Ki Tisa כִּי תִשָּׂא - When You Elevate
Exodus 30:11-34:35
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38
Apostolic Writings: Mark 9:1-10
Reading #7 - Exodus 34:27–35
My Thoughts:
Another huge miracle in today’s reading. Moses does not eat or drink for forty days when he meets Hashem on the mountain a second time. We know this is not physically possible. But, with G-d all things are possible. He enters the presence of Hashem for forty days. It must have seemed much shorter for him. The glory of Hashem sustained him physically, emotionally and spiritually. How utterly amazing and wonderful! And when he descends the mountain and meets his people -- his face is shining -- glowing, from being in the presence of Hashem. This is all so hard to imagine. But, think if we just would spend some “time” with Hashem, in prayer and worship. A part of our “self” would glow also. I think that is why when you meet certain people you literally “see” Hashem’s peace all over them. Let’s strive for that today!
Challenge:
Hashem has given Moses a second chance at receiving the Ten Commandments -- the Law. The first set was written by the finger of Elohim, now this new set is written by Moses. The whole experience is glorious, yet not the same. It makes me think that when Hashem gives us a second chance it may not have been what He had originally intended for us. He adjusts it a little. But, it is still good.
If you need a second chance at something in life (I know I do, I am thinking of it right now). Do not expect it to be what G-d had intended originally, but He will still make it good. I do believe there is a contingency that we are following Him, obeying Him, repenting and worshiping. Go ahead today and ask Hashem for a second chance (or third or fourth). Praise Him and repent that you did not accept His original gift.
Reading #7 - Exodus 34:27–35
27 Hashem said to Moses, “Write these words; for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
28 He was there with Hashem forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses didn’t know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with Him. 30 When Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them all the commandments that Hashem had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses was done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before Hashem to speak with Him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35 The children of Israel saw Moses’ face, that the skin of Moses’ face shone; so Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.
Haftarah
My Thoughts:
Hashem makes it pretty clear what will happen when He returns to rule and reign in Jerusalem, in the Temple, forever. He states in verse 27, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes. You will keep My ordinances and do them.” His Spirit will inhabit us when we are obedient to His Law. Clear and simple. His Law is NEVER taken away, in fact when He returns it is fully followed. Why? Because it is LIFE. Let us remember that. We have so diminished His Torah over time. Even those of us as strangers and not Jews who hope to attach to Israel -- we do not even fully understand His Law. But, we can try and do our best. Each day we must study His Torah. That is what this blog is all about.
Challenge:
In verse 20 Hashem explains that they have “profaned” His holy Name. I believe today we profane His holy Name when we do not follow Torah. When we carelessly study Torah, and go back into the world to live a “pagan” life. Yes, we live in a world where a majority of people do not honor or respect Hashem. But, that is why we are supposed to reflect His “light”. Let’s try today to change our lives and respect His holy Name and His holy Words. Let us stop being careless about following His commands, and by doing so we will begin to respect His Name. I’m with you all on this today!
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38
36:16 Moreover Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and by their deeds. Their way before Me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. 18 Therefore I poured out my wrath on them for the blood which they had poured out on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. I judged them according to their way and according to their deeds. 20 When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name; in that men said of them, ‘These are Hashem’s people, and have left his land.’ 21 But I had respect for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.
22 “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘Hashem says: “I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am Hashem,” says Hashem, “when I am proven holy in you before their eyes.
24 “‘“For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and from all your idols. 26 I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes. You will keep My ordinances and do them. 28 You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your Elohim. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you. 30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field, that you may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.
31 “‘“Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. 32 I don’t do this for your sake,” says Hashem. “Let it be known to you: be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel.”
33 “‘Hashem says: “In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited and the waste places will be built. 34 The land that was desolate will be tilled instead of being a desolation in the sight of all who passed by. 35 They will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations that are left around you will know that I, Hashem, have built the ruined places, and planted that which was desolate. I, Hashem, have spoken it, and I will do it.”
37 “‘Hashem says: “For this, moreover, I will be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock. 38 As the flock for sacrifice, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed feasts, so the waste cities will be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am Hashem.’”
Apostolic Writings
My Thoughts:
In verse 3 Yeshua goes to the mountain and His clothes begin to “glow” from the presence of Hashem -- like snow. Just like Moses when he goes to the mountain. Our lives should “glow” too, from being in the presence of Hashem on a daily basis. Yeshua is an example of how we are to live and follow Torah. He is Torah (John 1).
Challenge:
In verse 7, Hashem speaks from a cloud and says “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him.” I believe He is saying we are to listen to what He is teaching and He is fully teaching Torah. He is the “Heart of Hashem”. So, if Hashem were here on the earth -- this is what His “heart” would look like. It’s like we get a chance, through Yeshua, to learn more about Hashem and His heart for us. It is simply beautiful.
Take time to reread the Gospels and look at them from the perspective that you are “reading” G-d’s heart. Everything Yeshua teaches in the Gospels is Torah, the “heart” of Torah. We learn more about G-d from studying Yeshua. Let’s do that today.
Apostolic Writings: Mark 9:1-10
9 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.”
2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.
7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Yeshua only.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.
