Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
Deuteronomy 3:23–4:4
3:23 I begged Hashem at that time, saying, 24 “L-rd Hashem, You have begun to show your servant Your greatness, and Your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth that can do works like Yours, and mighty acts like Yours? 25 Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.”
26 But Hashem was angry with me because of you, and didn’t listen to me. Hashem said to me, “That is enough! Speak no more to me of this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But commission Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.
4:1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what Hashem did because of Baal Peor; for Hashem your Elohim has destroyed all the men who followed Baal Peor from among you. 4 But you who were faithful to Hashem your Elohim are all alive today.
Today’s Meditation:
Moses recounts his attempts to persuade Hashem to change His mind about entering the Holy Land of Israel. In fact, he says he begged him. But Hashem says not to talk about it anymore. And that he should commission Joshua to lead the people. It was sort of one last try. Have you ever done that with Hashem? Have you been punished for a sin or felt the consequences and begged Him to stop them? I think that once you have sinned, His hand is released regarding that issue. When we are obedient, His hand stays on us to protect, bless, and gift us. Which do you prefer?
Today’s Challenge:
Chapter 4 verses 1 and 2 are so powerful, “Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim which I command you.” It is so clear that we can not change the Law. We can’t add to it, subtract from it, or call it null and void.
I heard a protestant pastor say yesterday that the Law was obsolete. We no longer had to follow it. That we could go home and eat bacon sandwiches. But this verse is really powerful and tells us not to make any changes. My challenge to you today is to review whether you are adding or taking away from Torah. And if you find out you are doing this, stop it today. Go back to fully following the commands in Torah, to the best of your ability.
