HE CALLED - “Adonai called to Moshe and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, speak to the people of Isra’el; [and] say to them, ‘When any of you bring an offering to Adonai you may bring your animal offering either from the herd or from the flock. If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male without defect. He is to bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting.so it can be accepted by Adonai” ~ Leviticus 1:1-3, CJB - Leviticus (Vayikra) is the third book given to us by Adonai in the Sefer Torah. Although all the books of Torah read with a high level of organization and unity, the Book of Leviticus in many ways remains unique. Of Vayikra, one area of singleness is its almost willful omission of the mention of the Wilderness Journey’s thus far, and in its place, the reading begins with Israel's positioning at the foot of Mt. Sinai. With the imagery of Isra’el standing before Adonai at Sinai, the reader is given the understanding of both prominence and humility where Adonai is above all and enthroned on high, beyond the peoples and nations, and the Children of Isra’el are below in a posture of submission, humility, listening and receiving. Although Isra’el is allowed to approach HaShem, there is still a distance where we might also hear the words, “For my thoughts are not your thought, and your ways are not my ways … As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) To this point, the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (z”l) elucidates on this passage concerning Israel’s destiny stating that Leviticus, “… takes place only at Mount Sinai and spans a short moment in time: [only] a single month. There is almost no story being told. But, set at the centre of the Chumash, it is the key to understanding Israel’s calling mission- to be ‘a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." In Scripture, this is the first time in human history that any group of people has been called to and given a collective mission. Of this, according to Rabbi Sacks, this is. Mission Statement which Adonai is giving for his people and that of their destiny for both the purposes and Kingdom of God! In our modern world, whether in congregational life or in business, every successful organization must have both a vision statement and missional statement if thy desire to be successful and inspire others with in their collective calling. In the same light, Israel and now all believers are given the Lord’s mission that we (in this broken and lost world) are chosen, appointed with purpose and anointing to be kingdom of priests by stating, “… you [all believers in Yeshua] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter/Kefa 2:9, ESV) Thus, from the B’rit Chadashah (New Covenant Scriptures) the meaning of our mutual mission is made fully known where in Yeshua’s name we are first God’s possession and sent forth to PROCLAIM the excellency and majesty of Adonai to wayward world! Like those who are still perishing without hope, we too were once lost, but have now been “called out of darkness into his marvelous light!” and we are now sent forth to go in his name declare Yeshua, the Light of the World! (John/Yochanan 8:12) So, as we begin Vayikra, may we all be reminded that we are the light of the world (Matthew/Mattityahu 5:14-16) because the true Light, Yeshua lives and reigns in us!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Rabbi MarkPlease follow our Rabbi's blog as he shares from our weekly Torah Portion from a distinctively Messianic Jewish Perspective! Shalom! Archives
March 2024
Categories |