Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In
Torah Portion:
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22
Shabbat: 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.
Today’s Meditation:
In verse 6, we read that the Hebrew people had not eaten bread nor drunk wine for 40 years. I did a little research on this, and 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. 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 great part is, really, He is the bread and the wine. He is everything we need to live.
Today’s 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 who has saved his clothing from 25 years ago. The fantastic thing is that it hasn’t worn out. But, in all fairness, neither has he worn them every day, as the Hebrew people did. Imagine wearing shoes for forty years and never, ever having them wear out. It truly is a miracle. My challenge today is to reflect on how Hashem has always provided for you. You have never been for want, right? It is time to thank Him and praise Him. He is the giver of everything. He is the giver of life.
This Week’s 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 anymore,
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.”
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
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 what this would be like. I believe that being in the presence of His glory will lay us prostrate. We will not be able to stand; just lie flat. We currently see only part of it, but we will see the whole picture soon. And it will be totally amazing.
Today’s Haftarah 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 begin shining His light through all we do and say, and light the way for Hashem to come.
