Va’etchanan (I pleaded) Deut. 3:23-7:11, HafTarah Isaiah 40:1-26
1.Read Deut. 5:33. This verse tells us, “In all the way that the L-rd your G-d has commanded you, you shall walk.” What does this verse say to us about our daily walk?
In Hebrew these words are B’col haderek means In all the way.
We must stay on the path of the L-rd.
We cannot become lazy in how we relate to people.
We are to be aware of who we are and who we represent to the world in every step of our day.
What does Romans 15:4 tell us?
Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
Everything written in the past was written to teach and to encourage us
So we might patiently hold on to our hope.
Our life, our way, is to be an example to the people around us.
To carry this out we must stay in hearing range of that still small voice of G-d
Why do we walk in His ways?
I John 5:3 , “This is how we know that we love the children of G-d: by loving G-d and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for G-d: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome”
2.Now look at Deut. 6:17-18. It reads, “Be very diligent to keep the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, and the testimonies and decrees with which He has charged you. Do what is right and what is good in the L-rd’s eyes, so that it may go well with you, and you may go in and take possession of the good land that the L-rd swore to your ancestors to give you.” What stands out to you in these two verses? What does it mean to “Do what is right and what is good.”
After the commandments, testimonies and decrees we read, “Do what is right and what is good.”
We are to live according to the written word of G-d.
This includes the commandments, decrees and testimonies.
But that is the minimum.
What the good and right tells us is that there is more.
We are required to do even more than obeying rules
Who has left an impression on your life?
Those people who touched us with their goodness and righteousness.
They went further than just what was commanded them.
We remember people who went the extra mile
We remember people who were there for us in difficult times, loving us
G-d expects us to be this kind of person.
We are to do more than just what is commanded. In this short phrase He is telling us to do what is good and right in His eyes. G-d wants us to never get stuck just doing what is written.
G-d expects us to consider things such as: what does it mean to be a good and righteous husband or wife. What is a good friend? When is it right to praise and when is it right to correct?
What matters is not only what we do, but the way in which we do it. Do we relate to people with gentleness and sensitivity? Laws and commandments should never be compromised. We are called to have compassion with people who are lost in the world.
Torah is not just a bunch of laws and commandments, We do not see the first law in Torah until Exodus chapter 12. The book of Genesis is mainly about relationships between people, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the patriarchs and their children.
Psalms 15 gives us a good example of a person who does what is right and what is good.
L-rd, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the L-rd; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
We make a fundamental error when we think that all we need to do is keep the rules. Rules are essential but also incomplete.
We need to develop a conscience that does not permit us to wrong, harm or hurt someone even if the rules permit us to do so
3.Read D’Varim/Deut. 4:35 and compare it to the gospel of John 20:30-31. Is there a connection between these two passages?
Deut 4:35, “You were shown these things so that you might know that the L-rd is G-d; besides him there is no other.”
John 20:30-31, “Yeshua performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believethat Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of G-d, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
In Hebrew D’Varim 4:35 says, “Atah heriti lada’at ki YHVH who ha’elohim ain od melvado.” This sentence begins with the personal pronoun “you.” It is singular. Moshe was speaking to each person individually.
The next word comes from the Hebrew word for “see.” It means, “Caused to see or you have been shown, that you might know without a doubt that HaShem, He is G-d.”
In Deut 4:32-34 Moshe is recounting to the people who G-d is.
Deut. 4:35, “You were shown these things so that you might know that the L-rd is G-d; besides him there is no other.”
When we experience G-d through a personal revelation we know it is true, It is not just something we were told. We know without a doubt because it happened to us.
How does this shed light on John 20:30-31?
“These are written so that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah.” These are revelations shown to the readers of John’s words so they might know Yeshua is the Messiah, the Anointed of G-d.”
If we have had a personal revelation of the Messiah we should be rock solid in our faith in Him.
Questions
Do we personally know Yeshua?
What change has this revelation made in our lives?
Did it change us and is it continuing to change us?
Has it changed how we live, what we do, how we see other people?
I think there are a lot of people who hear the word but they don’t go any further. They are not discipled to go deeper with Him. After some time they begin to flounder and get discouraged. They forget the experience. They forget what they saw and what they heard.
A family member once mentioned something they were thinking of doing. We knew it went against scripture
We talked to them hoping to warn them. Their reply was, “If it doesn’t keep me out of heaven then I’m going to do it.” Many people cannot say their faith in Yeshua continues to change them day to day. Some live by the theory, if it doesn’t keep me out of heaven then I’m ok, I can do what I want.
Here in our reading in the Torah portion and in the Messianic writings we see that life is more than just getting by with the least effort we can muster. G-d expects our experience with Him, to change us fundamentally.
4.Our Haftarah portion this week is Isaiah 40:1-26. The first verse says, “Comfort, yes comfort My people! Says your G-d.” Using the word twice emphasizes the urgency of the message. Is there a difference in comforting Israel spiritually and comforting physically?
“Comfort, comfort my people”
The repetition of the word comfort indicates G-d’s deep desire for His people to receive comfort and encouragement. It is not just a human suggestion. It is a direct word from G-d who is their covenant G-d
He has not abandoned them.
How do we comfort spiritually?
Here is an example:
We took believers to Israel. They worked in the homes of Israelis who had experienced a trauma such as a terror attack on a family member, I believe we were comforting them spiritually. Many of these people had negative ideas on who Christians were because of past history. We could see and feel a change in their attitude as we worked in their homes. One woman even made a trip to the hotel we were staying
She asked us why we paid our way to Israel and paid for all the supplies to repair and paint her apartment. Why did we care about her. I think our work in her home brought spiritual light in a dark depressed apartment. Hopefully It planted a seed of who the Messiah is.
To comfort spiritually is to reach deeper than just outward physical things.
It happens when we touch people in a way that brings the light of the Messiah into their situation.
5. When we read D’Varim 6:4, we usually read it as, “Hear Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one.’ The beginning word in Hebrew is Shema. It has many meanings. What other meanings, other than listen, can you find in scripture for Shema?
What is amazing is that there is no word for obey in biblical Hebrew. Only in modern Hebrew has a word been inserted. We would think, with all of these commandments, such a word would be important.
But there isn’t one.
The reason may be wrapped up in the meanings of Shema. It is so much more than we might have thought. A few examples of other meanings may help us understand further.
Genesis 26:5 in English says, “Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws,” but in Hebrew instead of the word obey it says shema. Because Abraham (Shema/obeyed My voice…
To listen, to pay focused attention.
(Deut. 27:9), “Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the L-rd your G-d.
To Hear
Genesis 3:10, “He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
To understand
Genesis 11:7, “Come, let us go down and confuse their language, so they will not understand each other’s speech.”
To internalize, take to heart
Genesis 17:20, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him;
To respond in action
Genesis 21:12, “But G-d said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
These examples give us a variety of meaning found on this one word.
They give us a deeper understanding of what is being said in our verse.
In D’Varim 6:4, when we read, “Shema,”
it does not mean just to hear
it means to listen, concentrate, focus attention, obey and make His will our own.
When we truly hear, focus our attention, and obey G-d then the next verse will happen – we will love G-d with all our heart.
G-d loves us and has shown us His way of living a life that will bless us and our children and friends. As you go through your week, seek to listen to Him, concentrate on Him. It will make life simpler and more rewarding.” He desires that, because of our love for Him, we say, “We will hear and we will do His commandments.”