Vayelech וַיֵּלֶךְ - And He Went
Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30
Haftarah Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27
Apostolic Reading Matthew 21:9-17
Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 31:25–30
My Thoughts:
Moses seems anxious about how the Israelites will fare after his death. In verse 29 he says, “For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves…”. How sad is this? After 40 years of substantial miracles and witnesses of Hashem’s power and glory, the chosen people are still disobeying Him. What is it about humankind that just can’t seem to get it together? How could they have looked upon the pillar of the cloud in the day and the pillar of fire at night? Wouldn’t that miracle alone (His presence) be enough in your life to want to stay on your knees day and night? Why are we so weak? Even today, look at the world. It is crazy. Right is wrong and wrong is right. We are so upside down. Those of us who profess to know Hashem and love Him -- still disobey Him and sin. The beauty of it all is teshuvah. As we are in the ten days of awe leading to Yom Kippur, we must repent and turn around. When we turn around we don’t look back. We must become “lights” for Hashem for the rest of the world. So that He wants to send the Mashiach. Right?
Challenge:
The book of the Law in verse 25 reminds them (us) about how to live. It is a witness. That’s why they carry it in the ark. It needs to be with them at all times. Just like now. We need the Torah by our side every day. It needs to be in plain view where we can study it and learn from it. That is the advantage of doing the daily reading schedule. It is always in your life -- every day. And that is my challenge to you today. Make a promise to yourself that as the new Torah cycle begins (after Sukkot) that you will immerse yourself. Pick a time every day to study and if you happen to miss a study, make it up. Get yourself a journal to record your thoughts. Let the Torah speak to you in powerful ways each day. Remember it is life!
Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 31:25–30
31:25 Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of Hashem’s covenant, saying, 26 “Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of Hashem your Elohim’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Hashem. How much more after my death? 28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in Hashem’s sight, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.”
30 Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.
Haftarah
My Thoughts:
Micah 7:8 contains a beautiful passage, “Who is an Elohim like You, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of His heritage? He doesn’t retain His anger forever,because He delights in loving kindness. ” When we were reading the Torah today we saw how Moses predicted the failure of his people. But, even when we fail -- Hashem is there to forgive us. He actually will “pass over” our disobedience. He doesn’t stay mad for long. This is because He is a kind and loving Elohim! I’m sure you have seen evidence of this in your life. You have done dumb things, confessed and really felt like Hashem has forgiven you. Because He has! Think about it. We should be more like Him. When people do things to upset us and make us angry, we should show loving kindness instead of retaliation! We need to forgive and make things right. When we do this the world will be such a better place. Remember it starts with you and me.
Challenge:
In Joel 2:27 we read, “You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Hashem, your Elohim, and there is no one else; My people will never again be disappointed.” What a wonderful promise! We must remember there is no other Elohim, but Hashem! His presence will be known in Israel and around the world. And when that happens there will be no more sin, no more tears, no more wars, no more disappointment. My challenge to you is let us try to be like that now. Let’s try hard to show the world that Hashem is perfect and loving and kind. That we can cast our burdens upon Him and He will carry them for us. Let us try to portray to the world that by following the one true Elohim, that joy and peace will follow. Be that today, and I will join you.
Haftarah Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27
Hosea 14:2-10
2 Take words with you, and return to Hashem.
Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,
and accept that which is good:
so we offer our lips like bulls.
3 Assyria can’t save us.
We won’t ride on horses;
neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’
for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”
4 “I will heal their waywardness.
I will love them freely;
for my anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel.
He will blossom like the lily,
and send down his roots like Lebanon.
6 His branches will spread,
and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 Men will dwell in his shade.
They will revive like the grain,
and blossom like the vine.
Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols?
I answer, and will take care of him.
I am like a green cypress tree;
from me your fruit is found.”
9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things?
Who is prudent, that he may know them?
For the ways of Hashem are right,
and the righteous walk in them;
But the rebellious stumble in them.
Micah 7:18-20
8 Who is an Elohim like you, who pardons iniquity,
and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of His heritage?
He doesn’t retain His anger forever,
because He delights in loving kindness.
19 He will again have compassion on us.
He will tread our iniquities under foot;
and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20 You will give truth to Jacob,
and mercy to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
Joel 2:15-27
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Sanctify a fast.
Call a solemn assembly.
16 Gather the people.
Sanctify the assembly.
Assemble the elders.
Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts.
Let the bridegroom go out of his room,
and the bride out of her room.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of Hashem, weep between the porch and the altar,
and let them say, “Spare your people, Hashem,
and don’t give your heritage to reproach,
that the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their Elohim?’”
18 Then Hashem was jealous for His land,
And had pity on His people.
19 Hashem answered His people,
“Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied with them;
and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
20 But I will remove the northern army far away from you,
and will drive it into a barren and desolate land,
its front into the eastern sea,
and its back into the western sea;
and its stench will come up,
and its bad smell will rise.”
Surely He has done great things.
21 Land, don’t be afraid.
Be glad and rejoice, for Hashem has done great things.
22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field;
for the pastures of the wilderness spring up,
for the tree bears its fruit.
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23 “Be glad then, you children of Zion,
and rejoice in Hashem, your Elohim;
for He gives you the early rain in just measure,
and He causes the rain to come down for you,
the early rain and the latter rain,
as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of wheat,
and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar,
my great army, which I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied,
and will praise the name of Hashem, your Elohim,
who has dealt wondrously with you;
and My people will never again be disappointed.
27 You will know that I am among Israel,
and that I am Hashem, your Elohim, and there is no one else;
and my people will never again be disappointed.
Apostolic Reading
My Thoughts:
In today’s reading we learn how Yeshua did not tolerate sin. Selling anything in the temple was of course forbidden. The temple was the place where Hashem would dwell. There was not to be bartering and exchanging of money and all. How could people get to this point? How could they dishonor the presence of Hashem? Yeshua came to bring people back to Hashem. To remind them of Torah and the commandments. He told the people that if they loved Him they would follow His commandments. That is so true. If we really love Hashem we would delight in following Torah. It would not be drudgery or a burden. It is a blessing and it is life. Let us not become like the “money-changers” in the temple, forgetting the presence and power of Elohim. Let’s be more like Yeshua and remind the world of what is right.
Challenge:
Why were the priests “indignant” that Yeshua was healing people in the temple. Apparently there were people coming to the temple that NEEDED healing! They needed a touch from Hashem. They needed restoration. Yeshua was Hashem’s vehicle to bring that touch. Were the priests jealous, confused, low on faith? Whatever reason that made them so skeptical of Yeshua and who He was, it did not end up well. Yeshua was killed and the temple destroyed. Two huge losses. But here lies the hope. We know from the Torah that the Mashiach will come. That He will rule in the final Temple, where the glory of Hashem goes forth to the world. That is my challenge to you today. Start being used by Hashem to give a “touch” to others. This may be praying for them, helping them or studying Torah with them. Don’t worry about the “priests” around you who don’t understand what you are doing. Just follow Hashem and do what He tells you. We want Mashiach to return. We want the glory of Hashem to fill the earth. So let’s start “doing” Torah for those around us. Let us help to prepare the world for the Olam Haba! Amen!
Apostolic Reading Matthew 21:9-17
9 The multitudes who went in front of Him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
10 When He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
11 The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Yeshua, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
12 Yeshua entered into the temple of Elohim and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”Jeremiah 7:11
14 The lame and the blind came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and said to Him, “Do you hear what these are saying?”
Yeshua said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies, you have perfected praise?’”
17 He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.
