Torah portion: Exodus 19:1-20:23

Accompanying readings: Numbers 28:26-31; Ezekiel 1:1-12, 3:12

This week’s Torah portion marks the Feast of Shavuot (Weeks), or the start of the wheat harvest, which is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after Passover. This year it started at sunset on 8 June (the start of 6 Sivan).

Traditionally, the giving of Torah on Mt Sinai is also marked on this day. At the first Feast of Shavuot, the entire nation of Israel was not gathering in a harvest – it was in the desert, assembling at the foot of a mountain.

God descended amidst thunder, lightning, thick cloud, fire and a long, loud blast of the shofar. The whole mountain trembled. God summoned Moses to come up to receive the Torah: God’s teaching, instructions, guidance and statutes, which were to provide the framework for His covenant with Israel.

God’s Covenant

On that mountain God not only revealed His awesome glory; He also presented His choice of a people to be in a unique covenant relationship with Him. They were to receive His decrees and laws and be sure to follow them.

This covenant relationship was to be like that of a husband and wife. It was freely entered into, affording the people the possibility of either affirming or breaking the agreement. This placed great responsibility on both partners.

If they were faithful to the covenant, they would be His treasured possession (segulah) above all other peoples. This was God’s sovereign choice. For His part, God would protect and bless them, and for their part, the covenant required a choice from the people to be priests before Him, a nation separated (holy) from all other nations on the earth (Ex 33:16). The basic requirements were set out in the Ten Words (Ex 20:1-17), reflecting God’s sovereign nature and Israel’s responsibilities to Him and to each other.

A Broader Brush

The relationship between God and His chosen covenant people is a pattern of His desired relationship with all people on the earth - all who would freely serve, love and worship Him (Isa 56:7).

God is jealous for His people, as a husband is jealous for his wife – that’s why the Number 1 rule for us is that we must have no other gods (of any sort) before Him (Ex 20:3, 23). Communication is also essential, as in a marriage. Just as God talks with man (Ex 20:22), Paul exhorts us to talk with God (to pray – see 1 Thessalonians 5:17). This communication must be suffused with respect, nurture and love, which are part of God’s character. The same attitude must shape our communication with each other – and all the more as we grow and mature.

Our Haftarah reading this week is Ezekiel’s first vision of a mighty storm with lightning, fire, a rushing tumult of wind (ruach) and what looked like powerful living beings. It is reminiscent of the experience of Israel at the first Shavuot when God came down with great power. It is also suggestive of the violent rushing wind and fire at Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came upon the disciples and He began to speak through them in other tongues.

To hear God speak, why not be quiet and echo young Samuel’s prayer (1 Sam 3:9): Speak Lord, for your servant is listening. And when you hear Him, simply obey His word and receive the blessing that comes with obedience. He will bless you.

Author: Greg Stevenson