2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Readers,
Today, the Lord leads me to invite you to continue imagining you are a guest at a Jewish seder, the meal at which the Passover story and its spiritual lessons are revisited each year. You will remember that the meal began with the blessings on the lights, the wine, and the bread. The wine had been poured into each persons cup. And a drink of it was taken called the first cup. Parsley was then dipped in salt water to remember the tears of the Jewish slaves in bondage in Egypt.
Children have a prominent part in the seder. Previously, I mentioned that the leader took half of the middle matzo (in a stack of three boards) called the afikomen and hid it for the children to find later and return to him while bargaining for sweets. Another important role of the youngest child present is carried out at this point: the asking of the four questions. When the child sees the leader reclining while at the table, this change in the usual behavior prompts this child to ask the following questions: 1) Why does this night differ from all other nights? For on all other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread; why on this night only unleavened bread? 2) On all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs; why on this night only bitter herbs? 3) On all other nights we need not dip our herbs even once; why on this night must we dip them twice? 4) On all other nights we eat either sitting up or reclining; why on this night do we all recline? When there are no children present, then these questions are asked by the wife. The response given is to cite explain the humiliation of the Jews and how it ends with the glory of their liberation by God. It is interesting to note that not much is said in the Haggadah [guide book for the seder] about Moses. That is to put the emphasis on God’s grace here and not that of a human achievements. This reply is based on a midrashic commentary on DT 16: 5-8, which is worded as follows: “We were Pharoah’s slaves in Egypt, and the Lord our God brought us forth from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. And if the Holy One, blessed be He, had not brought our forefather forth from Egypt, then we, our children, and our children’s children would still be Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. So, even through all of us are wise, all of us full of understanding, all of us elders, all of us knowing in the Torah [first five books of the OT], we should still be under the commandment to ell the story of the departure from Egypt. And the more one tells the story of the departure from Egypt, the more praiseworthy he is.”
Just before the story of their escape from Egypt is begun, we are directed to pour a little more sweet red wine into our cups and take a drink of it, representing the second cup of wine. The story of the exodus is then read and commented upon by either the father of the family or a designated person able to do this. It is found in EX 11:1-12: 42. I hope you will read it. Afterward, the Pascal lamb is brought to the head table and placed in front of the leader. At this point, the leader explains the meaning of the elements which I shared with you in an earlier message in this series. What follows next is the saying of the Hallel! ( “Alleluia!” in English, meaning praise and thanksgiving). The leader lifts his wine cup, says this prayer, and then puts it down again without drinking. This is a prayer thanking God and praising Him for delivering the Israelites out of Egypt.
We are all directed to stand and read together Psalm 114, the Passover Song. “When the people of Israel left Egypt, when Jacob’s descendants left that foreign land, Judah became the Lord’s holy people, Israel became His own possession. The Red Sea looked and ran away; the Jordan River stopped flowing. The mountains skipped like goats; the hills jumped around like lambs. What happened, Sea, to make you run away? And you, O Jordan, why did you stop flowing? You mountains, why did you skip like goats? You hills, why did you jump around like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the Lord’s coming, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Who changes rocks into pools of water and solid cliffs into flowing springs.” There is a responsively read prayer in the traditional Haggadah called “We Should Have Been Content,” which is said at this time with the leader supplying each comment on what God did interspersed with the participants saying, “we should have been content.” Here is the list mentioned of what God did: He took the Jews out of Egypt; executed judgment on the Egyptians; judged their gods; killed their first-born; gave the Jews their wealth; parted the Red Sea; closed the waters of it over the oppressors; satisfied the needs of the Jews in the desert for 40 years; fed the Jews manna; gave them the Sabbath; brought the Jews to Mt. Sinai; gave the Jews the Torah; brought the Jews to the land of Israel; built the House of His choosing (the Temple).
Tomorrow, we will continue enjoying the seder together. For now, we need to reflect on the enormous number of things that God did for the Jews and what He does for us. Originally, I thought it was strange that the Haggadah didn’t have more in it about Moses, but as I work through its fascinating pages, the point of this becomes clearer. The story of the exodus and really everything else in the Scriptures necessarily puts God’s accomplishments and His attributes first. That is the place that God deserves and should be put in our lives too. The gorgeous language of praise and thanksgiving in the “Hallel!,” Psalm 114, and “We Should Have Been Content” all make that assertion clear. Remember that our Passover Lamb is Jesus Christ, Who is the greatest gift that God ever gave to mankind.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have asked your children including the youngest ones to put You first in their lives. You inspired the prophets and great writers of the Scriptures to talk about You, show us Your ways, and help us to know that You deserve our love and worship. The rich history of Your chosen people demonstrates Your generosity, wise guidance, and compassion. The retelling of the events of the exodus tell a story of your grace in granting the Jews freedom. More importantly, they foreshadow the greatest gift of all, Your sacrifice of Your only Son on the cross, so that the freedom that comes from redemption is made available to all who believe in Him. Through action only You can take, we are not only made free, but we are given the hope of life eternal. Praise, honor, adoration, thanks, and glory be Yours! We are Your blessed children! In Christ’s name, amen.
Never forget that every day, Your Father in heaven showers His grace on us. No matter what turmoil we face, when we are faithful and obedient to Him, He equips us to handle it. Even if He asks us to make major adjustments in our lives to carry out His commands to us, He always gives us a way to do this. Know you are loved beyond imagination every day of your lives. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn