Tag: Moses

Hear Him

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

“The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush. He looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up. Moses said, ‘I’m going to go over and see this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t being burned up’” (Exodus 3:2-3). 

 In Exodus 3:1 the Torah reveals that Moses is on the very mountain that he will eventually lead the children of Israel. The place where the power and condescending presence of the Lord will be manifest, Mt. Horeb. Yet, as Moses tends the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, the Lord quietly appears in a bush, with the appearance of fire. Rabbinic tradition explains that Moses had left the flock of Jethro to find one lost lamb (cf. Lk. 15:4-7), and that his care for the lost sheep indicated that he was ready to shepherd the children of Israel. Further, the Torah is careful to record that Moses “looked and saw” the burning bush, causing him to turn aside to investigate (Ex. 3:2-3). As followers of Messiah, we learn valuable lessons from this event. 

Daily life can be filled with many distractions. Whether from employment, family, or personal struggles, there always seems to be something in need of our attention. And in the turbulence of life, our ability to discern the Lord’s voice can be overcome by many other voices. 

 The Bible is filled with miraculous demonstrations of the Lord’s power. For those observing the parting of the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea), there was little doubt as to the Lord’s presence. When the sun stood still for Joshua, it confirmed that the sovereign Lord heard his prayer. When Elijah called down fire from heaven to defeat the priests of Ba’al, this also confirmed His abiding presence. The record of miraculous events continues in the New Testament with demonstrations of healing and resurrection, and the atoning work of Yeshua/Jesus. Miracles are the work of the sovereign Lord, but is this how He desires to regularly speak with His people? 

 The episode of Moses reminds us of the quiet, abiding presence of the Lord, the I Am (Ex. 3:14). The Lord did not begin his conversation with Moses by calling him to the bush, this would be moments later (Ex. 3:4). Moses had to notice the fire. Much like the remembrance of Hanukkah, the miracle at work here is subtle. The oil of the Menorah that lasted eight days burned but was not consumed. To look at the Menorah one would not notice a miracle taking place unless one first turned to give attention. The burning bush burned, but was not consumed, a strange, but subtle sight to behold (Ex 3:2). 

 Moses needed to experience the quiet voice of the Lord, the stillness of His presence, and learn to recognize it, before the chatter of the children of Israel overwhelmed him. Elijah, having defeated the priests of Ba’al in a miraculous demonstration of God’s power, fled to Horeb because of the voice of Jezebel. At Horeb Elijah did not find the Lord in the wind, earthquake, or fire; but in the, קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה, “still small voice,” or another way, the sound of sheer stillness (1 Kgs. 19:11-12). 

 While miracles are wonderful gifts from the Lord affirming His abiding presence, His desire is that His people would learn to listen to His voice, in the quiet. The episode with Moses, and even Elijah, remind us that we must give attention to life around us, beyond what is consuming our focus. God is still working among His people, in glorious ways, yet we must take the time to notice, turn, and discern what He is doing in that moment. As followers of Messiah, we must learn to hear and recognize the voice of our Shepherd before we enter the storms of life or experience the thunder and earthquakes of His condescending presence, and His miraculous manifestations. As Messiah said, “My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, and I give them eternal life” (Jn. 10:27). 

 When Moses and Elijah were speaking with Messiah face to face on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5), Peter, when raising his voice presumptuously, hears the voice of the Father in heaven speaking and quieting him by saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matt. 17:5). As if to say, “Peter, hear Him. With all that will be in the years ahead, learn to hear Him now.” This is my prayer for us dear reader, that we continue to learn to hear Him, to know Him, and follow Him wherever He may lead us. 

 Maranatha. Shalom.  

Va’etchanan: Torah 45

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn podcast, Torah AudioLeave a comment
Tap pic for link!

Moses continues to speak to the next generations, warning against idolatry, and the continued influence of the “broad way.” He recounts the Ten Commandments, and the days leading to their revelation. He then speaks the central statement of biblical faith, the Sh’ma. We take a slightly different turn in this episode, as we consider the underlying text, even the letters themselves to point us to Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. Give a listen. 

Going Incognito

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

Some years ago I recall hearing the story of a king who appointed a governor to tend to his people on the far side of his kingdom. Over time this governor became beloved and respected. The king desired to visit this region and his appointed governor. Yet, he did not want to draw attention, in order that he see for himself the lives of his people, so he went incognito. The only person who knew his identity was the governor.

As the governor walked through the streets, the king walked behind him. Dressed as a nobody, the people would greet and praise the governor, wishing him well, and thanking him for his kindness. The more the people greeted and praised him, while ignoring the king behind him, the more embarrassed and self-conscious he felt; after all, he was a man appointed by the king, and these people were the kings people. This respect belonged entirely to the king. Yet, it was the king’s wisdom that placed the governor in that far-off region, and as the king’s representative, the love poured out on the governor was love poured out upon the king who sent him, even if they could not see Him.

The first portion of the Book of Leviticus is called Vayikra, וַיִּקְרָא/And He called. The Lord calls out to Moses from the newly completed Tabernacle (Ex. 40:34-38). It is taught that as Moses recorded this moment in the Torah he marked it by diminishing the size of the final letter in the word vayikra, the letter א. The letter א/alef, represents strength and importance. The rabbis speculate that Moses wrote the letter smaller in order to make it look like the word ויקר/vayikar, which suggests an informal or chance encounter, not the intentional calling of וַיִּקְרָא/And He called. Why?

Moses did not feel that he should be so honored as to be called by the Lord. If you recall, when Moses was called by the Lord to go before Pharaoh he said, “Who am I that I should go before Pharaoh?” (Ex. 3:11). The Lord answered: “But I will be with you … the I Am Who sent you” (Ex. 3:12-14). After an early life of trying to advance himself, then years of hiding, when the Lord called and sent Moses, he knew the attention and glory that was directed to him belonged to the King, often incognito: cloud, fire, even in the tabernacle.

The Book of Leviticus begins with a call. It is an intentional call, not one by chance, to the people of God to draw close to Him. The Hebrew verb קָרָא/call, means: to call, proclaim, to read, make famous, cry, or summon. As Leviticus opens, we read these words: וַיִּקְרָא אֶל-מֹשֶׁה , “And the Lord called to Moses” (Lev. 1:1). The use of a proper noun indicates the intended of God’s call: Moses. The call was to go before Him, humbled by sacrifice in order to draw near to Him.

In Exodus the Lord calls Israel to its purpose, to be a holy nation of priests (Ex. 19:5-6). In Leviticus that purpose, we learn, is realized through sacrifice. Having been called by God, as Moses was, are we willing to sacrifice for what we are called to do?

Dear reader, in Messiah you have been called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28). In Him we are called to be a living sacrifice, or a living-killing, (Ro. 12:1). This is a life of drawing near, the meaning of קָרְבָּן/qorbân, an offering drawing us near. We are drawn near as He works in us, we then begin to imitate and mirror more of the King Who sent us. Paul writes:

“For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of self-control. So do not be ashamed of the witness of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but suffer hardship with me for the Good News according to the power of God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Messiah Yeshua before times of old.”

A holy calling, a divine purpose, a purpose established before “times of old” (Eph. 2:8-10). It is a calling of love and grace. It is a calling that He announced to His congregation, but also to us as individuals, in order to show His love for us (2 Tim. 1:7-9).

How do we walk out this calling? The King is with us.

In Galatians, as Paul is speaking correction to his audience, he reminds them of how they once received him, “and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus” (Gal. 4:14). Paul was weak, afflicted in some way, but they received him as a messenger from God, an ambassador of the Lord, even as they would receive Messiah Himself.

According to Moses, we are small in response to His holy calling. Paul would agree. Yet, Paul, like so many of us, did not make himself small, he was diminished in strength by affliction, but the people still received him as they would receive the King of kings. Paul knew who was with Him, like the governor from the above story, but, unlike the people in the story above, the people to whom he ministered also knew Who was with Him.

Remember in Whose presence you stand, and in Whose presence you serve, when you are with those close to Him, and those far from Him. He has you laboring in His Kingdom as an ambassador, the dignity surround you is His.

Friends, the King who calls and establishes is always with us, just incognito: you. We do not deserve the call, we do not deserve His purpose, but His grace works us into both. Still, the honor and praise of the call and the purpose belongs to Him. The blessing is being used and useful to the King of all kings, and Lord of all lord. To Him be the glory, honor and praise, forevermore.

Be well. Shalom.