Thought for Today: Wednesday February 19

Generosity does not come naturally to most of us – not the kind of generosity the Bible urges us to have. Most of us will gladly give if we think the cause is worthy and we feel we can afford it. But the Bible urges us to go beyond that; to give sacrificially to YHVH’s work. His work demands prayer, dedication, vision, and reliance on Ruach HaKodesh. But it also requires our financial resources. Never forget, everything you have or claim that it is yours, was given to you by YHVH.

From this week’s Torah portion – Vayyaqheil:
In this week’s double portion, Vayaqheil and Pequdey, Moshe and the children of Yisrael are told to make a contribution to furnish and complete the Mishkan – the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. This command was not given to everyone, but YHWH told Moshe only to, “Take from among you a contribution to YHWH. Everyone whose heart so moves him, let him bring it as a contribution.”
Whether for a temporary Mishkan or permanent Temple, physically on Mount Moriah or spiritually within us, YHWH wants His House to be built by and of those who give willingly and from the heart.
In our Torah portion, the result of YHWH’s command to Moshe was,
“And all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el withdrew from the presence of Moshe. And everyone whose heart lifted him up and everyone whose spirit moved him came, and they brought the contribution to YHWH for the work of the Tent of Appointment, and for all its service, and for the set-apart garments. And they came, both men and women, all whose hearts moved them, and brought earrings and nose rings, and rings and necklaces, all golden material things, even everyone who made a wave offering of gold to YHWH. And every man, with whom was found blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and fine leather, brought them. Everyone who would make a contribution to YHWH of silver or bronze, brought it. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it…
“…And they received from Moshe all the contribution which the children of Yisra’el had brought for the work of the service of making the set-apart place. But they still brought to him voluntary offerings every morning, so all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the set-apart place came, each from the work he was doing, and they spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which YHWH commanded us to do.’ Then Moshe commanded and they sent this word throughout the camp, saying, ‘Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the contribution of the set-apart place.’ And the people were withheld from bringing, for what they had was enough for all the work to be done, more than enough.”
I wonder if the same will ever be said of us.

Okay, maybe "Amen" isn't the name of a pagan deity, but what about "God"? Doesn't Isaiah 65:11 say that "god" is the name of another pagan deity, so we shouldn't say it?

No, not really. This is the same essential error as the "Amen" argument.

https://soilfromstone.blogspot.....com/2020/02/is-god-

For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.
#exodus 23:10-11 #mishpatim

The agricultural sabbath year, the #shemitah, is not just for the land, but for the poor. It is a moral and civil commandment, not a ceremonial.

In fact, there are no purely "ceremonial" laws in #torah. They are all moral laws. Moral vs civil vs ceremonial is a man-made distinction that is completely foreign to the Bible.

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