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 sixteen days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.
Meditation
Exodus 3:4-6
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Devotional
YHWH saw that Moses had approached the burning bush. So he called him twice like Abram in Genesis 12. And Moses responded likewise. Both responded to God’s call to leave. Moses has entered God’s House, where he must remove his sandals, showing respect. And then God declares, I am the God of your fathers. Moses had arrived and God spoke to him as God will speak to Israel after their departure for Egypt. Moses is a representative figure whose life is patterned after the exodus of Israel. Out of fear Moses hides his face. But soon he will talk to God face to face. God calls us into His House and presence. How does one enter God’s House? Psalm 24:3-4 says, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god” (See Psalm 23, 51). Have we answered God’s call? God will not hide His face from you (Psalm 102:2). God did not turn away His face from Israel but remembered His promise with their ancestors. God will never leave you.