Ki Tisa 5767 03-10-07

Parashat

KI TISA

Shemot/Exodus 30:11-34:35
Shabbat Parah

Bamidbar/Numbers 19:1-32

1 Cor.8:4-13

In this Torah portion we are told about the half-shekel contribution to
the sanctuary, the making of the water basin, anointing oil and incense.
We are to honor the Shabbat. The golden calf incident is discussed here,
as well as the making of the first set of the tablets of the Law. G-d
also gives Moshe the vision of the thirteen attributes of His mercy.
Because this is also Shabbat Parah, the red heifer is discussed.

One of the attributes of G-d is His longsuffering, or patience. Gal
5:22: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. Against such things
there is no comparison with any other philosophy of the world. These are
attributes that Ha Shem has, and He wants us to have and experience them
in our own lives.

We have learned that G-d's love, /ahavah/, is His essential nature -1
John 4:8- and that He wants us to show His love by keeping His
commandments. (John 14:15, Vayikra 1:18, and Devarim 6:5 and 10:19 Also,
if we want to have use of His gifts, 1 Cor 13:1-3, we have to be
obedient to Him. With obedience, we can receive joy, /simcha/, which G-d
gives liberally so that we can dance and sing and express ourselves to
our G-d and to others.

Through the development of love and joy, we receive peace, /shalom/,
from G-d. This peace is beyond understanding, but when it is given, we
are the recipients of His Brit Shalom, Covenant of Peace. Y'hezka'al,
Ezekiel 37:26 and Yesha’yahu, Isaiah 53:5.

Through development of the fruit of love, joy, and peace, we can be the
recipients of patience. In Hebrew: /ereh apayim/ meaning slow to anger,
rapid breathing, flaring of the nostrils, to delay wrath. In Greek:
/makrothumia/-slowness in avenging wrongs. In Rabbinic writings, G-d's
greatness is seen in the fact that He surpasses His impulse to destroy.
Why does G-d exercise patience towards the ungodly in this world? He
does so because that is an attribute of His. Ex 34:6-7: He is slow to
anger, compassionate, abounding in love. This is also shown in Nehemiah
9:17 and Psalm 103:8. G-d holds His anger so that we might repent and
keep His commandments. This allows us to receive rewards, not only in
the world to come, Heaven, but now also. Examples of His patience are:
G-d holding off the destruction of Nineveh, allowing Lot the time to
find others who want to leave Sodom and Gomorra with him before the
wrath of G-d occurs, and G-d holding off the return of Yeshua for these
past two thousand years so that all might come to a saving knowledge of
who He is.

The Ruach Ha Kodesh helps us to overcome impatience or short tempers, if
we allow Him to work in our lives. If we do not, we can miss the mark of
G-d's gift, such as when Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised
Land because of his impatience at the waters of Meribah. Bamidbar,
Numbers 20:1,2,3.

We cannot allow ourselves to have short tempers or have an uncontrolled
spirit. This may result in falling into states of depression, which is
often referred to as anger turned inward, or we may harbor resentment
against others. We all live in this imperfect world and we cannot escape
some degree of misunderstanding whether deliberate of not. Reactions to
something our children have said or done, or our spouses, or even "road
rage" which is becoming more prevalent in our society causing distress
and even murder on our highways.

We are to dwell on the Spirit of the L-rd who gives us love, joy, and
peace. Then we will receive a gift of patience. Let us dwell on these
wonderful fruits and on G-d who provided a rock for us to lean on,
instead of leaning and trusting on our own understanding.

We know that G-d is patient with us, working within us to produce good
fruit. He has not given up on us. He is gracious and full of compassion.
Therefore, let us encourage one another to have attitudes of trust in
Him, a desire to obey Him, and patience with each other so that we keep
the door of opportunity open to share G-d's love and forgiveness with
all those we come into contact with. 2 Peter 3:9 He is slow to anger,
not wanting anyone to parish, but desiring everyone to come into
repentance. Let us all demonstrate G-d's patience.

Shavuah Tov

Rabbi Z

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