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 day two of the Omer.
Meditation
Exodus 1:8-10
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
Devotional
All was well for the children of Abraham in Egypt where they had grown into a people. But as Abraham was told by God in Genesis 15, his offspring became slaves in a land not their own. The new King of Egypt was alarmed by their growth and feared they would fight with their enemies against Egypt. So Pharaoh instilled his fear in his people and enlisted them in a system of slavery and genocide. Beware of where your desires and ideas come from. Will they lead to the harm of others? Do not desire what belongs to your neighbor. It can lead to rivalry and all kinds of evil. If you find yourself surrounded by rivals, sometimes it is better to be modest and unseen. Your growth might appear to be a threat to others rather than a benefit. Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.