The first week of the Summer holiday is already nearly gone. It goes so fast, perhaps before we know the three weeks shall be over and the roads in Flanders shall again pile up with pepole going to do their daily business, their worldly duties.
You would think they could have now some more time to take rest but also to spend more time reading in the Set Apart Scriptures.
These weeks people love it to find their work-life coming to a stand still. I wonder if they would remember how perhaps a whole world was like coming to a complete silent standstill. In the words of the Midrash about the Matan Torah:
When God revealed Torah at Mount Sinai, no bird sang, no cow mooed, no bad of grass rustled in the wind. (Shemot Rabbah29:9)
What God had to say was so important everything was like coming to a standstill. (Figuratively.)
There at Mount Sinai the Torah was given to the Am kadosh God’s People. though in fact it was not only for the Hebrews, but to all the nations of the world that God provided His Word. All should have to come to hear His Voice. God’s People should know the importance of it for them but also for the others around them. Though for those who call themselves People of God it can be a Hard Word.
God lifts Mount Sinai and holds it over the heads of the assembled Children of Israel. Then God says,
either you accept and pledge to observe my Torah or I shall drop the mountain on top of you. (B. Shabbat 88A and B. Avodah Zarah 2B)
Would we like the world falling on our head? Are we getting God’s messages He gives throughout the many ages? Not many do!
It is all about bringing the Message of God further into the world. We may not forget the purpose of our people, to be teachers and examples of the ideals of Torah to the world. Indeed by adherence to these ideals we become in the words of the Prophet Isaiah;
“A light to the nations’ (Isaiah 49:6)
a worthy example for all. If we are not willing to accept the responsibility of adhering to the Torah’s ideals, there is no good reason for us to continue to exist.
Israel’s willingness to accept Torah was so important to God that the Almighty threatened to break the promise made after the flood never to destroy the world again unless Israel agrees to embrace the Torah and its ideals (B. Shabbat 88A).
So we should not fear to find the world coming to an end that way, but we may not forget that the Elohim warned us also for a terrible war going to come. Our eyes should be directed to those incredible difficult times, when there would be more natural disasters, children getting cross with their parents, people having no respect any more for each other nor keeping to ethic values, religion fighting against religion, nations against nations. It all shall end by a disastrous World War.
But before that time shall be so near that it would be to late to warn others, the people of God should spread the Good News and warn people to be ready.
We should show others how we as People of God want to be an example and demonstrate to God that we are worthy to receive His Torah.
When God asks us to offer guarantors of our worthiness, we offer the deeds of our patriarchs and our prophets but God finds neither of these acceptable. Only when we pledge the loyalty of our children to God’s teachings does God reveal the Torah to our people. (Shir Ha ShirimRabbah, Chapter 1, Section 4, Midrash 1)
When we are free from daily work, having our Summer-holiday we should take time to tell others about that Word of God which might bring light and life for so many. Living in the hope (tikvah) that one day more people shall come to see and understand the Voice of God and be willing to go with us to the corners of the world.
“Thus says ADONAI-Tzva’ot, “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ””
(Zechariah 8:23 TLV)
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Preceding articles
Allow yourself a chill-out day
Shabbat Mevarchim opening to the Summer-holiday period
Summer holiday time to knock and ask, and time to share
Christians remaining hidden not sharing the gospel
Witnesses of Christ and of his gospel
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Additional articles to read
- Why think that (4) … God would reveal himself in words
- Why think that (5) … the Bible is the word of God
- How to Read the Bible (sequel 6) an after thought
- Bible Reading: is it worthwhile?
- God’s forgotten Word 2 Lost Lawbook 1 Who has still interest
- Today’s thought “Let’s be examples of disciples who spread the word about their Master” (May 17)
- Daily thought for July the 8th and the Summer months
- I can’t believe that … (4) God’s word would be so violent
- ….a powerful way to put the universe on notice….
- Making time for prayer in Summerholiday
- Holiday tolerance
- Will There Ever be Peace on Earth?
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Further related
- Leisure: Family friendly activities not to miss this summer
- Summer reality and summer dreams
- Podcasts for Summer
- Our Summer Trip: My Top 10 Favourite Things
- Mallorca – My Summer Holiday Highlights!
- Which books to read this summer: 5 tips!
- Moshe, Dovid, and What the Other Nations Rejected
- Yitro – The question of freedom of choice
- Shavuot: Now That’s The Spirit! 5779
- Rav Avigdor Miller on The Avos and Matan Torah
- Rav Avigdor Miller on The Nations Reject the Torah
- Rav Avigdor Miller on The Nations Reject the Torah
- Shavuot – The meaning of Har Sina
- Preparing to Accept The Torah: Part One
- Too busy?
- Being an Example; November 27, 2018
- A Living Example
- Pelted for the Gospel
- Who Follows You?