashat Bo is more than a historical account; it is a living blueprint of redemption. It shows us:
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YAH goes before us.
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Without Him, there is only darkness.
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The world’s systems are built on false promises.
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Salvation is found only under the blood of the Lamb.
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YAH’s family includes all who call on His name.
As we reflect on this portion, may we reaffirm our trust in the Blood that covers us, the Lamb who saved us, and the King who writes our names in His Book of Life. May we, like Moses, turn away from the wicked rulers of this age and fix our eyes on the true King—Yeshua HaMashiach, the Firstborn from the dead, the Author of our salvation.
From our house to your house,
Shalom.
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