Parashat Ki Tisa, Have you relied upon your own strength or upon the Lord who strengthens you?

613

In this week’s reading, taking a census of the sons of Yisrael is considered a sin according to the
Torah that leads to a plague that would break out amongst the people. 
Shemot / Exodus 30:12 ‘When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one
of them shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, so that there will be no plague
among them when you number them. (NASB)
  As we study these scriptures here and elsewhere
(i.e. see David’s sin in 2 Samuel 24 and
1 Chronicles 21) it seems that the taking of the census was
the sin.  King David overruled Joab’s wise counsel (
1 Chronicles 21:3-4
) and brought guilt upon Yisrael for numbering the people.  As a
result, the Lord killed 70,000 people.  Why would there be a plague for numbering the people and why
would each man be required to give money to make atonement for sin?  Can money make atonement for sin?
Read More here.

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Duane D. Miller received his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron Ohio. He is currently a Chemical Engineering Researcher. Duane’s research expertise has focused upon functional materials development for the control, conversion, and release of process gases in Energy production technologies. His R&D interests include computational chemistry, developing novel technologies for converting biomass to fuels and studying their fundamental interactions during the chemical conversion process. His past experience includes sorbent development for pre- and post-combustion CO2 and SO2 capture, selective absorption of H2S from methane streams, O2 capture for oxy-fuel combustion, photocatalytic reduction of alcohols, NOx reduction catalysis, the development of oxygen carriers to combust fossil fuels (CH4 and coal) for the chemical looping combustion processes, and the extraction of rare earth elements using patent pending sorbents. His research expertise has focused on operando-characterization using Infrared, Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopy to observe the nature of the catalytic active sites and reaction intermediates under realistic reaction conditions, allowing direct correlation of molecular/electronic structures with catalyst performance during Gas-Solid / Liquid-Solid Adsorption and Photocatalytic Processes with real time online analysis of reaction products using ICP-MS and mass spectrometry. His current work involves a multi-disciplinary approach to developing, understanding, and improving the catalytic gasification of coal and methane, high temperature chemical looping combustion, and the catalytic decomposition and gasification of biomass and coal using novel microwave reactor.​ He has been studying the Hebrew Scriptures and the Torah for 20+ years and sharing what he has learned. The studies developed for MATSATI.COM are freely to be used by everyone, to God be the Glory!