Parasha
Tetzaveh
Exodus 27:1-30:10
By:
Dani'el Rendelman
Here
are some weird facts about
the Bible that you might
find interesting:
*
The only domestic
animal not mentioned
in the Bible is the
cat.
(Poor kitties)
* Stephen Langton
first divided the
Bible into chapters
in 1228.
The Old Testament
was first divided
by verses in 1448
and the New Testament
was first versed in
1551.
King James
was not involved in
either.
* In a 1631 edition of the King
James Bible, in Exodus
20 verse 14, the word
"not" was left out.
This changed the 7th
commandment to read,
"Thou shalt commit adultery."
Oops!
*The book of Esther does not
contain the name
of Yahweh or even
a direct reference
to Him.
*“Tetzaveh” is the only Torah
portion in the books
of Exodus and Leviticus
that does not contain
Moshe’s name.
“Tetzaveh,” the title to this week’s Torah portion, literally means,
“you shall command.” In this reading, Yahweh told Moshe to
command bnai Yisra’el
to do several specific
actions. In the previous chapters of Shemot (Exodus),
Yahweh reveals His will
to have a mikdash (tabernacle)
built for His presence.
These instructions
for building and worship
continue in our weekly
reading.
Within the
few short chapters of our
reading, detailed words
are given concerning lighting
the menorah, the clothes
and consecration of the
priesthood, and the building
of the incense altar.
Moshe paid
close attention to these
instructions given by
Yahweh.
Some teach that
Moshe had visions of the
finished tabernacle while
others say that Moshe
saw actual blueprints
for how everything was
to be made. Regardless of how the mikdash was presented
to Moshe on the mountain,
it must be remembered
that Moshe received very
specific instructions.
His building plans
were set in stone, you
could say.
Moshe could
not shorten his message,
compromise on the details,
or allow just anything to
be built for Yahweh. Moshe had received from Yahweh exact measurements,
colors, and materials to
be used. Moshe was to “tetzaveh” or pass along
these mitzvah to the sons
of Yisra’el.
The text of this Parasha brings to mind an important point – Yahweh
is very specific.
He is picky.
Yahweh wants things
done His way in His time
and by His chosen people. The world says that “g/d works in mysterious
ways,” yet Yahweh does not.
He is not mysterious
in the idea that His attributes
and works are hidden.
Yahweh has laid out
His plan, His instructions,
and His ways in the Torah. Moshe paid close attention to Yahweh’s
words and memorized them
to the exact facet and we should do the same.
Too many people have accepted the modern
view of “God on Prozac.”
But, Yahweh
has not changed - He is the same
forever.
Many people believe
the teaching that the Almighty
simply does not care and
is not picky.
It seems that the
mindset is that the Father
who was once very specific
and demanding is now highly
medicated on “grace” and
doesn’t require obedience
or devotion. What the Father wanted in the past was
too difficult…too hard…and
too demanding.
Moshe would disagree
with this idea. So would Messiah Yahshua.
Moshe was committed to his call.
He was submitted
to Yahweh’s authority and
Moshe had an insatiable
desire to please Yahweh.
While Yisra’el “said”
they would obey Him, Moshe
did obey.
Of Moshe the scripture
says that “there has not
arisen a prophet in Yisra’el
like unto Moshe, whom Yahweh
knew face to face,” Devarim
(Deuteronomy) 34:10.
Yet there is One who is greater than
Moshe…Yahshua HaMoshiach. “And Moshe verily was faithful in all
his house, as a servant,
for a testimony of those
things which were to be
spoken after; But Moshiach
as a son over his own house;
whose house are we, if we
hold fast the confidence
and the rejoicing of the
hope firm unto the end,”
Ivrim (Hebrews) 3:5-6.
Moshe was detail-oriented
while building the dwelling
place of Yahweh, - the people
of Yahweh – Yisra’el.
Yahshua also came
to build the people of Yahweh
into the dwelling place
of His presence.
Part of Yahshua’s ministry was to call
people back to heartfelt
Torah obedience through
love.
He did not come to
do away with Moshe or the
Torah but to turn Yisra’el’s
heart back to the Father. Yahshua would say things like “you have
heard it said yet I tell
you…”
These comments were
made to draw people to the
intention behind the commandment.
“You have heard that
it was said, ‘Do not commit
adultery.’
But I tell you that
anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his
heart,” Mattitiyahu 5:27-28. Yahshua was not nullifying the Tanakh
commandment on adultery
here.
What He was doing
was exposing a fuller meaning
of the mitzvah. Yahshua was being like Moshe here. Yahshua was being concerned about the
details.
You see, Yahshua
and Moshe were both concerned
about “tetzaveh”
or commanding others what
they had been commanded. Moshe and Yahshua both were to hear the
commands of Abba Yahweh
and relate those to Yisra’el. Yahweh has not changed since Moshe and
Yahshua is proof of that.
So, who
care that Moshe’s name is
not mentioned in this Parasha?
It is clear to see
that Moshe is present –
he is the one receiving
the instructions and he
is the one that is to instruct
Yisra’el.
He is the one that
will pass these words along
and relate the details about
the mikdash, the priests,
and the sacrifices.
Who cares
that Yahweh’s name isn’t
in the book of Esther?
Even a blind man
can see Yahweh’s hand present
in the book’s story.
There are many weird facts in the Bible.
Perhaps the weirdest
of all is that how a large
group of Bible believers
have accepted an un-Biblical
view of an Elohim who doesn’t
care.
The Almighty who
commanded an exact replica
of the heavenly mishkan
has been traded for the
“Almighty of Bliss.”
G/d
on Prozac, now that’s really
weird.
