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Rachum v'Chanun - |
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Mercy and Grace Restores the Broken |
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The LORD is merciful and gracious, |
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WHILE MOSES RECEIVED the tablets of the covenant on the summit of Sinai, the Israelites committed chet ha'egel - the grievous sin with the golden calf. The Lord threatened to immediately destroy the people, but Moses appealed to zechut avot (the merit of the patriarchs) in order to turn away God's fierce anger from them. Moses then descended the mountain, shattered the tablets, and (along with the Levites) executed the instigators of the rebellion (Ex. 32). |
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After this tragedy, Moses despaired that the Jews would never be able to find favor in God's eyes again. In the tent of meeting outside the camp, he sought reassurance from the Lord. Poignantly he said to God: "If I have found favor (grace) in your eyes, let me know your ways, that I may know you and continue in your favor." God comforted Moses by assuring him that His Presence would be with him and that he would enter His rest. He then instructed him to carve a new set of tablets and to meet him again on the top of Sinai, where He would show him His glory and declare His Name. |
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It is fascinating to see that this revelation prefigures the New Covenant that was given to Israel. Just as the first set of tablets, based as they were on the justice and holiness of God, were indeed broken, so a second set was given based on the attributes of God's mercy and grace. |
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Yeshua was broken on behalf of the law but was raised again so that all who trust in Him can truly understand that God is rachum v'chanun, erekh apayim v'rav-chased. |
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God is faithful. Moses indeed entered the land of promise and once again stood with Lord in the cloud on the mountain (Matt 17:1-5). Based on the finished work of Jesus, now we can all find favor in God's eyes once again. |
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Transliteration: |
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rachum v'chanun Adonai erekh apayim v'rav-chased |
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Hebrew for Christians |
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