Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #50: Ki Tavo (When you come) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 26:1-29:8(9)
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 60:1-22
B’rit Chadashah: Romans 11:1-15
Having finally entered the Promised Land, the importance and perpetuality of G-d’s expectations through His Law/Instructions/Torah was again brought to the fore. We see the repetition stated in various ways to prevent any possibility that the people might not know what G-d expected of them and us. Instructions for the renewal of the covenant to the next generation of Israelites, were given by Moshe and supported by the Priests who were Levites. This parashah contains the instructions for the renewal of the covenant treaty under Y’hoshua and the personal admonition of Moshe. The conditions for the covenantal relationship between the Israelites and G-d are defined in Deut. 26:16-19; 27:9-10; 28:1-2:29:8(9). Deuteronomy 26:16-19 is the most comprehensive of these verses: “Today Adonai your G-d orders you to obey these laws and rulings. Therefore, you are to observe and obey them with all your heart and with all your being. You are agreeing today that Adonai is your G-d and that you will follow his ways; observe his laws, mitzvot and rulings, and do what he says. In turn Adonai is agreeing today that you are his own unique treasure, as he promised you; that you are to observe all his mitzvot; and that he will raise you high above all the nations he has made, in praise, reputation, and glory; and that, as he said, you will be a holy people for Adonai your G-d.”
The essence of this narrative is repeated with the addition of including the Cohanim who were L’vi’im in Deuteronomy 27:9-10. Including G-d’s designated priests added a special emphasis on the requirements of the covenantal relationship. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 provides the third repetition of G-d’s commands to the people regarding the requirements for the covenantal relationship: “ If you listen closely to what Adonai your G-d says, observing and obeying all his mitzvot which I am giving you today, Adonai your G-d will raise you high above all the nations on earth; and all the following blessings will be yours in abundance-if you will do what Adonai your G-d says:”
I recall going through school and experiencing a similar repetitive technique some of my instructors used when they wanted to make a point or throw a “hint” to the class about something that was going to be on a future test. Some of them forcefully tapped the chalk to the blackboard three times. Some simply repeated a point they wanted to make two or three times. Some would stare out into the classroom and slowly and deliberately establish eye contact with each student as they emphasized the information to be recalled at a later time. Although G-d used a different tactic, the point to be made was and is clear.
Any doubts about the seriousness of following G-d’s commands, rulings, and mitzvot should be dissolved when the consequences for disobedience and/or disregard for G-ds instructions were described in detail in Deuteronomy 27:11-26; 28:15-68.
We can easily see why we are where we are today based on the aforementioned passages. Deuteronomy 28:63 further describes why we are scattered among the nations just as the Israelites were scattered during the time of Solomon. In the United States and the world, the majority serve other gods, and some acknowledge no deity in any form other than man himself. People are afraid of their shadows and gated communities are now more like prisons. Anxiety, depression, and suicide are on the rise because many people do not know G-d and they do not find peace in astrology, medications, self-help lines, or psychic mediums. The market for guns has exploded as people fear for their lives and property. Various diseases known in Egypt have returned. Diabetes, of which was mentioned in 1552 BCE in a 3rd Dynasty Egyptian papyrus as the earliest known recorded was indeed a disease of Egypt. Hypertension is common among Egyptians with 50% of Egyptians suffering from this disease. These are just two known diseases of Egypt recorded to substantiate what scripture tells us will and is happening as a result of not following G-d’s Torah. A couple of diseases not found in the Torah are the Spanish Flu of 1918, H5N1that first emerged in 1997 in Hong Kong known as the avian virus or bird flu; and most recently COVID-19 as it has spread to affecting people and not just animals. This is not to say that G-d “caused” these diseases and plagues, but that He is allowing them to affect organisms including humans where they may have originally been restricted to other hosts. The ultimate question is why would a G-d of love allow such things to occur? The answer is in this parashah and many other places in G-d’s Torah. The sins of man; individual and collective result in adverse consequences. Deut. 28:15 reads: “ But if you refuse to pay attention to what Adonai your G-d says, and do not observe and obey all his mitzvot [commands], and regulations be manifest because of which I am giving you today, then all the following curses will be your in abundance.” This may be summed up as a global rejection of G-d’s Torah, which is G-d’s Torah/instructions and not the Oral Torah that includes rabbinic law and the traditions of men. I strongly encourage you to read Deuteronomy 28:15-68 as there can be no doubt that G-d provides this warning for disobedience out of His love. When that love is rejected, the result can only be hurt and disaster.
Matthew 24:4-14 provides a summation of what is partially happening now, and what will happen in the near future. The end will not come until the Nations (Goyim) are informed about the Gospel or Good News about the Kingdom of G-d. What will follow is the Exodus from Jerusalem to Petra which is about 120 miles from Jerusalem. G-d will provide for His people at that time, and it will be limited for the sake of those who have been chosen (Matthew 24:22). With G-d’s strength, mercy, and provision, we will be able to hold out till the end (Matthew 24:13) no matter where we are at the time. After all, as long as we are alive on this earth, our purpose is to glorify G-d whether as a patient in a hospital, a prisoner, a refugee, or in any other situation G-d choose to place us. There are many things that must occur before the end, but we are closer than ever and must keep oil in our lamps (Matthew 25:13).
Having delineated the requirements for being chosen by G-d as a holy people, a unique treasure, Moshe instructed the people in the liturgies of two confessions and a reaffirmation of the covenant. Reciting these two confessions provided a way to acknowledge and worship G-d after they occupied the land of promise (26:1-19). Reciting these confessions, overt acts of dedication, and heartfelt worship, provided a continued consciousness of G-d as their provider, sustainer, and redeemer. These confessions were taught to each successive generation.
The occasion for the first confession (26:1-11) is the offering of the first fruits (Ex. 23:19;34;26) which occurred frequently throughout the year. A sheaf of first fruits was waved at the Feast of Unleavened Bread following Pesach (Lev. 23:10. The feast of weeks was also called “the day of firstfruits” (Num. 28:26). Since the grape harvest occurred later in the year, the first fruits of the vine had to be offered during the Feast of Tabernacles.
The offeror presented his basket of firstfruits to the priest and verbally acknowledged that he was now living in the land which G-d had promised to his fathers (26:3). The visit to the sanctuary was a confession and acknowledgement of G-d’s goodness. It was a time of rejoicing and praise acknowledging G-d’s provision for previous generations, and His sustaining mercy and provision for the current generation.
The second confession (26:12-150 is related to the third-year tithe to the poor and indigent in the community. This tithe was not brought to the sanctuary. Rather, it was distributed to the Levite, immigrants, orphans, and widows in the local communities. This tithe provided a way to show love and concern for his neighbor with material resources. After the offeror completed his task, he went to make a confession before G-d. This occurred at the end of the harvest, most likely during the Feast of Tabernacles when all of the tithe had been accounted for after the harvest was completed.
In this confession the offeror publicly acknowledged before G-d that he had given his tithe as instructed, giving to those of his community who were in need. Uncleanliness, offering to the dead, and defilement that surrounding pagan cultures often practiced were carefully avoided with the addition of verbally stating so as part of the confession (Lev. 22:3; Num. 19:11). After making the confession according to G-d’s instructions, the Israelite prayerfully asked G-d to bless his people and the land which G-d had provided in fulfillment of his oath to their forefathers (26:13-15). In this way, the Israelite openly confessed his total dependence on G-d and lived in accordance with G-d’s instructions and subsequently with the assurance of G-d’s continued blessing.
Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22.
This week’s haftarah is the sixth of a series of seven “Haftarot of Consolation.”
Isaiah recounts descriptions of what will unfold during the Redemption. Beginning with the resurrection of the dead and the ingathering of the exiles, the Jewish people (all true believers) will rejoice. Isaiah speaks of gifts that will be brought to G-d from all the nations of the world. The Jewish nation will no longer be despised and derided, there will no longer be violence or mourning, and G-d will shine His everlasting Light upon His people. This “Light” is of course Yahshua HaMashiach (Rev. 22:5). The bride (all true believers) will be married to her Groom (Yahshua) (Rev. 19:8), and they will live in the Father’s house forever (Psalm 23:6) Amein.
B’rit Chadashah: Romans 11:1-15
Sha’ul (Paul) tells the Messianic community in Rome that G-d has saved out 7,000 people who refused to submit to worship of Baal. This statement reflects back to the reign of Ahab and Jezebel that was one of the most depraved periods of the First Temple era. This couple introduced the worship of the idol Baal into the Kingdom of Israel and established it as the official state religion. We see similar things evolving in our society today. So apparently widespread did this Baal religion become that G-d told the prophet Elijah: But I will leave over in Israel seven thousand people, all the knees that did not kneel to the Baal and every mouth that did not kiss it.” (1 Kings 19:18). This is 7,000 out of several million! This takes us back to the discussion on social justice and the curses. There were only 7,000 people who stood up against the idea of idol worship and refused to tolerate it and give it social sanction. They were forced to go into hiding because of their voluble protest against the social acceptability of the practice. Everyone else silently tolerated it to their own destruction, the destruction of the first Temple, and the removal of the Shekinah from among the people.
Paul reminds us that there is a remnant in the present era chosen by grace for those who are observant out of love to G-d’s commands, laws, statutes, and rulings. The ones chosen have obtained it [grace], but the rest have been made stonelike as the Tanakh says, G-d has given them a spirit of dullness- eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, right down to the present day.’ Reflecting back to our parashah we are told the same thing: “Nevertheless, to this day Adonai has not given you a heart to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear! (Deut. 29:3). These statements in the Old and New Testaments validate the truth of G-d’s Torah and the reliability of His Word to the most empirically minded. Unfortunately, many people fall into the aforementioned population and simply cannot see or hear G-d because they are too self-absorbed with their perceived intellect. It is important for us to know that YHVH alone prepares the human heart to receive Him through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). We must be open to submission to His orders. Matthew 13:15 describes the status of people who are not ready to receive YHVH/Yahshua. People who barely hear and look but do not perceive the truths of YHVH/Yahshua, will subscribe to a misplaced fear that adversities and testing meant for our ultimate good are really some sort of punishment. It all seems a matter of timing as those who grow in their Torah study can attest. Individuals with an honest desire to ascend to G-d are led by the Ruach HaKodesh to learn something new every time they read Scripture. It is as if looking at a crystal from different angles in the light. This is because the timing must be right; the Ruach HaKodesh has perfect timing and knows when we are spiritually ready to learn another truth from G-d’s Torah. Our hearts must be prepared before we can understand (see and hear clearly) that which G-d has for us. As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, may we make a special effort to prepare ourselves to receive what G-d wants to teach us, that we may obtain full forgiveness from our fellow man and ultimately G-d while there is yet time.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart