Re’eh (See) D’Varim (Deut.) 11:26-16:17 Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:11-55:5
1.Deuteronomy 14:1 of our Torah portion says, “You are the children of the L-rd your G-d; you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.” Other than the fact that ancient pagan nations practiced self-mutilation as a way of mourning the dead, why did Moses warn the people to not engage in this activity for the dead?
What story in the scripture shows the difference in prophets of G-d who faithfully relied on their G-d and the pagan prophets who resorted in slashing themselves with swords and spears trying to get their god to respond?
First, having different ways of mourning set Israel apart from other nations. It emphasized their identity as a people set apart for G-d. They were created in the image of G-d and mutilating their body was a violation of this divine image.
In avoiding practices of hopelessness like cutting their bodies, they would demonstrate their trust in G-d’s sovereignty over life and death. They would show that their faith and hope was in G-d above all else.
An example in scripture would be the story of Elijah. We can clearly see how Elijah the prophet stood firm in his belief and trust in the one true G-d in I Kings 18:25-39. This is also a good picture of how the prophets of Baal viewed their god as they mutilated their bodies trying to get his attention.
I Kings 18: 25-39, 25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the L-rd, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the L-rd had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the L-rd, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs[a] of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.“ Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “L-rd, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are G-d in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, L-rd, answer me, so these people will know that you, L-rd, are G-d, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”38 Then the fire of the L-rd fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The L-rd—He is G-d! The L-rd—He is G-d!”
2.At least five times in this Torah portion (Deut. 12:11-13, Deut. 12:17-18, Deut. 14:26, Deut. 16:10-11, Deut. 16:13-15) Moses tells the people they must bring their burnt offerings, sacrifices and tithes and celebrate certain appointed times only in the place G-d would choose. When you look at each of these verses what stands out to you as possible reasons they had to travel to G-d’s appointed place to do this and not where they lived or any other place?
Here are the verses
Deut 12:11-13, “Then to the place the L-rd your G-d will choose as a dwelling for His Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the L-rd. And there rejoice before the L-rd your G-d—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please.”
Deut. 12:17-18, “You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the L-rd your G-d at the place the L-rd your G-d will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the L-rd your G-d in everything you put your hand to.”
Deut. 14:26, “Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the L-rd your G-d and rejoice.”
Deut. 16:10-11, “Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the L-rd your G-d by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the L-rd your G-d has given you. And rejoice before the L-rd your G-d at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you.”
Deut 16:13-15, “Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the L-rd your G-d at the place the L-rd will choose. For the L-rd your G-d will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.”
First of all, making this journey to G-d’s appointed place kept them from engaging in the pagan practices they might see taking place around them. But I think there is a deeper reason.
In each passage they were to bring their tithes and offerings and present them to the L-rd. The thing that stands out to me is they were to bring their family and their servants and all were to rejoice before the L-rd as they presented the tithe in His appointed place.
What is the Biblical meaning of rejoicing? In scripture, rejoicing means experiencing and expressing deep joy and gladness in response to G-d’s goodness or blessings. It’s not merely a fleeting feeling of happiness, but a sustained joy that can be found even in difficult circumstances. Rejoicing is a choice to focus on G-d’s faithfulness and promises, rather than dwelling on negative circumstances.
So each time they came to present an offering or sacrifice or celebrate an appointed time, they would remember where their help came from. They would constantly be reminded of G-d’s goodness and how He provided for them on every side. They were choosing to focus on G-d’s faithfulness. In doing this they would not fall victim to saying, “Look what I have achieved in my strength.” Rejoicing before the L-rd with each offering would keep them continually grateful to the L-rd.
At the same time they were rejoicing they were teaching their children and servants how G-d blesses His people. Do we take time to rejoice before the L-rd for His blessings, His faithfulness and provision? Is it easy to fall into the thought pattern of pride in what I have accomplished by my strength, or to worry if G-d will provide for me in the future?
3.What connection do you see between the Torah portion Re’eh and the Haftarah Isaiah 54:11-55:5?
Re’eh talks about choosing between curses or blessings, life or death. Moses is encouraging Israel to make choices that brings life and blessing. Isaiah 54:11-55:5 offers a vision of the blessings that come from choosing the path of righteousness and following G-d’s commandments.
Read Isaiah 54:13, “ All your children will be taught of the L-rd, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Why will their children have peace? When they are being taught of the L-rd.
This verse tells us the greatest peace our children can have is when they know the L-rd.
The Hebrew word for “peace” is rooted in the concept of “fulfillment” or shalem in Hebrew. That is to say that G-d wants to bring a fulfillment of His will in our children’s lives. This means He wants to bless them with His presence and His goodness. He wants them to know Him intimately.
Abundant peace is that inner confidence which is derived from a personal relationship with the Living G-d through His Son, that no matter what hardship or trial one faces, G-d is sufficient.
In other words, it is the peace that passes all understanding which Paul spoke of in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of G-d, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Yeshua HaMashiah.” If our children truly know G-d and His son Yeshua they will have peace.
4.In this Torah portion we read about blessings and curses. What does the word curse, as it is used in our Torah portion, mean? Based on our portion today how would you define the most dominate way a person chooses curses instead of blessings?
In the Hebrew language there are two words for curse. One Hebrew word for cursed is found in Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the L-rd, Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the L-rd.” The Hebrew word here is “arur.” It carries the idea of being without protection. In this verse a man who trusted in men and made flesh his strength was without the protection of G-d. If we cling to human reasoning, human power and influence we might just be forfeiting G-d’s protection.
The word for curse in our Torah portion this week in Deut. 11:26 is “khall.” It comes from the same Hebrew root that means light, as in not heavy. So from this we could say a person that is cursed has no reputation or influence. If the world sees us continually walking in disobedience to the Father and choosing other “gods” we will certainly have no positive influence in the lives of others around us.
So back to my question, what do you think is the most dominate way a person today chooses curses?
I think idolatry stands out as the most obvious sin that brings a curse into our lives. How does this apply to us in our modern world? Anytime we choose our own way over the Father we have effectively made the choice of putting something before Him. By definition that would be idolatry. This could be a number of things but when we make that choice it has a direct spiritual impact on our lives and our testimony with others. We find ourselves in places we never meant to be. When we make a habit of living a life of idolatry we will have no influence and no reputation as a follower of the Messiah.
As people we have the unique quality in G-d’s creation plan of having the power to choose. Do I do this, or do I do that? Each choice has its own consequences. This is much like our Torah portion today. We can choose blessings or we can choose curses.
It is in our hands what kind of life we want to live while we are here on this earth. We can live a blessed life under the protection of the Almighty G-d and in the process point others to Him. Even in the challenges that come into our life such as an accident, illness or financial problems we still have a choice on how to deal with it. We can choose to put those challenges into G-d’s Hands trusting Him to deal with it. Which are we choosing blessings or curses, life or death?