Randy Suits

Let My People Go

My precious Eve,

Let us begin our day with, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”

The shameless ungodliness of our nation and world does indeed vex my soul. The people of God are incessantly oppressed by ever more stringent handwriting of ordinances that shackle free expression of their faith and prevent meaningful worship enabling holy communion with the Most High God. A people that has absolute freedom of worship is free indeed. When a people is enslaved freedom of worship is always revoked and replaced with a dogma acceptable to the state. An often overlooked and untaught fact in the the message Moses delivered to Pharaoh was the real reason that the Most High God delivered his people from bondage  so that they could worship Him. An excerpt from Rabbi Yossy Goldman Senior Rabbi of the Sydenham Shul since 1986, president of the South African Rabbinical Association, states: ‘Actually, the precise words that Moses conveys to the stubborn monarch in the name of G‑d are, “Shalach ami v’yaavduni,” “Let My people go so that they may serve Me.”

It is interesting to see how some expressions and phrases become memorable and popular, while others just don’t seem to catch on. “Let My People Go” became the theme song for the story of Egypt and the Exodus way beyond the Jewish community. It has been used as a catchphrase for a variety of political causes. Unfortunately, the last Hebrew word of the phrase somehow got lost in the shuffle: v’yaavduni—“that they may serve Me”—never quite made it to the top of the charts. The drama of the Exodus captures our imagination, while the fact that that the purpose of leaving Egypt was to go to Sinai, receive G‑d’s Torah and fulfill Jewish destiny is less emphasized. The call to freedom excites the human spirit; the challenge of service and commitment, by contrast, doesn’t seem to elicit as much enthusiasm.’

It is to the last sentence of, Yossy Goldman, that my heart is stirred to great disappointment because it is the great omission of Godly people the world over,  ‘ The call to freedom excites the human spirit; the challenge of service and commitment, by contrast, doesn’t seem to elicit as much enthusiasm.‘ This is where the Israelites failed to an even greater degree than the evil Cananites they supplanted. It is also the single most fatal error of any worshipful  walk and communion with the Most High God in Jesus Christ, if you are Christian. God did his part in delivering the Israelites, and any other nation that was saved from tyranny in the annals of history. It is always man (male and female created he them) who fails to cleave to our God who loves us more than any other being in the universe. Because He is God He can and does love us so much more than our human capability to love Him in return. There are millions of people whose failure to worship, serve and love the Most High God keeps them enslaved to ungodliness that prevents them approaching our Creator God in Holiness, Righteousness and Truth. How like our life of worship and love for God and each other. In truth, my darling, I little knew when we became one just how much service and  commitment to you and us would be required to fulfill our vows. We thrilled to the promise, the possibilities and the dreams held for us but we couldn’t begin to understand the commitment required to stay the course. All thanks to our Lord whom we consulted in prayer, praised in worship and walked with daily in faith, knowing that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life. As He is always dependable, let us likewise be faithful and true so that our walk with the Most High God in Christ will lead us to Life everlasting. We are free in our service to God. He protects and sustains us. Let us remember what Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28: 7 ⁷ “The Lord will help you defeat your enemies who come to fight against you. Your enemies will come against you one way, but they will run away from you seven different ways!” If we are to remain a free people we must adhere to the promises, commands and instructions of the Most High God who is worthy of worship, praise and all of our love. At the end of our day let us say as Moses spoke, Numbers 10:35 “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel…”

You are the dove of peace in my days, Kochany