Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 10:1–11
My Thoughts:
Hashem writes the Commandments on the stone -- a second time. Moses doesn’t try to correct the mistake of his people (the golden calf), he only begs for forgiveness. Hashem corrects the mistake (breaking of the first tablets) and writes them again. Can you imagine? Here Moses has first had a wonderful set of tablets which Hashem wrote with His finger. He gets angry and breaks them. And then Hashem writes a second set. That is such a testimony that our Elohim is full of second chances. We must never forget this. He seems to continue to love us no matter what. Amen.
Challenge:
Hashem wants a “house” for His Holy Commandments. He has Moses build a small ark to contain them. The ark protects them and preserves them. Just like Hashem asks Moses to build a Tabernacle. And inside the Holy of Holies is the “protected” Shekinah glory of Elohim. It shows that Hashem “guards” holy things and we should do the same. We should take good care of our Bibles and reverence them. Even though the material they are constructed of, is not necessarily “holy” the Words inside are. Today’s challenge is to make sure your Bible(s) are in a special place and that you take good care of it (them). Don’t pile other books on top of it. Don’t leave it outside in the rain, or in the bathroom. Remember that Hashem’s Words are holy and give you life. Protect and guard these Words - physically and in your heart.
Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 10:1–11
10:1 At that time Hashem said to me, “Cut two stone tablets like the first, and come up to me onto the mountain, and make an ark of wood. 2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.” 3 So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two stone tablets like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. 4 He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Hashem spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly; and Hashem gave them to me. 5 I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are as Hashem commanded me.
6 (The children of Israel traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his place. 7 From there they traveled to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water. 8 At that time Hashem set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of Hashem’s covenant, to stand before Hashem to minister to him, and to bless in His name, to this day. 9 Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; Hashem is his inheritance, according as Hashem your Elohim spoke to him.)
10 I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and Hashem listened to me that time also. Hashem would not destroy you. 11 Hashem said to me, “Arise, take your journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.”
