In January 1991, during “Desert Storm,” a group of American B52 Stratofortress bombers flew to Iraq, bombed their targets, and returned safely home after 35 non-stop hours airborne. In September 1996, the same type of bomber destroyed Baghdad’s power stations as part of “Desert Strike”.
The enormous eight-engine bomber was again used in Yugoslavia in 1999, and played a major bombing and support role in Afghanistan in 2001. In November 2015, to deny recognition of China’s claim to some islands, B52s were flown through the region ignoring China’s demand to vacate the airspace. During 2016, B52s based in Qatar flew many devastating bombing missions against Isis.
The United States simply does not possess a more capable long-range strategic bomber than the amazing 160 foot-long, 4 story high, Boeing-built Stratofortress. Yet the truly amazing part of the B52 story is that the airplane first saw service in the United States Airforce in 1955. For over sixty years, this airplane has been the backbone of America’s airborne power.
It is hard to imagine that the three Boeing engineers chiefly responsible for designing the B52 could have dreamed that their creation would play so important a role in American history for so long. Without the B52 in their arsenal, several famous American leaders might well have failed to achieve their military and political objectives. Though not nameless, those Boeing engineers are not nearly as well known as the political and military leaders who deployed the lethal airplane.
Most of us perform our daily work in relative obscurity. We tackle our tasks, confront challenges, strive for success and face failures without ever knowing what vital long term consequences might result from what we did last month. It’s a lot like raising children. It doesn’t bring the fame that might come to the women heading General Motors or Yahoo but without the children being raised as productive and law-abiding citizens today, there wouldn’t be large corporations tomorrow.
Most of us are the engineers not the generals; the parents not the CEOs. We can learn from Moses’ life that there is transcendence even in our day to day activities.
In Exodus, Moses meets God on Mount Sinai to receive the Law. We’re told that a cloud indicated God’s presence upon the mountain and that Moses needed to wait until he was admitted into God’s presence, whereupon God spoke to him. That account is presented in the following six steps.
(i) The cloud covered the mountain (Exodus 24:15)
(ii) The glory of God rested upon Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:16)
(iii) Moses waited until summoned (Exodus 24:16)
(iv) God called to Moses (Exodus 24:16)
(v) Moses entered into the cloud (Exodus 24:18)
(vi) God spoke to Moses (Exodus 25:1)
But wait, some time later we spot an identical sequence of the six events but this time they don’t concern the mountain but the Tabernacle.
(i) The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting [in the Tabernacle] (Exodus 40:34)
(ii) The glory of God filled the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34)
(iii) Moses waited until summoned (Exodus 40:35)
(iv) God called to Moses (Leviticus 1:1)
(v) Moses entered [implied] (Leviticus 1:1)
(vi) God speaks to Moses (Leviticus 1:1)
What are we to learn from the unmistakable similarity between Moses on the mountain and Moses in the Tabernacle? Ancient Jewish wisdom explains that the Tabernacle was built explicitly to recreate the Sinai experience in a form more accessible to everyone. While still holy, it was on earth and built by man. Today, the Tabernacle’s successor can exist in each and every one of our hearts and homes.
Beautiful article, Rabbi.
As a believer in Yeshua as Messiah, I was really taken aback by the reference to the Tabernacle. I’d never seen it like that before, but your words immediately spoke of Immanuel.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to sharing the truth about the world. You must paint a target on your neck by doing so at times, but truly is life-changing stuff. I think I recommend your books at least once per week!
God bless.
Dear Byron–
Thanks for writing and of course thank you for recommending our books. Much appreciated. Do you ever get to hear our Podcast? https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
How about the TV show Ancient Jewish Wisdom on which Susan and I teach in tandem? http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Oh yes, I am afraid that I have had a target on my back ever since I wrote America’s Real War https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Real-Rabbi-Daniel-Lapin/dp/1576733661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485396231&sr=8-1&keywords=america%27s+real+war explaining why most Jews are on the anti-Biblical side of the cultural canyon.
Best wishes
Cordially
RDL
Was the “glory of the LORD” referenced in Ex 24:16 and EX 40:34 the same thing that is described in vivid detail in Ezekiel Chapter 10? If so, we can see why Moses was impressed.
Makes sense, doesn’t it, Walt?
Cordially
RDL
Great article! My dad was a B-52 pilot during the Vietnam war. His father could have flown it. When I flew in the Air Force (graduated pilot training in 1995), I had the chance to fly it, but I turned it down in favor of an airplane I considered more fun. Now my son is old enough to go to pilot training and he could fly the B-52 if he chose. Four generations of pilots on one airframe. Amazing accomplishments by those designers. We don’t even know them, but their legacy flies on. Great point you made Rabbi Lapin!
A book by Joe Sutter called 747 tells the incredible story of designing, financing, building, and flying the amazing Boeing 747. Your article reminded me of this wonderful book. It’s another story of great men accomplishing great things who are almost otherwise unknown!
Thanks also for your Podcasts. I’ve listened to EVERY SINGLE ONE since you first started doing them. I look forward to every Saturday morning when refresh my podcast feed, see the new edition, throw on my earphones, and get to work on my property or something while listening to the best streaming wisdom available. I love it. I’m grateful that you do it! (oh, and I BUY stuff! and its always worth way more than I paid!)
Thanks Mike–
Yes, you’re right. I wish I’d have thought of phrasing it in terms of how three generations of flyers could have piloted the same airplane. Pretty remarkable. A similar story can definitely be told about the 747. I think it started commercial service in very early 70s so it’s been flying for over 40 years!
Thanks for your faithful listening–it means a lot to me and I visualize you and other regulars when I record the show as I am going to do in an hour.
Best wishes
Cordially
RDL