Up The Mountain

Exodus 30:11-34:35, Ki Tisa, The weight of Glory

As I settle into the various concepts of this week’s parsha I am beginning to see a few common themes that run through it.  At first, I thought the discussion on the census felt kind of out of place, but ultimately, I am beginning to see just how important it is in the progression toward the big picture.

Close to the end of the reading we find Moses going before the Lord and interceding on behalf of the people.  He isn’t just looking for their atonement.  By this point, Hashem had already given in to Moses and decided not to destroy the people.  By this point, Hashem had already told Moses that He would send an angel to accompany the people on their journey.  This wasn’t enough for Moses.  He insisted that the Lord not distinguish him as any different than the rest of the people.  Either the Lord was going to be present amongst all, or none.  Moses saw himself as one of the people and refused to let Hashem establish him as anything different.

I take this back to the concept of the census, because within the context of the census, each person was to give the same “offering” to the Lord regardless as to their financial whereabouts.  Basically, I see the exact same thing taking place here with Moses.  As we walk through the progression of this week’s parsha, we can’t help but seeing the contrast between Moses and the people.  Even between Moses and Aaron.  Yet, Moses understands something very deep and Hashem Himself puts forth the principle from the very first words of this parsha.  Basically, what Hashem tells Moses is that “it doesn’t matter how much you can or cannot give, at the end of the day, next to Me and what I provide, from my perspective, each of you is only capable of giving the same and, as far as I am concerned, you all are of equal value. Each of you are but one in the bigger picture of who you are as a whole.”

Within the context of this week’s parsha, this concept bookends the entire reading (the census at the beginning of the parsha, and Moses pressing God at the end of the parsha).  With this concept in mind, there are some finer points that we can take from “the books” (the rest of the parsha) that fall between the bookends (this overarching principle).  

When I picture bookends on a bookshelf, I realize the importance of what the bookends provide.  In short, the bookends are there to keep the books from falling over.  Soto is the case with this week's parsha.  We must remain grounded in this principle that we are “all but one” in the context of the bigger picture.  At the same time, we must learn from what is recorded and available through the “books” that are being supported by this overarching principle.  The point is, let’s learn from what comes between the bookends while remaining grounded in what the bookends teach us.  In this case, “we are but one, and in God’s eyes, all of our sacrifices appear to be the same in the context of atonement”.

Skipping the chase and going straight in for the kill, I am going to spell out exactly what I am seeing.  From there, I am going to expand outward.  The point is this, it isn’t about what we have to offer Him, it is all about what He has to offer us.  This is the hinge pin that holds this entire parsha together.  How are we going to go about this relationship?  Are we going to approach it as if we have something to give Him, that He demands something of us, and that somehow, we make a difference to His plan of salvation?  Or are we going to go about this from the prospective that He has something for us and that we ARE His plan of salvation?

Ultimately, I think this is the difference between Moses and the people.  Aaron is stuck somewhere in the middle.  What I am seeing is that each of these characters approached Hashem in a different way.  How and why they approached Him differently had a lot to do with their life experiences and the interactions that they had had with Him up until that point in their lives.  At the same time, how they approached Him also had something to do with how He created them, what kind of fortitude, motivation, and strength of character they had from the point at which they came into this world.  These are the principles that we must keep in mind when tempted to look at others and make comparisons as to “how their walk looks next to mine” or, “how my walk looks next to theirs” and where the principle of the bookends keep us “standing”.  Ultimately, we have two distractions that take us off the journey of becoming a Moses.  The first is to use ourselves as a plumbline and look down on others for not meeting the standards we have risen to.  The second is to use how we see others as the plumbline that beats us down to the point of self-loathing and condemnation.  Once we can move beyond these two pride-based views and can settle into what this relationship with God is really all about, we are poised to learn a little bit from this week’s parsha. 

Again, I am going to skip the chase and go straight in for the kill.  For me the rest of this parsha comes down to this; Are we approaching this relationship based on minimums or maximums?  Simply put, Torah is a foundation and atonement is the lowest level of the relationship.  When we look at Torah form a legalistic perspective while focusing on atonement it becomes a burden and a weight that we are “under”.  The next step is to see Torah as a foundation that holds us up and that we spiritually walk on. In this context, Torah provides stability to our lives.  Here, we know that we are walking in a right standing with God, and that we are His children.  The question then becomes, how far above the foundation do we want to live?  Another way of looking at this would be, how far up the mountain are we willing to climb?

Again, I am going to go back to the image of Moses, Aaron, and the people.  At the same time, I am going to introduce the concept of the Sabbath.  In Isaiah 58:13-14 we read: “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (NASB)

What I am seeing in this verse is that the Sabbath is but the introduction to a walk with God.  Let’s call it the foundation.  It is what keeps us on track when we are at the foot of the mountain so that we stay focused on what is taking place on the mountain instead of giving up and making idols of the “gold’ that He has given us.  This concept is introduced early in the parsha.  Later in the parsha, Hashem gives Moses the instructions for the other holidays and connects these holidays to the covenant.  Again, these holidays are simply the foundation to remaining grounded in Him and trusting in all that He is doing.  These holidays reveal His character and remind us of how He has interceded in the past giving us assurance that He will be there to intercede in the future.  From this vantage point we are given the courage to trust Him, and this leads us into a confidence that maybe we too can proceed up the mountain and gain all that Moses has.

I think this is why Moses ground up the gold from the false God (the calf) and mixed it with the water and made the people drink it.  I think he was making a point something to the effect, “this day chose, what will you consume, the water of the living God, or the death of that which is false”.  There is so much here with the gold, the idolatry, and the water that I’m not going to even start down this path.  But maybe this introduction is enough to quicken something into your spirit where He can reveal something deep within you on what you chose to consume each day believing it is what you “need” to survive.

Wrapping this up, the point is this.  Honoring the sabbath, choosing to look to Him for our sustenance and provision, trusting in Torah, waiting on Him, and believing in our salvation are the basic precepts of what it takes to remain in the lowest form of relationship with Him.  In this state we are still a part of the people.  What we are offering is acceptable for atonement.  The question is, is it pleasing unto us?  Is the relationship providing all that we desire?  Are we becoming as free as we would like?  Are our relationships as strong as they could be?  Are our lives filled with the fruit of the spirit?  And is He as pleased as He would be if we were willing to be more dedicated in an effort to be more intimate with Him?

On the other hand, we can allow the Sabbath, the festivals, and all of Torah to give us the faith to know that the journey up the mountain will be worth it.  In so doing, we can grow into the image of Moses who did as He called us to do in Deuteronomy 6:5 when he said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (NASB).

You see Moses shared these words with us knowing what it is like to go well beyond the requirements of Torah.  For in Deuteronomy 4:29 he tells us that IF we seek the Lord in this way, we surely will find Him.

Personally, I have to believe that this is the way Hashem would want to be pursued. I believe He wants us to know Him, to spend time with Him, and to be transformed through Him.  I believe this is what He wants for us, and when we move into this, I believe it pleases Him very deeply.

Ultimately, we must each ask ourselves a few simply questions.  First off, are we approaching our walk from a pride position where we compare ourselves to others?  Secondly, are we believing that somehow, He is rating us based on what we are or are not capable of providing and the “quality” of our “offerings”?  Thirdly, are we content hanging out at the foot of the mountain or are we really into this for something more?  Have we come to the point of seeing Torah as a foundation that is meant to support us, drive us forward, and give us the footing that will lead us into a lifelong journey with Him?  And, have we come to that place of trusting that giving our full heart, mind, soul, and strength to this journey will be the best choice we have ever made, for in the end, we will see His face, and in the process, our faces will become like that of Moses?

I pray that this has been a blessing and that in and through what I have shared, the Holy Spirit has quickened something into your spirit that will help you take one more step closer to Him.  Amen Amen

Here is a summary of the parsha for those that want to take the time to review:

• Up on the mountain Hashem is giving Moses instructions on:
• The taking of a census,
• The making/use of the laver for washing,
• The making/use of the anointing oil,
• The making/use of the incense,
• The assignment of craftsmen to make all that the Lord had commanded Moses to be made, and
• The importance of honoring the Sabbath.
• At the same time Moses is getting these instructions from Hashem, the following is happening at the camp:
• The people grow weary of waiting on Moses’ return and ask Aaron to make them a god to go before them,
• Aaron collects their gold and, using a graving tool, makes a molten calf for them to worship,
• The people receive the calf and worship it as the god that brought them out of Egypt, and
• Aaron builds an alter before the calf and proclaims a feast which began the next day.
• Back up on the Mountain Hashem tells Moses:
• What is happing on the ground and to go down to the people,
• That He is going to destroy the people, and
• That He is going to start over and create a great nation starting with Moses. 
• Moses responds to Hashem:
• Asking Him if this is what He really wants to do after what He has already done,
• Suggest that this will discredit Him in the face of the Egyptians,
• Reminds Him of His previous covenants with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and
• Reminds Him that they are HIS people and not his (as Hashem implied).
• Hashem changes His mind against destroying the people,
• Moses goes down to the people,
• Moses throws the tablets of the testimony of the Lord to the ground and destroys them,
• Moses burns and grinds the golden calf into powder, spreads it on the water, and makes the children of Israel drink the water,
• Moses challenges Aaron and Aaron lies about his involvement in the making of the calf,
• Moses gathers the sons of Levi to himself and assigns them to destroy the people.  The killed about 3,000 in total,
• Moses challenges the people to dedicate themselves to the Lord, and returns to the mountain to seek atonement on their behalf,
• Moses seeks atonement for the people while asking that their fate be his fate,
• Hashem compromises and tells Moses that He will send and Angel to go before the people, but He himself will meet with Moses,
• Hashem commands the people to remove any jewelry from themselves and the people do this,
• Hashem and Moses meet face to face in the tent of meeting,
• We are told that Moses came and went from the tent, but Joshua would not leave the tent,
• Moses returns to Hashem and convinces Him to personally go before himself AND the people and to accept the people as His own,
• Moses asks Hashem to show him His glory,
• Hashem responds, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” (Exodus 33:19 NASB)
• Per Hashem’s instructions, Moses cuts two new tablets of stone, takes them up the mountain, and Hashem stood with him, and passed by in front of him,
• In His passing, Hashem spoke these words to Moses: “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
• Moses again requests Hashem’s favor, to make the people as His own possession, and that He be present in the midst of the people,
• Hashem provides Moses with ten distinct instructions that include the requirements for the feast days, ties these instructions to the covenant, and tells Moses to write them down,
• Moses was with Hashem on the mountain for 40 days and nights and did not eat or drink,
• Hashem writes the Ten Commandments on the stone tablets,
• Moses descends the mountain not aware that the skin on his face shone because of his speaking with Hashem,
• Moses spoke to the leaders and moved into a practice of veiling his face when before the people and unveiling his face when before Hashem.