Parashah for Sukkot - Chol Ha Moed - Intermediary Day 2 5765/2004
EJD
Special holiday reading for Sukkot Day 4 on 18 Tisrei, 5765 - October 3, 2004 Sukkot Chol Ha Moed Intermediary Day 2: Holiday Torah reading Just the Maftir; Maftir: Numbers 29:20-28; Haftarah: None; Mei Kituvim: Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 4:1 to 6:12; Brit Chadashah: variable reading or verses
 The Bagel: Giving up oppressive riches. Moses was successful in seeing true value. The wealth of Egypt had become so by oppression. Egypt got rich at the expense of Israel. Moses was accepted in the house of Pharaoh, but he chose to side with Israel. He gave up those oppressive riches.
Torah: Maftir reading:
Numbers 29:20-28. In the Sukkot Chol Ha Moed 2nd Day Maftir reading, is the command to make offerings during Sukkot. Sukkot is a reminder that Moses' decision to give up those riches meant he could bring out Israel from oppressive Egypt. The sojourn in the desert is testament of that deliverance. Israel was free and those offerings were a sort of G-d tax that replaced the Pharaoh tax. These offerings were an acknowledgement of the new-found freedom of Israel.
Mei Kituvim:
Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 4:1 to 6:12. In the reading of the Kituvim, Solomon observed oppression "under the sun," is that, down here on earth. "I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and the victims are helpless" (Ecclesiastes 4:1 NLT). He observed why: I
f you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and justice being miscarried throughout the land, don't be surprised! For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice only get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. Even the king milks the land for his own profit (Ecclesiastes 5:7-8(8-9) NLT)! He saw that injustice can arise because of desire for wealth. But the end of oppressive riches is a form of oppression to the seeker of such wealth: Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth-- except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers! People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night's sleep. There is another serious problem I have seen in the world. Riches are sometimes hoarded to the harm of the saver, or they are put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children. People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born (Ecclesiastes 5:9-14(10-15) NLT). True wealth is a gift from G-d and the owner is a mere steward of that trust. This is the only time riches do not oppress. Otherwise, it is step on others as you climb the ladder of success.
Brit Chadashah:
When we get to the Brit Chadashah, we find a statement of Moses' willingness of give up the wrong wealth. He knew where greater wealth was to be had: "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him (Hebrews 11:24-26 NLT). The key to true riches is find in a relationship with Yeshua, the Messiah. When He controls your life, then the desire for oppressive riches fades and a new desire to do the will of G-d takes hold. If G-d grants wealth, then He will also grant the ability to properly use that money for the glory of G-d.
Cream Cheese: Oppressive wealth is a debit on your portfolio.
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