Parashat Ki Tisa 2022

Exodus 30:11-34:35

In last week's Torah portion God gave Moses instructions for the lampstand, altar of incense, priestly garments, and consecration of the priesthood. God was giving his people a spiritual place before him that was covenantal. It is one thing to know that God loves you, it is quite another to fully embrace the fact that God has ordained you and has a covenantal place that he has ordained for you to fulfill. If you have ever felt that sense of spiritual wandering where things seemed disconnected or empty it is time to reconnect to your covenant purpose. Live seems wayward and disconnected at times and discouragement in an imperfect world is common. If we have dealt with our sin issues and our worship/prayer issues, connecting with our covenantal purpose gives us a sense of personal connection to the Kingdom of God that keeps us.

In our Torah portion this week, Parashat Ki Tisa (when you take), the Lord gave Moses instructions for taking a census and imposing a census tax, "a ransom for his life". God's instructions then proceed to a discussion of the bronze basin, anointing oil, and incense; the two craftsmen (Oholiab and Bezalel), and the Sabbath (Ex 30:11-31:18).

What does it mean to be counted in the Kingdom; to be a part of what God is doing? God was doing more than just telling Moses how to build the Tabernacle (mishkan) he wanted a place to commune and fellowship with his people. He wanted to be among them, and as covenant partners, collaborate with them in doing all that he decreed. Bezalel and Oholiab had a part to play. They were specifically singled out with a gift to make the vision real. They were to be the ones that would help bring the purpose of God from vision to being visible. Notice that Moses was given the instructions and vision, but he could not make it. He know the outline and what was supposed to be, but he could not produce it.

God speaks to a pastor or shepherd but one person cannot produce the vision. It takes a havurah (fellowship), a spiritual family. It is the people who are counted as workers in the Kingdom who God has prepared to work and labor. Many times, a spiritual assignment brings to bear everything God has placed on one's life up to that point. Many do not know that God was preparing them and some were in opposition to changes, being burdened with extra things, seemingly unwarranted trials, or otherwise victimized by the randomness of life. It is not until we come into our season of assignment that things begin to make sense and we realize that God was directing things in a very detailed way all along. In the end, it is God's purpose not only to produce faith but also to form skill and capacity in the sacred community.

We see Bezalel and Oholiab in their season of assignment. We do not appreciate what it took for them to get there. Years of training, some or all of which may have been done by the very people who enslaved them. Training that was exacting, rigorous, and possibly harsh. In the years of forming that beautiful gifting they could not have seen this moment when God called their names, and suddenly their imperfect circumstances made sense. When your season comes, a lot of your questions will be answered, the "whys" will stop, and a confirming faith will settle in that affirms, "my God is faithful".

Rav Calev Lehrer Apostolic Messianic International-Gulf Coast Locales, Parler, Rumble, Facebook