something on the Torah Portion weekly.
I did it less complicated so younger teens and kids could understand,
but with enough to make them think.
This is the first time I have done this so it may be simple. Remember that this is just a brief summary and that you MUST read it yourself!
For you that don't know what the Torah Portion is, it is a weekly portion that the Jewish people have done weekly since the Babylonian times. It gives us an opportunity every week
to reflect on 1 part of Scriptures every week.
For the verses to the week's Torah Portion Click here.
I will start with this week's Torah Portion, Va'etchanan.
Va'etchanan means, "I pleaded".
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
Chapter 3:23-29
Moses not allowed to go to Promised Land
Moses didn't get everything he wanted.
Because of his disobedience at the rock, YHVH would not let him in.
He pleaded 1 more time but YHVH said no.
But YHVH was still merciful to Moses by
letting him see the promised land before he died.
YHVH gave Joshua to be the leader after Moses died. Joshua was Moses's helper as well as one of the spies, and along with Caleb, were the only ones to go into the Promised Land from the previous generation.
Chapter 4:1-14
Moses Commands Obedience to YHVH
Moses, in his last days, taught the Children of Israel the commandments that YHVH gave to their fathers on Mt. Sinai. Moses may of done this because their fathers didn't teach them. Or he may of done it to remind them 1 last time of what YHVH had commanded them
before he died and to remind them to not forget what their Father's did.
Chapter 4:15-31
Idolatry Forbidden
Moses made a very BIG point here.
Because their fathers couldn't “see” YHVH,
they thought they needed something visual.
But that is the whole point!
YHVH wanted them to OBEY Him
and have FAITH that He is there, always.
YHVH loved Israel but they were the type of people that needed serious correction, like we do today. They were stubborn and rebellious.
That is why He had to warn them so seriously.
Chapter 4:32-40
YHVH Alone Is Elohim
They're is no other like YHVH, and there is no other people like Israel. YHVH showed Israel things that no other nation has seen, and yet they still disobeyed Him. He saved them from Egypt, yet they still complained. He gave them food to eat and water to drink, yet they still wanted more. He gave them His commands, and they made the golden calf.
But even through all that, and even though He destroyed
a generation of people because of their disobedience,
He still was merciful enough to allow their children a chance
to go to the Promised Land. What a mighty Yah we serve!
Chapter 4:41-43
Cities of Refuge
Again, another sign of YHVH's love and mercy.
YHVH is good all the time!
Chapter 4:44-49
Introduction to the Torah
Moses is about to reiterate the 10 Commandments(Words), the words which YHVH wrote on stone and what will be written on our hearts soon.
Chapter 5:1-33
The Ten Commandments(Words)
I find it very interesting how Moses begins this by telling them that this was their covenant, not their fathers. He may of said this because most of the commands were things that would be done in the land, or it may have been because they were the obedient ones while their fathers disobeyed.
My favorite command is the 4th commandment, the command of Shabbat. It is one of peace, perfectness, and rest.
One where there is no room for arguing or fighting.
One day where YHVH is always first and we are always last.
One day of knitting together with family. Shabbat, the day of YHVH.
YHVH talked to Israel but they believed that YHVH's voice was so powerful that they would die just hearing Him.
I wonder what YHVH sounds like...
Is it actually a voice, or is it a type of sound that penetrates your soul? When He was telling them His commands,
it must have been something amazing!
Chapter 6:1-25
The Greatest Commandment
The Shema. To do AND obey YHVH's command. The greatest command that Yahshua talked about. To love YHVH, to obey YHVH,
it is all in one. To give YHVH ALL your heart, soul, and might.
It should be the goal of our lives,
to show that we love YHVH by obeying His commandments.
And if we do obey Him, He has promised us SO much! Read vs. 10-11. He promises to give us things that we didn't even DO or MAKE!!
I found it very interesting though that after those verses
He gives a strict warning to not turn aside to other false gods.
YHVH may of did that to remind Israel(AGAIN) of their
forgetfulness and to keep showing them the straight path.
YHVH keeps saying again and again to pass these words and commands to the next generation. He knows how forgetful Israel was so He wanted them to teach their children as often as possible
before they forgot it and destroyed a whole generation.
Chapter 7:1-11
A Chosen People
YHVH in these first verses makes it very, very clear not to mix and mingle with the other pagan nations. Like then, we have to be careful not to mix and mingle with others. We are supposed to teach to good news of Messiah, not be taught the pagan ways of the nations.
YHVH makes it very clear what He is going to do if they don't.
We, Yisrael, are YHVH's chosen nation, a special treasure to His sight. As He loved Israel so much, He loves us so much. He gave them the Torah, and He gave us the living Torah, Yahshua the Messiah. We are His people as they were His people. All He asked us to do is trust and obey Him and He would give us EVERYTHING!!! Let us not be as the Israel of the past but rather let us take hold of what they missed out on,
the promise of an everlasting kingdom.
Shalom!
Christian Montanez Dodd
Servant and Emmisary of Yahshua, Child of YHVH
HalleluYAH!!