Nitzavim-Vayelech - Reading #3

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Reading #3: Deuteronomy 30:7-14

My Thoughts:

Verse 8, “You shall return and obey Hashem’s voice…”. What are we returning from? It is simple. We are returning to Him from a godless, disobedient and rebellious life. We are returning to spiritual things that are wonderful, from a dark, callous world. We are returning to the Light from the darkness of evil. We must try and remember that He has so much and IS so much, and the earthly life we live is so selfish. We must make an effort every day to return to Him in all we do. To love Him with our whole heart and soul and strength. There is no other way to live. Amen.

Challenge:

To continue my thoughts above, in verse 10 we read we are to return to Hashem with “all your heart and with all your soul”. This is not just being flippant about how we serve Him -- but intentional. It is giving Him ALL we have within us! That’s the challenge today. Think about how you can give Hashem “your whole heart and soul”. Not just part of it, but all of it! Then we have the greatest blessing of all -- “Hashem will again rejoice over you for good”. Can you even begin to imagine what it means for Hashem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to rejoice over us? What does that look like? Does He smile or sing, does He speak kind words about us? Whatever He does, we look forward to being able to receive it. And we will do our part to follow Torah to the best of our ability. In every minute of every day. Amen.

Reading #3: Deuteronomy 30:7-14

7 Hashem your Elohim will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. 8 You shall return and obey Hashem's voice, and do all His commandments which I command you today. 9 Hashem your Elohim will make you prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, for good; for Hashem will again rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10 if you will obey Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if you turn to Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul.

11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too hard for you or too distant. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven, bring it to us, and proclaim it to us, that we may do it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us, bring it to us, and proclaim it to us, that we may do it?” 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

Nitzavim-Vayelech - Reading #2

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Reading #2: Deuteronomy 30:1-6

My Thoughts:

The idea here today is that if Hashem’s people are dispersed among the nations (as they have been) then they must “return” to Hashem with their whole heart and soul. When they do that, He will gather them from the nations (verses 2-3). In the 1940’s after World War 2 that is exactly what happened. People prayed, people returned to Hashem, the Holocaust was over and He brought them back to Israel. And now Hashem is restoring the country. However, there is a cost -- that is the people must serve only Him and not false gods. It is mandatory from Him, or else we will lose everything. We must pray every day that the people of Hashem will return their hearts to Hashem and love Him with their whole heart and soul (everything), as will the rest of the world.

Challenge:

In verse 5 we read “He will do you good”. What does that look like? Will He give you things, bless you with good health, give you good relationships -- a new car, house, job? I’m thinking it means just what it says, that He will be good to you. Maybe He will meet you in worship in a special way. Maybe He will speak to you in a small, still voice. Or maybe you will just feel content in knowing that He loves you. It doesn’t have to be material things, it can be beautiful spiritual things. That’s the kind of “good” I am looking and waiting for. My challenge to you is that you take a minute today and look at the “good” Hashem has given you. Then praise Him for it all. I see Him do “good” in my life, several times a day. Thank you Hashem!

Reading #2: Deuteronomy 30:1-6

30 It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where Hashem your Elohim has driven you, 2 and return to Hashem your Elohim and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that then Hashem your Elohim will release you from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where Hashem your Elohim has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there Hashem your Elohim will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. 5 Hashem your Elohim will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you will possess it. He will do you good, and increase your numbers more than your fathers. 6 Hashem your Elohim will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your offspring, to love Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Nitzavim-Vayelech - Reading #1

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Reading #1: Deuteronomy 29:9-28

My Thoughts:

Verse 9 reads, “...keep the words of this Covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” What does it mean to keep? Can we “keep” the Temple and priestly laws? No. But we can “keep” the rest, to the best of our ability. We can avoid unclean foods. We can honor and remember the Feasts. We can protect the Sabbath. And we can follow the rest (including the big ten)! When we do this, and Hashem does know our hearts -- we have the blessing of prosperity. That does not necessarily mean money. It could be wonderful children, a wonderful job and a wonderful house/car. It could also mean the best friendships and relationships. Most of all it could mean that we could be prosperous in our relationship with Hashem. That we could really get to know Him and His Torah. We could serve Him and love Him. True prosperity is in the heart. And it is a blessing only from Him. Amen!

Challenge:

In verse 10 we read, “All of you stand today in the presence of Hashem your Elohim…”. Were they really visibly seeing Hashem at this time? I don’t think so. But, because Moses who was speaking for Hashem and the community of the people standing together -- I believe Hashem was in their presence -- by His Spirit. So my challenge today is this. If they could be in His presence, maybe we could be in His presence also. Take a minute to think about what this would look like. Maybe through your worship, your prayer, your obedience or just taking a moment to be silent and talk to Him. You will get to know and become familiar when He is there. And when that happens, you will want to be with Him more. We are just getting reading on this planet for a time when we will be with Him always in the Olam Haba. Practice this now. Get to know Him now. Ask Him to come and visit you, walk with you and show you His ways. Amen.

Reading #1: Deuteronomy 29:9-28

Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. 10 All of you stand today in the presence of Hashem your Elohim: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the foreigners who are in the middle of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 that you may enter into the covenant of Hashem your Elohim, and into his oath, which Hashem your Elohim makes with you today, 13 that He may establish you today as His people, and that He may be your Elohim, as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 Neither do I make this covenant and this oath with you only, 15 but with those who stand here with us today before Hashem our Elohim, and also with those who are not here with us today 16 (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the middle of the nations through which you passed; 17 and you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them); 18 lest there should be among you man, woman, family, or tribe whose heart turns away today from Hashem your Elohim, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that produces bitter poison; 19 and it happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, “I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart,” to destroy the moist with the dry. 20 Hashem will not pardon him, but then Hashem’s anger and His jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book will fall on him, and Hashem will blot out his name from under the sky. 21 Hashem will set him apart for evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the law.

22 The generation to come—your children who will rise up after you, and the foreigner who will come from a far land—will say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses with which Hashem has made it sick, 23 that all of its land is sulfur, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, doesn’t produce, nor does any grass grow in it, like the overthrow of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which Hashem overthrew in His anger, and in His wrath. 24 Even all the nations will say, “Why has Hashem done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?”

25 Then men will say, “Because they abandoned the covenant of Hashem, the Elohim of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they didn’t know and that He had not given to them. 27 Therefore Hashem’s anger burned against this land, to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book. 28 Hashem rooted them out of their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and thrust them into another land, as it is today.”

Week #8 - Nitzavim-Vayelech

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Torah: Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Apostolic Scriptures: Luke 24:1-12, Luke 24:13-43

1: 29:9-28 · 20 p’sukim ·  

2: 30:1-6 · 6 p’sukim ·  

3: 30:7-14 · 8 p’sukim ·  

4: 30:15-31:6 · 12 p’sukim ·  

5: 31:7-13 · 7 p’sukim ·  

6: 31:14-19 · 6 p’sukim ·  

7: 31:20-30 · 11 p’sukim

Ki Tavo - Reading #7

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Isaiah 60:1-22

Matthew 4:13-24

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 29:1–8

My Thoughts:

In verse 6 we read that the Hebrew people had not eaten bread nor drank wine for 40 years. I did a little research on this, and it seems like the “manna” or “bread” from heaven was not leavened bread. It may have been a seeded type of wafer. But, think of this -- no bread or wine for 40 years. And then celebrating bread and wine at every meal has been a tradition ever since. He takes away and He gives you back. He does this to show that He is Elohim. And the really cool part is HE IS THE BREAD AND THE WINE. He is everything we need to live. Thank you Hashem!

Challenge:

In verse 5 we read, “I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not grown old on you, and your sandals have not grown old on your feet.” Isn’t that amazing. Hashem provided everything! Food, water, clothing and sandals. And they never wore out. I have a son-in-law that has saved his clothing from 25 years ago. The amazing thing is that it hasn’t worn out. But, in all fairness -- neither has he worn them every day, like the Hebrew people did. Imagine wearing shoes for forty years and they never, ever wear out! It truly is a miracle. My challenge today is that you think about how Hashem has always provided for you. You have never been for want -- right? Thank Him and praise Him. He is the giver of everything, He is the giver of life. Amen.

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 29:1–8

29:1 These are the words of the covenant which Hashem commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant which He made with them in Horeb. 2 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them:

Your eyes have seen all that Hashem did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; 3 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But Hashem has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, and ears to hear, to this day. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not grown old on you, and your sandals have not grown old on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am Hashem your Elohim. 7 When you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we struck them. 8 We took their land, and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of the Manassites.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

In verse 19 we read, “The sun will be no more your light by day; nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Hashem will be your everlasting light, and your Elohim will be your glory.” This is such an incredible prophecy. In the Olam Haba, the world to come, we will actually not need the sun or the moon --the glory of Hashem, His shekinah glory will fill the earth. His Light will fill the world and it will be wonderful. We have no idea how to imagine what this would be like. I believe to be in the presence of His glory will bring us prostrate. We will not be able to stand, just lay flat. We only see in part right now, but then we will see in full. And it will be totally amazing. Thank you Hashem!

Challenge:

In verse 5 we read how people will feel when they are “brought” back to Israel -- to the Land. Verse 5 reads, “Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you.” We will “reflect” HIs glorious light in our lives, in those days. We will be blessed with wealth from the nations. But, as I am reading this today, I think, “why can’t we reflect His light today?” And we should. We are to be a “light” to the nations. My challenge is to start being that “light” today. Let us prepare for His Light to go forth throughout the world. Let us start “shining” His light through all we do and say. Maybe we can begin to “light the way” for Hashem to come. Amen?

Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22

60:1  “Arise, shine; for your light has come,

    and Hashem’s glory has risen on you.

2 For, behold, darkness will cover the earth,

    and thick darkness the peoples;

but Hashem will arise on you,

    and His glory shall be seen on you.

3 Nations will come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your rising.

4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see:

    they all gather themselves together.

    They come to you.

Your sons will come from far away,

    and your daughters will be carried in arms.

5 Then you shall see and be radiant,

    and your heart will thrill and be enlarged;

because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you.

    The wealth of the nations will come to you.

6 A multitude of camels will cover you,

    the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.

All from Sheba will come.

    They will bring gold and frankincense,

    and will proclaim the praises of Hashem.

7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you.

    The rams of Nebaioth will serve you.

They will be accepted as offerings on my altar;

    and I will beautify my glorious house.

8 “Who are these who fly as a cloud,

    and as the doves to their windows?

9 Surely the islands will wait for me,

    and the ships of Tarshish first,

to bring your sons from far away,

    their silver and their gold with them,

for the name of Hashem your Elohim,

    and for the Holy One of Israel,

    because He has glorified you.

10 “Foreigners will build up your walls,

    and their kings will serve you:

for in my wrath I struck you,

    but in my favor I have had mercy on you.

11 Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.

12 For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

13 “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious.

14 The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you;

    and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet.

They will call you Hashem’s City,

    the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,

    so that no one passed through you,

I will make you an eternal excellency,

    a joy of many generations.

16 You will also drink the milk of the nations,

    and will nurse from royal breasts.

Then you will know that I, Hashem, am your Savior,

    your Redeemer,

    the Mighty One of Jacob.

17 For bronze I will bring gold;

    for iron I will bring silver;

    for wood, bronze,

    and for stones, iron.

I will also make peace your governor,

    and righteousness your ruler.

18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,

    nor desolation or destruction within your borders;

but you will call your walls Salvation,

    and your gates Praise.

19 The sun will be no more your light by day;

    nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you,

but Hashem will be your everlasting light,

    and your Elohim will be your glory.

20 Your sun will not go down any more,

    nor will your moon withdraw itself;

for Hashem will be your everlasting light,

    and the days of your mourning will end.

21 Then your people will all be righteous.

    They will inherit the land forever,

    the branch of my planting,

    the work of my hands,

    that I may be glorified.

22 The little one will become a thousand,

    and the small one a strong nation.

    I, Hashem, will do this quickly in its time.”

Apostolic Writing

My Thoughts:

What did Yeshua mean when He said, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Verse 11) Did He mean that He was bringing in the Kingdom? Was He? All that has been taught says He came to be crucified and when He was the Kingdom was “delayed”. My thought is that He did come to bring the Kingdom of Heaven. He taught Torah and His objective was to bring people back to Hashem. He knew if people did not quickly turn their hearts to Hashem, that the Temple was coming down, and the people would be dispersed. Could it be that if they would have not crucified Him -- the Temple would have stayed and He would have ushered in the Kingdom of Heaven. Something to think about.

Challenge:

In verse 23 we read, “Yeshua went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Yeshua was a Jewish Rabbi. He taught in the synagogues. He taught Torah and repentance. He taught about the Kingdom of Heaven. And we killed Him. The only begotten Son of Hashem. But, here is the real good news. The Mashiach will return to Jerusalem to the Temple, where He will rule and reign forever. Alongside the glory of Hashem will fill the earth. These are wonderful things to look forward to. Your challenge today -- study the words of Yeshua and try to reflect His teachings. All His teachings are about the heart of Torah, the heart of Hashem. If you follow Him and follow His teachings your life will be full, and you will have real hope for the Olam Haba (the world to come). Amen. 

Apostolic Writing: Matthew 4:13-24

4:13 Leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

    toward the sea, beyond the Jordan,

    Galilee of the Gentiles,

16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light;

    to those who sat in the region and shadow of death,

    to them light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:1-2

17 From that time, Yeshua began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

18 Walking by the sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”

20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

23 Yeshua went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 The report about Him went out into all Syria. They brought to Him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

Ki Tavo - Reading #6

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 28:7–69

My Thoughts:

Blessings and curses, that is today’s study. Chapter 28 is known for these. And the contingencies of each are clear. If you follow Him and His Commandments -- you are blessed. If you don’t, you are cursed. Look at verse 10. Here is a new promise, “All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by Hashem’s name, and they will be afraid of you.” How will they see you are “called” by “Hashem’s name”? I am thinking that your blessings will be so great and that you will ALL the glory to Hashem, that they will begin to see it is Him who gave it all to you. When they come to know the name of Hashem, then they will know it is He that called you! They will connect all the dots. And it will be obvious. That’s how I want to be and live. That I have followed Hashem with such excellence that His blessings will shine in my life and lead others to His name! Amen!

Challenge:

Verse 46 says that Hashem’s commandments and statutes, “They will be for a sign and for a wonder to you and to your offspring forever.” A sign because these commandments are unique only to Torah. And a wonder because they will be wonderful to follow and the blessings will astonish you. Don’t you want “signs and wonders” in your life? I do! Let’s commit to following Torah to the best we are able, and let’s start doing that today. That is my challenge for you. 

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 28:7–69

28:7 Hashem will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways. 8 Hashem will command the blessing on you in your barns, and in all that you put your hand to. He will bless you in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you. 9 Hashem will establish you for a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim and walk in His ways. 10 All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by Hashem’s name, and they will be afraid of you. 11 Hashem will grant you abundant prosperity in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give you. 12 Hashem will open to you His good treasure in the sky, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, and you will not borrow. 13 Hashem will make you the head, and not the tail. You will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Hashem your Elohim which I command you today, to observe and to do, 14 and shall not turn away from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

15 But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come on you and overtake you. 16 You will be cursed in the city, and you will be cursed in the field. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock will be cursed. 19 You will be cursed when you come in, and you will be cursed when you go out. 20 Hashem will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the evil of your doings, by which you have forsaken me. 21 Hashem will make the pestilence cling to you, until He has consumed you from off the land where you go in to possess it. 22 Hashem will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with fiery heat, with the sword, with blight, and with mildew. They will pursue you until you perish. 23 Your sky that is over your head will be bronze, and the earth that is under you will be iron. 24 Hashem will make the rain of your land powder and dust. It will come down on you from the sky, until you are destroyed. 25 Hashem will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You will be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 Your dead bodies will be food to all birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth; and there will be no one to frighten them away. 27 Hashem will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with the tumors, with the scurvy, and with the itch, of which you can not be healed. 28 Hashem will strike you with madness, with blindness, and with astonishment of heart. 29 You will grope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. You will only be oppressed and robbed always, and there will be no one to save you. 30 You will betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her. You will build a house, and you won’t dwell in it. You will plant a vineyard, and not use its fruit. 31 Your ox will be slain before your eyes, and you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be violently taken away from before your face, and will not be restored to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to save you. 32 Your sons and your daughters will be given to another people. Your eyes will look, and fail with longing for them all day long. There will be no power in your hand. 33 A nation which you don’t know will eat the fruit of your ground and all of your work. You will only be oppressed and crushed always, 34 so that the sights that you see with your eyes will drive you mad. 35 Hashem will strike you in the knees and in the legs with a sore boil, of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. 36 Hashem will bring you, and your king whom you will set over yourselves, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers. There you will serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where Hashem will lead you away. 38 You will carry much seed out into the field, and will gather little in, for the locust will consume it. 39 You will plant vineyards and dress them, but you will neither drink of the wine, nor harvest, because worms will eat them. 40 You will have olive trees throughout all your borders, but you won’t anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off. 41 You will father sons and daughters, but they will not be yours, for they will go into captivity. 42 Locusts will consume all of your trees and the fruit of your ground. 43 The foreigner who is among you will mount up above you higher and higher, and you will come down lower and lower. 44 He will lend to you, and you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

45 All these curses will come on you, and will pursue you and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you didn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to keep his commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 They will be for a sign and for a wonder to you and to your offspring forever. 47 Because you didn’t serve Hashem your Elohim with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; 48 therefore you will serve your enemies whom Hashem sends against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in lack of all things. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 Hashem will bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies: a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce facial expressions, that doesn’t respect the elderly, nor show favor to the young. 51 They will eat the fruit of your livestock and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed. They also won’t leave you grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your livestock, or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish. 52 They will besiege you in all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout all your land. They will besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land which Hashem your Elohim has given you. 53 You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Hashem your Elohim has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will distress you. 54 The man who is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye will be evil toward his brother, toward the wife whom he loves, and toward the remnant of his children whom he has remaining, 55 so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left to him, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye will be evil toward the husband that she loves, toward her son, toward her daughter, 57 toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of all things in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in your gates. 58 If you will not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, Hashem your Elohim 59 then Hashem will make your plagues and the plagues of your offspring fearful, even great plagues, and of long duration, and severe sicknesses, and of long duration. 60 He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of; and they will cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this law, Hashem will bring them on you until you are destroyed. 62 You will be left few in number, even though you were as the stars of the sky for multitude, because you didn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim voice. 63 It will happen that as Hashem rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so Hashem will rejoice over you to cause you to perish and to destroy you. You will be plucked from the land that you are going in to possess. 64 Hashem will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth. There you will serve other gods which you have not known, you nor your fathers, even wood and stone. 65 Among these nations you will find no ease, and there will be no rest for the sole of your foot; but Hashem will give you there a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and pining of soul. 66 Your life will hang in doubt before you. You will be afraid night and day, and will have no assurance of your life. 67 In the morning you will say, “I wish it were evening!” and at evening you will say, “I wish it were morning!” for the fear of your heart which you will fear, and for the sights which your eyes will see. 68 Hashem will bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I told to you that you would never see it again. There you will offer yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves, and nobody will buy you.

Ki Tavo - Reading #5

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 27:11–28:6

My Thoughts:

Here are some Commandments from Hashem. And following them comes a very special blessing in 28:2 “All these blessings will come upon you, and overtake you, if you listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice.” Isn’t that so amazing? That not only are you going to be blessed, but that the blessings will “overtake” you. That’s a lot of blessings! Have you ever been overtaken by anything? This is being taken by something really good, Hashem’s blessings. Common sense would tell me that if I only obey and listen to Hashem -- I will be super blessed. What’s so hard to understand about that? 

Challenge:

Verse 27:26 tells us what happens if we do NOT follow Hashem’s commandments, “Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.” Simply said, if you don’t do what He has told us to do, you will be cursed. Do we really understand the “weight” of these words? Do we really understand what being “cursed” means? Continuing on in Chapter 28 we will see. The results of the curse are explained. My point is this -- do we really want to be cursed? Or even this, do we believe that we will? I guess if you don’t believe in the one true Elohim, then you don’t believe that you can be cursed. That’s a real problem and that is exactly what is going on today. I live in a country that for the most part is ruled by “godless” people. People who do not believe or honor Hashem in any way, shape or form. And because of this our country is a total mess. In the truest sense we have been “cursed”. And we are on our own. My challenge to you today is to think about what you can do about this. How can you be a part of helping our country, our government and our people to return to Hashem? How can you help “reverse the curse”? The answer is simple. Pray and be a light to His truth. Pray that the people in the USA will return their hearts to Hashem. That they will start following and obeying Him. Then pray that He will return to us. Be a part of changing hearts by being a “light” to His truth and how by following Torah you are being blessed. It starts with you and me. It can begin today. 

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 27:11–28:6

11 Moses commanded the people the same day, saying, 12 “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel, 15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Hashem, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’

All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

17 ‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

18 ‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

24 ‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

25 ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

26 ‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

28:1 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all His commandments which I command you today, that Hashem your Elohim will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you, and overtake you, if you listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice. 3 You shall be blessed in the city, and you shall be blessed in the field. 4 You shall be blessed in the fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the fruit of your animals, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough shall be blessed. 6 You shall be blessed when you come in, and you shall be blessed when you go out.