Parashat Beshalach 5766/2006
EJD
The weekly reading for the week of 13 Shevat, 5766 - February 11, 2006 Parashah: Beshalach Exodus 13:18 to 17:16; Haftarah: Judges 4:4 to 5:31 (Ashkenazi) Judges 5:1-31 (Sephardi); Mei Kituvim: Daniel 3:1-30; Brit Chadashah: Luke 1:39-55; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
Parashah Lite Edition (Focuses on one verse or idea anywhere in the readings)
The Bagel: Sunshine love.
"....But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power...." (Judges 5:31 NLT)!
There is something powerful about the love of G-d. There are two aspects of love. G-d's love for us and our love for Him. It is wonderful in either form. Israel had won a great victory in battle over general Sisera commander of Jabin, king of the Canaanites at Hazor. This song of Deborah commemorates the way Adonay intervened on behalf of Israel. G-d raised up Barak and Deborah to win the war. The dark night of battle saw the sunrise of divine victory. A G-d-loving woman named Yael made the decisive blow that changed the course of the battle and history. G-d had already defeated Israel's enemy on the battlefield, but Yael finished the job in her peaceful tent.
War is a gruesome business. Scripture focuses on the defeat of only those instigators and rebels against G-d's authority. There is not a morbid preoccupation with the gory details. We don't think of love in the context of war. Yet even battle and conflict is not off limits to love. The love that endures the hardship of war is rooted in G-d. It is so strong that it is like the sunrise in its power. The coldness of death surrenders to the resurrection power of divine love. Those that love G-d with that same divine-in-origin love can experience the sunshine love radiating out to a dark world.
Cream Cheese First is it the Sonshine of His love to our hearts, then the Son shines out from our hearts to others.
Unless noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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