The air-filter cover on my lawnmower is held in place with, yup, duct tape. Try as I might, between the heat of the motor, the heat of the sun, and the vibration of mowing, the cover will not stay in place. Get the duct tape. And you guessed it, the cover now stays in place. It’s not pretty, but it is a quick and functional fix.

As many men have found out over the generations, duct tape will hold together, and often hold tight, objects that do not always want to stay connected. Somehow, we may not know how to use a wrench or a chainsaw, but we can all use duct tape.

In Deuteronomy 4:4 Moses says:

וְאַתֶּם, הַדְּבֵקִים, בַּיהוָה, אֱלֹהֵיכֶם–חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם, הַיּוֹם

“And you, who cleaved to the Lord your God, are all alive today.”

In Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Moses exhorts Israel to not add or take away from the commands of the Lord, obey them as given. Then in Deuteronomy 4:3 Moses reminds those standing before him that they are alive this day because they did not go after the falsehood of Baal Poer; rather, they held tight (cleave) to the Lord.

In the doing of the commands taught by Moses (Deut. 4:1), the sin introduced into the camp of Israel by Balaam did not find traction with those hearing the words of Moses on this day. Why? They held tight to the God of Israel.

The word command or מִצְוָה/mitzvah is rooted in a word expressing connection. The rabbis teach that a command is a point of connection with the Lord. Yet, as Moses expresses, the connection goes deeper than just word, but to “cleave.”

The word translated “cleave” in Deuteronomy 4:4 is דָּבֵק/davek. It expresses a joining to or sticking together. In Hasidic Judaism, the rebbe or leader of a Hasidic dynasty, is said to live in a condition of דְּבָקוּת/devakut, a constant communion and clinging to God. Yet, the word goes deeper.

As one clings or cleaves to God, holding tight to, by mitzvah or duct tape, to His ways and nature, we will, by the Holy Spirit, begin to resemble, mirror Him, and imitate Him in our living.

In that closeness, that holding tight, the falsehood of Baal Poer could find no opening in the relationship to enter. In that closeness it was easy to discern what aligned with His will, and what did not.

Messiah Yeshua/Jesus powerfully simplified the obedience to God that can be misconstrued as overly complex, when He urged us to “abide in Me” (Jn. 15:4-11). Did this dismiss obedience to His Word? No, as He further said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3).

In our joining to Him, as Paul beautifully articulated as being “in Him,” we, in our living, will imitate Him (1 Cor. 11:1). In our devotion, worship, charity, and manner, we will image more of the Imager (Ro. 8:28-29).

In Messiah, we who did not belong to or with Him, are being transformed in Him by His grace. The Holy Spirit is holding us tightly to Him, joining us to Him, resting us in Him, even if at present we do not much seem to resemble Him. Our love for Him, the constant communion He has called us to, will not only change us, but those around us. We cannot always see the evidence of the Holy Spirits work in us, and praise Him for that, but others will not only see it, but they will feel it. The vertical love that we have for the Lord, will be experienced horizontally by others in our lives. And there is the power of resemblance.

My lawnmower does not know that duct tape is holding its air-filter in place, but it runs correctly because it is, and the purpose for which it was made is fulfilled in the mowing of my lawn.

Admittedly, not an exact or perfect parallel, but as the Holy Spirit keeps you tight to Him, the purpose for which you were called to His Kingdom will also be fulfilled, to His glory.

You may look the mess to the passerby, but you have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14). Never forget that simple truth from God’s Word.

Be well. Shalom.