Paired Parallelisms in Genesis 44:16

Who are we to tell God that we are innocent? He is our Creator, our Judge, and our Vindicator. No matter what we might think of ourselves, He knows our hearts, and He knows what constitutes guilt and innocence. He has said there is no innocence apart from Yeshua and we have no recourse but to accept His divine judgment. Rail against the wind all you like, tell it you're a "good person", but unless you turn to Yeshua and repent of your sins (yes, you have sins), you are lost. We are His servants, and that is the end of the story.

I'll be sending more on this verse in my newsletter later today (12/30/2016). Subscribe here: American Torah.

Full Impulse Power Ahead

The security asked of Judah by Tamar in Genesis 38:18 was extraordinary. Why did he agree to this?
Remember, when something in the story seems out of place, look deeper. Ring, cord/bracelet, staff are symbols of authority. 3 times, Tamar asked to hold Judah's authority in her hands. Failure to control your impulses will give your impulses control over you. Just like Delilah, Bathsheba, and Jezebel. In each of these cases, the greatest fault was with a weak man.

Multiple Chiasms and Parallelisms in Exodus 33

God made us so good at spotting patterns that sometimes we see them when they aren't there. I have to wonder if this might be one of those times. Although the presence of patterns in this passage is certain, I am less confident that I have diagrammed them correctly.

A Chiasm in Exodus 33:7

• And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it outside the camp, far off from the camp. 
• And he called it the tabernacle of the congregation. 
• And it happened that everyone seeking Jehovah went to the tabernacle of the congregation which was outside the camp.

A Chiasm in Exodus 33:8

• And it happened as Moses went to the tabernacle, 
• the people all rose and stood, each one at the door of his tent.
• And they looked after Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 

A Parallelism in Exodus 33:9-11a

• And it happened as Moses went into the tabernacle, 
• the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the door of the tabernacle. 
• And He spoke with Moses. 
• And all the people would see the pillar of the cloud standing at the door of the tabernacle. 
• And all the people rose and bowed themselves, each one at the door of his tent. 
• And Jehovah would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

A Chiasm in Exodus 33:11b-12a

• And he would return to the camp. And his attendant, Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the middle of the tabernacle. 
• And Moses said to Jehovah, Behold, 
• You are saying to me, Cause this people to go up.
•  And You, You have not told me whom You will send with me. 

A Chiasm in Exodus 33:12b-17

• And yet You have said, I know you by name, and 
• also you have found favor in My eyes. And now, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please make me see Your ways, and let me know You, so that I may find favor in Your eyes; and consider that this nation is Your people. 
• And He said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. 
• And they said to Him, If Your presence does not go, do not cause us to go up from here. 
• And now by what can it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your eyes? Is it not in Your going with us? And we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the nations which are on the face of the earth? And Jehovah said to Moses, This thing which you have spoken I will do. For you have found favor in My eyes, and 
• I know you by name. 

A Chiasm in Exodus 33:18-23

• And he said, I pray, let me see Your glory. 
• And He said, I will cause all My goodness to pass before your face. And I will call out the name of Jehovah before your face. 
• And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. 
• And He said, You are not able to see My face; for no man can see Me and live. And Jehovah said, Behold, a place by Me! And you shall stand on a rock. 
• And as My glory is passing it will be that I will put you in a cleft of the rock; and I will cover My hand over you during My passing. And I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face cannot be seen.

Jacob's Divided Camp

On the whole, division weakens a people, but not always. Jacob showed wisdom in dividing his camp before Esau in Genesis 32-33
►Many small good deeds can be more powerful than one great favor. It's easy to forget something that happens once, no matter how good it is. "Repetition is the mother of learning," they say.
►Esau wasn't a future-thinker. Jacob's servile abasement appealed to his pride & impetuousness. Once again, Jacob got what he wanted by giving Esau what he wanted. Nevermind that Esau would regret it many years later.
►A gentle answer turns away wrath. Esau expected anger, but found love instead. How do you respond to someone who answers your threats with gifts and a hug?
►In the face of a superior enemy, divide your forces. This is an oft-used guerilla tactic. If your amassed forces stand no chance, divide them up. Smaller groups are more mobile and force the enemy to expend more resources for every meaningless victory. In doing this, Jacob hoped and worked for peace, but prepared for war.