Ekev - Reading #6

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 11:10–21

My Thoughts:

Do you want to take care of your own property (land) or would you prefer Hashem to care for it. Because today in verses 11 and 12 we learn that the Israelites are not going to have to tend the Land of Israel, but Hashem, Himself will bring rain from the sky and take care of it. But, there is always a contingency. And that is obedience to His Commandments. We read about this in verses 13 and 14, “It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my commandments which I command you today, to love Hashem your Elohim, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,  that I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” It is always His agreement with us to obey and be blessed, or disobey and not be blessed. When Adam and Eve did not follow Hashem’s commands in the garden, they were not blessed and had to leave the presence of Elohim. I don’t think we really realize that when we sin there is a consequence. Yes we repent and make things right, but there will still be a form of “punishment” or withdrawal of blessing that will occur. If you are reading this then you already have experienced it. Is that right?

Challenge:

The challenge today is to examine your life. Clean up your “garden” and ask Hashem to tend to it now. You could pray something like this, “Hashem I love you so much. I am very sorry for disobeying your commandment of ___________. Please forgive me. I will try to make things right, but I need your help. Will you please assist me in living the pure and holy life? Will you please teach me your ways? Will you please put mentors and G-dly people in my life to associate with? Thank you Hashem. Amen.” Do this today. You want His rain in your garden, not water from the well that man dug.

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 11:10–21

11:10 For the land, where you go in to possess isn’t like the land of Egypt that you came out of, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs; 11 but the land that you go over to possess is a land of hills and valleys which drinks water from the rain of the sky, 12 a land which Hashem your Elohiim cares for. Hashem your Elohiim’s eyes are always on it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year. 13 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my commandments which I command you today, to love Hashem your Elohim, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 that I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 I will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. 16 Be careful, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn away to serve other gods and worship them; 17 and Hashem’s anger be kindled against you, and He shut up the sky so that there is no rain, and the land doesn’t yield its fruit; and you perish quickly from off the good land which Hashem gives you. 18 Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates; 21 that your days and your children’s days may be multiplied in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

Ekev - Reading #5

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

My Thoughts:

If you are wondering what Hashem requires of you to be in His presence, the answer is clearly written today in verse 10:12 “Now, Israel, what does Hashem your Elohim require of you, but to fear Hashem your Elohim to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, to keep Hashem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good?” Walk, love, serve and keep His Commandments. That’s it. Do this and you will be in His presence. Don’t do it and you will not. I love this portion today. It answers so many questions.

Challenge:

There are not too many verses on heaven, but here is one today in verse 10:14, “Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth with all that is therein.” Our Elohim is master over heaven and earth. What we want is to be with Him (and His Son the Messiah Yeshua) -- forever. If you read the verses above, then you will know what is required of you. Your challenge today is to think about heaven. Do some studying on it (I have challenged this for you before). Figure out how you get your name in the Book of Life. It will give you a lot of peace.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

10:12 Now, Israel, what does Hashem your Elohim require of you, but to fear Hashem your Elohim to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 to keep Hashem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good? 14 Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein. 15 Only Hashem had a delight in your fathers to love them, and He chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. 17 For Hashem your Elohim, He is Elohim of gods and L-rd of lords, the great G-d, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing. 19 Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear Hashem your Elohim You shall serve Him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by His name. 21 He is your praise, and He is your Elohim, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Hashem your Elohim has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.

11 Therefore you shall love Hashem your Elohim, and keep His instructions, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments, always. 2 Know this day—for I don’t speak with your children who have not known, and who have not seen the chastisement of Hashem your Elohim, His greatness, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm, 3 His signs, and His works, which He did in the middle of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to all His land; 4 and what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots; how He made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued you, and how Hashem has destroyed them to this day; 5 and what He did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place; 6 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel; 7 but your eyes have seen all of Hashem’s great work which He did.

8 Therefore you shall keep the entire commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land that you go over to possess; 9 and that you may prolong your days in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Ekev - Reading #4

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.”

Ekev - Reading #3

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.”

Ekev - Reading #2

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #2 - Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

My Thoughts:

He goes before us. What need have we to worry about? Only there is a “but” in there. But, 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, but this. Do you want Hashem to go before you in all you do? I do. The answer. Pray and obey.

Challenge:

Wow 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 and worship Him and spend time praying for others who are in need. That’s your challenge today. If you are in a good spot and have most everything you have, take some time to praise Hashem. Tell Him how much you love Him and adore Him. And thank Him for all He has provided for you. Thank you Hashem!

Reading #2 - 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.

Ekev - Reading #1

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #1 - Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

My Thoughts:

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 to not 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 spoke into existence many miracles and the people saw this. 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!

Challenge:

Hashem is teaching the 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 back a friend of mine had gotten married and they were having a difficult time conceiving a child. I began to pray this prayer over their lives and soon she got 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 they will follow and obey Torah. Then pray that Hashem will bless the fruit of their womb. Praise Him!

Reading #1 - 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 an 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, neither 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.

Ekev - Week #3

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Matthew 16:13-20

1.1 First reading — Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

1.2 Second reading — Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

1.3 Third reading — Deuteronomy 9:4–29

1.4 Fourth reading — Deuteronomy 10:1–11

1.5 Fifth reading — Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

1.6 Sixth reading — Deuteronomy 11:10–21

1.7 Seventh reading — Deuteronomy 11:22–25