Torah Portion Ki Tisa Does God Care?

Torah portion Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) is so rich with information, I am going to examine only a few of the insights it provides.

The first is the question, “Does God care what we do?”

When I talk with Christians, they seem to generally believe, no, God does not care what we do. As long as someone says the salvation prayer, they are good to go. After all, didn’t Paul say, “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Peter warned us about Paul’s epistles. “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to understand, which they that are unlearned and unstable [in the Torah] wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16)

Portion Ki Tissa has a different lesson.

The children of Israel were definitely in a covenant relationship with Elohim (God): They had a promise Elohim gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would inherit the land of Judea. Elohim promised them, “I will rescue you, I will take you out… and I will take you to myself…. I will be to you Elohim, and you will be my people.”

And then Moses tarried on Mount Sinai. He was gone for over a month. The people confronted Aaron and told him to make them a golden calf. While Moses was up on the mountain, Elohim said, “The people have corrupted themselves, I will destroy them.” Moses pleaded with Elohim not to destroy them, and gave logical arguments why He should spare them. Elohim agreed not to destroy the people.

Of course, at the time Moses was making his pleas, he had no idea what the people were up to.

When Moses came down the mountain and saw the calf and the people worshiping it, I think he changed his mind. He broke the tablets with the commandments on them, destroyed the calf, sprinkled the gold onto the water and made the people drink it.

Moses showed the people he was really mad. Calf destroyed. The people punished. Good enough?

Not quite.

He called the faithful, “‘Who is on Yehovah’s side? Let him come to me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the Yehovah Elohim of Israel; ‘Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’” And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exo 32:25-28)

It wasn’t just a tongue lashing from Moses the people received. About three thousand died.

Why?

The people who were in covenant with Elohim disobeyed Him and worshipped a calf. It seems to me Elohim takes things like that very seriously.

Yet today, people who have made a covenant with God turn their backs on His commandments and instructions. “All we have to do is love our neighbors,” I hear them say. Not quite, I think. Love your neighbor is the second commandment.

The first, and greatest, is “Love Yehovah your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

What did Elohim say in the Torah? “Those who love me and keep my commandments.” How do we know if we love Him? If we keep his commandments.

Yeshua said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He also said, “Who are my mother and my brothers and sisters? Those who hear the word of God and do it.”

“Yeah, but all those Old Testament commandments were for the Jews,” I hear too many say. I think they have never actually listened to the words of the Torah.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: [whose Sabbaths? Israel’s? No, Yehovah’s] for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yehovah that sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to Yehovah: [holy to whom? Israel? The people? No. To Yehovah] whoever does work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Yehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’” Exo 31:14-17

“Why are we supposed to keep it today? We are not the children of Israel,” I can hear my Christian friends say.

Because those in covenant with Elohim are called the children of Israel.

“And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, [the children of Israel] and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you… if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if [big if] you continue in his goodness: [obedience to His commandments] otherwise you also shall be cut off…” (see Romans 11:17-28)

When anyone comes into covenant with Elohim, such as saying, ‘the sinner’s prayer,’ they are grafted in to the house of Israel.

What then?

If they continue in sin, they will be cut off. What is sin?

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah.” (1 John 3:3-4)

Note: John advises every person to purify himself. How? By obedience to the Torah. God still cares what we do, and how we do it. He loves those who are obedient to His instructions.

I’ve talked too long. May your week be filled with the presence of the Spirit of the Holy One.