Mishpatim (Judgments)
6) Exodus 21:1-24:18
Do you remember where you were on 9/11?
September 11, 2001 was the day the World Trade Center was attacked and this country was dramatically changed forever. This week’s portion is called Mishpatim, meaning “Judgments,” and describes a day that changed world history forever.
The climatic moment involves the “blood of the covenant” when God relationally committed Himself to Israel and Moses dramatically declared in Exodus 24:8,
Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.
Picture the scene. A recently freed nation of slaves was gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Moses—the adopted son of royalty turned shepherd then God’s representative—speaks words that Yeshua (Jesus) will later quote in Luke 22:20 during the Last Supper when instituting Eucharist/Communion.
But there is another moment described in the final verses of this portion to which I want to draw your attention. It’s a “peak” experience up on Mt. Sinai that lasted 40 days and nights that was also a “peek” experience behind the veil into the unseen real. This experience is described in the 8th and concluding section of the Torah portion (called the maftir) in Exodus 24:15-18.
Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Forty days and forty nights with God. Talk about RD4KB! (Relational depth for Kingdom breadth)
In fact, Moses goes up and down the mountain quite a few times. You can read more about the details of these multiple trips up the mountain here. Also, in a few weeks we will read about the second 40-day and night extended time on top of Mt. Sinai—this time with a full food and water fast.
Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. (Ex. 34:28)
These extended times with God resulted in receiving the 10 Commandments—first from the finger of God, second from the hand of Moses. These words of God have changed human history. God entering into covenant relationship with Israel changed human history. God coming to earth through this covenant people in the person of the Messiah has opened a way for Jews and Gentiles to become beloved sons and daughters of God.
Exodus 21-23 is sometimes called the “Book of the Covenant.” While God does give a lot of specific instructions in these chapters, don’t miss the deeper invitation to live in intimate relationship with a holy God by surrendering to His irresistible love. Take time this week to enter into God’s amazing story. Your life story is meant to fit into God’s story.
Readings for the Week:
Torah: EXODUS 21:1–24:18
Prophets: JEREMIAH 34:8–22; 33:25–26
Apostolic Writings: MATTHEW 17:1–13
Click HERE for the online Parashah commentary.
Shalom,
Thomas