"The finger of Elohim"-Connections with the plagues of Egypt in Yeshua's speech

"ואם באצבּע אלֹהים מגרשׁ אני את השׂדים הנה הגיע אליכם מלכוּת האלֹהים"

"But if by the finger of God I drive out the demons, then the Kingdom of God has arrived to you."
Luke 11:20

While reading Luke, Chapter 11, we do realize how much skeptic the religious establishment, that was essentially composed of Pharisees, was about Yeshua's good deeds and numerous miracles.
Yeshua is wrongly accused to chase demons with the help of Baal Zevuv ( also known as the " master of the flies" in Hebrew or Beelzebuth).

The expression "אצבּע אלֹהים", the finger of Elohim  is intimately linked with a well known episode of the Book of Exodus, Chapter 8 verses 14 and 15 ( Shemot),  in Parashat "Vaera" that describes the plague of the frogs, the magicians incapacity and Pharaoh's hardening of heart. Even the magicians recognize the "finger of the Almighty" in the punishment that strikes Egypt.

Exodus 8:14-15

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֨ן הַחַרְטֻמִּ֧ים בְּלָטֵיהֶ֛ם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־הַכִּנִּ֖ים וְלֹ֣א יָכֹ֑לוּ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃The magicians did the like with their spells to produce lice, but they could not. The vermin remained upon man and beast;וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִ֑וא וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֣ע אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ (ס)and the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart stiffened and he would not heed them, as the LORD had spoken.Note that the divine might is not at its maximum strength, like during the passing of the Red Sea where it is said that HaShem brought Israel out of the land of Mitzraim ( Egypt) with the "strong hand" (ביד חזקה) alongside with the outstreched arm(וּבזרע וטוּה) -beyad hazaka uvezroa vetuya:

"ביד חזקה וּבזרע וטוּה"

There is an amazing parallel between Yeshua's confrontation with the Pharisees and the Book of Exodus, Chapter 8:

• There is big disbelief before an obvious sign of divine intervention: both Pharaoh, and the Pharisees show a hardening of heart before the signs that are visible in front of their very eyes.
• The magicians are also the agents of Baal Zevuv and Yeshua is mistaken as one of them by the Pharisees, who refuse to give glory to the Almighty.
• Yeshua's use of "etsba Elohim", אֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים, is not accidental.

One of the obvious sign of the Coming of Melech Maschiach ( the King Messiah) was His capacity of chasing the demons and curing illnesses. If you also go through Marc, Chapter one, you will notice that Yeshua drives out demons with much authority. This kind of authority can only be given from Above.

As far as archeology is concerned, Yeshua's miracle pictured above has been confirmed.

It is also important to note that rabbinic tradition is telling us that the  true Messiah had to be able to fulfill 4 specific miracles:

- heal a metzora ( leper)
- heal a mute person
- heal a man born blind
- raise a person from the dead after three days

Question: Did Yeshua fulfill these requirements?
Answer: Absolutely!

One must also understand that, when Yeshua healed the metsora (leper) in Matthew 8 ( 1-14), He is asking the man to obey Torah by showing himself to the priest and by giving the offerings that Moshe prescribed.
The impressing story of Yeshua healing the deaf and mute man is available in Mark Chapter 7, verses 31 to 37.
The Gospel of John, Chapter 9 and 11, report very accurately the healing of a born-blind person and the resurrection of El Azar (Lazarus).

Because most of them had hardened hearts, many Pharisees failed to recognize the Messiah in Yeshua, in the same way Pharaoh refused to obey HaShem.

It is pointless to put the blame on the Pharisees of the 1st Century, because the hardening of their hearts and the rejection of Yeshua was in HaShem's plan. Even ancient rabbinic traditions out of the Tanach report that Maschiach ben Yosef had to suffer and to be cut off from His people.
It is hard to accept that Yeshua had to die, especially in this horrible way of Suffering, but you cannot go against the Almighty's plan. 
Rejection from the Jewish establishment allowed the Gentiles access to the Messiah.

Now I would also like to point out, for all the people who are expecting Yeshua's Second Coming, be very careful to recognize the signs of His Coming. Make sure that your heart will not harden at the sight of Yeshua and that your eyes will really be open on that glorious day.

Expect to meet a Jew, a Hassid, for Yeshua of Netzeret, Nazareth is a true Hassid. He's the King of the Jews, as many people tend to forget so easily.

In conclusion, I would like to quote Christopher Frederickson, a Messianic rabbi, in his "rabbinic gospel of Mark", page 26:

"HaShem works mighty miracles in our lives every moment of every day. Though, even the smallest things we take for granted. Having oxygen in your lungs, coming down from the rain clouds that feed the lants we eat and so that the animals we eat can be nourished through the water and the plants.
Hassidic Judaism is focused on gratitude ( Hakarat hatov) so the Creator of the universe may be exalted. And the talmidim of Yeshua were the world's first Hasidic Jews. As I say often Notzri Judaism is the original Hasidic Judaism") ( Ref Mark 1, page 26, the rabbinic Gospel of Mark).

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling