For the week of April 4, 2020 / 10 Nisan 5780

Zav

Torah: Vayikra/Leviticus 6:1-8:36 (English 6:8 – 8:36)
Haftarah Malachi 3:4-24 (English: 3:4 – 4:6)

Download Audio [Right click link to download]

And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. (Malachi 3:24 [English 4:6])

We are in sobering times. Most of us alive today have never seen a global pandemic nor have had to endure such drastic measures. Time will tell whether or not the restrictions imposed upon us are justified. But for now, the lives of millions, if not billions, have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 virus.

We don’t know what the world will be like when this is over. We don’t know who will live and who will die. We don’t know what businesses will survive or not. Entire industries may vanish. Nations may collapse or at least hitherto stable governments may fail. People’s value systems will be transformed. Yesterday’s causes may seem insignificant compared to the new challenges the world will face. Are we prepared? Are we prepared to face death? Are we prepared to face life?

Please understand, I hope the current crisis blows over quickly. It doesn’t look like it will. But if it does, let’s not pretend that we won’t face something even worse. If we don’t treat the current crisis as the “Big One,” then, certainly, we won’t be ready for it when it does come.

The prophet Malachi tells us what we need to withstand global disaster. Based on this, I regret to say that we have every reason to be concerned. The necessary condition to avoid God’s judgement is the integration and effective functioning of the family unit, especially as it relates to dad and the kids. Many of us from the baby boomer generation (people born between 1944 and 1964) and older remember the emergence of the generation gap as a result of the youth revolution of the 1960s and early 70s. These were the days of compelling slogans, such as “give peace a chance” and “make love, not war.” But what about “don’t trust anyone over thirty”? The youth of that day had become so cynical towards anyone deemed to be part of the establishment, that they whole-heartedly believed that they knew better than almost anyone older than they. This was a complete reversal of global history until that time, when it had been assumed that elders were not only wiser than young people but were trusted to lead society, due to their experience garnered through age.

Before I continue, let me be clear that I am making no direct connection between the generation gap and COVID-19. What I am saying is that the fragmentation of society due to the disintegration of the family makes the current crisis (which is the virus itself and society’s response to it) that much more disastrous. The pressures of coping with COVID-19 personally and relationally are driving us individually and societally to a tipping point. The family with dad as the point man was designed by God to be the basic building block of society. With the widespread dismantling of the Bible’s version of family, we have lost our God-given safety net that would have caught us when other aspects of our lives crumbled. Instead, the prevailing loneliness of most people, in spite of our continuous distractions, will expose the faulty foundations many of our lives have been built upon.

Thankfully, while we are still alive, it isn’t hopeless, especially if we take God’s words through Malachi seriously. It may be too late for you to reconcile with your dad or your children; something that may have been possible as recently as a few days ago. It struck me so hard the other day to realize that there are all sorts of people who I may have seen for the very last time. We should be grateful we have the technology to reach out to almost everyone wherever they live on the globe. Would you consider doing whatever you can to heal broken relationships especially with close family members? The best way to start is by forgiving them from your heart. That doesn’t excuse what they may or may not have done. It releases you from resentment’s control, so that you can initiate reconciliation. No matter their response or lack thereof, your heart will then be free to be turned towards them, thus inviting God’s blessing into your family circle. You will be surprised how much good that will bring to so many and the difference it will make right now and in the future.

Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version

For the week of March 28, 2020 / 3 Nisan 5780

Vayikra
Torah: Vayikra/Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23

Download Audio [Right click link to download]

If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. (Vayikra/Leviticus 4:27-28)

The Bible seems to be obsessed with a concept, which in English is called “sin.” There are several words referring to wrongs of various kinds, but the most common is the Hebrew cha-ta’, whose root appears almost six hundred times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Many of those times have to do with offerings for sin, not sin itself. Either way, it’s a core biblical concept. No wonder Solomon writes: “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’?” (Mishlei/Proverbs 20:9); or Paul, in the New Covenant Writings: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

We don’t hear the concept of sin referenced in our society. I assume that a lot of biblically minded people would suppose the reason for that is that people deny its existence similar to the denial of God, especially the biblical God. That might have something to do with it, but I think it has more to do with the tendency for believers to over-spiritualization biblical concepts, not the concepts themselves. The meaning of cha-ta’ is “missing the mark.” While people in general often talk as if there is no objective standard of right and wrong, believers and non-believers alike acknowledge our inability to be what we think we should be. Every time someone perceives that they or someone else fails, they are missing the mark or in other words, sinning. While some of the standards we impose on self and others may be truly unreasonable, most of us, believers and non-believers, agree that we are all sub-standard in some way.

We tend to refer to failure as mistakes, such as incorrect answers on a test. Yet, by calling them mistakes, we tend to lessen their seriousness. Is killing someone as a result of driving drunk a mistake? Is marital infidelity a mistake? These are all fails, examples of different ways we miss the mark. In this week’s parsha (weekly Torah reading portion), we read some of how the ancient community of Israel was to deal with sin. Various kinds of sacrifices were to be offered as a way of dealing with missing the mark. Having to go through such rituals, the fact of human imperfection was instilled upon everyone’s psyche. Awareness of sin alone didn’t automatically free the people from its influence and consequences; but it did create the opportunity to experience freedom through forgiveness in relation to both God and the community. The honest acceptance of the truth about self, provides the opportunity to draw close to the Master of the Universe and find the freedom that comes from forgiveness. For that to occur however, a person had to take responsibility for their failure. Ignorance, denial, or refusal to acknowledge one’s failures results in remaining under the control of sin.

As the world takes drastic measures to cope with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, it is tempting to look for who to blame instead of acknowledging that the threat of deadly sickness is yet another dramatic expression of the imperfections of the human race. This is not to say that this disease is due to sin as if it is directly related to something you or I may have done wrong. Rather, it is a reminder that we humans are not what we are meant to be. We fall short of God’s glory.

God has provided what we need to more than cope with this threat through the death and resurrection of the Messiah. How to connect with that must start with each of us acknowledging the ways we miss the mark. There is no better time than this to take self-inventory and admit our failures. Let’s humble ourselves before God, admit our wrongs, make amends with others, and receive the freedom of forgiveness that Yeshua offers.

Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version

Vayakhel & Pekudei
For the week of March 21, 2020 / 25 Adar 5780
Torah: Shemot/Exodus 35:1 – 40:38; & Shemot/Exodus 12:1-20
Haftarah: Ezekiel 45:16-46
Originally posted: the week of March 25, 2017 / 27 Adar 5777

Download Audio [Right click link to download]

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Shemot/Exodus 40:34-35)

This week’s parsha (English: Torah portion) is a high point in Scripture. After many chapters describing the design and construction of the Mishkan (English: Tabernacle), it is finally completed. God responds to this by filling the Mishkan with his kavod (English: glory). God’s glory in this context refers to a physical manifestation of himself denoting his presence in a very real way. God was tangibly showing the people of Israel that he was with them. While God is everywhere in the universe in one sense, this demonstrated that he was uniquely making himself known in and through Israel alone.

Every aspect of the development of Israel’s national life as revealed by God through Moses had to do with maintaining his presence, his glory, among them. From the sacrificial system to personal intimacy; from agricultural techniques to hygiene; from business practices to treatment of people with special needs – everything that God commanded was because he, the Master of the Universe, dwelt among them.

In the centuries that followed, Israel risked losing God’s glory. Eventually, this did indeed tragically occur at the time of the Babylonian captivity as recorded in the eighth through eleventh chapters of the prophet Ezekiel. Contrary to what many people think, the loss of God’s presence was not due to Israel’s moral imperfections. God had made provision in the Sinai Covenant for wrongs committed. The glory departed due to long-term rebellion against God as expressed mainly through idolatry. Israel hadrejected God in other words. But that is not the end of the story. Ezekiel, Isaiah, and the other Hebrew prophets predicted over and over again that God’s glory – his presence – would return to Israel. The restoration of God’s presence was guaranteed to Israel based upon his earlier unconditional and eternal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

By the end of the writing of the Hebrew Scriptures, God’s glory had not yet returned. As prophesied by Jeremiah and decreed by the Persian King Cyrus, many Jewish people returned from Babylon. They resettled the land and rebuilt both the Temple and Jerusalem. But the nation continued in a state best described as tentative. On one hand God was with them during this period – there would not have been a return otherwise – but not to the extent anticipated by the prophets. For most of the time from the return until the destruction of the second Temple in the year 70, Israel continued under foreign rule, a sure sign that all was not right between them and God. Where was the promised Messiah?

It was not until Yeshua’s coming that the light of God’s glory began to appear on the horizon again. Those who believed him to be the Messiah rightly understood Israel’s prophetic writings that his arrival was the indication that God himself was returning to dwell in their midst.

This time it would not be in the form of a cloud filling the Temple, but something much greater. Through Yeshua’s sacrifice, his defeat of death through the resurrection, and his return to the heavenly temple to sit at God’s right hand, he poured out the Ruach Hakodesh, the Holy Spirit, upon those who placed their trust in him. Now the glory of God doesn’t live in a tent or a building, but rather in people. The glory of the God of Israel has returned as promised, taking up residence in and among those who believe in Yeshua.

Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version

For the week of March 14, 2020 / 18 Adar 5780

Ki Tissa & Parah
Torah: Shemot/Exodus 30:11 – 34:35 & B’midbar/Numbers 19:1-22
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38

Download Audio [Right click link to download]

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)

With Purim (the Festival of Esther) beginning this evening (Monday, March 9), I thought it would be good to share a thought from this remarkable story. It’s also a great follow-up to last week’s message, where I discussed how we all carry various responsibilities. In the story of Esther we meet a young Jewish woman, who was chosen to be the replacement queen to the King of Persia. No one at the time could have foreseen that this would set her up as a potential influence in preventing genocide.

When the edict announced a special day to kill the Jews, Esther’s former guardian, her cousin Mordecai, realized she was placed within the halls of power to make a difference. He therefore got word to her, urging her to speak up. Reticent at first due to the risk associated with approaching the king uninvited, Mordecai reminded her that her royal position wouldn’t exempt her from suffering the same plight as the rest of her people. Whether or not this was what changed her mind, she eventually determined that approaching the king was worth the risk.

Contrary to convention, in spite of approaching the king uninvited, he graciously received her. As the rest of the story goes, the evil plot of the king’s highest official, Haman, was exposed, resulting in his execution on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. In addition the Jewish people were given permission to defend themselves, which they did most successfully.

Since then the Jewish world has joyfully celebrated this ironic event with parties, carnivals, plays and special food. But do we get what might be this story’s greatest lesson – the lesson of the difference one person could make? This is not to say that Esther singlehandedly saved the day. The story is much more complicated than that. If Mordecai wouldn’t have brought the situation to Esther’s attention as well as urge her to get past her fears and speak up, we may have no story to tell. Same if the king hadn’t shown unusual favor towards Esther. How much of that was due to Esther or due to God’s working behind the scenes through this story which doesn’t reference him even once, we don’t know. Certainly we are right to give full credit to God, but don’t forget, God works through people.

In this story Mordecai and Esther work as a team. This kind of team is one which emphasizes the individuality of each participant. Similar to a relay race, at the time of each person’s participation, the outcome of the task is completely on the shoulders of that individual. Mordecai gets word to Esther, Esther responds, Mordecai counters her concern, Esther accepts the challenge and approaches the king. If either of them dropped the metaphorical baton at any time through the process, it would be “game over” for the Jewish people.

The responsibilities we are called upon to bear are awesome. Not that we all will have to face the potential destruction of our entire people group as Mordecai and Esther did. Whatever our God-given responsibilities, they are awesome, because they emanate from the plans and purposes of an awesome God, who made us in his image. God designed the human family to be one that functions this way. At the beginning our first parents were directed by our Creator to subdue the earth. We their children share in this responsibility in virtually infinite ways. Whether it’s the day-to-day work we do, from homelife, to education, business, or various types of service; or the urgent and crucial “for such a time as this” responsibilities, it up to you and me to do whatever it is we are called to do.

Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version

For a fuller discussion about both Purim and a biblical perspective on the role of the individual, check out this episode of my “Thinking Biblically” podcast:

For the week of March 7, 2020 / 11 Adar 5780

Tezavveh & Zakhor
Torah: Shemot/Exodus 27:20 – 30:10; D’varim/Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:2-34

Download Audio [Right click link to download]

As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree. And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance. (Shemot/Exodus 28:11-12)

This week we are looking at one particular aspect of the elaborate garb of the Cohen HaGadol (English: Chief or High Priest). Over his main clothing, he was to wear an ephod (Hebrew is pronounced similarly), an apron like over-garment with special spiritual significance. On each of the ephod’s shoulder pieces was a stone with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. We read: “Aaron” (meaning he and his successors) “shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance” (Shemot/Exodus 28:11-12). The Cohen Hagadol, therefore, literally carried the names of the tribes into the presence of God.

It isn’t clear whether the “remembrance for the sons of Israel” refers to the need for the Cohen HaGadol to remember the people of Israel in his priestly service, or if in his priestly service he was bringing the people of Israel to the remembrance of God. Either way he was symbolically carrying the weight of the nation on his shoulders. That this was symbolic makes what he was doing no less real. He obviously wasn’t carrying the people themselves on his shoulders, but the burden of the cares of the nation is a heavy burden – one that would intensely affect most people.

Like the Cohen HaGadol, we carry burdens on our shoulders. Any responsibility, be it family, job, congregation, and so on, is a burden – a burden that may or not feel burdensome, but a burden nonetheless.

God had clearly placed the people of Israel on the Cohen HaGadol’s shoulders. What you and I are to carry, however, may not be so clear. At times we find ourselves overwhelmed by the cares and concerns of others. I suggest we take the time to ask God, whether or not these are our assigned burdens or if we have mistakenly put them on ourselves.

Sometimes we are carrying burdens given to us by God, but make them heavier than they really are. We might misunderstand the nature of the responsibility, leading us to take misguided courses of action. It is important to let God clarify for us how he wants us to do the things he gives us to do. Don’t be deceived into thinking that going extreme on something is the same as being faithful to God. Doing more than we should can be as destructive as neglect.

Frankly, I don’t know how common this is, but you might find it helpful. I have experienced the sensation of being burdened without knowing what it is I am burdened about. At times I find myself feeling heavy, thinking that I am personally struggling emotionally, when actually God is placing a concern on my heart for someone else. When you find yourself carrying a weight, but don’t know what it is, as in everything else, ask God what is going on. You might be bearing the burden of another. If so, then ask him what he wants you to do about it.

While very few are called to carry the burden of an entire nation, what has God placed on your shoulders? Unlike those who find themselves overly burdened or misunderstanding what it is they are carrying, perhaps you have been too busy to notice. Few carry the responsibility level of a Cohen HaGadol, but all people carry something. As bearers of God’s image, created by him to fulfill his plans and purposes on earth, we all have some part to play, some burden to carry, a responsibility to fulfill.

Yeshua said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Often when this is referenced, the lightness of his burden is so emphasized that we can forget that there is still a burden to carry. What God calls us to do is not designed to crush us, but we are called to carry it.

Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version