Ki Tisa - Day #6

Ki Tisa  כִּי תִשָּׂא - When You Elevate  

Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35

Exodus 34:10–26

34:10 He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of Hashem; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. 11 Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare among you; 13 but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles; 14 for you shall worship no other god; for Hashem, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous Elohim.

15 “Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; 16 and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods, and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods.

17 “You shall make no cast idols for yourselves.

18 “You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt.

19 “All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20 You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before me empty.

21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

22 “You shall observe the feast of weeks with the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the feast of harvest at the year’s end. 23 Three times in the year, all your males shall appear before Hashem, the Elohim of Israel. 24 For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither shall any man desire your land when you go up to appear before Hashem, your Elohim, three times in the year.

25 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread. The sacrifice of the feast of the Passover shall not be left to the morning.

26 “You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of Hashem your Elohim.

“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

Today’s Meditation:

It is very clear from today’s reading that Hashem does not want His people hanging out with others who are clearly not believers. He knows they will influence them in evil ways. So, therefore, He promises to wipe them out before their eyes. And tells them in verse 14 “Hashem, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous G-d”.

Do you ever picture Hashem that way—jealous? It’s hard for me to picture that, but Scripture says He is. But think about the people you love, such as a partner. Aren’t you a little jealous when they are with someone else? It must be in our nature. Anyways, the solution, of course, is to place our hearts and minds, centered on Hashem, at all times. To not allow ourselves to be influenced in negative ways by others in the world. Stay close to His Word, pray, and repent daily. Stay away from those who do not worship your Elohim, or you just may become influenced by them.

Today’s Challenge:

In 34:10, Hashem promises to do marvels. It may be His marvels were destroying the enemy, which, of course, would be huge. But He is also referring to the everyday miracles He will perform in their midst. And I believe those miracles have never stopped. I look at my life, and He is always working miracles and wonders in my life. I challenge you to take some time today to reflect on the miracles (marvels) Hashem has done in your life lately. Then acknowledge Him with praise and prayer. We are truly grateful for all He does for us and those we love.

Tetzaveh - Day #6

Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה - You Shall Command  

Torah Portion: Exodus:27:20-30:10

Exodus 29:38–46

29:38 “Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. 39 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening; 40 and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning and according to its drink offering, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Hashem. 42 It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Hashem, where I will meet with you, to speak there to you. 43 There I will meet with the children of Israel, and the place shall be sanctified by My glory. 44 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar. I will also sanctify Aaron and his sons to minister to me in the priest’s office. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their Elohim. 46 They shall know that I am Hashem their Elohim, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Hashem their Elohim.

Today’s Meditation:

The glory of Hashem sanctifies the Tabernacle; how wonderful is that? Can we even imagine what Hashem’s glory would be like? Would it light up the area? Would it bring you to your knees? Would you lie prostrate? Would you be totally consumed by His love? Maybe it’s good to think once in a while what it would be like to be exposed to the glory of Hashem. It is something we could yearn for and pray about. For the Temple to be rebuilt and for His presence, His glory to return. Let’s get ready for this. Let’s be living our lives in such a way that when His glory returns, we are ready to present our lives to Him. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will praise Him.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 46, Hashem tells His people why He brought them out of Egypt, “that I might dwell among them. I am Hashem their Elohim.” He wants to dwell with us. But He needs a house to dwell in. Just like we do, and that house is the Temple in Jerusalem. I have mentioned this before. Please pray for the Temple to be built so we have a place for the glory of Hashem. We should do this daily. How exciting it will be when He comes to dwell there.

Terumah - Day #6

Terumah תְּרוּמָה - Offering  

Torah Portion: Exodus:25:1-27:19

Exodus 27:1–8

27 “You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height shall be three cubits. 2 You shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze. 3 You shall make its pots to take away its ashes; and its shovels, its basins, its meat hooks, and its fire pans. You shall make all its vessels of bronze. 4 You shall make a grating for it of a network of bronze. On the net, you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners. 5 You shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar. 6 You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when carrying it. 8 You shall make it hollow with planks. They shall make it as it has been shown to you on the mountain.

Today’s Meditation:

The altar of sacrifice. This is an essential part of Temple service to Hashem. To come before Him in the Holy of Holies and to have His continual presence, there must be a sacrifice. We must give to receive. And the way that Hashem has chosen is sacrifice. 

We don’t have a Temple to offer our sacrifices, but we still serve Hashem and want to be in His presence. We can offer the sacrifice of prayer, giving, serving, and loving others. He has given us the gift to give to others. Ask Him today what He would want you to sacrifice for the gift of being in His presence.

Today’s Challenge:

One of the most significant sacrifices we can make to Hashem is our time. Whether we spend time helping someone out, volunteering, or, most importantly, praying, we can present this gift to Hashem. Today, please take a moment to reflect on who needs your help. Or what organization can you support? And if you are praying daily to Hashem, it’s time to give back to Hashem for all the wonderful things He has given you.

Mishpatim - Day #6

Mishpatim מִּשְׁפָּטִים - Laws  

Torah Portion: Exodus:21:1-24:18

Exodus 23:20–25

23:20 “Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don’t provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for My name is in him. 22 But if you indeed listen to his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off. 24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them and demolish their pillars. 25 You shall serve Hashem your Elohim, and He will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.

Today’s Meditation:

Some people think that the angel Hashem sends to His people may be the Law. That makes sense. Hashem tells them to pay attention to him, listen to his voice, and don’t provoke him (disobey him). Others think that the angel is Gabriel. Whoever or whatever this angel is, people must pay attention to him. If it is the Law, then they were to listen, learn, and obey. Probably to get themselves ready for the promised Land. To prepare them for the people that Hashem wants them to be. That they will be a light to the nations.

Today’s Challenge:

There is a tremendous promise in verse 25. If we are obedient to what Elohim tells us, then He will bless our food and water and take away sickness. Don’t you think this is incredible?  Here they are coming out of Egypt, where they have witnessed the Hand of Elohim defeat the enemy through many miracles, and He now promises to do even more. But, once again, there is a contingency. We must agree to serve only Him.

Yitro - Day #6

Yitro יִתְרוֹ - Jethro  

Torah Portion: Exodus: 18:1-20:22

Exodus 19:20–20:14

19:20 Hashem came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Hashem called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21 Hashem said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Hashem to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Let the priests also, who come near to Hashem, sanctify themselves, lest Hashem break out on them.”

23 Moses said to Hashem, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”

24 Hashem said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to Hashem, lest He break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

20 Elohim spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Hashem your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, six and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of Hashem your Elohim, for Hashem will not hold him guiltless who misuses His name.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Hashem your Elohim. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days Hashem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Hashem blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Today’s Meditation:

The worship of idols is against everything Hashem stands for. When He gives the Commandments, He warns us that the sin of idolatry will fall on our descendants. And if we do not worship false gods, He will bless us by being kind to us (verses 5 & 6). Which do you choose for your life? To be treated wonderfully by Hashem with blessings, or to have your children and their children cursed because of your sin? Think about it and decide. Follow Hashem and His Commandments and have no other gods before you.

Today’s Challenge:

Today, I challenge you to look at the idols in your life. You may be surprised by what you worship. Yes, we worship and love Hashem. But we do other things too. What about TV? We sit before it, we eat before it, we absorb ourselves in it; isn’t that like an idol? The same goes for our social media, computers, and phones. I’ll wager you spend more time on those things than you do studying the Word of Elohim.

It’s time for a change. Be sure to do your devotions and study every morning. Then try to minimize your time on electronics and media. Pray to Hashem throughout the day. Love others more than yourself. By doing all these things, I believe those idols in our lives will slowly disappear. We must try. He has commanded us to do so.

Beshalach - Day #6

Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out  

Torah Portion: Exodus:13:17-17:16

Exodus 16:11–36

16:11 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am Hashem your Elohim.’”

13 In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp. 14 When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground. 15 When the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Hashem has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which Hashem has commanded: ‘Gather of it everyone according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, you shall take it, every man for those who are in his tent.’” 17 The children of Israel did so, and some gathered more, some less. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. They each gathered according to his eating. 19 Moses said to them, “Let no one leave of it until the morning.” 20 Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, so it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. 21 They gathered it morning by morning, everyone according to his eating. When the sun grew hot, it melted. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one; and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is that which Hashem has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to Hashem. Bake that which you want to bake, and boil that which you want to boil; and all that remains over lay up for yourselves to be kept until the morning.’”

24 They laid it up until the morning, as Moses ordered, and it didn’t become foul, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to Hashem. Today, you shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath. In it there shall be none.” 27 On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, and they found none. 28 Hashem said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 Behold, because Hashem has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days. Everyone stay in his place. Let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The house of Israel called its name “Manna”, and it was like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is the thing which Hashem has commanded, ‘Let an omer-full of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot, and put an omer-full of manna in it, and lay it up before Hashem, to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As Hashem commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. 35 The children of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate the manna until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan. 36 Now an omer is one tenth of an ephah.

Today’s Meditation:

Everyone has unbelief. Even when Hashem is performing great miracles before your eyes. I guess. The Hebrew people did. He sent bread from heaven, literally. Parted a great sea. And He tells them not to gather on the Shabbat. But they try anyway. They go out, and there is none to gather (verse 27). Does that shock you? That they would not believe their Elohim, who is displaying His glory from heaven. But, aren’t we the same? He will tell us very clearly what not to do, but we still try to do it anyway—a good lesson to be learned this week. Listen to what Hashem is telling you and heed His word. Follow His Commandments fully and completely. He will provide.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 30, Hashem teaches people to begin resting on Shabbat. In Egypt, they were neglecting to do that. Or perhaps they were ordered as slaves to work every single day. Here is Hashem, full of mercy and grace, gently leading them to the restoration of the Commandment of Shabbat. So, here is my question for you. Do you honor the Shabbat, the seventh day of the week? If not, or if you are not fully obedient in observing Shabbat, I challenge you to change. When Hashem says rest, He means it. Anything we try to gather on the Shabbat will rot. So, why do it? Wait and gather the next day so that your harvest is abundant and fresh.