This weekend’s storm has provided a blessed sanctum from the Lord - a special Shabbat with our families, a time to be together, slow down (except when ice-sledding!), be quiet, to hear from the Lord, and be refreshed.
“The Lord shut him [Noah] in” - to the ark, after he entered in obedience (Gen. 7:14). He “closed them in” [the children of Israel (b’nai Yisrael)] between the desert and the Sea of Reeds - after vacating Egypt (Ex. 14:3). Elisha “shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord” in order to bring the Shunamite’s son back to life (2 Kg. 4:33). Yeshua “put them all out” when he brought the young girl back to life (Lk. 8:54).
This week’s parasha, B’shalach, has many wonderful lessons. Let me share a couple of thoughts with you.
Ex. 13:21-22 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light… He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night before the people.”
How amazing it is that despite our unfaithfulness to Him at times, He will ever remain faithful to us (2 Tim. 2:13). He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit for the day of redemption, and will never leave or forsake us (Eph. 4:30; Heb. 13:5). Simply read Ps. 139 for elaboration.
Ex. 14:4 “And I will harden Pharoah’s heart.”
I was recently very convicted by the Lord that I had unconsciously given place to a cynical and critical spirit. By not consciously bringing my frustrations, hurts, and particularly the people from whom I experienced them, to the Lord, I had gradually become hardened. How frightening a revelation it was! “Neither give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27). “… looking diligently … lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15).
If we do not spend intentional time in the presence of God, under the fire of His Word and Spirit, we will become increasingly hardened by life - by people’s actions towards us. We analyze rather than love - rationalize rather than sacrifice. And when we think and speak and act out of a critical or cynical spirit, the Lord Himself withdraws and isolates us. I.e. He leaves us experientially, though not positionally, temporarily, though not permanently. He will “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). God leaves me alone.
When b’nai Yisrael came to Marah and could not drink the bitter waters, they murmured against Moses. The Lord’s answer was to reveal a tree (Heb.= eytz) which in turn was thrown into the waters, and the waters were made sweet (Ex. 15:22-26). I must “toss the cross” into my bitter situations - and they will indeed become sweet! The tree / cross (I Pet. 2:24) is not only Messiah’s death for me, but my death with Messiah (Gal. 2:20). “But God forbid that I should glory except in the tree / cross of Adoneynu Yeshua ha Mashiach, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). I am only here to manifest His light, reveal His chesed v’emet (grace and truth), show forth His love - to make the invisible God visible.
If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (Js. 4:6). Repentance brings purification and restoration. The Lord will soften my heart, and make me a source of life and healing to others. “You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail” (Is. 58:11).
Rabbi Ken Alpren
rabkba@gmail.com
