Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday and Tuesday, May 24&25, 2021
Shalom,
Yes, it is Monday, but I usually publish the RR for Monday on Sunday night. In that regard, I’m 12 hours late. This may happen a lot this week, and I might even miss a few days. I’m in Maryland to attend 4 meetings and conferences over the next 7 days.
We started yesterday (Sunday) with the American Apostolic Team (AAT) meeting that will last until Tuesday at noon. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Tikkun congregational leaders will meet for day (in 3 sessions). This will be followed by the Tikkun Leaders Conference (widening the circle) from Wednesday afternoon until Friday at noon. Finally, the Tikkun Family Conference will take place in 4 sessions from Friday night until Sunday at noon. Sunday afternoon we will pack up the car and head for home. I anticipate being both exhausted and enriched. Please pray for each of these meetings as the Lord leads.
Now you know why I may be missing some RRs over the next 7 days.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 24 May 2021 13th of Sivan, 5781
Nu 8:15-26 Jer 23 Job 42 (Mk 9:1-29) 1 Co 6
Tue 25 May 2021 14th of Sivan, 5781
Nu 9:1-14 Jer 24 Dan 1 (Mk 9:30-50) 1 Co 7
This week’s Torah Portion is titled “Beha’olat’cha” (Numbers 8:1-12:16). Let me break down this word. “Be” means “in.” “Ha” means “the.” “Cha” means “you.” That leaves us with “Olat,” and that’s what I want to share with you. We always look for a Shoresh, if there is one. This Shoresh is “Ayin-Lamed-Hey” which means to rise up or elevate.
Many translations use the word “light.” The context is instructions on the lighting of the “Menorah.” The Menorah is the 7 branch candelabra made of pure gold that stood opposite the table of shewbread before the veiled entrance to the Holy of Holies (Holiest-of-all). This Menorah had a base that looked like steps, and since it was 7’ tall, the priest would have to climb the steps to light it. In that sense he was raised up to do the ministry.
This same Shoresh “Aleph-Lamed-Hey” is used for the word “Aliyah.” If yo put the accent on the second (of three) syllables, it means to be “called up” to bless the reading of the Torah. If you put the accent on the last syllable, it means for a Jewish person to be called up to live in the land of Israel.
But that “Aliyah” (accent on the last syllable) is not the destiny. There is another “step” prophesied in the Scriptures. Joel 3:1a (2:28a) “So it will be afterward, I will pour out My Ruach on all flesh. This is what happened in Acts 2:17 when this verse is quoted by Peter spoke on that special Shavuot 2,000 years ago.
The “great outpouring” started in Jerusalem, and has gone around the world. Now, in these last days, once again, the great outpouring is returning to Jerusalem, when Yeshua will take His rightful place as the “Rosh Pina” (Chief Cornerstone) among the children of Israel. Then, the “Great Aliyah” will be complete. Today, our prayers have the power to loose the power of God. Let’s pray for that last great outpouring before Yeshua returns.
Week 22
Memory Verse: John 11:25 Yeshua said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
* 106 5/27 Monday: Jonah 1-2
107 5/28 Tuesday: Jonah 3-4
108 5/29 Wednesday: Hosea 1-3
109 5/30 Thursday: Amos 1:1, 9
110 5/31 Friday: Joel 1-3
The QOTD for Monday and Tuesday are reprinted here from 2 years ago. Still relevant?
Question of the day for Monday: We read in Jonah 1:3a “But Jonah rose to flee….” Where did he think he would hide?
Answer: With every Bible story, we have to ask ourselves, “What lesson does God have for me in this?” Here too, we ask, “How am I running from God?” What is it that God has laid on my heart to do for Him that is left undone? What hard task am I putting off? What is God talking about, when we get quiet with Him that He says to us, “I am not answering your next prayer until you complete your last assignment?”
The first lesson in the story of Jonah is that we cannot run and hide from God. Jeremiah 23:23 “Am I God only when near” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “and not God when far off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in places so secret that I will not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?” It is a declaration of Adonai.
More on the story of Jonah tomorrow. Blessings.
Question of the day for Tuesday: What almost ruined Jonah’s life?
Answer: We read in Jonah 3:5a “Then the people of Nineveh believed God…” There was Jonah, angry that the people believed God and repented at the hearing of his prophesy.
Jonah 4:1 “But it greatly displeased Jonah and he resented it.”
Aren’t we just like that? We get what we asked for and pout about it. Maybe our prayer wasn’t quite answered the way we expected. Maybe we got the wrong color. Whenever our expectations aren’t met exactly, we pout. STOP IT! Stop pouting over answered prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.