The Ten Commandments are favored even by postChristian society. They are considered the Tanakh commands that remain “relevant.” Nevermind the 603 other commandments that just so happen to reveal the heart of the Father…. It would be good to at least begin with the 10 that are well-known. Perhaps if we can learn to obey these, we will be on our way to obeying the others. Do we obey out of obligation? No. We obey because we love YHVH.
Why not begin with such a special command? The command to take time on the 7th day of the week to spend time with your Creator.
As we hear rumors of war and so many nations set themselves on a course to rage against one another once again, we must remember Yeshua’s (Jesus’) words: “Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27. Update 2/24/22 – Today, the Russian military has invaded Ukraine. We must urgently pray for the vulnerable! Pray for BOTH sides – both Ukrainians and Russians desperately need the LORD right now.
The LORD gives us His divine shalom, His peace, and we must find our peace in Him alone. Placing our confidence in anything else will result only in distress and anxiety.
The aggressions overseas are certainly unnerving to us. How much more so to the people directly affected! Ordinary civilians wanting to live an ordinary life are now facing threats and unrest, and a very uncertain future.
Keep praying for the people of Ukraine and Russia
Praying for Ukrainians and Russians
Alas, it is easy to talk about shalom when we aren’t the ones facing missile attacks in our own neighborhoods. Yet all who would believe can find security in the depths of His love and peace. I pray today for the children of Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and Russia, that they would be able to grow up in a free society. Pray for their safety. And pray for those who need medicines. I pray that there would be an awakening to salvation.
We must pray for all of the people of Ukraine and Russia.
Psalm 56:4 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
We are in the last days
The Bible is clear that these nations, particularly Russia, will be involved in the final events of the last days, so we should not be shocked or alarmed by what is unfolding.
The Good News of our Messiah can still reach people who live there, and we must pray for them.
Pray for people to be reached with the warmth of Messiah’s love
Eastern Europeans and Russians are frequently stereotyped as being as cold of heart as the Siberian tundra. I do not believe this is true. I do believe many people from these regions have endured much hardship and their demeanor often reflects it. Most importantly, it is not too late to reach them with the warmth of the love of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Christ). We must pray that they would come to know His love and His peace.
An excellent resource on how to pray during the Ukraine crisis & war
SEND International ministries has compiled an excellent resource on how to pray for Ukrainians and Russians that I found helpful. You may like to refer to this during your personal devotions or with your congregational group: 15 Ways to Pray During the Crisis in Ukraine.
The LORD works miracles even in the midst of great crises, so let us fervently pray that Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) touches hearts and lives in miraculous, saving ways. There are established evangelical churches and Messianic congregations in Ukraine.
May they be strengthened and righteously emboldened to continue to witness to their friends and neighbors even while sheltering. Let us pray that they will be protected from persecution and poverty. May they be filled with genuine peace.
The Light of Messiah shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it.
If you will join us in praying for Ukraine and Russia, please leave a comment below. We would love to know that so many of you are uniting in prayer with us!
If you have spent any time in a large fellowship or congregation, surely you have been a part of a building project or have been asked to contribute a donation to such a project. Whether locating a facility for the first time, renovating an existing building, expanding, or setting out to build a brand new sanctuary, building projects can feel overwhelming. There is fundraising to do and often many of the congregation members will kindly volunteer time and labor to help.
Buildings and Renovations
Building is a natural outworking of our faith. As a community of believers grows, there needs to be a gathering place for worship. The point of the gathering space is to worship, yet so many congregations focus more on physical comforts than on a space that will truly function as a Biblical worship center.
My husband and I visited a church for several months when we were recently married. We were struck by the intensive efforts the church’s leadership was going through to push forth a building campaign agenda. It was clear that the pastor wanted a new space. But we wondered if the congregation truly needed a new space. Was the church growing? It appeared to be. Were there enough parking spaces? Always. The new building didn’t seem to be an immediate need, but we appreciated the fact that the church had plans to grow and to witness in their community. What felt unsettling were the enormous posters containing illustrations of the proposed sanctuary, auditorium-like with movie theatre type chairs and all the opulence of a modern American megachurch.
Humility vs. Comfort
You know what church buildings are my absolute favorite? The small ones. The humble ones. The ones where you can tell the people came together and worked to create a space for worship. The village churches in parts of Mexico that we have visited where all they have are some wooden benches and a pulpit. The people gather because they love the LORD. And He meets them where they are.
Even here in the U.S., a lot of thought used to go into the worship space from the perspective of how it would facilitate the worshipper to concentrate on the LORD. I grew up in a church that had Congregationalist roots. The design of the sanctuary is one of the best I have ever seen, and I don’t just say that because I grew up there. It is very simple, and the choir was placed in the back of the church. This was done so that the choir was considered part of the congregation and their voices would be heard easily by all. The idea was that regular church members would be inspired to participate in the congregational singing.
Today, most every church arranges for their music team to stand in front on a platform singing at everyone, very much like a concert. The music is so loud that nothing is missed if folks don’t feel like singing along. I am not against having some leadership up in front, but careful consideration about the design of our services and gathering places is warranted. Building campaigns can be a good thing if our focus remains on pleasing the LORD and our spaces have room for genuine, pure, Biblical worship & song, freedom in the Spirit, and Biblical dance.
What is most important in any building is the collective effort put forth in its construction.
Not everyone is a skilled contractor, but everyone can contribute in some way beyond just financially.
Building the Mishkan (Tabernacle)
In Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:1-27:19, we can see that building design and collective involvement is important to YHVH. He gave extremely specific instructions about how to the build the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
What is unusual about v’yiqchu li terumah is that it doesn’t say, “Have the children of Israel give to Me.” It seems to suggest more of a compulsion – they are to give! They are to give of themselves – and their hearts ought compel them! If a member of the community will volunteer of their time and talent, they are to do so wholeheartedly!
Furthermore, “for” is a word inserted for us as English speakers. The Most High says, “Take Me.” Take Him into your heart; your body His temple. The tabernacle was designed as a meeting place and He wants an appointment with you, Child of the Most High. “Mishkan” literally means “Adonai will dwell within.” God is asking for a donation – He wants you.
Will you allow the Eternal One to dwell within you?
Will you allow Him to build up your faith and construct in you something beautiful of His own design and perfect plan? Will you focus on what really matters instead of the external accoutrements that tempt us to start church shopping? Will you put on the garments of praise, seek Him in His holy place with all your heart and allow Him to adorn you with the beauty of holiness?
Each of us is a work under construction. The Great Architect has a blueprint, that if you’re willing to follow, you will stand tall as His magnificent work of art. Remember, every building needs a strong cornerstone, and Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) is our Chief Cornerstone:
Shalom, reader! I genuinely hope this short message has been of blessing to your life. Please consider sharing it with your friends, that others may be blessed, as well. If you would like to receive more encouragement directly to your inbox, subscribe to the Adonai Shalom list:
“After Pharaoh had let the people go . . . ” Ex.13:17a
These words of Scripture are well-known to the children of the LORD because here the Word of God describes what happened “after Pharaoh had let the people go . . .” (Ex.13:17a).
We know this book in English as “Exodus” precisely because of this very central event.
Building a new dream
The oppression was over. No longer would the children of Israel (b’nei Yisra’el) be forced to build up Pharaoh’s dreams of towering monuments and elaborate buildings. Now they could build up the dream that had nearly been buried within them – a dream to live in freedom under the authority of their King, the King of kings, the God of Israel.
Adonai brought them out of Egypt and was wise in the way in which He led them to their next destination.
Leaving Egypt in faith or in fear? Probably a little bit of both!
Undoubtedly, some of the people of Israel would have been walking out of Egypt as though on eggshells, fearful that their previous masters would come and round them up to shackle them back into their previous enslavement. Their trepidation was not unfounded.
Surely the young ones would have tried to run ahead to get away as quickly as their youthfulness could carry them.
The elders who had the wisest of faith could walk with their heads held high – confident that the LORD had been with them all along, and would not fail them.
They would have sang their own songs just as Moshe (Moses) and Miryam (Miriam) sang and danced in the desert after the Red Sea Crossing.
The LORD’s faithfulness to His people to bring them out of Egypt and through tough times has inspired so many expressions of this truth.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come.
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
Amazing Grace, John Newton, 1779
Did you know that the author of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, had been a slavemaster? A pharaoh of his time, it is said that Newton experienced a heart change and wrote that famous hymn.
How great a salvation that can change hearts so dramatically.
Things could have been different for the Pharaoh of Moses’ time, but he refused to repent and found his end at the bottom of the Red Sea.
You may be interested to observe that this parasha also ends with talk of war (Ex.17:8ff).
You can be living a very holy life, full of faith, and walking in the freedom granted to you by faith in G-D’s Son, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), but that doesn’t mean you will not face difficulties.
The enemy will want to surround you, but the LORD Most High decides when He will allow this. The enemy isn’t all-powerful and he must submit to his limitations. Only ADONAI is All-Powerful. Only ADONAI is All-Merciful and All-Knowing, Ever-Present, and Worthy that we put our trust in HIM alone. He will give you the Victory over the enemy!
The people were armed (Ex.13:18) but they would not have to fight the Philistines, not yet. The LORD would help them navigate the Sinai Peninsula at a pace that they could handle (since many of them had a grumbling and quarreling habit). Surely the wandering in the wilderness would give them a stamina they would need once they did engage in future conflicts.
Israel faced attack by the Amalekites
It wasn’t long when the Israelites had to indeed fight. They were attacked at Rephidim by the Amalekites. Amalek was a grandson of Esau, and sadly the Amalekites became known as a defiant and evil people. They were so terrible toward Israel that Jewish tradition today equates Amalek to pure evil and darkness. If you know the story of Hadassah (Esther), Haman the evildoer was, you guessed it, an Amalekite. The Amalekites took advantage of the seeming weakness of the Israelites in the wilderness, but by the lifting of hands – Moshe’s in this case – Yehoshua (Joshua) under Moses’ leadership, led the Israelites to victory.
It was after this victory that Moshe (Moses) established an altar, naming it “The LORD is my banner:” “ADONAI NISSI.”
You may enjoy this song that speaks to the victories of the Exodus days. I particularly enjoy this song around Passover, but it is perfect for this parasha, and any time of year of course! His victories never fade, and every day, all year, He is worthy of our exaltation and adoration. He has delivered us and brought us a mighty long way!
Egypt – Bethel Music
If you are looking for another beautiful worship song that relates to this parasha, perhaps you will enjoy this lovely song which uses the words of Revelation 15 describing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
Perhaps you are going through a difficult time right now. Many of us are weary from the ongoing pandemic. Some have been affected by the economic uncertainties and the rising inflation. Perhaps someone you know or loved succumbed to Covid-19. You are not alone.
What ever Egypt you find yourself bound up in, the LORD has promised to deliver you. If you have placed your trust in Him, He will help you through this and bring you to a promised land in which you will find rest and comfort, and peace. Do not fear when the enemy tries to attack you from your blindspots.
Do not take a step out of Egypt only to go back into it.
Wait on the LORD and He will guide you safely across the seas of doubt, depression, anguish, illness, or financial ruin.
He will guide you safely across even when the winds of change or storms of fury attempt to sink your lifeboat. Have faith!
You might even graduate from walking through the waters to walking on the water!
Meet your Savior, Messiah Yeshua, Jesus, the One who calls us all to have enough faith to walk on the waters, keeping our eyes fixed on Him!
Shalom!
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