Blessing
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.
Barukh atah, A-donai E-loheinu, Melekh Ha-ʿolam, asher qid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu ʿal S’firat Ha-ʿomer.
Count
Today is ten days, which is one week and three days of the Omer.
Meditation
Exodus 2:11-12
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Devotional
The day Moses was grew up was when he identified with them in their plight and slavery. He saw the beating of one of his own people. Moses found his identity, his mission and purpose. He had it all in Pharaoh’s house, where he learned wisdom and grew in strength. But this incident catalyzed and crystallize his maturation. No doubt Moses was angry, feeling an injustice had been done. The Hebrew had not been treated with compassion and sympathy like Pharaoh’s daughter had extended to Moses in his infancy. Moses will bear many titles and responsibilities. Here Moses is a judge and executioner. Moses looked to see if anyone was watching and took justice into his own hands killing the Egyptian. He buried him in the sand covering up what he had done. This was not God’s way. What Moses did foreshadowed God dealings with Egypt if Pharaoh refused to let them His people go (Exodus 4:22-23). As Moses sees the suffering of his people, God will also. What injustice moves and motivates you to action? Are we moved by the things that move God? What in your life motivated you to become what you are today and to do what you do today? What we see shapes us.