Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, June 11, 2022
Shabbat Shalom,
Growing in Love for God 20
by David Harwood
Here is a prince amongst wisdom principles:
Do not be deceived—God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also shall reap. 8For the one who sows in the flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But the one who sows in the Ruach will reap from the Ruach eternal life. (Galatians 6:7–8 TLV)
The genesis of this exhortation goes back to the beginning.
While all the days of the land remain, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease.” (Genesis 8:22 TLV)
God works through cycles. We live through them every day. We see the sun rise and set over and over (thank God for mercy). Yearly, we live through seasons. Days and seasons determine times of sowing and reaping. This is evident in relationships, economics, international relationships, and spiritual matters.
This reality is so apparent that people with no faith use phrases like, “what goes around comes around.” There is pop-music; that is pop-karma. For those trapped in traditional Hindu/Buddhist concepts of karma I refer you to Paul’s writing:
Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—it is through Messiah Yeshua our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself serve the Torah of God; but with my flesh, I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:24–25 TLV)
Elohim intervened. We have been liberated and have the opportunity to strategically sow to the Spirit. We can reap a harvest of life as we approach God in faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 TLV)
Here is a point made in a prior meditation: It is legitimate to apply natural principles in your pursuit of God. You can employ them as a means to develop your love for God. He wants to be known. and loved, by you.
If you want to love God more, sow to the Ruach by asking God for insight into who He is and what He’s like. He will give you wisdom. Wisdom will guide you into a greater desire to love God. If you ask for wisdom, to begin to grasp how wonderful He is, you may expect illumination. Wisdom from God will give you grace to love God in fellowship with God.
Paul prayed this for the Ephesian disciples. He wrote out his prayer.
I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers— 17that the God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, our glorious Father, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in knowing Him. (Ephesians 1:16 TLV)
Please personalize this prayer. Pray this:
Our Father, please give me a Ruach of wisdom and revelation in knowing You. I want to love You more.
There is nobody wiser than Yeshua. Nobody knows God better. Nobody loves the Father more. We are called to love God just like He did. In fact, together with knowing God’s love, this is the center of our conformity to the image of the Son. This relationship is the goal of God’s work in our lives.
For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29 TLV)
We can be motivated by wisdom to love God more. Job extolled wisdom while speaking of the mystery of its origin. He said:
But where can wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding? (Job 28:12 TLV)
Knowing that you need wisdom, and wanting to have wisdom, is the beginning of receiving wisdom.
Wisdom is supreme—acquire wisdom! (Proverbs 4:7a TLV)
For those of us who are searching, we have received some instruction that is so simple a child can understand it. How might we attain wisdom? Begin by asking God for it.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him. (Jacob/James 1:5 TLV)
A way to grow in our love for God is to know and understand Him more. Acquiring the wisdom that empowers this love is a high goal that has been made accessible to the lowly: those who ask for it.
Ask.
Counting the Omer – Day 49
Here is the proper blessing to be said each day.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav, Vitzivanu Al Sefirat Ha-Omer.
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us about the counting of the Omer. Today is seven weeks and no days of the counting of the Omer.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 11-Jun-2022 12th of Sivan, 5782 Parashat Nasso
Nu 7:1-89Jdg 13:2-25Ac 21:17-26; 24:14-18