Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Shalom,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 3 March-2021 19th of Adar, 5781
Ex 33:17-23 Isa 9 Pr 7 Ac 7:1-29 (Heb 13)
Exodus 33:17a Adonai answered Moses, “I will also do what you have said. What did Moses say? In the previous verse, Moses asked the Lord to “go with us.” But Moses shows his aggressive nature. God gives him an inch, and he takes a mile. Exodus 33:18 Then he (Moses) said, “Please, show me Your glory!”
And how did God respond to that second request? God’s response is the rest of the Aliyah (Torah reading for today). First, God says Exodus 33:19 So He said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you, and call out the Name of Adonai before you. I will be gracious toward whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will be merciful.”
The original Hebrew will enlighten what God is saying (beyond our English translation). When God promises to “pass before” Moses, He uses the word A’avir (Ayin-Bet-Resh) meaning “I will cross over.” This is the same Shoresh as the Hebrew word for Hebrew. Abraham was the first Hebrew because he crossed over from unbelief into faith. Genesis 15:6 Then he believed in Adonai and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
This is also the same word used when God passed through the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12 “For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night and strike down every firstborn, both men and animals, and I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am Adonai.”
To appear before God, Moses needed protection. The hand that protected him is Yeshua. We need protection too, and our protection is also Yeshua. In Hebrew, a “hand” is not just a “hand.” A “hand” can be an extension of the arm (z’roah) to which it is connected, or it can be the palm of the hand (Kaf), as in our subject verse. Moses is being protected, just as we are, in Messiah Yeshua. John 10:28 I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
But Moses cannot see God face-to-face. God’s glory is His oneness. He cannot share His glory with another, because the instant He does, His oneness is no longer oneness. Isaiah 42:8a “I am Adonai—that is My Name! My glory I will not give to another.
Rabbi Trail: Yeshua got in trouble for claiming to be “Echad,” One with God. (Back where we left off in John 10.) John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.” 31 Again the Judean leaders picked up stones to stone Him. While modern scholars want to water down what Yeshua was saying, those who heard Him had no such desire. They knew what He meant. End RT.
Moses is allowed to see God’s back. We will soon learn what that experience was like.
Week 10
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 31:7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong! Be courageous! For you are to go with this people into the land Adonai has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you are to enable them to inherit it. 8 Adonai—He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.”
46 3/01 Monday: Leviticus 23
47 3/02 Tuesday: Leviticus 26
*48 3/03 Wednesday: Numbers 11-12
49 3/04 Thursday: Numbers 13-14
50 3/05 Friday: Numbers 16-17
Question of the day: There it is… Numbers 11:23b “Is Adonai’s arm too short?”
Answer: This is yet another type of arm, a “Yad” in Hebrew. We use this name, “Yad,” for the pointer we hold as we read the Torah. The Shoresh of “short” is “Katzar” (Kuf-Tzadi-Resh), which is the Shoresh for “harvest.” God is saying that His “Arm” meaning His “ability” is not short (but capable of accomplishing His will) to bring in a harvest of meat.
God is asking Moses rhetorically, in answer to Moses’ question, (I’m paraphrasing here) “Where will I get enough meat to feed all these people for an entire month?” Moses even asks if there are enough fish in the sea to feed them all. God’s simple reply is (I’m also paraphrasing here), “Don’t doubt me.”
What are our “take-aways” on this? Three come to mind immediately.
First, stop grumbling. Be very careful about complaining. Avoid it at every opportunity. Philippians 2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.
Secondly, don’t doubt God. Yes, He can provide meat to millions of people in the middle of the desert for a month. Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am Adonai, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?”
Third, be careful what you ask for… The people wanted meat and complained. God made them eat meat until it was running out of their noses. When God was done with them, they were sick of meat. Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul out of troubles. And if that doesn’t work for you, try this (it’s one of my favs)… Proverbs 17:28 Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
Let’s meditate on some closing remarks from Paul… 1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua. 19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not despise prophetic messages, 21 but test all things, hold fast to what is good, 22 keep away from every kind of evil.
Blessings my friends. R. Michael.