The annual Torah cycle reading for this week is parsha "Shemot," and it begins the Book of the same name, or Exodus in English (Ex. 1:1-6:1)

The Erev Shabbat reading sets the stage for the story to follow, which is not only the rest of the 'Torah' itself, of the 'Five Books of Moses,' but also the Foundation for the entire remainder of Scripture.

https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SSM-1-5-24-Shemot-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3

The Sabbath day midrash has the same theme as the introduction to 'the Exodus' does:

Setting the stage - for ALL that follows.

And while the haftorah reading for this week, from Isaiah chapters 27 through 28, may seem a surprising choice, since it seems to deal with the "End of Days," the connections really help clarify why the stage has also been set for us.

"Shemot: Setting the Stage "

https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WT-CooH-1-6-24-Shemot-Setting-the-Stage-Is-27-28-podcast-xxx.mp3

The combined two-part teaching is here: