Shalom fellow Talmidim.
When one searches for completeness, one must look to the Name of God. It is in the Name that His attributes can be found Exodus 34. HASEHM is not a man who is here today but gone tomorrow. No. He is the Life and the Way. The existence of El Shaddai [God Almighty] is wrapped in righteousness and purity. There is no blemish, no fault and no wrong doing. HASHEM has the power to rise up and tear down. HASHEM is the breath in our lungs and the blood in our veins. HASHEM is the third Parent, it is His breath that breathes life. it is His breath that gives life to the still born child.
HASHEM spoke a word and all came to be, Genesis chapter 1 & 2. It is through His spoken word that the world survives, but the world does not reflect Him in their ways. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness does not comprehend the light. We are foolish in our thoughts to think it is our power that brings us our daily bread, our graduate degree or our corner office over looking the metropolis. When one thinks in such away he has cut himself off from the source of all things. When man oppresses another, he too is cut off and bound to himself. HASHEM is loving, nurturing, caring and He provides all our needs. He is also serious, tough, and expects those He gives life, to walk before Him perfectly Genesis chapter 17.
Jeremiah 9: 22 – 25 – Thus said HASHEM: Let not the wise man glorify himself with his wisdom. and let not the strong man glorify himself with his strength, let not the rich man glorify himself with his wealth. For only with this may one glorify himself – contemplating and knowing Me, for I am HASHEM Who does kindness, justice, and righteousness in the land, for in these is my desire – the word of HASEHM. Behold, days are coming – the word of HASHEM – when I shall deal with everyone who is circumcised for [his] uncircumcision: with Egypt, with Judah, with Edom, with the children of Ammon and with Moab, and with all those who dwell in the remotest corners of the wilderness; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and the HOUSE of Israel is of uncircumcised heart.
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh [I will be Who I will be] – [I Am Who I Am]. One who does not know his Father can be likened to one who is homeless. So therefore we shall seek him out to the best of our ability. Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh is understood several ways, two of which I noted above. Here is another from the book of Exodus 3: 11 – 15 – Moses replied to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should take the Children of Israel out of Egypt?” And He said,” For I shall be with you – and this is your sign that I have sent you: When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your forefathers has sent me to you.’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name? – what shall I say to them?” HASHEM answered Moses, “I Shall Be As I Shall Be.” And He said, “So shall you say to the Children of Israel, ‘I Shall Be has sent me to you.’ ” God said further to Moses, “So shall you say to the Children of Israel, ‘HASHEM, the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has dispatched me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance from generation to generation.
Imagine the moment above, Moses is out tending the flock when all of a sudden there appears a burning bush. From this moment forward the life of Moshe will never be the same. The words I Shall Be are powerful. When You and I are faced with challenges in which the road ahead seems bleak, we must remember that GOD I Shall Be is with us. God responds to Moses each and every time concerning his doubts by reasurring Moses that He would be with him on the road ahead. He also informed Moses that He would give the Words to speak as well as numerous signs. If all you and I had were these several lines of scripture from Exodus chapter three, we would do well. Like finding an old letter that is for the most part unreadable but for a few words, however those few words tell the whole story.
Please take the time to stand before God with an open heart and willingness, He does love you.
Shalom,
Lawrence
Congregation Beit Avraham 