Numbers 25-30
If God were the sun, then IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. might be
the moon,
her face reflecting His eternal light.
Yes, Israel is like the moon, the moon
who waxes and wanes,
grows old, and then renews herself,
yet never leaves the skies.
Faithfully, she reappears to walk the night,
glimmering, silver, in the darkened sky.
Faithfully, she spreads her pale and ghostly light
on every room and tree and blade of grass
Until the whole world turns to silver,
transformed from darkness to shimmering beauty.
Yes, Israel, be like the moon,
renew your faith each generation.
Even when the earth casts its shadow of
darkness,
faithfully reflect the light of God;
Pour over the whole world
the moonlight beauty of holiness.
