Day:30 Following the Humble

BLESSING FOR COUNTING THE OMER:

Baruch ata Adonai, ELOHEYNU melech ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bidvarecha

v’tzi-va-noo al sifeerat ha-omer.

Blessed are you, O Adonai our GOD, King of the universe Who has sanctified us by your Word and commanded us concerning the Counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty days, which is four weeks and two days of the Omer.

Today, we are going to explore Gevurah of Hod, which means Discipline within Humility/Splendor. The characteristic of humility does not involve having low self-esteem or being a “doormat” for others to walk over. It is recognizing that you do have talents or skills, but that they are given to us by God. Humility requires you to think less of yourself, knowing that your Father has gifted you with this trait. To be humble, one must exert a great deal of self-discipline to accomplish it. Our flesh, many times, wants us to do anything but to humble ourselves.

As we journey through the Bible, we find many examples of humility. In the Torah, we find Moses. He did great things, such as leading Egypt, and he even communicated with God face to face! Despite these privileges: "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth."Numbers 12:3

We find Esther, who risked her life to save her people. She displayed courage and discipline, maintaining a humble approach to God and to her role as queen. In reading the book of Esther, you will be in awe of this very brave woman! The list goes on to include Daniel, the Apostle Paul, and John the Baptist, who, although a cousin of Yeshua, stated he was “unworthy to even untie his sandals.” The most magnificent of all was the Son of God, Yeshua! Throughout His life, He drew on discipline in His humanness (flesh) to remain humble. Reading through the gospels, you can find example after example of His humility, even though it would have been so easy to take on a prideful spirit because He was the Son of God and He performed marvelous miracles!

When considering Yeshua’s life as the greatest example of discipline within humility, the most breathtaking time was when He was preparing for His death and went to pray on the Mount of Olives:“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44

Through an extreme amount of discipline and agony, (he knew what was going to happen), He humbled himself before His Father and said, “not My will, but Yours, be done.” He knew why the Father had sent Him to be in this moment.

Finally, I would like to point out how Yeshua conducted Himself during the “trials.”

"But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" But Yeshua kept silent." Matthew 26:60-64

He remained silent, which astonished all who questioned Him. He chose to fulfill His mission rather than defend His reputation or save Himself from humiliation. He demonstrated that true strength lies in humility. Yeshua could have said “no” at any time, but He humbled Himself in obedience to His Father. 

What is God’s mission for us that we can accomplish in discipline within humility? Many rush to receive awards, praise, and/or approval for special achievements or actions they perform for those around them. It must not be so for us. We must quiet the flesh (through discipline) and focus our reality on the only One who matters. Our actions, our attitudes, and our work are so much bigger than getting that “pat on the back.” They are so much bigger than ourselves. It is a privilege to humble ourselves before our Creator, who sees what no other human can see. We need to bless others in a private manner. To stand humbly before our accusers in silence. God knows! We must follow our Rabbi Yeshua and imitate how He helped others in His humility, and say what He said: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”