8.20.26 – Remember

This week's Torah portion, Ki Teitzei—"when you go out"—is filled with commandments that instruct us to remember on at least thirty-one different fronts. And in Scripture, when we are told to remember, it is not just about a mental state—it is a call to action.

With the Fall Feast season right around the corner, I figured it is a good time to do some remembering of my own 😊

The Day of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah—the Day of Remembrance—is fast approaching. It is also known as the hidden day that no one knows (Matt. 25:13), the day of the great shout (1 Thess. 4:13–16). We are also moving through the month of Elul, that season of preparation for crowning the King. It is a time for soul-searching and prioritizing intimacy with the coming King. Are you feeling it? By that, I mean—are you noticing all the distractions coming your way? The fear, the doubt, swirling around so many issues? This is the month for blotting out the remembrance (zeker) of Amalek (Deut. 25:19), who never stops trying to distract us and sow doubt.

Going all the way back to the opening chapters of Genesis, we remember that God's crowning act of creation was building (bana) the female (nekevah)—the woman (ishah) taken from man (ish). This amazing being, created to be one flesh with him, was entrusted with filling the earth, ruling and reigning, sharing dominion, and being fruitful (Gen. 1:26–28). The ones created for this being—known as man, or Adam—are identified as male (zakar) and female (nekevah). Unlike everything else made in those first six days, Adam is the only creation given the ability to choose obedience through love, rather than by instinct alone.

It is hard, just by reading the word zakar—the one who is to remember or take action—to really grasp what man is apart from his anatomical distinctions. But if we look at how God remembers (zakar), we can learn a lot about the role of the man in his relationship with the nekevah.

When God remembers (zakar), He takes deliberate action with clear mental focus—meditating, paying close attention to detail, recalling the past with care (Ps. 144:3). When God thinks of us (zakar), He carefully considers everything about us—His bride, His honey bunny 😊.

There is such intimate interest in every thought He has toward His wife. He thinks of her all day long, examining every facet of who she is, arranging His thoughts about her so He can fully understand her.

As we see in the Aaronic blessing (Num. 6:23–27), He is genuinely giddy to see her—and He does not just give her a passing glance. He is always looking through His photo album of special moments they have shared. He reflects. He smiles. He sings. He loves sending love notes. He is always calling because He loves her voice. His affection is always goal-oriented; He wants the very best for her. He sees her as she is meant to become, not just as she is now. He calls her from the finish line and loves her perfectly (1 Cor. 13).

Yes—the male (zakar) of created man (Adam) is made in God's image. It amazes me that He zakars us the way He does, and what a privilege we men (ish) have to share those same realities with the woman (ishah).

Elul is the month for the nekevah to prepare herself for her ish. The earthly nekevah acts as a mirror for her heavenly Man. When people see what you are reflecting in life, do they see you being transformed into His image (Rom. 12:1–2)? He is always remembering (zakar) the covenant He made with Abraham—and with us. As His potential bride, are we mirroring His zakar?

Wishing you a blessed fifth day of the week. The Day of Trumpets is coming soon—what will happen this year? I do not know for sure. But with all the confusion in this world, I think the best thing we can do is keep our mirror focus fixed on Him, as we prepare for the coronation of the King.

Shalom,
Alan

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