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This
week we come to the last readings in the book of Sh'mot
(Exodus). It is important to recall that this book doesn't
follow Israel's wanderings chronologically, as I have
mentioned many times. Rather it follows the development
of the relationship between G-d and the formation of the
nation of Israel. What we see here is the end of the beginning.
It has been one year since the liberation of the Hebrew
slaves and the birth of the nation. In all this time Israel
has witnessed the might of G-d; yet, she still hasn't
fully understood that she has been chosen for a purpose.
Nor does she understand that G-d is trying to mould the
nation to be a "particular people". G-d has
allowed her to go through many trials and tribulations
and she, as a nation has dismally failed every one of
them. The last failure in the book, when the people abandon
G-d totally and create and worship the Golden Calf, was
the most offensive of them all.
Remember,
Israel is like a newborn baby who has to have everything
done for her and makes a mess of everything. Up to now
Moses has acted as the mother, nurse and diaper-changer.
In all this time Moses has been faithful but hasn't fully
identified with the nation either. We see in his conversations
with G-d that he always refers to the nation as "your
people". But at the moment of G-d's wrath when G-d
is ready to utterly destroy Israel and spare only Moses,
Moses intervenes on her behalf offering himself as the
substitute to G-d's judgment. He finally appropriates
his identity with the nation. G-d's wrath is appeased
and G-d initiates the reconciliation of the relationship.
Israel finally comprehends that she has offended G-d and
as one the whole nation in contrition goes into mourning
for their sins. We read that the entire nation put aside
all ornamentation to spend the day in repentance and a
renewed commitment to G-d.
The
process of repentance and returning to G-d- t'shuva involves
looking back to our past. We must assess what we have
done and how that has damaged our relationship with G-d.
We must look at the present to identify what is necessary
to re-establish the relationship. As we look to the present
we must arrive at the point where we can acknowledge our
need and dependence upon G-d. It is only with the sense
that something essential in our life is missing that we
begin to understand that we need G-d. Man cannot live
without G-d and when we turn away from Him, we have the
sense that something is missing in our lives.
True
repentance is returning to the place where that sense
of missing is again filled with the Presence of G-d. And
G-d is merciful. He wants us to realize that He is there
to receive us back with open arms. The first step in giving
ourselves to G-d is to acknowledge what G-d has done for
us and what he has given to us. He has given us his very
Presence in our lives. G-d knows exactly what we have
in us. He knows exactly what we have done and who we are.
Yet we spend so much energy trying to deceive G-d. In
the end we only deceive ourselves.
Until we acknowledge that our hearts are deceitful and
do t'shuva, we cannot have a new beginning. Just like
with Israel when He forgave the nation for her sin with
the Golden Calf, G-d gives us the opportunity to return
to Him. After the mourning over their sin and their contrition
and repentance, G-d called on the people of Israel to
bring their treasure for the building of the Tabernacle.
G-d wanted the best, the finest and the most costly items.
The reaction of the people was completely different than
what it would have been in the past when all they did
was complain and try to go their own way. This time the
people exploded in joy and gave all that they could. We
read that the people gave and gave and they gave of the
best of their treasure. We read that the women gave their
mirrors, which at time was an extremely expensive and
very personal item. In fact the women surpassed the men
in their giving. They gave so much that Moses had to ask
them to stop. They gave with joy, born out of the renewed
relationship with G-d.
We
need to realize that all these changes occurred as we
read in the last Parashah Ki Tissa Ex 33:4, only after
the B'nei Israel mourned for their lost relationship with
G-d. This was due to their sin of the Golden Calf which
caused the break and separation from G-d. Then suddenly,
G-d told Rabbenu Moshe to build the Mishkan. The people
understood immediately that G-d was acting out of forgiveness
greater than they could ever have expected. Our merciful
G-d has once again showed us that His actions are not
dependent upon our own behavior but that all of these
things came about out of His pure grace. Then B'nei Israel
acted upon this second opportunity which they did not
want to miss. We learn from this that when we are forgiven
and we understand our sin, we become humble and overwhelmingly
loving toward the G-d of our fathers Abraham, Yitzhak
and Yaakov.
There
is a strong link between our relationship with G-d and
our giving to Him. In the same way that Israel rejoiced
in the forgiveness of G-d and felt compelled to give back
to G-d, our giving to G-d is indicative of our relationship
with Him. How and why we give to Him is a means of measuring
our love and gratitude. When we give to Him, we give because
of what He has done for us, and not because we expect
to get something in return.
As
you look back much has happened in your life. You can
see the defeats and the victories. You can examine your
health, your job, your state of being. Yet how do you
look at your relationship with G-d? When things are going
well do we lose sight of G-d?
We
are just like Israel - when things aren't going well we
complain even though we know that G-d is with us. We need
to understand that G-d is working in us. We have the tendency
to be animalistic in the way we live our lives. All we
want is the satisfaction of our basic needs. Yet G-d offers
us so much more- a full and rich eternal life with Him
both in the here and now and the olam ha bah.
How many of us truly spend time giving Him gratitude for
everything He has provided? We pass through problems,
painful disappointments, abuse and trials and we ask,
"Where is G-d?" "Why has he abandoned us?"
Yet it is when we look back that we understand that we
have survived because of G-d's Presence with us during
the hardships. We lose sight of His Presence, His protection
and His provision.
The
last chapters of Exodus are about the construction of
the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. G-d gave specific instructions
for what He wanted and He endowed certain men with the
ability to design and craft it and its elements. G-d wanted
a place where He could live among His people. Now, in
the last part of the first year, Israel would have the
Presence of G-d with her. He would personally guide the
people when and where to go. When the Tabernacle was complete,
G-d came with His Presence on the day of the dedication.
In fact, His Shechinah (glory) filled the Tabernacle so
that no one, not even Moses, could enter. From that moment
on, the Presence of G-d was in the cloud by day and the
fire by night and would accompany and guide Israel throughout
her journey.
We
as believers in Messiah also have G-d's Presence with
us and in us. It is His Presence that makes us complete.
He is our guide as we walk (In Judaism called Halachah)
with Him. In fact the only way to walk a straight path
is by walking with G-d. Often we think that walking on
our own is better. Often the grass looks greener on the
other side. But when we get there we find out that this
is not the case. We need to acknowledge our faults, feel
the mourning of failures and go back to walking in His
Presence. Then He in His mercy allows us to return to
Him.
As
we look at our mistakes and with humility make things
right, we can pray the Psalm that says, "Examine
me, G-d, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along
the eternal way." (Psalm 139:23, 24) G-d has given
us the perfect sacrifice in Yeshua. Through him the way
has been made by G-d to bring us closer to Him so that
we may fully enjoy His Presence.
May
G-d add blessings to His Word!
Rabbi
Percy Johnson
Netanel
ben Yochanan
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©
2008 Use by Permission
Kehilat
She’ar Yashuv
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