Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, March 22, 2025
Shabbat Shalom,
The God Who Favors
By David Harwood
The Lord is gracious.
Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God (Exodus 34:6a)
In Exodus 34:6 we read of the gracious God. I offer these words as a consideration for your mediation: “the favorably-disposed God”. I consider them to be equivalent. Chen, in this case, is translated in the Septuagint as mercy (eleos), not grace (charis). Favor (chen) is often revealed in mercy. Knowing the context, we can empathize with the translators’ choice.
In a couple of verses, we again see chen and its translation, charis, revert to type.
He said, “If now I have found grace (chen/charis) in Your eyes, my Lord, let my Lord please go within our midst, even though this is a stiff-necked people. Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your own inheritance.” (Exodus 34:9)
Moses, having received a revelation of God’s glory, His goodness, continued to ask Adonai, despite Israel’s moral shortcomings, for His ongoing active fellowship with His people. In fact, he asked that God would take Israel for His own treasured possession! This petition is asked upon the basis of the favor Moses knew he had received from his God.
I find that to be an astounding utilization of favor. Moses transformed his personal favor into intercession for a people who, although beloved, had disqualified themselves from experiencing active favor.
God’s response was that He would make a covenant with Israel.
Then He said, “I am cutting a covenant. Before all your people I will do wonders, such as have not been done in all the earth, or in any nation. All the people you are among will see the work of Adonai—for what I am going to do with you will be awesome! (Exodus 34:10)
Herein we find examples of what a gracious Person our God is. He was so favorably disposed towards Moses that it overflowed towards the entire nation. Just think about this. He cut a covenant with a “stiff necked people.” They fought against His yoke. These people were deeply stained by their “iniquity and sin.” Moses was saying,
“Adonai! If, when You see me, You are sincerely pleased with me, if I have found chen/charis in Your sight, l plead with You, overlook Your people’s sin and renew Your relationship with us.”
Israel received the grace/favor that Moses deserved. We’ve received favor/grace through the favor Yeshua deserves. Here are two verses that describe Yeshua’s experience with favor.
The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:40)
And Yeshua kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)
A Hebrew translation of the New Testament rightly translates charis as chen. This is grace. It follows the same pattern that describes Samuel’s childhood.
Meanwhile, the child Samuel kept growing and increasing in favor both with Adonai and also with men. (1 Samuel 2:26)
The favor Yeshua received from our Father, which He richly deserved, overflows into the life of the Messiah’s body to this day. Each of us are included in this outpouring.
We might look at ourselves, or those around us (if we’re not self-aware) and say, “But we’re stubborn. We cling to our iniquity and sin. How can You possibly view us as Your treasured possession?” The answer is the same as what we see in the pattern in Exodus.
God cut a covenant.
In the same way, He took the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)
You’re graced through the favor due Yeshua.
Drink deeply.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 22-Mar-2025 22nd of Adar, 5785
Parashat Vayakhel Shabbat Parah
Ex 38:1-20 Nu 19 Ez 36:16-38 Heb 9:11-15