Parashat Chol HaMoed Pesach

19 Nisan 5784/ April 27, 2024

by Rich Birndorf

This Week's Readings:

Torah: Exodus 33:12 – 34:26, Numbers 28:19-25

Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Brit Chadashah: Ephesians 2:1-10

Today's portion is from Chol HaMoed Pesach, the intermediate days of Passover, that is the days in between the beginning and ending days of the festival. So, what that means is that I’m skipping the introduction and conclusion of the drash, and only presenting the middle portion. You can think of the drash as the disgustingly sweet middle portion of the Oreo cookie. Only, since it’s the Passover, it’s the middle portion of the Manischewitz sandwich cookies that no one buys unless they’re invited to someone's house on the Shabbat during the Passover and they need to pick up something at the last moment and this is the only item left on the Passover holiday shelves.

But, I digress. To begin, I would like to consider many of the great heroes of the Bible, men and women, that did remarkable things. We often regard the accomplishments of these champions of the faith with just admiration. However, if we examine the way each of these gantse machers responded to the situations presented to them, we can find a commonality showing their dependence on G-d. They all realized that they were incapable of accomplishing those extraordinary things on their own. Each of these individuals, just like so many that preceded and followed them throughout the Scriptures, prayed to G-d when they were in a situation where they saw their own inabilities amid G-d’s sovereignty. I will provide just a few examples of those that beseeched G-d in times of need or acknowledged Him for His intercession. Starting with the women: Deborah, Hannah, and Esther; then Abraham, David, Solomon, Joseph, Paul and of course Yeshua. There are many more examples of man’s realization of his need for G-d’s intervention. But, when faced with trials or daily circumstances of our own, how often do we lose our focus on G-d and try to face those obstacles alone? 

As is almost always the case, it is helpful to understand what occurred just prior to today’s Torah portion before examining the text. To begin, let’s review the deplorable event that preceded this Torah portion. The people had just acted out their sin in a very grotesque and devastating way. Their moral depravity was displayed through the creation and worship of the golden calf. A holy G-d would have been just to wipe out the obstinate nation, but instead he demonstrated his ongoing mercy by only killing those that sinned in this grievous manner, and sparing the rest of the otherwise sinful nation. G-d then told Moses to go up from Sinai to the promised land. However, the L-RD said that He would not be leading them up, but rather an angel would do so due to the transgressions of the people. The passage continues with Moses pleading with G-d to reveal who would be sent to lead the way for the people. Perhaps G-d had been too vague for Moses; or more likely, it was Moses pleading for Adonai, Himself, to be the one who would bring them into the land. Although Moses was certainly a great leader and undisputedly had many positive attributes that qualified him for that position, his awareness of his limitations is shown in these passages in Exodus. 

It is imperative, as it relates to this discussion, to focus on the past accomplishments and limitations of Moses. It is undeniable that he did exceptional things in his storied life. Moses challenged Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth at the time, but it was through G-d’s directive. G-d gave Moses clear instructions on what to say to Pharaoh, and made sure Moses informed him that “this is what the L-RD says.” Moses was an instrument that G-d used to display His power. The Scripture clearly states that G-d led the people out of Egypt, guiding them along the way. Moses was merely the physical representative that G-d entrusted with assisting them in their journey. When Moses struck the rock with his staff to produce water, G-d said “I will stand before you there on the rock.” Moses acted as a mediator of disputes, but did so by bringing them before G-d. Moses presented all the commandments and laws to the people, although of course they were established by G-d. There was no doubt that Moses was used in spectacular ways for G-d, but it was ultimately G-d that gave Moses both direction and the power to be used as His prophet, messenger and agent. 

Knowing this, Moses realized it was too great of an undertaking to lead B’nei Yisrael by himself on the long and arduous journey to the Promised Land. Therefore, he beseeched G-d to be present throughout the expedition. Moses prayed to G-d that if he and the people had found favor in the G-d’s sight, then He would go with them. G-d agreed, and moreover payed Moses a great compliment by stating that He has known Moses by name. Moses, when faced with this difficult trial, humbly acknowledged his need for G-d. 

In the following chapter, G-d re-established His covenant with the people. Again, Moses presented stone tablets to bring forth G-d’s laws. G-d then revealed to Moses his awe-inspiring personal attributes to Moses. Moses' reaction to personally experiencing G-d’s glory was much the same as that of Isaiah some 700 years later. That is, they both acknowledged their own and their people's sin. G-d then reaffirmed through a covenant that He will be going out with them, by doing new and miraculous things.

Being that this is the time of Passover, it is fitting to conclude this portion with G-d commanding the people to observe Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread by giving them clear instructions on how to do so. Of course, this is a reminder not only of G-d’s redemption, but as is consistent with the theme of this drash, to remember the people’s utter reliance on Adonai Tzva’ot. 

In the chapters leading up to today's Haftarah portion, the restoration of Israel was foretold. This is in contrast to the prophetic book up to this point. Ezekiel’s prophecies consist mainly of the just judgements against Israel and the surrounding nations due to their blatant and ongoing sinfulness. However, the four chapters preceding our portion begin G-d’s declaration of Israel’s restoration. First, the directive for Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains, hills and valleys, which is a direct reference to the land of Israel. Then, in today’s passage G-d brings Ezekiel, most likely in a vision, to a valley of bones. He once again commands Ezekiel to prophesy, this time to the dry bones. The bones were dead on their own, and needed G-d to breathe life into them. Ezekiel, although directed by G-d to prophesy, was only able to bring life through G-d Himself.

This was a promise of the future restoration of Israel. In that present time, the nation of Israel was also dead, separated from G-d, dispersed and divided. Based on the nation’s long past of wickedness and current depravity it seemed unfathomable that restoration was merited or even possible. Both the bones and B’nei Israel were hopeless, for they were powerless to make the requisite changes on their own. Only G-d could then, and will in the future restore them just as He did to the dry bones. 

Our inadequacies become glaringly evident when considering the Brit Chadashah reading. Prior to coming to faith we all were spiritually dead. We lived our lives based on selfish desires and made the world our focus, and that often determined our choices of what was good and right. Not only were we dead in our sins, but we were also powerless to make the necessary changes to live our lives with purpose and hope. But

G-d is merciful, and did for us what we were lacking in both the motivation and ability to do on our own. 

G-d can and does do the impossible. It is G-d working in our lives that allows us to do that which we are incapable of or unwilling to do, due to our disobedience. Great men and women throughout the Bible accomplished tremendous things for Him, but as we’ve seen they were aware of their need for G-d’s intervention and assistance. They prayed and He answered. But, in our own human self-sufficiency or perhaps ignorance, how often when faced with the multitude of life’s trials or even just daily circumstances do we lose our focus on G-d, and try to face those obstacles with our own power or lack thereof? We still need to be available to be used for Him. That means understanding what He wants and being doers of the Word. But, in doing so, seek Him out for wisdom and strength.