Weekly D'rash Pekudei

The Book of Exodus ends with the completion of the tabernacle and the presence of God dwelling among the people. We read, Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. We have come a long way since the children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt at the beginning of the book! We have read about redemption, complaining, fear, and faithlessness among the people. At the same time, we have read about the attributes of righteousness, love, and forgiveness of God. Despite the weaknesses of Israel, God in his faithfulness provided a way to stay in covenant relationship with Israel, assuring an avenue of deliverance for the world!!  Remember that it is through the covenant relationship between God and Israel that provided redemption for the world. The book of Exodus demonstrates how God preserves covenant relationship.

May we always make much of Messiah Yeshua because in Him God provided the beginning of the final redemption. As we read in Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Yeshua himself manifested the glory of God. We read in John 1:14, And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. As a result of the atonement that the Messiah continues to provide, the glory of the Lord continues to be evident. The Glory of the Lord is manifested in both the transformed lives of Messiah Followers and in the attributes of God manifested among us. We read these attributes in Exodus 34:6-7 as well as in Galatians 5:22-23 and many other biblical texts. They include mercy, loyal love, faithfulness, kindness, patience, forgiveness, longsuffering, and many other attributes. May the world see the Glory of the Lord in us and come to the light of the Messiah!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Howard