Partnering with God

Audio Teaching

Notes

God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility

There are many paradoxes in Scripture, sovereignty being chief among them.

• Sovereignty: God is in control; all things are directed and accomplished by His will.
• This does not preclude the actions and influence of men.
  • God created Heaven and Earth, yet to Adam, He said, be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it. (see Gen. 1:26-28 AMPC).
  • Abraham pleaded with God concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, causing God to say he would spare the cities for the sake of ten righteous men. (Gen. 18:16-33) (thus the practice of the minyan in Judaism).
  • David and his men ate the consecrated bread without consequence (1 Sam. 21; Matt. 12).
• We must understand our responsibility in light of God’s sovereignty.
  • Esther 4:14 AMPC
  • God’s plan was to use Esther, but had she refused – God would not have allowed the Jews to be overtaken by Haman.
• Our partnering with God is an invitation to relationship and blessing.

Portion Observations

• The phrase, ‘as the LORD commanded Moses,’ appears fifteen times in Exodus and forty times in the Bible.
• Moses and the Israelites followed God’s commands completely, resulting in connection with God.
• Last week’s and this week’s portions are read together except during leap years. The previous three portions deal with the work of man. The last portion of Exodus shows us God’s response to man’s work.
• Rabbi Schneerson of Lubavitch summarized this portion as preparation and revelation.

Holiness and the Holy Spirit

Ex. 39:30, 33-43

“The high priest was required to wear the Forehead-plate because the forehead represents stubborn determination. We all naturally wrinkle our forehead muscles whenever we resolve to see something through despite all odds. Stubbornness can be positive or negative. Brazen nerve or arrogance in showing contempt for God’s law is negative. It is no coincidence that the stone from David’s slingshot hit and killed Goliath in the forehead, for Goliath brazenly and openly defied God. We are therefore taught that the high priest’s Forehead-plate atoned for the sin of arrogance. An example of positive stubbornness is the resolve that enables us to stay true throughout the day to the spiritual awakening we feel during our morning prayers. As we go about our daily business, it may be difficult to maintain the heightened Divine consciousness that we aspire to in prayer. But we can certainly maintain the attitude toward life implicit in this heightened awareness: that our divine mission is our primary concern and that the purpose of our involvement in the material world is to elevate it by using it for Godly purposes. Our goal of making everything “Holy unto God” was therefore inscribed on the Forehead-plate.”

Kehot Chumash, Ex. 39:30 note

“The same applies to the spiritual Tabernacle we each construct within ourselves. We must do all we can on our own to form and prepare all its component parts, but after that we must be sure to enlist the aid of the “Moses” of our generation, whose task it is to actualize our connection with God. Then we can be assured that all the pieces of our inner Tabernacle will unite seamlessly to perform their function in the fullest way.” –

Kehot Chumash, Ex. 39:33 note

• Our “Moses”, the one who teaches us, is the Holy Spirit.
  • Jn. 14:16-17, 26-27; 16:13-15
  • Jn 14:16 defines the role of the Holy Spirit in the Classic Amplified as “Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby.”
  • 1 Jn. 2:20, 27

The Preparation Phase

Ex. 40:9-12, 31-32

• Anoint the Tabernacle and everything in it.
• Hallow it: sanctify it – set it apart.
• The altar is most holy.
• Wash Aaron and his sons with water (this is where we get the morning handwashing ritual from).
• They washed – As the LORD commanded Moses.
• God was specific with how we prepare to enter His presence. All of Israel washed themselves and their clothes before they approached the mountain.

The Revelation Phase

Ex. 40:34-38

• Rashi points out that the cloud engulfed the entire Tabernacle in the beginning.
• The norm wasn’t the beginning or the time the priests couldn’t stand to minister. The norm was the ministry and receiving the offerings of the people.
• Three takeaways at the end of Exodus
  • God gave instruction
  • Israel obeyed
  • The Glory came

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Resources

The Amplified Bible Classic Edition (The original Amplified Bible is now back in print exclusively through Kenneth Copeland Ministries and is available in paperback and goatskin leather. It is available for free in digital formats on most Bible apps and websites) 

The Chumash (The Torah with Rashi, Targum Onkelos, Haftorot, and an interpolated translation and commentary based on the Works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)

Torah Studies: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Lightpoints from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the Weekly Torah Portion