Zion's Voice

Torah Portion for 21th February - 27th February

Torah portion           Exodus 30 : 11  to  34 : 35

Haftarah portion     1 Kings 18 : 1 – 39

“When you take”

Is your name in the “book”?

There is a month of Bible study and teaching in this week’s parashah. The task for me is to be selective in my ‘reflection’ writing. Although the parashah starts with the instruction regarding census taking (which usually was for taxation or military purposes), and gives us the name of this reading, it does not constitute the main element of the lesson here.

We find Moses, up on the mountain top, in communion with God. He has been there for 40 days. The people, on the plain below, are concerned that he may never come back (six weeks is a long time and they have not been given any updates or information and are left to speculate about what has happened to him). So they have a ‘committee meeting’ in Aaron’s presence and decide they should worship God. The gods with which they are familiar, from their recent sojourn in Egypt over the past 400 years, are gods of man’s making, idols. So they do the best they can think of and make “an idol of gold, in the shape of a calf”.

The Scriptures record that God was furious with them and threatened to wipe them all out and start again with Moses as the new beginning.

We can take this at face value, which is a reasonable thing to do, or we can see it as something else. The people here were tested by Moses long absence .. and failed. Additionally, Moses was tested by hearing God’s pronouncement of anger with these people. If this is correct, then it was a test of his leadership, and he passed with flying colours.

So here we immediately find a lesson on which might ponder. There are many situations which occur in our daily walk experience, sometimes most ‘normal’ things, which may constitute tests of a revealing nature. Situations which cause us to make decisions and choices which reflect our true character and inner being. I am not saying that these are necessarily God arranged tests, (because I do not believe that God is busy setting traps for us to fall into every day of our lives) but they are situations which occasion God observed results.

It is so easy to conclude that if we had been there we would never have participated in the building of that ‘golden calf’, isn’t it?  Bring it down to real life, today, and the situation is much less clear.

The end result of this incident came in Exodus 32:26. Moses called the people to declare their allegiance. “Whoever is on the Lord’s side come to me”.  It was the time of the calling out of the Levites, who were then destined to become the priests of the Lord.

Do we hear that call today? (whoever might read this ‘reflection’). It is not Moses, but God Himself who says “Whoever is on the Lord’s side come to me”. The response is such that God Himself has work for you to do. In our parashah this week, the Levites were assigned a dreadful task to perform. About three thousand men lost their lives that day.

But there was an even worse pronouncement made that day. Read the conversation that Moses had with the Lord in Exodus 32 : 31-33. This is the first time that we learn of God’s “book”. We are not precisely sure of the detail of this ‘book’, but we do know that it contains names. Names of people. We also know that some names are in God’s “book” and some are erased. We also know from Revelation 20:15 that this ‘book’ is a very important ‘book’. PLEASE read about it for yourself.

This is perhaps not the kind of thing one might expect to end a ‘reflection’ on the Torah portion. But I feel constrained by the Spirit to do just that, and to offer comfort in the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesian church.

“…..I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe …”

Is your name in the “book”?.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 14th February - 20th February
 

Torah portion           Exodus 27 : 20  to  30 : 10

Haftarah portion     Ezekiel 43 : 10 – 27

“You shall command”

Be ye Holy, as I am Holy

Last week our parashah dealt with the provision of materials for the construction of the “Mishkan”, the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting.  The architectural detail was meticulous. Now Moses is commanded by God to make special clothing which was to be worn by the “Cohen Gadol”, the High Priest who was to become the intermediary between the people and our Holy God.

I have a copy of this image in my Bible to remind me of the meaningful, colourful, splendour (for glory and for beauty) with which God instructed the High Priest to be dressed for service before Him. Take time to enlarge this image, if you can, and study its detail.

Exodus 28:3 explains that God had provided “gifted artisans” who were filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they were able to make such beautiful garments. Later in Exodus we are told the actual names of these people who were chosen by God for this work. Nothing is left to chance with God.

Just consider this. The “Mishkan” was to be a temporary, moveable structure. The High Priest was wandering around the desert with all the others in the inevitable dust and grime which would accompany approximately 2 million souls and their livestock as they moved around the place where they were camped. For most of us, I think, temporary would mean, well, just that. But the place where God said He would meet with the High Priest was magnificent in appearance, and the High Priest was instructed to be dressed in the finest way possible.

Now, can we find a lesson for ourselves today in this? We worship the SAME God, a God who does not change. Do we concern ourselves about the way we present ourselves before Him when we meet with Him? Or will anything do? Are we particular about how we prepare ourselves to meet with Him?  Our dress, our attitude, our conversation, our relationships with one another?  Are we REALLY mindful of the awesome wonder and majesty of the One we seek to worship?  Have we ever taken the time to ask Him about these things?

I sometimes get quite disturbed when I hear folk talk about Yeshua as “my friend”, but then speak of Him as though He were a ‘mate’. Almost contemptuously in a most familiar fashion. Well He IS our friend, but He is also our Saviour and worthy of all praise. Where today do we see that ‘reverential fear of Almighty God’?  Doesn’t the Scripture tell us that ‘the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom’?

As we study the weekly parashah, understanding the relationship which God seeks to engender with these Israelites, we get the message that Almighty God is encouraging and training these people to be His special treasure. It seems that He has that desire to be loved, appreciated, honoured and obeyed. He seeks a people who will understand His Holiness and Majesty. The outward signs speak of His grandeur. The instructions are explicit. “Be ye Holy, as I am Holy” says the Lord. In the simplest of terms, to be ‘holy’ is to be different, to be separate. That is why these Priestly Garments were ‘holy garments’. They were different, special, separate from the normal.

May I suggest that this week, we ask Almighty God to show us how we can be “Holy” unto Him.  The blessing will be yours.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 7th February - 13th February

Torah portion            Exodus 25 : 1  to  27 : 19

Haftarah portion     1 Kings  5 : 26 to 6: 13

“Offerings”

God’s Master Plan

Our parashah this week consists, principally, of a list of instructions regarding the building of the “Mishkan” (the Tabernacle).

To many of us this may be a rather uninteresting set of construction detail. But there is a great deal to learn by carefully observing the intricacy of these instructions. God did not allow for personal interpretation or human intervention in this matter. As we study this process we gain some valuable insights.

Firstly, there is the small matter of the materials to be used. Where on earth did this, now nomadic, horde of people get the materials which God specifically determined were to be used for this construction work? Well, go right back to Exodus 3:21.

“And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.”

Then look at Exodus 12:36

And the LORD had given the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

BEFORE the people even knew they were going to leave Egypt, God had planned the construction of the place where He would dwell amongst this people … and where the materials would come from!!  Nothing was left to chance. God’s plan, and His planning is perfect. Be excited as you ponder the fact that our God does not change. (Malachi 3:6). Just as He cared for this ancient people, He cares for you too.

But there is a bit more to this. I want you to see the important part played by these Israelites in bringing God’s plan into being.

The instruction given to Moses was to inform the people of God’s plan.

The purpose of that plan is made clear in Exodus 25: 8.

 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”

So the request, which is contained in Exodus 25:3 and the detail in the several verses which follow, is accompanied by an important condition. God specifically told Moses that acceptable offerings would ONLY be those “given willingly”.

The gold, silver and other precious materials were now in the hands of the Israelites. Those materials were theirs to keep. Moses had spoken an “invitation to contribute” to God’s plan, it was not a demand.

Ponder this carefully. God does not change. We are “invited” to participate in His plans. He has already provided the wherewithal. But it requires a willing heart (not grudgingly or of necessity (2 Cor 9:7)) to partner with God in that which He desires. No-one is conscripted by force. Every one of us has gifts and talents which are God given. It is both our privilege and honour to willingly participate in that to which God calls us.

The detail of this moveable Tabernacle is amazing. (Visitors to Israel might have an opportunity to visit one of the TWO replica Tabernacles which have been constructed there. The first, and smaller one, is in the desert at Timnah, in the area of Solomon’s Copper Mines, not too far from Eilat. The second, more elaborate replica, has been constructed (complete with light and sound spectacle) in the grounds of a hotel (Eshel Hashomron) on the outskirts of Ariel in Samaria. This hotel also has a most impressive Biblical Garden constructed in their grounds.)

As we proceed through the weekly readings from Torah, we will increasingly see the extremely important role which this Tabernacle plays in the life of the people, from their “wilderness wanderings” right up to the time that Joshua found a more permanent site for the Tabernacle at Shiloh in Samaria. (another Biblical site well worth a visit).

It was the place of residence of the Shekinah of the Lord. It was the place ordained by God where the transgressions of the people could find atonement.   I wonder if you can see from the descriptions I have just written, that they are symbolic of another place (really another ONE) where the Shekinah of God is, where transgressions are pardoned, where lives are transformed.  Where God is.

Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is vividly represented in God’s Master Plan, in the purposes and activities for which the Tabernacle of God was made.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 31st January - 6th February

Torah portion            Exodus 21 : 1  to  24 : 18

Haftarah portion     Jeremiah  34 : 8-22 and 33: 25-26

"Judgements"

Promises, promises

Last week, although we did NOT ‘reflect’ upon it, we had the occasion of God giving Moses “THE TEN WORDS” (The ten commandments).

Immediately following this, as we begin to read this week’s parashah, we get into a lot of legal detail affecting the lifestyle choices faced by this ancient people. It is a very practical summary of behavioural issues surrounding the acquisition and treatment of slaves, loss of property, damage and loss caused by animals, murder, theft, bribery, perjury, and infidelity, before moving into the regulations regarding the “shemitta year”. Please note that the real purpose (see Exodus 23:11) of the ‘shemittah’ was to afford the opportunity for the poor amongst them, those who did not own land, to harvest whatever God provided from the residue of self seeded produce in the otherwise normally cultivated fields. This is also consistent with the purpose of the “tithe” described in Deuteronomy 14, so that the poor and the Levites were cared for in a natural way by the diligence of those who owned the land and its produce.

(This week is our first real encounter with what Christian teaching describes as “law”, which is then usually counter positioned against “grace”.  In truth, it makes for difficult understanding in our culture 3,500 years later. For that reason it is not easy to draw practical lessons which are applicable to modern society. However, having said that, it is also true that the context falls precisely into the correct understanding of the meaning of the word “Torah”. These are God’s instructions (teaching) regarding righteously living together.)

There is more written about these legal issues in Leviticus, as they apply to the priestly class, and in Deuteronomy as they apply to the ‘laity”. Significantly, after laying down the ground rules regarding the weekly Shabbat, God gave Moses instructions regarding other remembrance festivals.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread in Exodus 12, was, of course in the context of Passover. In our parashah today, we have the first indication of the other festivals (called Pilgrimage Festivals) , which were to be remembered by annual attendance of the male members of each Tribe. Each of these remembrance festivals was to be celebrated in a place (later designated as Jerusalem) which God would specify. Take careful note that each of these annual festivals was to be celebrated, in part, by presenting gifts before the Lord. (How did the early  ‘church leaders’ manage to miss that opportunity for a ‘gift day’? .. and that THREE times every year !!).

From Exodus 23:20, the tone changes. God’s promises contained here are spectacular. Take a moment to read from verse 20 to the end of chapter 23. There is very little comment required of me if you read it for yourself. An Angel of the Lord empowered by God. An Angel with lots of authority, but no discretion. Sent ONLY to do that which God had already commissioned. Amazing insight for me here. But look. There is a condition attached to those promises. It is undeniable, but there are people who, because of serious damage inflicted by abusive churches, cannot countenance the thought of being under such authority. Wasn’t it Samuel who later would say “obedience is better than sacrifice”?  God says “Trust Me”. It is a truism, even today, that most of us seem to think we know better than a Holy God.

Chapter 24 concludes our parashah this week. On a previous occasion the people, as a group, had affirmed their allegiance to God’s instructions. Twice more in this chapter we read of their affirmation (verses 3 and 7) of acceptance of the instructions in “The Book of the Covenant”, which Moses read out to them. But in verse 7 they appear to go one step more with the addition of the words “and be obedient”.  That word, translated “obedient” is the Hebrew word “Shema”. I conclude my ‘reflection’ this week by quoting, again, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who provided this insightful meaning of “Shema”.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Shema Yisrael does not mean “Hear, O Israel”. It means something like:

Listen. Concentrate. Give the word of G-d your most focused attention. Strive to understand. Engage all your faculties, intellectual and emotional. Make His will your own. For what He commands you to do is not irrational or arbitrary but for your welfare, the welfare of your people, and ultimately for the benefit of all humanity.”

That, dear friends, is what these Israelites promised.

What is our promise to YHWH Elohim?                  

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 24th January - 30rd January

Torah portion           Exodus 18 : 1  to  20 : 23

Haftarah portion     Isaiah  6 : 1 – 7 : 6 and 9 : 5,6

“Jethro”

Implicit trust

Jethro (also called Reuel in Exodus 2:18), was of the Kenite clan of Midianites, and is described as “the priest of Midian”.  He had seven daughters, one of whom, Zippora, became the wife of Moses, and the mother of Moses children, Gershom and Eliezer.

(Midian was the son of Abraham and Keturah. Midian, with his other brothers was given gifts of money and livestock and sent east by Abraham when he settled his main inheritance on Isaac. Later, it seems that the Midianites became somewhat nomadic, and they certainly caused the Israelites significant problems so that before the Israelites went into the Land under Joshua’s leadership, they sent in an advance party from the twelve tries to “clear” the land of the Midianites. (Numbers 31))

The detail in the parashah today is fascinating. It shows Jethro to be a wise and honourable man. To put it bluntly, he could see that Moses was wearing himself out in his aim to help sort out the problems and issues of this enormous band of Israelites, who, having left everything they knew in Egypt, were coming to grips with a new lifestyle in the desert places of the Sinai peninsular.

Look at Jethro’s words of wisdom in Exodus 18:18 – 20.

“The thing that you do is not good.Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.” 

So we have a lesson to learn right here. How many times do we try to work things out ourselves, get fretful, irritable, frustrated, discouraged and almost ready to ‘burst’.

Jethro’s advice, recorded for our benefit in this parashah, is “bring the difficulties to God.”  The Apostle Peter, picked up on this in his letter to the diaspora Jews, and Peter knew they had plenty of woes.  He said:-

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”1 Peter 5: 6,7

The words are easier to understand than the action is to perform isn’t it? We all have difficulty handing things over, (which is really a lack of trust in God’s ability) and yet it is the best advice we will ever receive.

Moses, however, DID heed the advice of Jethro, and in so doing, released himself to attend to the next phase of his relationship with God. Moses heard the call of God from the mountain (Exodus 19:3-7)   and immediately, in verse 8, we have the ready agreement of the people to accept their calling and God appointed role, as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (verse 5). That agreement is pivotal to everything that follows in the Hebrew Scriptures, which for the next 1,500 years, details the account of God’s dealings with these covenant agreeing Israelites.

The events described in Exodus 19, took place “in the third month after they left Egypt”. Scholars have identified this time, when the Torah of God was given to the people, to be coincident, in timing, with the later described “mo’ed” of the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew), and Pentecost.

That timing element, in itself, speaks of the wonder and perfection of God’s order. We see how His perfect plan for mankind is shaped and foretold in the “times and seasons (appointed times)” of Genesis 1:14. Later, in Leviticus 23 those times are clearly defined, and, for the Jews at least, were commanded to be observed in perpetuity. Gentile inclusion is by our miraculous ’grafting in’ which the Apostle Paul describes in Romans 11. We are so glad that Moses trusted God implicitly.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 17th January - 23rd January

Torah portion            Exodus 13 : 17  to  17 : 16

Haftarah portion     Judges  4 : 4 – 5 : 31

“After he had let go”

Nothing has changed

I never cease to be amazed at the way God leads His people. With an awesome illustration of might and power, the Lord brought His people out of Egypt. Included in that deliverance was the certainty that the army of Pharaoh who would, a short time later, follow after them, would never bother them again!!!  Nothing is impossible to God, and yet He deigns to take account of, and give consideration to, the feelings and choices of those who are His.

Our parashah opens (verse 17) with such a circumstance. The short route to the Land of Promise involved an encounter with the Philistines. A warlike and contentious people with whom God did not want His “His special treasure” confronted at this early stage of their journey. God needed time with them so that He could show them more of Himself, give them much encouragement and teaching, so that they would become equipped to deal with controversy and conflict with a degree of confidence.

Nothing has changed. In His infinite love, mercy, and grace to those who are His, God cares for those who belong to Him. He provides the means by which we can become equipped to deal with those snares and pitfalls which strew the path we walk with Him.

There are some very interesting Scriptures in the Psalms, which will surprise some. Look at Psalm 138 v 2. King David wrote these words.

“I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” 

And in Psalm 119:- “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Too often, Christians today neglect the considerable armament which God has provided for our safety in our spiritual walk, in a world where the enemy is up to ‘every trick in the book’ to bring us down. More than 90% of people who attend churches regularly do not open their Bibles from one Sunday to the next … and less that 2% of Christians ACTUALLY spend time in the study of that word. Dare I suggest that many Christians today may be taking the long route, a route which is more arduous and difficult than it should be, to get to their destination, at God’s direction, because of neglect to take heed to the instructions He has already, for us, clearly laid out in His Word?

But the Israelites, probably more than 2 million of them, and their livestock, as yet did not have that word, so they commenced that journey under the sure direction of a loving God. He provided the ancient equivalent of an accurate GPS device. A bold pillar of cloud to guide them during daylight hours, and a warm pillar of fire to see them through the night hours.

Even in this circumstance there is a modern day lesson for us. In order to survive, they had to steadfastly stay close and follow that cloud and fire (which represented the presence of God) when it moved. Individuals, families, or groups who did not move when the cloud and fire moved, would surely become lost.

Nothing has changed. When we take our eyes off the Lord, by neglect, indifference, or sheer disobedience, then we too put ourselves in a situation where we become lost.

The account of the crossing of the sea is an exciting story, probably the best known story in the Hebrew Scriptures. Read it again, and marvel at the awesome might and power of our God. Then bask in the knowledge that with God nothing has changed. He cares for you just as much as He cared for those Israelites as they began their journey to the Land of Promise.

Then read Exodus 15. Dare I suggest that we follow the example set by Moses and the children of Israel as they came to see the wonder of their God. They sang a song of praise to YHWH Elohim.

"I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.

Then exalt His name and praise Him, because with Him nothing has changed.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 10th January - 16th January

Torah portion                 Exodus 10: 1 to 13:16

Haftarah portion         Jeremiah 46:13-28

“Go”

God’s salvation plan for man

The outstanding message from this week’s Torah reading is the prescription for keeping the “mo’ed” of Passover as a memorial and an EVERLASTING ordinance. It is the celebration of the most momentous event in the life of both Jews and Gentiles. For Jews, the events which took place about 3,500 years ago, and for ALL of us another event which took place about 2,000 years ago.

Our parashah prescribes the preparation of the Lamb to be slain in great detail. The Passover Seder, in observant Jewish homes is full of meaning and emotion. Children especially are reminded of the events we have been looking at last week and this, in our “reflections”.

A careful reading of John 12, taking particular note of the times specified there, will reveal how closely Yeshua’s experience followed that of the Pascal Lamb of Exodus 12. You will see how He was ‘selected’ on the tenth day of Nissan, the day He rode on the colt into Jerusalem to the adulation of the crowds. He was closely 'examined' by the Jewish and Roman authorities for the next four days. The culmination being the record of the gospel writers Luke (twice) and John (three times), that the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate could “find NO fault in this Man”. Just as the lamb was to be "without blemish". Then He was put to death. An EXACT re-enactment of the procedure specified by God for the substitutionary sacrifice in Egypt 1,500 years earlier.

Sadly, the teaching in MOST church congregations is quite neglectful of the richness which comes from a knowledge and understanding of these "appointed times", which are full of prophetic significance, and are commanded by a Holy God. In their place, the “church” has substituted Christian versions of former pagan festivals.

The burning question is, however, What is the Gentile responsibility to remember and observe these “mo’edim”? Dr. John Garr, Founding Director of the Centre for Hebraic Studies, has written some thoughts on this topic, and I conclude my ‘reflection’ this week by quoting Dr. Garr’s insight.

“Should Christians celebrate Passover? This is a legitimate question to which much of the Church and most of Judaism have said “no”. But the answer for believers must be what is given in Holy Scripture.

Should Christians celebrate Passover? When we remain faithful to the Bible, the answer is clear and unequivocal: “Because Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore, let us observe the festival [Passover and Unleavened Bread]…with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:7-8). This directive is from the Apostle Paul, who even then was still a Jewish Rabbi, and it was given to Gentiles. What could possibly be more apparent?

The next question is, How should Christians observe the Passover? Again, the Bible gives a clear answer. What better example could we have than that of our Lord Jesus Himself? According to the Gospels, He celebrated the Passover with His Disciples in the traditional Seder that the sages had prescribed for His time. The core of the modern Seder predates the time of Yeshua and was the order which He employed in the Last Supper. Christians are free to imitate Jesus’ way of life at any time; however, they are bound to no specific ritual for their salvation. Freedom in the Messiah permits great flexibility of practice.

Should any remain confused, Paul gives the liturgical order for recognizing Yeshua’s sacrificial death in the Passover celebration: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is given to; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes." (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

Dr. Garr, on the clear authority of the Scriptures, has shown that at the annual celebration of Passover, believers in Messiah Yeshua are to remember His sacrificial death by partaking of symbols of His sinless life (unleavened bread) and shed blood (the cup of redemption).

It is my personal conviction that this was intended to be an ANNUAL remembrance for believers, just as Passover, with its specific recollections of redemption from Egyptian slavery, is an ANNUAL remembrance for Jews. The church however, has adopted a variety of ‘communion’ frequencies for this remembrance based on a misunderstanding of the words “as often as” in the text, which I believe, because of context, to be a clear reference to the annual festival.

After all, it celebrates God’s salvation plan for man. Doesn’t it?

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 3rd January - 9th January

Torah portion                     Exodus 6:2 to 9:35

Haftarah portion              Ezekiel 37:15 - 28

“I appeared”

Yahweh Elohim, mighty to save

What an interesting start to our Torah parashah this week.

“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty*, but by My name LORD** I was not known to them”. (NKJV)

(*God Almighty ... El Shaddai .. God All Sufficient                           )

(**LORD ... Yahweh Elohim .. God, Creator, Strong, Deliverer)

It comes as a revelation to understand that our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob may be viewed in such different ways. He is given a number of different characteristic descriptive titles in the Scriptures.

As El Shaddai, He had shown the patriarchs how He was able to care for them, prosper them and protect them. But the covenants that had been made, relating to the Land and the Father of a great Nation were as yet unfulfilled. These promises were about to be fulfilled in this diverse group of slaves working at the behest of their Egyptian taskmasters. And it was as Yahweh Elohim that He would make that happen.

Look closely at Exodus 6:9. It shows just how despondent these people were. They saw their plight as hopeless. Furthermore, they were blaming Moses for making things worse for them (see Exodus 5:23). The time had come for God to act in deliverance of these people. That deliverance would demonstrate the awesome mighty power of Yahweh Elohim, and the world would know that He is the LORD. And we do.

The task He had given to Moses was to go before the Pharaoh of Egypt and proclaim the unique nature of Yahweh Elohim in word and deed. It is interesting that in order to achieve this task, God Himself hardened the Pharaoh’s heart that he would resist, until the full measure of the awesome might of Yahweh Elohim was fully demonstrated.  Significantly, that demonstration was as much for the Israelites benefit as it was for the Pharaoh’s. It confirmed in the minds of Israelites the relationship between Yahweh Elohim and Moses. A relationship which would become more and more obvious as they eventually journeyed to their Promised Land.

There are lessons in the order and scope of the ten plagues which were visited upon the Egyptian people. Not the least of which was the fact that for most of them the Israelites who resided in the Goshen area of the land were exempt from the fury of the plagues. Except the last one.

The last plague which the Lord brought upon Egypt, was the death of the firstborn. After Pharaoh lost his own child, he finally relented and let the Israelites go (Exodus 12:29-31) When this plague came upon the land, the firstborn among Israel were spared only because of the blood of the sacrificial lamb which was placed on the doorposts and lintels of their homes (Exodus 12:21-23). This event, in which death “passed over” Israel, would be memorialized yearly as one of the most important holy days of the Jewish Calendar – Pesach (Passover).

Israelites were treated the same as Egyptians in this plague. Any family that chose NOT to sprinkle the blood on the doorposts and the lintels of their homes experienced death of the firstborn in their homes. It became a clear expression of their faith and trust in Yahweh Elohim. We note that the “firstborn” of both humans and animals thereafter, for all time, became possessions of Yahweh Elohim. (see Exodus 13:2). In Judaism to this very day they practise the “redemption of the firstborn”.

The lesson for us is enlightening. Yahweh Elohim demonstrated His willingness to accept a substitute for the firstborn .. a lamb to be slain. In Judaism today it is represented by an amount of money equivalent to five silver shekels. (see Numbers 3:47, 48). But there is a greater significance. When God spared the firstborn at the first Passover in Egypt, He indicated His favour to those who had a covering of blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes by sparing the lives of the firstborn in those homes. Yeshua, was slain, shed His blood, at the “mo’ed” of Passover. An appointed time when God would meet with those willingly attending each year. It is Yeshua Ha’Maschiach who was chosen by Yahweh Elohim, to be the substitute, acceptable to Him, by which we too can receive life .. new life.

As always, there is so much more upon which to ‘reflect’ in this parashah. Be blessed as you study God’s living word. Yahweh Elohim, mighty to save.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 27th December - 2nd January

Torah portion                     Exodus 1:1 to 6:1

Haftarah portion              Isaiah 27:6 to 28:13 and 29:22,23

“Names”

God’s ways are not our ways

We ended last week’s ‘parashah’ with the death of Joseph. This week we start with the names of Joseph’s 11 brothers who took their families into Egypt to escape the debilitating drought in Canaan, 66 people plus Joseph’s own family. (Some have noted an apparent discrepancy in these numbers by quoting Stephen’s speech in Acts 7, wherein he quotes the number as 75. This is accounted for by reference to the Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures which gives the number as 75. However, the actual number has no bearing on the thrust of the teaching we receive from the study of these Scriptures).

Verse 8 is a key verse in the Scriptures. “There arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” How could anyone in Egypt not know Joseph? He was the Chief of State. Here we have an indication of the value of “studying” the Bible, as well as reading it. It is not immediately obvious, but there is a period of some 200 years between verses 7 and 8 in our text!! In addition to that, Egypt was invaded by a people known as the HYSKOS during this time frame and they ruled for approximately 150 years. It is most likely that this “new king” was in fact a foreigner to Egypt, which explains why he did not know anything about Joseph.

Although all Joseph’s brothers had died in Egypt, their descendants were numerous. And whilst they had started life in Egypt being favoured by Pharaoh (for Joseph’s sake), during the following 200 years they were increasingly relegated to a position of bondage, servitude, and even slavery. Probably under the reign of the Hyskos invaders.

Now here is the significance. We are told in Isaiah 55 that God’s ways are not our ways. The young Joseph was sold into slavery. Joseph ascended to high office in Egypt. A debilitating drought in Canaan. All of Jacob’s family move to Egypt, where they are favoured by Joseph’s high office. So far everything in the garden seems lovely. BUT, God had a plan of making this people “His special treasure”, and to establish them in their own land. If these Israelites had assimilated into the community, if they had enjoyed a comfortable way of life etc. etc., then it is unlikely that they would ever be persuaded to leave.

They had become almost like a blank page on which God could write His agenda. They had descended from being a nomadic people in Canaan with no links to that culture. Then spent over 400 years in Egypt, a culture into which they did not assimilate, and whose customs they did not embrace. A country which provided them survival from drought, but which later turned into a place with extremely harsh living conditions. Then Almighty God, in His immaculate timing, when things seemed all black and gloomy, arranged the events which made it, not only possible, but highly desirable for them to leave Egypt. God’s ways are not our ways.

Today, God is calling those who are “His special treasure” back to the Land of Promise. Many of them are reluctant to move away from their comfortable, assimilated, lifestyles in the various countries to which they have been scattered. But God is working out His purposes in ways we may not understand, and in ways we would never plan ourselves. God’s ways are not our ways.

Please take special not of Ezekiel 34 and 36. It is not for their sakes that God is calling His people back to their land in our time, “but for My Holy Name’s sake, that the world may know that I am the LORD”.

Can you see, as I can, some parallels between the way God prepared His people at that time to leave Egypt so as to become established in their own land, as in our parashah this week, and the way events are unfolding before our eyes today as God is restoring His people to that land.

In our story this week, about 75 years after “this new king arose in Egypt” Moses was born. Now that is a story in itself, and time does not permit a full ‘reflection’ on those events.  Please read this parashah for yourself. As God reveals truths from His Word to you, share those insights with people you love and care for. You will be blessed.

The outstanding lesson for me this week has been to ponder the amazing way God works. The human mind is surely incapable of preparing such a plan. And of course, that is all because God’s ways are not our ways.

What a blessing that is!

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Portion for 20th December - 26th December

Torah portion                     Genesis 47: 28 to 50:26

Haftarah portion              1Kings 2:1-12

“He lived”

The Spoken Blessings

We often refer to the God we worship as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The reason for this is that God confirmed (and reconfirmed) the Land Covenant He initially made with Abraham, to both Isaac and Jacob too. Also for that reason they are referred to as the “Patriarchs”.

Our parashah today starts with the news that, having lived in Egypt for 17 years, Jacob, now 147 years old, is sick. But he has some very important things to attend to before he dies.

Firstly, he wanted to extract a solemn oath from Joseph that after his death, his body would be taken back to the Land of God’s Promise, and be buried in the Cave of Machpelah, near Hebron. (today called ‘the Tomb of Patriarchs’) That’s the same place where his grandparents Abraham and Sarah, his parents Isaac and Rebekah, and his first wife Leah were buried.

Secondly he wanted to bless his children. That is, he wanted to speak blessing over them.

(In our society today, we seem to have little understanding of the importance of the spoken blessing. Neither do we appreciate the damage caused by a spoken curse!!)

In observant Jewish homes it has been part of the celebration of Shabbat every Friday evening, not only to share a family meal, but to speak blessing. A husband honours his wife, and his children, by speaking blessing to them. A wife speaks blessing to her husband. It is an important and precious ritual. (It is a personal regret of mine that I was ignorant of both significance of Sabbath observance and the richness of the Friday evening family meal in celebration of the Sabbath until well after my children had married and left home).

Now here is an exercise for Bible Students. You will be blessed if you decide to participate. Read carefully the blessings spoken by Jacob to each of his sons. Those blessings are all contained in Genesis Chapter 49.

Then go to a map of Israel (which most Bibles have at the end of the text) which shows the land division amongst these sons of Jacob. Keep this information in mind as you continue to read the travelogue and incidents which the Bible records as you proceed through the historical account of God’s dealings with these folk and their descendants. You will be amazed at the way in which the words spoken over these boys, by Jacob, work out in their lives and circumstances. The whole travelogue is contained in just 11 Books of the Hebrew Scriptures. (Look at “reflections” of May 23 “Bamidbar” for the historical reference).

The remainder of our parashah (chapter 50) tells us that Joseph kept his promise to his Dad, by personally attending to the burial of Jacob’s remains in the Cave of Machpelah near Hebron. After which he returned to Egypt to continue his service there as Chief of State. Much later, he too extracted promise from his brothers to ensure that his remains would be carried back to his homeland for burial. Today there are remains of the “Tomb of Joseph” just outside the modern Palestinian City of Nablus (Biblical Shechem) which was vandalised and largely destroyed a few years ago by the Palestinians during Yasar Arafat’s reign of terror there.

Joseph died at 110 years old, having been taken there As slave boy at 17 years of age. It has been calculated that he lived about 69 years after Jacob’s death.

Perhaps the main lesson to come from our “reflections” so far, is that God has been working out His purposes in the lives of those who put their trust in Him. Since we are assured that we worship a Mighty God, Who does not change, He continues to work out His purposes in our lives when WE trust Him. Psalm 91 has an amazing promise for those who are committed to serve the Lord and “dwell” with Him.

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:9-12 (emphasis mine)

Just ANOTHER occasion where we can recognise Almighty God “speaking blessing” to us, through the words of the Psalmist, just as He caused Jacob to “speak blessing” to his sons.

Shabbat Shalom

RS