Special holiday reading for Sukkot Day 3 on 17 Tisrei, 5765 - October 2, 2004 Sukkot Chol Ha Moed Shabbat: Holiday Torah reading Exodus 33:12 to 34:26; Maftir: Numbers 29:17-22; Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:18 to 39:-16; Mei Kituvim: Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 1:1 to 3:22; Brit Chadashah: variable reading or verses

The Bagel: Vanity or Glory? Jacob pursued the glory in the godly inheritance that Isaac was to bestow on the first born. Esau regarded it as less than vanity. He sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal. Jacob had to flee for his part in obtaining the inheritance that was supposed to be given to Esau. It seemed that all he had was a rock for a pillow on his journey. He had chosen glory, but it seemed like vanity as his head lay on the rock. Suddenly, in a dream that vain rock became the house of G-d. Jacob saw the glory of G-d in that place. He called it Bet-El, the house of G-d. The readings tell of choice between vanity and glory.

Torah:
Exodus 33:12 to 34:26. In the Sukkot Chol Ha Moed Shabbat Torah reading, Moses had returned to the environs of Sinai's top to engage Adonay. The people made their choice, the vain Golden Calf. Now, Moses was left who sought the glory. He pursued Adonay. It was another rock that G-d revealed His glory. Moses saw something of His appearance from the behind-side of G-d's glory. Moses' choice like Jacobs resulted in blessing. G-d gave Moses the second set of Stone Tablets. When Moses came down with the Tablets, then people returned to G-d and chose the glory again. Moses was able to teach them the word of G-d.

Haftarah:
Ezekiel 38:18 to 39:16. In the Haftarah reading, is a scene of a huge battle. A battle that has never been fought. It awaits a day in the future. It will be the time when Israel will chose glory forever and never chose vanity again. Adonay will fight for Israel in that day and they will be victorious. This battle will serve as a testimony to all nations: "I will make My holy name known among My people Israel, and never again will I let My holy name be profaned. And the nations shall know that I the LORD am holy in Israel" (Ezekiel 39:7 Tanakh JPS).

Mei Kituvim:
Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 1:1 to 3:22. In the reading of the Kituvim, Solomon, the Kohelet, explicates where vain things are. Much of human endeavor can be sheer vanity if an ingredient is missing. That important substance is the fear of Adonay. This is the choice of glory. Anything without the fear of G-d is a choice of vanity. It will decay, fall apart, become diseased, become useless, be unwanted, be uncared for, and die. During this Sukkot season it is important to make the right choice. Nothing is as enduring as the glory of G-d. It is one thing to park your bodies in a Sukkah, and another to make a Sukkah in your heart for the Living G-d! A humble attitude will go a long way in choosing glory.

Brit Chadashah:
When we get to the Brit Chadashah, we discover the greatest choice. Its example is found in the faith of Jacob. For Jacob not only chose the inheritance and saw the glory at Bet-El, but he also chose the glory in wrestling with the Man at Peni-El. This was a divine encounter for Jacob. He persisted with all of his heart in obtaining the glory. By daybreak he won and became Israel. But there was a price for he was humbled and his hip was dislocated permanently. For the rest of his life he had to walk around with the aid of a staff. At the end of his life, when he was about to pass on the inheritance that he chose with great opposition in his younger days, he leaned on that staff to offer his dying worship: "It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff" (Hebrews 11:21 NLT).

The lesson of this portion is that choosing glory over vanity can be a humbling experience. Often, it is the vain people who seem to be so successful and able to get away with their vain choice. The godly can seem the opposite, struggling and seeming to fail at what they do. Humbly worshipping G-d even in those circumstances that G-d allows in our lives is the way of victory. The glory will come the choice is right, even if it seems the opposite. We know this because Yeshua emptied Himself so that we might have free access to the glory of G-d. His atonement is the basis: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2 KJV).

Cream Cheese: Your greatest equity is the Glory of G-d!


Special holiday reading for Sukkot Day 3 on 17 Tisrei, 5765 - October 2, 2004 Sukkot Chol Ha Moed Shabbat: Holiday Torah reading Exodus 33:12 to 34:26; Maftir: Numbers 29:17-22; Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:18 to 39:-16; Mei Kituvim: Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 1:1 to 3:22; Brit Chadashah: variable reading or verses