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 twenty-one days, which is two weeks and seven days of the Omer.
Meditation
Exodus 3:20-21
20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. 21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.”
Devotional
God is anthropomorphized in scripture. God speaks, hears and knows. God has hands, fingers, writes and walks. When God sees us God sees Himself because God made humans in His image. When we see God we see One like a human being. God relates to us as a person. Scripture paints a picture of God with hands that accomplish His purposes. One hand is stretched out extending mercy. The other is coiled up ready to strike in judgment. One hand will strike the Egyptians who struck the Israelites. But in turn, the Israelites will find favor in the eyes of the Egyptians who will give resources (reparations) to them upon departure. God has a way of dealing with our enemies. God doesn’t ask us to get even. God can change the hearts of our enemies. What fight do you need God to fight?