Ekev - Day #2

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

8:11 Beware lest you forget Hashem your Elohim, in not keeping His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command you today; 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with venomous snakes and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who poured water for you out of the rock of flint; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn’t know, that He might humble you, and that He might prove you, to do you good at your latter end; 17 and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” 18 But you shall remember Hashem your Elohim, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is today.

19 It shall be, if you shall forget Hashem your Elohim, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations that Hashem makes to perish before you, so you shall perish, because you wouldn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice.

9:1 Hear, Israel! You are to pass over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to the sky, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” 3 Know therefore today that Hashem your Elohim is He who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them, and He will bring them down before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Hashem has spoken to you.

Today’s Meditation:

He goes before us. What need have we to worry about? Only there is a contingency in there. You have to keep His commandments, ordinances, and statutes. This theme is continuous throughout the book of Deuteronomy. It’s simple: obey and be blessed, disobey and suffer punishment. Look what 9:3 says, “Know therefore today that Hashem your Elohim is He who goes over before you as a devouring fire.” Not only will He protect you, but He will devour anything in His way. There is no greater protection in all the universe than this. Do you want Hashem to go before you in all you do? We all do, but it requires obedience.

Today’s Challenge:

This portion starts out with a pretty heavy-duty warning. In verse 11, we read, ”Beware lest you forget Hashem your Elohim.” And it goes on to say that when things are going really well, you have all the food, housing, jobs, everything you need, then you might forget Hashem. Is that possible? You know it is. I think of the times when things are going really well, and I might not spend so much time in prayer as I do when they are not. These are the times we are to praise Him, worship Him, and spend time praying for and helping those in need. That’s your challenge today. If you are in a good spot and have most of what you need, take some time to praise Hashem. Tell Him how much you love Him and adore Him. Try to find a way to help others who need it. 

Ekev - Day #1

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

7:12 It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Hashem your Elohim will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which He swore to your fathers. 13 He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You will be blessed above all peoples. There won’t be male or female barren among you, or among your livestock. 15 Hashem will take away from you all sickness; and He will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you. 16 You shall consume all the peoples whom Hashem your Elohim shall deliver to you. Your eye shall not pity them. You shall not serve their gods; for that would be a snare to you. 17 If you shall say in your heart, “These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?” 18 You shall not be afraid of them. You shall remember well what Hashem your Elohim did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which Hashem your Elohim brought you out. So shall Hashem your Elohim do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover, Hashem your Elohim will send the hornet among them, until those who are left, and hide themselves, perish from before you. 21 You shall not be scared of them; for Hashem your Elohim is among you, a great and awesome Elohim. 22 Hashem your Elohim will cast out those nations before you, little by little. You may not consume them at once, lest the animals of the field increase on you. 23 But Hashem your Elohim will deliver them up before you, and will confuse them with a great confusion, until they are destroyed. 24 He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish from under the sky. No one will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them. 25 You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim. 26 You shall not bring an abomination into your house and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it. You shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.

8:1 You shall observe to do all the commandments which I command you today, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Hashem swore to your fathers. 2 You shall remember all the way which Hashem your Elohim has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that He might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Hashem’s mouth. 4 Your clothing didn’t grow old on you, nor did your foot swell, these forty years. 5 You shall consider in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so Hashem your Elohim disciplines you. 6 You shall keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. 7 For Hashem your Elohim brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey; 9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarcity, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. 10 You shall eat and be full, and you shall bless Hashem your Elohim for the good land which He has given you.

Today’s Meditation:

Ever wonder why Hashem gave the Hebrew people manna all those years in the desert? Here is your answer in 8:3 “He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that He might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Hashem’s mouth.” Wow. He taught them not to worry about the bread they were eating, but to depend on His Word instead. And as we know, He actively spoke to them through Moses. Hashem brought many miracles into existence, and the people saw them. Even the manna was a huge miracle. We must learn that the Torah is Hashem’s spoken Word and His commandments are to be heeded. All glory and honor go to Him. Our one true Elohim.

Today’s Challenge:

Hashem teaches people that if they are obedient, many good things will happen to them. Including in verse 14 that they will be “blessed above all peoples” and “there won’t be male or female barren among you”. A few years ago, a friend of mine got married and was having difficulty conceiving. I began praying this prayer over their lives, and soon she became pregnant. It was a miracle. The doctors had told her she could not have children, and she did. Hashem’s promises are real. If you are trying to get pregnant or know someone who is, my challenge to you is to start praying this Scripture over their lives. But first, pray that they will follow and obey Torah. Then pray that Hashem will bless the fruit of their womb.

Va'etchanan - Day #7

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26

Shabbat: Deuteronomy 7:1–11

7:1 When Hashem your Elohim brings you into the land where you go to possess it, and casts out many nations before you—the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—seven nations greater and mightier than you; 2 and when Hashem your Elohim delivers them up before you, and you strike them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them. 3 You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son. 4 For that would turn away your sons from following Me, that they may serve other gods. So Hashem’s anger would be kindled against you, and He would destroy you quickly. 5 But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to Hashem your Elohim. Hashem your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 Hashem didn’t set His love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples; 8 but because Hashem loves you, and because He desires to keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, Hashem has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that Hashem your Elohim Himself is Elohim, the faithful Elohim, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments, 10 and repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him who hates Him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which I command you today, to do them.

Today’s Meditation:

Verse 7 and 8 are really powerful, “Hashem didn’t set His love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples; but because Hashem loves you, and because He desires to keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, Hashem has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” He chose His people because He loved them and had made a huge promise to them (for the land and for multiplication). Sometimes it is so hard to grasp that, with all our actions and behavior, Hashem would love us, yet He apparently does. We see it in Torah over and over: people make mistakes, Hashem forgives them (usually with a punishment or consequence), and He continues His path of miracles through His people. Never think for once that Hashem does not love you because of something you have done or that you are not worthy. You are His creation, and He has a very special plan for you.

Today’s Challenge:

Rarely do we see verses that describe how Hashem feels or what He does when people hate Him. But, we do see it today in verse 10, “He will not be slack to him who hates Him. He will repay him to his face.” It sounds like He is not going to dismiss hatred lightly. That there will be consequences. The biggest punishment we know is that people who do not love or serve Hashem will be eternally separated from Him. That sounds like the worst possible consequence. Your challenge today is to look around you at those people you know who do not have a relationship with Hashem, the one true Elohim. See if you can start speaking positive, spiritual words into their lives. Try to be a light to them regarding Hashem and Torah. This could be very positive and change their lives.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1

40:1 “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your Elohim. 2 “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Hashem’s hand double for all her sins.”

3 The voice of one who calls out,

    “Prepare the way of Hashem in the wilderness!

    Make a level highway in the desert for our Elohim.

4 Every valley shall be exalted,

    and every mountain and hill shall be made low.

    The uneven shall be made level,

    and the rough places are a plain.

5 Hashem’s glory shall be revealed,

    and all flesh shall see it together;

    for the mouth of Hashem has spoken it.”

6 The voice of one saying, “Cry!”

    One said, “What shall I cry?”

“All flesh is like grass,

    and all its glory is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers,

    the flower fades,

    because Hashem’s breath blows on it.

    Surely the people are like grass.

8 The grass withers,

    the flower fades;

    but the word of our Elohim stands forever.”

9 You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.

    You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength!

    Lift it up! Don’t be afraid!

    Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your Elohim!”

10 Behold, the Adonai Hashem will come as a mighty one,

    and His arm will rule for Him.

Behold, His reward is with Him,

    and His recompense before Him.

11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd.

    He will gather the lambs in His arms,

    and carry them in his bosom.

    He will gently lead those who have their young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

    and marked off the sky with his span,

    and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket,

    and weighed the mountains in scales,

    and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has directed Hashem’s Spirit,

    or has taught him as his counselor?

14 Who did he take counsel with,

    and who instructed him,

    and taught him in the path of justice,

    and taught him knowledge,

    and showed him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket,

    and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance.

    Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.

16 Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,

    nor its animals sufficient for a burnt offering.

17 All the nations are like nothing before Him.

    They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and vanity.

18 To whom then will you liken Elohim?

    Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

19 A workman has cast an image,

    and the goldsmith overlays it with gold,

    and casts silver chains for it.

20 He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot.

    He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved.

21 Haven’t you known?

    Haven’t you heard?

    Haven’t you been told from the beginning?

    Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,

    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

    who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

    and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in,

23 who brings princes to nothing,

    who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.

24 They are planted scarcely.

    They are sown scarcely.

    Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground.

    He merely blows on them, and they wither,

    and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.

25 “To whom then will you liken Me?

    Who is My equal?” says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high,

    and see who has created these,

    who brings out their army by number.

    He calls them all by name.

    by the greatness of His might,

    and because He is strong in power,

    not one is lacking.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

Verse 5 reveals Hashem’s plan for the future: “Hashem’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” In the Olam Haba (the world to come), there won’t be any doubt about whether Hashem exists; everyone will see Him and His glory. There will be no excuse, no escape. This is a promise. It is prophesied repeatedly in the Tanakh. There is this knowledge for those of us who love Him and serve Him. We won’t always live on a corrupt and sinful planet. There is His plan for a future place. A place with Him and His Glory. Take some time to prepare for this Place. Try to make sure you are right with Him.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

In verse 21, we are reminded of Hashem and who He is,  “Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? Haven’t you been told from the beginning? Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth?” There is no reason that a person should not know about Hashem. We have had His Torah from the beginning. And in our lives, it is at our fingertips. We can read it online or have written copies at home and in synagogues. We can know about Hashem because we have heard about Him. No excuses. Your challenge today is to check your heart. Run a spiritual EKG and see what your heartbeat is. Are you looking out just for yourself—or do you choose to serve the Holy One and go with His plan?

Va'etchanan - Day #6

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Deuteronomy 6:4–25

6:4 Hear, Israel: Hashem is our Elohim. Hashem is one. 5 You shall love Hashem your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

10 It shall be, when Hashem your Elohim brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities which you didn’t build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full; 12 then beware lest you forget Hashem, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear Hashem your Elohim; and you shall serve Him, and shall swear by His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, 15 for Hashem your Elohim among you is a jealous Elohim, lest the anger of Hashem your Elohim be kindled against you, and He destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 You shall not tempt Hashem your Elohim, as you tempted Him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He has commanded you. 18 You shall do that which is right and good in Hashem’s sight, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which Hashem swore to your fathers, 19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Hashem has spoken.

20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Hashem your Elohim has commanded you, mean?” 21 Then you shall tell your son, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. Hashem brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; 22 and Hashem showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes; 23 and He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore to our fathers. 24 Hashem commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Hashem your Elohim, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as we are today. 25 It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all these commandments before Hashem your Elohim, as He has commanded us.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today we read the “Shema” (hear). A prayer that is recited several times a day in Judaism, and those of us who have attached to Israel. It is said that Jewish people would want this particular prayer on their lips when they die. It is the heart of Torah. We are to love and obey Hashem with everything we have and place His Torah in our hearts. We are to teach it to our children so it continues on through the generations. We are to know that He is One, that there are no other gods. If we believe this, we will have eternal life. If you haven’t already memorized this prayer in both English and Hebrew, I encourage you to do so today. Put it on a note card by your bed and on your refrigerator, and go over it repeatedly until you have it memorized. Continue to pray it daily. It will remind you who Hashem is and why you serve Him.

Today’s Challenge:

Are you looking for how to be holy and righteous before Hashem? We have the answer in verse 25, “It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all these commandments before Hashem your Elohim, as He has commanded us.” Holiness is obeying His commandments. To not do so is sin and unholiness. How can you say you are not sinning unless you know what sin is? That is why we must learn and study Torah. Yes, many of the commandments do not apply today because we do not have a Temple, and none of us are currently priests. But many of them do apply and direct our lives. That is one reason to go through the portions every day. To learn what sin is and what it is not. Your challenge today is to read and study the Torah portions. Learn Torah and do it, so that you may have life.