The book of Exodus ends with Moses giving accounting of all materials that were collected and used for building of the Mishkan, the portable Tabernacle in this week’s Torah portion Vayakel-Pekudai. Moses was the greatest prophet, spoke to God face to face, and was considered the most humble person in the world. Who would ever suspect Moses of dishonesty and lining his own pockets with ill-gotten gains?! Moses is our greatest role model when it comes to honesty
For example, one time as I was putting bags of groceries in my car, I discovered at the bottom of the cart a small case of bottled water I hadn’t paid for. I marched back to the cash register, waited in line, apologized for the oversight, and paid for the water. A man behind me, looking dumbfounded, challenged me, “It’s only a water! Who would have known? Weren’t you a bit silly to come back?”
For a split second I did feel silly. But then these words came to mind: “Should you ever lose your wallet,” I replied smiling, “I think you’ll hope that somebody silly like me finds it!”
This Shabbat is Shabbat HaChodesh announcing the month of Nisan and warning that Passover
is only a few weeks away. Just as we relive the Exodus from Egypt and our
redemption slavery at our seders, we pray that we will be worthy of our final
redemption. Proverbs 11 reminds us that the Lord delights in honesty (v.1) and
blesses those who do what is right (v.6). So even though we may give up what
seems like some easy money, we gain God’s approval and become worthy of
redemption. That’s worth far more than all the riches in the world. Honesty
really does pay!
No comments:
Post a Comment