Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
Reading #3 - Deuteronomy 9:4–29
My Thoughts:
Hashem is reminding His people what really happened over the past 40 years. That it wasn’t all because of what they did but rather it was what the people in the Land neglected to do -- and that was to serve Hashem instead of false gods. We all have to be very careful that we do not go after false idols, and we do not forget where we came from. It is also important that we don’t “puff” ourselves up. It is important to be holy and in right relationship with Hashem. But, through it all we must remember that HE makes all the decisions, HE confirms all the plans, and HE owns all the cattle on the hills. All glory and credit, all worship, must go to HIM! Amen!
Challenge:
Moses falls on his face in prayer to ask Hashem to spare His people from His wrath. What a faithful intermediary for the people. I don’t know if they realized how he would stand in the gap for them -- so often. Or did they appreciate his thoughtfulness and how he would go to their defense? Think of a leader in your life that has defended you and stood up for you. Have you thanked him/her and recognized their helpfulness? That’s today’s challenge. Think hard about who always is there for you, who defends you and protects you. Tell them how grateful you are for him/her. And thank Hashem that He has put them in your life. Don’t delay. Hashem’s Word tends to be super timely. Amen.
Reading #3 - Deuteronomy 9:4–29
Don’t say in your heart, after Hashem your Elohim has thrust them out from before you, “For my righteousness Hashem has brought me in to possess this land;” because Hashem drives them out before you because of the wickedness of these nations. 5 Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Hashem your Elohim does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which Hashem swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 6 Know therefore that Hashem your Elohim doesn’t give you this good land to possess for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. 7 Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked Hashem your Elohim to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Hashem. 8 Also in Horeb you provoked Hashem to wrath, and Hashem was angry with you to destroy you. 9 When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant which Hashem made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 Hashem delivered to me the two stone tablets written with God’s finger. On them were all the words which Hashem spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly.
11 It came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights that Hashem gave me the two stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant. 12 Hashem said to me, “Arise, get down quickly from here; for your people whom you have brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned away from the way which I commanded them. They have made a molten image for themselves!”
13 Furthermore Hashem spoke to me, saying, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 14 Leave me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under the sky; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.”
15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. The two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Hashem your Elohim. You had made yourselves a molded calf. You had quickly turned away from the way which Hashem had commanded you. 17 I took hold of the two tablets, and threw them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes. 18 I fell down before Hashem, as at the first, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you sinned, in doing that which was evil in Hashem’s sight, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which Hashem was angry against you to destroy you. But Hashem listened to me that time also. 20 Hashem was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that descended out of the mountain. 22 At Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth Hattaavah you provoked Hashem to wrath. 23 When Hashem sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, “Go up and possess the land which I have given you,” you rebelled against the commandment of Hashem your Elohim, and you didn’t believe him or listen to his voice. 24 You have been rebellious against Hashem from the day that I knew you. 25 So I fell down before Hashem the forty days and forty nights that I fell down, because Hashem had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed to Hashem, and said, “L-rd Hashem, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance that you have redeemed through your greatness, that you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Don’t look at the stubbornness of this people, nor at their wickedness, nor at their sin, 28 lest the land you brought us out from say, ‘Because Hashem was not able to bring them into the land which he promised to them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’ 29 Yet they are your people and your inheritance, which you brought out by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm.”
