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 nine days, which is one week and two days of the Omer.
Meditation
Exodus 2:10
When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
Devotional
Although Moses was raised in the house Pharaoh, his physical mother nurtured him during the most important years of his life. Pharaoh’s daughter called for her to nurse him with pay. Moses would receive the best of both households. Acts 7:22 states, “And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.” In her house, Moses becomes her son. This anticipates the words of Hosea 11:1, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” Moses’ life was that of Israel and his personal life and experience of leaving Egypt and meeting God at Mt Sinai anticipated and forecasted what would happen to his people that he represented. She named him “Moses.” His name is full of secrets. His name comes from the Hebrew verb, “moshe” meaning “to draw from.” Moses is indeed drawn from the water. But Moses would also draw out the divine name from God (Exodus 3:13-15). In Judaism, the name of God, YHWH, is not said or pronounced but rather “Adonai” (Lord) and “HaShem” (The Name) are said instead. “HaShem” are the three consonants of the name of Moses in reverse, “M-Sh-H.” Moses bears The Name he would receive from the God of his ancestors. From what did God draw you? What is your purpose in life? How has your childhood shaped your life today? Whatever house you find yourself, God is at work on your behalf through the good and the difficult. What have you learned about yourself and about God in the “houses” you have been.