2.25.25 ~ Let that Sink In

Good morning!

I'm giving God wonderful praise this morning: He gave my fiends safe travel from Florida to Stanton, Michigan for what will be an amazing health vacation over the next two weeks.

Speaking of time, we are in the month of Adar, the 12th month of God's Calendar (Gen. 1:14), where strength and power are emphasized...may that be the reality for all of us! It's also the month of increasing joy as well as the month of Purim (book of Esther)!

In our Torah studies, we are over 1/2 way through the book of Exodus/Shemot/names! Let's do a quick review of where we've been :-)

We have left the chaos of Egypt by the blood of the Lamb (Ex. 12; cf. Gen. 1:1-5). Baptized into the cloud, Moses, and the sea (1 Cor. 10:2), passed through the sea on dry land (Ex. 14; cf. Gen. 1:6-13). Came out of the sea to walk in the newness of life (Ex. 14; Rom. 6:4). We have turned our gaze towards heaven and covenant marriage  (Ex. 19-24; cf. Gen. 1:14-19; Col. 3:1-4) and now God wants us to make a place for Him, so He can dwell within us/bitocham  (Ex. 25:8; cf. Gen. 2:1-3; Heb. 4:1-11; Matt. 11:28; Rev. 21,22). Currently, the way our world looks, it's like we're back in Genesis 1:2 and Egypt, not building a place for Him to dwell within us (Ex. 23:2)...BTW don't be fooled by what's going on at light speed in the political arena; not all that shimmers is real gold.  

The Torah portion always found in the month of Adar is known as Terumah, which includes the instructions, to Moses, on building a place for God to dwell within men(Ex. 25:8)! In this section of Scripture we get a 'fly on the wall' glimpse into a private conversation between God and Moses on the 'apartment' that God wants the people, with a willing heart, to build for Him so He can dwell within them (Ex. 24:3,7,15; 25:2-8).

On our journey, we are still at Mt. Sinai (Deut. 24:5), the ordained site of the greatest revelation in history (Ex. 3:12; Deut. 4:32-39). God has revealed Himself through our experiences and senses (Ex. 20:18ff). He has given instructions on how to create a just society with our fellow man through 53 detailed revelations to the 'big 10' (Ex. 21-24). With the revelation received and agreed to, God shifts His focus to eternal desires with His newly acquired honey bunny; His bride (Ex. 24:3-11). He is asking, not demanding, His ezer kenegdo, that she build Him a moveable house for Him to dwell in His people after the pattern that exists in the heavens. This request reveals the purpose of creation along with every other story throughout Scripture...God's desire to dwell within us/emmanuel.

Originally God built the entire world for man to dwell in (Gen. 1:1-2:3). He then made a special 'penthouse suite'/Garden of Eden/pleasure for intimately, close fellowship (Gen. 2). We don't know exactly how long Adam and his honey bunny stayed as tenants in the garden, but at one point they were evicted and life has never been the same (Gen. 3). That is, until Mt. Sinai, where God gave man the opportunity to make a dwelling place/a tabernacle/Mishkan for intimacy and fellowship together (Ex. 25-40).

For those who know God (1 John 2:3-6), the one guarantee that we have is that He has an overwhelming passion to be with us! We are not alone. During the month of Adar, the 12th month on God's prophetic calendar, the month before Passover/Pesach, we are given a cyclical reminder of God's love for the world and His desire to dwell within us (John 1:14, 29,36; 1 Cor. 5:6,7).

Adar is the special month of joy. Purim, found right in the middle of the month, is a 'no coincidence' reminder for all of us that God orchestrates and cares deeply for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28-29; Psa. 27, 44; the whole bible and I was gifted with a new one last night :-). In spite of the apparent concealment of God's presence, He is there! God cloaks/adaret Himself in the affairs of men waiting for us to find Him (Prov. 8:17; Jer. 29:11-13; Lev. 26:39-45; Deut. 4:29-31; 30:1-20; 1 Kg. 8:47-50; etc.). He is the master of the world/a dar and He is relentless in the pursuit of intimacy with His wife!

Scientists have been inquiring for years: 'is there life outside of our planet'? This morning I'd like to reverse the question from God's point of view: 'Is there any intelligent life down on earth that will allow Me to be with them and in them to guide their lives (Prov. 3:5-7)? God doesn't need a place in this world, He is the place of this world! Yet, He wants a place within us. There is no structure that can house Him (1 Kg. 8:27), but He limits Himself/zimzum in our lives to encourage and empower us for the challenging moments now and the glory ahead when His instructions will fill the earth with His glory (Isa. 2:2-5; Rev. 19-22).

As I pray for you daily, I know many of you are going through many challenges...let me encourage you to look within! Let me encourage you to go back and look up all the Scriptures to allow these truths to sink in. Let me encourage you to make this month of preparation for Passover & Unleavened Bread one of great strength, power, joy and certainty amidst the uncertainty.

Shalom

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

11.22.24 ~ The Lack of Emotional Intelligence

Good morning! Happy Preparation Day! When I was a child, I was taught to say thank you. And if I did something wrong, I was told to say, 'I'm sorry'.  Which begs to ask the question: "why are there so many poorly trained adults? Why do so many adults find it hard to say I’m sorry? or even thank you enough? Enquiring minds want to know! Recently, a research project was released from Carnegie Mellon University that answers the question. Let me summarize the findings. The paper introduces a framework to explain what is called the responsibility exchange theory. It is used to explain why giving thanks and apologizing, as well as bragging and blaming others matters so much, and why we have such a hard time exchanging the right words at the right time. Here’s the conundrum, while thank you and I’m sorry, makes the speaker appear caring or generous, and I’d add not raised in a barn by barbarians, they fear it is at the cost of seeming incompetent or weak.  Then there is the o...
Read more

4.10.25

Good morning! The offerings/korbanot were indeed a source of joy and favor every time they were brought to the Temple or Tabernacle. For instance, when the Temple was being dedicated under Solomon's kingship, they had this incredible feast. The nation feasted on these thanksgiving and peace offerings; 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and goats (2 Chron. 7:5; 1 King. 8:63) and the glory of the Lord, as with the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, filled the Temple (2 Chron. 7:2). There was great joy in the presence of the Lord! And we have this covenantal intimacy because the offerings/korbanot expressed love, joy, loyalty and gratitude.  Let me speak very briefly to one common objection, particularly in a modern sense. Yeah, OK, fine, but still weird! OK, Solomon's dedication doesn't seem consistent with blood and guts, splashing blood, limbs cut off and burning on an altar to appease an angry god for the sinful disobedience of mankind; it is so barbaric. It's disgusting. How could G...
Read more

12.4.24 ~ She's worth it!

Good morning! Part of our dust bunny dysfunction comes from our growing up days and the coping mechanisms we learned to survive. In this week's Torah portion, Vayetze/and he left, we see the results of a divided house where there was favoritism and the 'dust bunny' coping mechanisms that develop as a result. We'll make a comparison between the two 'ladders that reach to heaven (tower of babel and the Ladder in Jacob's dream) and the reason why Jacob wept when he saw the woman of his dreams; in search of his own bosom and tent, a wife (Deut. 13:6); A wife is a man's bosom.  Sarah is Abraham's bosom.   Sarah's Tent comforts those who dwell in Abraham's bosom with bread, light, and the Presence of the Lord (Gen. 24:67). For those, after death, who have the privilege of waiting for the resurrection in Abraham's bosom, there is the comfort of Sarah's tent (Lk. 16:19-31).  Yeshua, through His own life, demonstrated all three signs of Sarah'...
Read more