Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, March 1, 2025
Shabbat Shalom,
Favor for Revelation
Grace 11
By David Harwood
We’re going to consider the relational preamble to one of the most important revelations God ever made. It came to Moses. It came because of favor. The background to this was a promise that caused national grief, namely, God said He would guarantee His people’s victory but withdraw from fellowship with Israel.
I will send an angel before you. I will drive out the Canaanites, … but I will not move within the midst of you… (Exodus 33:2a,3b)
What was Israel’s response?
When the people heard these dreadful words, they mourned (Exodus 33:4a)
Israel wanted something more than supernatural protection, supernatural success, and the supernatural fulfillment of their earthly dreams. They wanted God in their midst, and they mourned. It was as if their most dearly held hope had received a death sentence.
As they mourned, the Lord began to reconsider.
Adonai said to Moses, “Say to Bnei-Yisrael, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were going up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Take off your ornaments, so that I may consider what to do to you.’ ” (Exodus 33:5)
God pays attention to the sincerely contrite. For example, consider Ahab and Manasseh. These men were evil.
Elijah delivered a word of judgment to evil Ahab, and Ahab responded to a holy God.
Now when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his body, fasted, lay in sackcloth and walked about subdued. (1 Kings 21:27)
God responded to Ahab.
Then the word of Adonai came to Elijah the Tishbite saying: “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in his son’s days I will bring the evil upon his house.” (1 Kings 21:28–29)
The same thing happened with Manasseh who was worse than Ahab.
When (Manasseh) prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty … (2 Chronicles 33:13a)
In Exodus 33, it’s written that when Israel heard that God was no longer going to be with them, they mourned. They were sincerely contrite, and God was moved to reevaluate His plan. During this time, Moses would fellowship with God at the tent of meeting, face to face. Apparently, that was where this conversation happened.
So Moses said to Adonai “You say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace (chen/charis) in My eyes.’
Now then, I pray, if I have found grace (chen/charis) in Your eyes, show me Your ways, so that I may know You, so that I might find favor (chen/charis) in Your sight. Consider also that this nation is Your people.”
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” He answered.
But then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with me, don’t let us go up from here! For how would it be known that I or your people have found favor (chen/charis) in Your sight? Isn’t it because You go with us, that distinguishes us from all the people on the face of the earth?”
Adonai answered Moses, “I will also do what you have said, for you have found favor (chen/charis) in My sight, and I know you by name.” Then he said, “Please, show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:12–18)
In our next meditation we’ll look into some of the dynamics of this relationship. We’ll find that Moses was a man who knew God’s grace.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 1-Mar-2020 1st of Adar, 5785 Parashat Terumah Shabbat Shekalim on Rosh Chodesh
Ex 27:9-19, 30:11-16 2 Ki 12:1-16 [17] Mt 17:22-27 Nu 28:9-15