Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11
The Hebrew word, Va'etchanan means “and I pleaded”.
In this parashah we find that Moses is reviewing with the children of Israel their happenings in the 40 year wilderness. He is reminding them of many things and admonishing them about the future and their required obedience after possessing the land.
This portion begins with Moses re-telling of how he failed before Adonai when he struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock. The amazing thing is that Moses had interceded for the people to not be destroyed by Adonai because of their sin but here he is not able to repent and convince Adonai to let him enter the Promised Land. In verse 3:26 Adonai proclaims, “Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.” Adonai had made up His mind that Moses would not enter the Land.
Moses goes on from here to remind the people to listen intently to what Adonai commands them. He admonishes them over and over about the importance of listening to Almighty God. He commands them to be obedient to His voice.
He admonishes them to flee from idolatry of any kind. He reminds them of the ten words spoken at Mt. Sinai at the beginning of their journey.
The Shema is also found within this portion of scripture which is our watchword of faith. For more on the Shema please see my teaching on this subject.
I would specifically like to bring attention to chapter 7 verses 1-11. Here the people are reminded that they are a chosen people. As this chosen people they are to set themselves apart from all the nations around them. They are not to worship any of their gods in any manner. They are not to mingle with them in marriage. Mingling in marriage would be unequally yoked together. Being unequally yoked together is not a bi-racial thing. Two people can be of different races and marry so long as they worship the same YHVH God, but a follower of YHVH should never marry an unbeliever for scripture warns that this mingling will turn your heart away from the true and living God. Solomon made this mistake when he married all of those foreign women.
Also, YHVH reminds them that they did not choose Him but He chose them. Not because they were a great and mighty people, greater than the people groups around them, for He says they indeed were smaller in number, but He chose them out of His love for them. He chose them because of the covenant that He made with their fathers.
YHVH reminds them that He is a faithful God who would rather show mercy to a thousand generations than to destroy. The key is in obedience, as the closing verse states, “keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.”
The problem here was not an unfaithful God, but an unfaithful people. My friend, today's society would have you believe that there are many paths to God, but that would be a lie. There is only one path and that is the path of obedience to HIS COMMANDMENTS, STATUTES, AND JUDGMENTS. It has always been God's way, not our way! If we want to reach the promised land, we must “listen” and “obey”. This is the meaning of the word “shema”. (Verse 6:4)
Also, at this time In human history Adonai has sent His only Son to purchase our redemption. We must accept the blood sacrifice of His Son, Yeshua, and be obedient to reach our heavenly Father.
Yeshua stated that He was the only way to the Father and that He kept His Father’s commandments. We are to do the same.
Shalom,
Leisa
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