Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, March 8, 2025
Shabbat Shalom,
Moses, a Man Who Knew Grace
By David Harwood
The Lord told Moses that He would withdraw from Israel and send an angel to accomplish His purposes for His people. Consequently, Israel mourned, and Moses interceded. He began to frame his petition by rehearsing his and God’s relationship. Please read this as if you were reading it for the first time.
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.’
Moses reminded Adonai that when He saw Moses, He loved who He saw. Moses knew he had found favor in God’s eyes, and he prayed upon the basis of this favor.
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.”
The translators use both grace and favor in this verse. However, the Hebrew and its Greek equivalent is the same in both instances. Grace is favor. Favor is grace. Chen’s equivalent is charis.
God responded:
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” He answered.
Moses continued:
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?”
Moses’ petition progressed into an argument for the manifestation of favor to the nation. God replied:
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.”
Adonai said He would do what Moses asked because Moses really did have favor in His sight. The Septuagint adds some words, and although I view the Hebrew as authoritative, I love what the translators added.
… you have found grace before me, and I know you more than any other person.” (Exodus 33:17b The Lexham English Septuagint)
And now we read a surprising request:
Then he said, “Please, show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:12–18)
We have read that, a) Noah found favor for the work he did that preserved humanity; b) Abraham found favor for fellowship with God so that His promises would come to pass; c) Lot found favor so he might survive; d) Joseph received favor and rose through the ranks; e) Jacob wanted favor so he might be buried in Canaan; f) Joseph asked Pharaoh for favor that he might fulfill his vow to Jacob.
What about Moses?
Moses wanted favor/grace so he might increase in the knowledge of God and know God’s ways. He wanted to know God’s ways so he might know God, and that the favor/grace upon his life would increase.
What a contrast.
Consider, Moses wanted what Yeshua provides.
Out of His fullness, we have all received grace (charis) on top of grace (charis). (John 1:16)
If we were to go from charis to its Hebrew equivalent we’d be reading “chen on top of chen.” “Grace on top of grace” can legitimately be translated, “favor on top of favor.”
There is an emotional, affectionate component to favor/grace. Think about how Moses spoke with the Almighty. Therein we find an open, heart-to-heart communication. Moses wanted favor to know God’s ways, to know God more, to receive the increase of favor/grace upon his life.
He needed help to accomplish what he was called to do. However, he wanted something beyond the success an angel could bring. He wanted God, Himself.
The same pattern is relevant to our lives.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 8-Mar-2025 8th of Adar, 5785 Parashat Tetzaveh
Shabbat Zachor
Ex 30:1-10, De 25:17-19 1 Sa 15:2-34 Rev 18:1-19:3