V'Zot HaBerachah - Reading #5

V'Zot HaBerachah וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה - And this is the blessing

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 33:22–26

My Thoughts:

Moses continues to bless the tribes. What a beautiful Scripture in verse 26, “There is no one like Elohim, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, in His excellency on the skies.” Jeshurun is a poetic name for Israel and means, “Dear upright people”. It is Hashem’s hope all along that His people will be upright, honest, and righteous, following Him and Torah. Israel, His people, and Torah are to be a light to the nations.  Let us pray for Israel and its people, that we may all seek after Hashem wholeheartedly and remain His “Jeshurun”. Hashem, please forgive us all for our sins.

Challenge:

In verse 23, we read, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of Hashem’s blessing…”.  What an incredible blessing. Don’t you want to be full of Hashem’s blessing? How would we achieve this? That is my challenge to you today: think about what you can do, or who you can be, that would warrant Hashem filling you with His blessings. We know that the Torah provides many verses about being blessed, and it always precedes the understanding that one must follow the Torah, love Hashem, and love others. If you want to be filled with His blessings today, review your daily life and ensure you are pursuing Hashem. If you aren’t, then make the changes necessary today. Repent, teshuvah, and make restitution. Love Hashem with your heart, soul, and being.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 33:22–26

33:22 About Dan, he said,

“Dan is a lion’s cub

    that leaps out of Bashan.”

23 About Naphtali, he said,

“Naphtali, satisfied with favor,

    full of Hashem’s blessing,

    Possess the west and the south.”

24 About Asher, he said,

“Asher is blessed with children.

    Let him be acceptable to his brothers.

    Let him dip his foot in oil.

25 Your bars will be iron and bronze.

    As your days, so your strength will be.

26 “There is no one like Elohim, Jeshurun,

    who rides on the heavens for your help,

    in His excellency on the skies.

Ha'Azinu - Reading #5

Today is Yom Kippur. "For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before Elohim." Leviticus 16:30

G'mar chatimah tovah - May you be sealed for a good year in the Book of Life!

Ha'Azinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 32:29–39

My Thoughts:

Verse 36 should clarify the future for us, ”For Hashem will judge His people, and have compassion on His servants…”. It’s not like we can lead a sinful life, ignoring Hashem’s commands and not be judged. That is why we repent, through teshuvah, and make restitution — so that He will have compassion on us. Make sure your heart is right with Hashem. If not, make it so. We want to experience Hashem’s kindness and not His judgment.

Challenge:

Sometimes it helps to understand that Hashem really dictates the length of our days. Verse 39 explains, “I kill and I make alive,  I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of My hand.” He can keep us alive, or He can let us go. But the greater promise is that no one can take you out of His hand. We must remember that Hashem can and will keep us alive and heal us as well. We just need to ask Him. That is my challenge today. If you need healing, you may have a severe underlying disease. Don’t give up. Go to Hashem. Worship and pray before Him. Pray this Scripture that He heals. Then ask Him to heal you. Or someone you love or care about. It’s up to Him, and we can ask. It will be in His time and in His way.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 32:29–39

29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this,

    that they would consider their latter end!

30 How could one chase a thousand,

    and two put ten thousand to flight,

unless their Rock had sold them,

    And Hashem had delivered them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock,

    even our enemies themselves concede.

32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,

    of the fields of Gomorrah.

Their grapes are poison grapes.

    Their clusters are bitter.

33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,

    the cruel venom of asps.

34 “Isn’t this laid up in store with me,

    sealed up among my treasures?

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,

    at the time when their foot slides;

for the day of their calamity is at hand.

    Their doom rushes at them.”

36 For Hashem will judge His people,

    and have compassion on His servants,

when He sees that their power is gone;

    that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.

37 He will say, “Where are their gods,

    the rock in which they took refuge;

38 which ate the fat of their sacrifices,

    and drank the wine of their drink offering?

Let them rise up and help you!

    Let them be your protection.

39 “See now that I Myself am He.

    There is no god with Me.

I kill and I make alive.

    I wound and I heal.

    There is no one who can deliver out of My hand.

Vayelech - Reading #5

Vayelech וַיֵּלֶךְ - And He Went

Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 31:14–19

My Thoughts:

Verse 17 carries strong discipline, “Then My anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them…”. Hashem is prophesying that after the people begin to live in the Land, they will turn from Him and follow other gods. They will be influenced by the people and tempted to live a life outside of Hashem. How does Hashem react to this? He simply leaves them. He forsakes them and hides His face. Kind of like now. When we sin, we are separated from Hashem. He is no longer with us. Not until we “teshuvah”. We turn completely from our sin, we repent, and we make restitution. After sinning and repentance, we must fully return to Hashem. Not just a part of us but all of us. He is serious when He tells us to love Him with “all your heart, soul, and strength”. Remember all this the next time you consider sinning. Remember the cost. And stop in your tracks. Pray each day for Hashem to give you strength to withstand temptation.

Challenge:

Joshua and Moses met Hashem in the Tent of the Meeting (the Tabernacle). Hashem appears in a pillar of cloud. I believe this is because the cloud, in a special way, hid His presence from them so that they wouldn’t die. No one can see Elohim. Here is my challenge for you today. For you and for me. Let’s search for the cloud in which Hashem can present Himself to us. This cloud could be through worship, through prayer, and through service. It may not look like a cloud, but He does present Himself in many ways to us. I see Him work miracles in my life every day. Some small, some large. Just take the time to look for Him. You will be surprised at how often He shows up during your day. Really, it’s true.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 31:14–19

31:14 Hashem said to Moses, “Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him.”

Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.

15 Hashem appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the Tent’s door. 16 Hashem said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers. This people will rise up and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land where they go to be among them, and will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Haven’t these evils come on us because our Elohim is not among us?’ 18 I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.

19 “Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.

Nitzavim - Reading #5

Nitzavim נִצָּבִים - Standing (Witnessing)

Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 30:7–10

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 life that was godless, disobedient, and rebellious. We are returning to wonderful spiritual things from a dark, callous world. We are returning to the Light from the darkness of evil. We must try to 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, soul, and strength. There is no other way to live. Amen.

Challenge:

To continue my thoughts above, in verse 10, we read that 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 receiving it. And we will do our part to follow Torah to the best of our ability. In every minute of every day. Amen.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 30:7–10

30:7 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.

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 will you be blessed, but the blessings will also “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 think that you can be cursed. That’s a real problem, and that is precisely 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 consider what actions you can take about this. How can you help our country, government, and people 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 your country 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. See 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.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #5

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

My Thoughts:

In this week's Torah portion we learn that it is okay to pick corn or grapes from our neighbor if we happen to walk through their property. No trespassing laws, in fact an invitation to help yourself. But, of course only for what you need at the moment. Not to gather bushels full. It is very kind and generous to think that our Hashem allows this kind of trust and sharing. He also has rules for your harvest and the poor. Hashem makes it clear He does not want the poor to starve, and He is interested in sharing our blessings. Let us try to remember that in our daily lives.

Challenge:

Today we read some interesting rules about divorce and remarrying. It seems like Hashem is allowing divorce, but not remarrying that person again (if she has married someone else and they have died). In fact, He mentions it is an abomination if you do this. And that we do not cause the land to sin. It has to do with his wife being “defiled”. We may not quite understand this, but what we can understand is that He does not want us to sin. Period. Your challenge today is to look over your life -- pay attention to the areas you know where you are “sinning” or disobeying Hashem’s commands. Do not pretend that you are perfect. Because as soon as you think about this -- sin will be revealed. Even what you may think is a “small” sin, like gossiping. Gossiping is NO small sin. It affects people, and can ripple out to affect your community, thus affecting a part of the world. It gets “into the Land”. Get rid of sin in your life today. If it is a habit, then ask Hashem to help you. It may be hard to change, but He can help you. Guaranteed.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

24 When a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 If the latter husband hates her, and write her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she is defiled; for that would be an abomination to Hashem. You shall not cause the land to sin, which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

Shoftim - Reading #5

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 18:14–19:13

My Thoughts:

In verses 18 and 19 we read about Hashem telling Moses there will be another prophet like him, “I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.  It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” Who is this prophet? Has he arrived? Many people believe Yeshua (Jesus) is this prophet, others Mohammed. Others believe their prophets like Joseph Smith, etc. Hashem provides a “test” for prophets. See if the prophets “words” have come to pass. If not they are a false prophet. Yeshua, I believe is the prophet Hashem is speaking about. He was sent by Hashem, and He spoke words that Hashem gave to Him. Some of His words came to pass like the Temple being torn down. Other words did not have “cut off” dates and have not happened yet, like the resurrection of the dead in the Olam Haba. Who do you believe to be this prophet like Moses that Hashem is speaking about? Search your heart, and search Scripture. And pray that Hashem shows you.

Challenge: 

In verse 10 we read, “This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you.” Killing innocent people brings blood on the land -- and blood guilt. You may think you support abortion in your community, but you may want to look at it more seriously. Abortion literally takes the life of an innocent preborn child. Aborted babies are either flushed down toilets, ground up in garbage disposals or buried in landfills (except for those who are sold for experimentation or pharmaceutical companies). Does that mean our land has “blood guilt” from this atrocity? My challenge to you today is to spend some time contemplating this. If you believe like I do, I suggest you look into helping to stop abortion in your community. There is a new movement of “sanctuary cities for the unborn”. Go to: https://sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com/ Just as in this portion, Hashem is helping people to provide sanctuary cities for babies yet to be born. How exciting is this? Pray about becoming involved!

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 18:14–19:13

18:14 For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Hashem your Elohim has not allowed you so to do. 15 Hashem your Elohim will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you desired of Hashem your Elohim in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Hashem my Elohim’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”

17 Hashem said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”

21 You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Hashem has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in Hashem’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Hashem has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.

19 When Hashem your Elohim cuts off the nations whose land Hashem your Elohim gives you, and you succeed them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the middle of your land, which Hashem your Elohim gives you to possess. 3 You shall prepare the way, and divide the borders of your land which Hashem your Elohim causes you to inherit into three parts, that every man slayer may flee there. 4 This is the case of the man slayer who shall flee there and live: Whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally, and didn’t hate him in time past— 5 as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood and his hand swings the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and hits his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live. 6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the man slayer while hot anger is in his heart and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally, even though he was not worthy of death, because he didn’t hate him in time past. 7 Therefore I command you to set apart three cities for yourselves. 8 If Hashem enlarges your border, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which he promised to give to your fathers; 9 and if you keep all this commandment to do it, which I command you today, to love Hashem your Elohim, and to walk ever in his ways, then you shall add three cities more for yourselves, in addition to these three. 10 This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you. 11 But if any man hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, strikes him mortally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities; 12 then the elders of his city shall send and bring him there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with you.

Re'eh - Reading #5

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!

Deuteronomy - 11:26-16:17

Reading #5 Deuteronomy 14:22–29

My Thoughts:

We are learning about tithing what we have. And then bringing it to Jerusalem to the Temple. He gives us really good instructions for all of this. Even if you are living far away. And you do all this verse 23 so that, “...that you may learn to fear Hashem your Elohim, always...”. It is all about learning how to serve and love Hashem in all we do. We need to learn how to "fear" Hashem. The “fear” is the possibility of not having Him in our life. The “fear” is punishment and separation. The "fear" is about respect and followed by loving Him so much - that we would do anything to please and honor Him. Amen.

Challenge: 

Verse 29 is all about taking care of people, “The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Hashem your Elohim, may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” It is about sharing the tithe of your land after 3 years and then supplying food for those less fortunate. Here is today’s challenge. Always have your spiritual “antennas” up looking for ways in which you may be able to help the poor. Ask Hashem to show you. Believe me, He will. And when He presents a situation -- take it. Help out someone or a family. Even a smile or “hello” can change someone’s day. Let’s be “givers” and not “takers”. Let’s start doing that right now.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 14:22–29

14:22 You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year. 23 You shall eat before Hashem your Elohim, in the place which He chooses to cause His name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Hashem your Elohim, always. 24 If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it because the place which Hashem your Elohim, shall choose to set His name there is too far from you, when Hashem your Elohim, blesses you, 25 then you shall turn it into money, bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Hashem your Elohim, shall choose. 26 You shall trade the money for whatever your soul desires: for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you. You shall eat there before Hashem your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates. 29 The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Hashem your Elohim, may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Ekev - Reading #5

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

My Thoughts:

If you are wondering what Hashem requires of you to be in His presence, the answer is clearly written today in verse 10:12 “Now, Israel, what does Hashem your Elohim require of you, but to fear Hashem your Elohim to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, to keep Hashem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good?” Walk, love, serve and keep His Commandments. That’s it. Do this and you will be in His presence. Don’t do it and you will not. I love this portion today. It answers so many questions.

Challenge:

There are not too many verses on heaven, but here is one today in verse 10:14, “Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth with all that is therein.” Our Elohim is master over heaven and earth. What we want is to be with Him (and His Son the Messiah Yeshua) -- forever. If you read the verses above, then you will know what is required of you. Your challenge today is to think about heaven. Do some studying on it (I have challenged this for you before). Figure out how you get your name in the Book of Life. It will give you a lot of peace.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

10:12 Now, Israel, what does Hashem your Elohim require of you, but to fear Hashem your Elohim to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 to keep Hashem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good? 14 Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein. 15 Only Hashem had a delight in your fathers to love them, and He chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. 17 For Hashem your Elohim, He is Elohim of gods and L-rd of lords, the great G-d, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing. 19 Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear Hashem your Elohim You shall serve Him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by His name. 21 He is your praise, and He is your Elohim, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Hashem your Elohim has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.

11 Therefore you shall love Hashem your Elohim, and keep His instructions, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments, always. 2 Know this day—for I don’t speak with your children who have not known, and who have not seen the chastisement of Hashem your Elohim, His greatness, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm, 3 His signs, and His works, which He did in the middle of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to all His land; 4 and what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots; how He made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued you, and how Hashem has destroyed them to this day; 5 and what He did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place; 6 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel; 7 but your eyes have seen all of Hashem’s great work which He did.

8 Therefore you shall keep the entire commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land that you go over to possess; 9 and that you may prolong your days in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Va'etchanan - Reading #5

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 5:23–6:3

My Thoughts:

In regards to obedience verse 32 sums it up well, “You shall observe to do therefore as Hashem your Elohim has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left.” A simple command. Do what He says and don’t deviate (to the left or right). I am finding when I do “deviate” or sin that it feels awful for days. Last night I came home and my husband was working on a project that really upset me. Instead of talking it out, I got really, really angry. It’s like I lost control. I said things I never should have said. And even when I’m spouting off I say to Hashem, “Please forgive me”. But, I was going to say them anyway. I spent the night repenting and even today I feel horrible about it all. It just wasn’t worth it. I should have stayed quiet or spoken calmly and I didn’t. I deviated, and now I feel the consequences. Whether I was justified or not, it was wrong. Can you relate at all?

Challenge:

We have an eternal promise in verse 33, “You shall walk in all the way which Hashem your Elohim has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” We may not live in the Land (yet), but His promise is still the same today. If we obey Him and His Commandments we will LIVE, things will be good and we will serve Him with a long life. My challenge to you today is to once again review if you are following Him and Torah. It only makes sense that if we are obeying Him we have life, and if we don’t we have “death”. It is said, “sin separates us from Hashem”. And if you ever sin (like I do) then you know this is true. I would rather have “life” -- wouldn’t you? Start obeying and following Him today. I am going to try and do the same, with all my heart, soul and strength.

Reading #5 -  Deuteronomy 5:23–6:3

5:23 When you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 and you said, “Behold, Hashem our Elohim has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the middle of the fire. We have seen today that Elohim does speak with man, and he lives. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear Hashem our Elohim’s voice any more, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near, and hear all that Hashem our Elohim shall say, and tell us all that Hashem our Elohim tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.”

28 Hashem heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me; and Hashem said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

30 “Go tell them, ‘Return to your tents.’ 31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.”

32 You shall observe to do therefore as Hashem your Elohim has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way which Hashem your Elohim has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

6 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Hashem your Elohim commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land that you go over to possess; 2 that you might fear Hashem your Elohim, to keep all His statutes and his commandments, which I command you—you, your son, and your son’s son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it, that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Balak - Reading #5

Balak בָּלָק - Balak

Numbers 22:2-25:9

Reading #5 -  Numbers 23:13–26

My Thoughts:

The Word that Balaam gives Balak from Hashem is so strong! Hashem has blessed and it cannot be reversed (verse 20)! There is nothing we can “undo” that Hashem has ordered. Even in our own lives. He is the ultimate source and power of everything, and it is time we realize this. The world can go about thinking the people have the power to take control, but they don’t -- only Hashem has control. He owns it all. And the sooner we realize this the better! In Olam Haba there will no longer be a power struggle. We will no longer have to curse people, lie and cheat. We will serve only One Elohim -- the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Amen!

Challenge:

In verse 19 we read, “...Has He said, and He won’t do it? Or has He spoken, and He won’t make it good?” When Hashem promised His people to give them the Land of Israel, He meant it. He never broke His promise. However, we break our promises to Him all the time. Think of the last time you promised Hashem something you would never do again, and yet you find yourself breaking that promise and do it again? It’s time we begin to change and think about how Hashem wants us to be holy as He is holy. He wants us to be righteous -- at all costs. Let’s start today to try and clean up our lives. Let us try to honor and please Him in all we do. Amen!

Reading #5 -  Numbers 23:13–26

23:13 Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from there for me.”

14 He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar. 15 He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet Elohim over there.”

16 Hashem met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.”

17 He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, “What has Hashem spoken?”

18 He took up his parable, and said,

“Rise up, Balak, and hear!

    Listen to me, you son of Zippor.

19 Elohim is not a man, that He should lie,

    nor a son of man, that he should repent.

Has He said, and He won’t do it?

    Or has He spoken, and He won’t make it good?

20 Behold, I have received a command to bless.

    He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.

21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob.

    Neither has He seen perverseness in Israel.

Hashem his Elohim is with him.

    The shout of a king is among them.

22 Elohim brings them out of Egypt.

    He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.

23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob;

    Neither is there any divination with Israel.

Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel,

    ‘What has Elohim done!’

24 Behold, a people rises up as a lioness.

    As a lion he lifts himself up.

He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey,

    and drinks the blood of the slain.”

25 Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.”

26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘All that Hashem speaks, that I must do?’”

Chukat - Reading #5

Chukat חֻקַּת - Law

Numbers 19:1-22:1

Reading #5 - Numbers 20:22–21:9

My Thoughts:

Complaining again. The people were getting tired of the food and were thirsty again. Every time they had to suffer they would complain and want to go back to Egypt. We may read this and be very judgmental against them, but just wait a second. Isn’t that what we do? We complain that things are not going well instead of praising Hashem for all He has given us! The punishment for their complaints was severe. Hashem sent poisonous snakes. Moses prays and Hashem provides a way of escape. They simple need to look at the serpent on the poll and remember the greatness of Elohim! Next time you start to complain, either in your head or out loud, please remember the greatness of Hashem. Stop complaining, repent and praise Him for all He does! Amen!

Challenge:

This story on the pole and the bronze serpent has a lot of commentary from many people. Why would Hashem ask the people to look upon a bronze anything? There is a strict commandment not to have false idols. Maybe because Hashem is showing He is Elohim! Remember the snake story with the Pharaoh. Moses' staff turned into a snake and swallowed the other fake snakes the sorcerers had created. Maybe this snake story reminds the people of His greatness. That is what I believe. What other reason could there be? My challenge to you today is to remember Hashem’s greatness. In your life and in the world -- think about how He has shown His greatness. And thank Him. 

Reading #5 - Numbers 20:22–21:9

20:22 They traveled from Kadesh, and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 Hashem spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron shall be gathered, and shall die there.”

27 Moses did as Hashem commanded. They went up onto Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

21 The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 Israel vowed a vow to Hashem, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” 3 Hashem listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.

4 They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against Elohim and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”

6 Hashem sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Hashem and against you. Pray to Hashem, that He take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.

8 Hashem said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.