Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #46: ‘Ekev (Because) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 7:12-11:25
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 49:14-51:3
B’rit Chadashah: Ya’akov (James) 5:7-11
You know the story; in times of wealth and affluence, people tend to attribute what are really blessings from G-d to their own doing. People are apt to become arrogant and prideful with the belief they are self-sufficient. Moshe brings this point home in Deut. 8:11-20. He reminds the people that they will start to think their success and power is by their own hands. He admonishes the people against such attitudes and warns them of the consequences of following other gods, serving and worshiping them and forgetting the G-d and the covenant He swore to their ancestors. Such attitudes and disregard for G-d always precipitates judgement and destruction, even for G-d’s treasured people. G-d does not play favorites. To whom much is given, much is required. G-d is truly “all inclusive” in this context. If you want to become a part of G-d’s chosen people, you are required to follow the commands of G-d. This truth is repeated throughout the book of Deuteronomy, at least nine times in this parashah alone!
The ability to achieve anything is given by G-d alone. We should not misguide our praises to ourselves rather than G-d. We should acknowledge with the first conscious breath of our days that it is G-d who has given us the breath to praise Him for his loving provision.
G-d takes another step in clarifying the fact that it is because of the wickedness of the nations that He is about to turn over to the Israelites and not their own righteousness. He reiterates that He will give the Israelites victory and the lands of the wicked nations He is about to drive out because of their lifestyle and to confirm His covenant with Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov.
This reality check by G-d through Moshe to the people reminds them that they are a “stiffnecked people” with a short dissertation that follows describing their continued rebelliousness that is described from Deuteronomy 9:7-11:7! It was because of Moshe’s intersession for the rebelliousness of the Israelites on several occasions described in Chapter 9 that G-d did not destroy the nation and allowed them to finally arrive at the banks of the Jordan River, ready to enter the land of promise (10:10-11).
We can easily draw a parallel between Moshe’s intercession on behalf of Israel and Yahshua’s intercession for those who repent, becoming reconciled to G-d through Yahshua’s sacrifice, and lovingly follow G-d’s commands. Lest we believe in error that today’s true believers are righteous and are superior to the Israelite nation described in our parashah, Sha’ul refers back to the unchanging truth of human nature in Romans 3:19-23 and 7:15-20. This unrighteous nature is part of our humanity from which the yetzer hara the evil inclination arises. Thankfully, Yahshua provides us a way to overcome this unrighteousness with a “new nature” described in several scriptures including Ephesians 4:22-4: “ To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of G-d in true righteousness and holiness.”
In Chapter 10:12 we read a summary of sorts on what is expected of the true believer; what is essential to a saving relationship with G-d? The answer is reverence, fearing G-d, following His commands, loving and serving Him with all of our heart and all our being. These criteria are repeated in Deuteronomy 6:5, 13,14. In the B’rit Chadashah we see these criteria described seven different but similar ways in the book of Revelation as the Seven-fold Witness (G-d’s definition of a true believer). Romans 1-3 and John 14 also define a person who loves and follows G-d according to Yahshua who is G-d.
Who is this G-d? He is the Creator of all the universe, the One True G-d, the righteous Judge, the Sovereign G-d over all history past, present, and future, and all of creation. Through the sacrifice of his only begotten son Yahshua, G-d provided the way to reconciliation with Himself and forgiveness for the imputed sin of Adam which all men inherit. Without Yahshua’s sacrifice, we would all be destined to eternal separation from G-d. But G-d so loved us that we have a way back to Him and a new nature that gives the true believer the power to resist evil and rebelliousness.
In Deuteronomy 10:12-11:32 we see three explicit instructions Moshe gave to the people as they prepared to enter Canaan. These instructions may be compared to Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Mark 12:28-34. YHVH/Yahshua always repeats such critical guidance in both the Old Testament and the B’rit Chadashah to prevent anyone who mistakenly chooses half of His Torah over the other half from a credible complaint that “I didn’t know.”
I once had an encounter with an individual who was a Christian attempt to argue the fact that G-d commands obedience to His instructions, His Torah. He emphatically believed that as long as we love everyone, we will be saved. Another individual recently emailed me asking what must they do in order to be saved besides tithing, following Shabbat, not eating forbidden foods, and other biblical commands. This parashah should answer this question that I am asked many times. Because this is a common inquiry by people who seem genuinely interested in learning G-d’s Torah and following it, I will quote Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Mark 12:29-31, then compare them to Moshe’s plea for commitment to G-d. According to the New International Version (NIV) Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament (1987) Deuteronomy 6:4-9 reads: “Hear oh Israel! The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. Love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Mark 12:28-31 reads “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Yahshua had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ The most important one, answered Yahshua, is this: ‘Hear O Israel: The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. Love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandments greater than these.”
Comparing the previous two narratives with Moshe’s plea for commitment to G-d is consistent with these commands. Note that each is stated a little differently without changing the concept. Deuteronomy 10:13 reads: “So now, Israel, all that Adonai your G-d asks from you is to fear Adonai your G-d, follow all his ways, love him and sere Adonai your G-d with all your heart and with all your being; to obey for your own good, the mitzvot and regulations of Adonai which I am giving you today.”
The second explicit instruction is found in Deuteronomy 10:16: Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and don’t be stiffnecked any longer!” The third is found in Deuteronomy 10:19: “Therefore you are to love the foreigner, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” Another translation of this verse is found in the Chumash: “You shall love the proselyte for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” The Hebrew-English Bible translates the word for “foreigner” as “stranger.” These various translations are provided to illustrate that the concept of loving a stranger/foreigner/proselyte mandates just treatment without discrimination. However, people in these categories must conform to the same rules/commands/regulations given by G-d to the Israelites. I submit that the translation “proselyte is less a possibility because it would be easier to love someone who has converted to the faith system of the Israelites. How can we know this for sure? The definition of a true believer is found in Romans 1-3, John 14, and in the book of Revelation in the Seven-Fold Witness. That is seven scriptures in the book of Revelation that define a true believer. For the specific scriptures, please visit our website at https://rabdavis.org, click the “teachings” link, and scroll down to the “definition of a true believer.”
Moshe did not refer to the physical circumcision incumbent on all biological male Jews to this day because of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 17). Romans 1-3 describes a true “Jew.” And the fact that even with physical circumcision, one must circumcise the heart. This is consistent with the inextricable relationship between G-d’s Law/commands/regulations, and Grace. G-d’s Law /commands/instructions were not abrogated with Yahshua’s execution. His role on Earth was to teach mankind that humans can follow His commands and instructions and that they are to be followed with compassion.
The horizontal responsibility for caring for a stranger/alien, foreigner/proselyte cannot be misinterpreted with careful scriptural study. Love for an individual unknown to us takes faith and trust in Yahshua that no matter how the individual responds, we are to initiate compassion because G-d loved us. The establishment and quality of our vertical relationship with G-d depends on our understanding of and progressive lifestyle of self-nullification. G-d loves the stranger, widow, orphan. If we really love G-d, we are obligated to care for our fellow man.
These two responsibilities, a complete love for G-d and loving thy neighbor (see the definition above) are the essence of what G-d requires of mankind. This was the crux of the message given by G-d through Moshe to the people at Horeb.
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 49:14-51:3
The Israelites were depressed, feeling like G-d had forgotten them in Babylon although He promises to never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5,9: Isaiah 41:10; Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). Isaiah pointed out that G-d will never forget them, as a loving mother would never forget her children. When we feel like G-d has forsaken us, I submit that the first thing we should do is to ask ourselves if we are the ones responsible for our feeling of abandonment. Psalm 139 specifically verses 23 and 24 provides a “go to” scripture that makes us focus on our hearts, praying that G-d will show us any unclean thing in us and cleanse our hearts, and help us return to the road to salvation.
The prophecy continues describing how G-d will “prove” to the world that He is G-d by doing impossible things that are consistent with His attributes of Justice, Loving Kindness, and mercy. He will cause warriors to set their captives free and return their plunder just as He did in the Exodus. We should never doubt that G-d’s plan for mankind will come to fruition and that He fulfills all of His promises.
Israel (the 10 Northern Tribes) were divorced for a time because of their arrogant sins against G-d. Torment always follows rebellion and the Israelites are not immune to G-d’s judgement. However, Yahshua will “marry” a repentant Israel according to the book of Revelation with the “Bride” consisting of all true believers defined by G-d Himself in Romans 1-3, John 14, and Revelation’s Seven-fold Witness and NOT the Church. According to the Interlinear Bible (Hebrew-Greek-English), Revelation 19:7 reads: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
According to Deuteronomy 24:4 a man cannot remarry the same woman once divorcing her. Accordingly, G-d does not violate his own laws. In this case we learn that Israel was divorced for a time (Is. 50:1) but Judah was also punished for her sins. The 10 northern tribes (Israel in this context) which includes Israel and her fellow travelers Jew and Gentiles who are true believers (Ezek. 37:15-28) will be married to Yahshua who is G-d. Judah is the “wife” of G-d and Israel will be the “Bride” of YHVH/Yahshua.
I understand that the above information may be very confusing to one who has no background in Messianic Judaism, G-d’s plan for Israel in the context of true believers, the Jewish wedding process to which the designated times of G-d and the plan of marriage to Yahshua/G-d and salvation are modeled after, and other biblical truths either not identified, omitted, replaced, or added to various translations. However, for any questions I can be reached through our website at https://rabdavis.org and click the “ask the rabbi” link.
B’rit Chadashah: James 5:7-11
Ah yes; patience! James was the half-brother of Yahshua, because Joseph was James’ physical father and Yahshua was born of Mary when she was still a virgin. In this narrative James encourages those who love Yahshua to essentially hold our peace until G-d’s perfect timing for His comprehensive plan for Israel both physical and spiritual comes to fruition with His return. We are to live a lifestyle testimony that G-d would be glorified in all we do both privately and publicly with the examples of the prophets and Job described by James.
The fall and spring rains spoken of in this narrative has a double meaning as does much of G-d’s Word. The first reference is to the climatic pattern in Israel, where the most rainfall occurs between November and March. Substantial rains in November and March are not common, but they are greatly beneficial to crops.
The spiritual application of latter and early rains is to Shavu’ot (Acts 2), and Yahshua’s return, hopefully soon based on the plethora of unprecedented events in our world today including the exponential increase in lawlessness, antinomian lifestyles, and most importantly, the information concerning the end times and Yahshua’s imminent return. The latter and early rains associated with the end times is also described in this narrative (James 5:1-7).
As James stated “so brothers, be patient until the L-rd returns. See how the farmer waits for the precious ‘fruit of the earth”-he is patient over it until it receives the fall and spring rains. You too, be patient; keep up your courage; for the L-rd’s return is near.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart