It seems like that no matter where we look, there is someone behind a “curtain of oz,” promoting false ideas or misleading perceptions. How can we guard ourselves from doing the same thing?
Ki Tisa is a statement that means, “When you elevate.” And it begins at Exodus 10:11. Some believe that the Rabbinical sages titled this Torah study from the phrase “when you take a census,” inferring that the census was a form of elevation. Strongs H7311 describes this phrase as, “to raise up or something to be exalted, elevated, or raising up higher.” But is Ki Tisa bigger than a census? I believe it is. Let’s consider at least three concepts from Exodus, chapters 30-31:
1. The teaching of the half shekel is given to the Sons of Israel as a reminder of their redemption. Every person age 20 and above, was to give a half shekel regardless of their personal wealth or status. It was a flat compulsory fee for the “tent of meeting.” Through their contributions, the profane would be made holy. Wealth for personal use would be cleansed or redeemed for spiritual worth and purpose.
2. The Anointing Oil & Incense. This holiest of oil was to be used in anointing the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the furniture, and all the utensils. In doing so, these items and space were made “most holy.” It is not to be replicated or applied to “anyone’s body.” Besides the oil, a “set apart” incense was placed before the Ark of the Covenant. Like the oil, it was most holy and not to be replicated.
3. The Sabbath at the end of Chapter 31, is once again commanded, to be raised up as a special day of observance—a “sign between Yahweh and the sons of Israel, celebrated as a perpetual covenant—a day of refreshment.”
So what is being exalted in these three examples? Personally, I can envision the holy workings of the Messiah. He cleanses our work for Kingdom work. The anointing oil is “set apart for His anointed obligation. The incense put before the Ark of the Covenant cannot be equaled by any other life giving sacrifice. Only His blood will be accepted as a sweet aroma to Yahweh. And finally, He is a Savior who is Lord over the Sabbath—a living reminder of our refreshment found in Him.
Now let’s turn to Exodus 32 and I Kings 18:29-36 of Ki Tisa to see another type of elevation. In both the golden calf story and the baal worship of Ahab’s day, we see chaos, noise, and a deliberate attempt to create a man made religion and worship. Note the attempt was not made by the neighboring pagans, but was made by the House of Israel. Do we still see this happening today? Do believers in Yeshua try to create worship that is not ordained by Yahweh, but is instead directed by a personal belief of what worship might look like?
The response to false worship from both Moses and Elijah are similar. But I want to draw your attention to Elijah and how his actions correlate with the workings of redemption:
1. Elijah repairs the altar to the Lord, verifying that there are no other gods.
2. Elijah took 12 stones according to the number of the tribes of Israel to build the Lord’s altar, symbolizing the covenant promise to never leave nor forsake His chosen people.
3. Elijah digs a trench “the size of two measures of seed.” Why does the text talk about seed other than as a life giving?
4. Elijah arranged the wood and cut the ox by himself, a similar picture of Isaac and Yeshua, who carried their own wood to the altar.
5. Elijah fills up 4 pitchers of water. There are 4 passover cups of redemption during Passover.
6. Elijah poured the 4 pitchers 3 times of equal measure. Four times three is 12. Through the tribes of Israel we are all grafted into the family of Yahweh equally. Both Jew and Gentile have access to His Grace.
7. Elijah prayed at the evening sacrifice. Likewise, Yeshua lifted up the name of His Father as He died at the time of the evening sacrifice.
8. Fire came from Heaven to burn the sacrifice in complete acceptance. When Yeshua died, thunder rang out and the temple was torn displaying Yah’s acceptance of a perfect and complete sacrifice, which was greater than bulls and rams.
So here is the question. When we elevate something great, what will it be? Are we ready to lift up that which is holy over the profane? Are we ready to lift up the Messiah in all we say and do? What a challenge. Typically, when we see unanswered problems, we seek man made elevations over waiting on the True Messiah. Israel saw a problem with Moses being gone in the “cloud” of Yahweh for too long. So they made a golden calf—a false religion. Let us remind ourselves to call on His Name above all others, thereby guarding against that which is false. Let us elevate what He deems to be worthy and wait patiently on Him.
Be blessed,
Rollyn