Ki Tisa כִּי תִשָּׂא - When You Elevate
Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38
Shabbat: 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.
Today’s Meditation:
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 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 about it: if we just spent some time with Hashem in prayer and worship. A part of ourselves would also glow. I believe that is why when you meet certain people, you literally see Hashem’s peace all over them.
Today’s Challenge:
Hashem has given Moses a second chance to receive the Ten Commandments—the Law. The finger of Elohim wrote the first set; 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 initially 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 intended from the beginning, but He will still make it good. There is a contingency: we are to follow Him, obey Him, repent, and worship. 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.
This Week’s 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.’”
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
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 thoroughly followed. Why? Because it is life. Let us remember that. We have so diminished His Torah over time. Even those who are strangers and not Jews, who hope to attach to Israel, do not even fully understand His Law. But they can try to do their best. Each day, we must study His Torah. That is what this blog is all about.
Today’s Haftarah 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 most 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 sacred Words. Let us stop being careless about following His commands, and by doing so, we will begin to respect His Name.
