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.

Ekev - Reading #4

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #4 -  Deuteronomy 10:1–11 

My Thoughts:

Hashem writes the Commandments on the stone -- a second time. Moses doesn’t try to correct the mistake of his people (the golden calf), he only begs for forgiveness. Hashem corrects the mistake (breaking of the first tablets) and writes them again. Can you imagine? Here Moses has first had a wonderful set of tablets which Hashem wrote with His finger. He gets angry and breaks them. And then Hashem writes a second set. That is such a testimony that our Elohim is full of second chances. We must never forget this. He seems to continue to love us no matter what. Amen.

Challenge:

Hashem wants a “house” for His Holy Commandments. He has Moses build a small ark to contain them. The ark protects them and preserves them. Just like Hashem asks Moses to build a Tabernacle. And inside the Holy of Holies is the “protected” Shekinah glory of Elohim. It shows that Hashem “guards” holy things and we should do the same. We should take good care of our Bibles and reverence them. Even though the material they are constructed of,  is not necessarily “holy” the Words inside are. Today’s challenge is to make sure your Bible(s) are in a special place and that you take good care of it (them). Don’t pile other books on top of it. Don’t leave it outside in the rain, or in the bathroom. Remember that Hashem’s Words are holy and give you life. Protect and guard these Words - physically and in your heart. 

Reading #4 -  Deuteronomy 10:1–11

10:1 At that time Hashem said to me, “Cut two stone tablets like the first, and come up to me onto the mountain, and make an ark of wood. 2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.” 3 So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two stone tablets like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. 4 He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Hashem spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly; and Hashem gave them to me. 5 I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are as Hashem commanded me.

6 (The children of Israel traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his place. 7 From there they traveled to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water. 8 At that time Hashem set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of Hashem’s covenant, to stand before Hashem to minister to him, and to bless in His name, to this day. 9 Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; Hashem is his inheritance, according as Hashem your Elohim spoke to him.)

10 I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and Hashem listened to me that time also. Hashem would not destroy you. 11 Hashem said to me, “Arise, take your journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.”

Ekev - Reading #3

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #3 - Deuteronomy 9:4–29

My Thoughts:

Hashem is reminding His people what really happened over the past 40 years. That it wasn’t all because of what they did but rather it was what the people in the Land neglected to do -- and that was to serve Hashem instead of false gods. We all have to be very careful that we do not go after false idols, and we do not forget where we came from. It is also important that we don’t “puff” ourselves up. It is important to be holy and in right relationship with Hashem. But, through it all we must remember that HE makes all the decisions, HE confirms all the plans, and HE owns all the cattle on the hills. All glory and credit, all worship, must go to HIM! Amen!

Challenge:

Moses falls on his face in prayer to ask Hashem to spare His people from His wrath. What a faithful intermediary for the people. I don’t know if they realized how he would stand in the gap for them -- so often. Or did they appreciate his thoughtfulness and how he would go to their defense? Think of a leader in your life that has defended you and stood up for you. Have you thanked him/her and recognized their helpfulness? That’s today’s challenge. Think hard about who always is there for you, who defends you and protects you. Tell them how grateful you are for him/her. And thank Hashem that He has put them in your life. Don’t delay. Hashem’s Word tends to be super timely. Amen.

Reading #3 - Deuteronomy 9:4–29

Don’t say in your heart, after Hashem your Elohim has thrust them out from before you, “For my righteousness Hashem has brought me in to possess this land;” because Hashem drives them out before you because of the wickedness of these nations. 5 Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Hashem your Elohim does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which Hashem swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 6 Know therefore that Hashem your Elohim doesn’t give you this good land to possess for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. 7 Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked Hashem your Elohim to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Hashem. 8 Also in Horeb you provoked Hashem to wrath, and Hashem was angry with you to destroy you. 9 When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant which Hashem made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 Hashem delivered to me the two stone tablets written with God’s finger. On them were all the words which Hashem spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly.

11 It came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights that Hashem gave me the two stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant. 12 Hashem said to me, “Arise, get down quickly from here; for your people whom you have brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned away from the way which I commanded them. They have made a molten image for themselves!”

13 Furthermore Hashem spoke to me, saying, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 14 Leave me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under the sky; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.”

15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. The two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Hashem your Elohim. You had made yourselves a molded calf. You had quickly turned away from the way which Hashem had commanded you. 17 I took hold of the two tablets, and threw them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes. 18 I fell down before Hashem, as at the first, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you sinned, in doing that which was evil in Hashem’s sight, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which Hashem was angry against you to destroy you. But Hashem listened to me that time also. 20 Hashem was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that descended out of the mountain. 22 At Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth Hattaavah you provoked Hashem to wrath. 23 When Hashem sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, “Go up and possess the land which I have given you,” you rebelled against the commandment of Hashem your Elohim, and you didn’t believe him or listen to his voice. 24 You have been rebellious against Hashem from the day that I knew you. 25 So I fell down before Hashem the forty days and forty nights that I fell down, because Hashem had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed to Hashem, and said, “L-rd Hashem, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance that you have redeemed through your greatness, that you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Don’t look at the stubbornness of this people, nor at their wickedness, nor at their sin, 28 lest the land you brought us out from say, ‘Because Hashem was not able to bring them into the land which he promised to them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’ 29 Yet they are your people and your inheritance, which you brought out by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm.”

Ekev - Reading #2

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #2 - Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

My Thoughts:

He goes before us. What need have we to worry about? Only there is a “but” in there. But, you have to keep His commandments, ordinances and statutes. This theme is continuous throughout the book of Deuteronomy. It’s simple -- obey and be blessed, disobey and suffer punishment. Look what 9:3 says, “Know therefore today that Hashem your Elohim is He who goes over before you as a devouring fire.” Not only will He protect you, but He will “devour” anything in His way. There is no greater protection in all the universe, but this. Do you want Hashem to go before you in all you do? I do. The answer. Pray and obey.

Challenge:

Wow this portion starts out with a pretty heavy duty “warning”. In verse 11 we read, ”Beware lest you forget Hashem your Elohim…”. And it goes on to say that when things are going really well -- you have all the food, housing, jobs -- everything you need, then you might forget Hashem. Is that possible. You know it is. I think of the times when things are going really well and I might not spend so much time in prayer as I do when they are not. These are the times we are to praise Him and worship Him and spend time praying for others who are in need. That’s your challenge today. If you are in a good spot and have most everything you have, take some time to praise Hashem. Tell Him how much you love Him and adore Him. And thank Him for all He has provided for you. Thank you Hashem!

Reading #2 - Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

8:11 Beware lest you forget Hashem your Elohim, in not keeping His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command you today; 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with venomous snakes and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who poured water for you out of the rock of flint; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn’t know, that He might humble you, and that He might prove you, to do you good at your latter end; 17 and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” 18 But you shall remember Hashem your Elohim, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is today.

19 It shall be, if you shall forget Hashem your Elohim, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations that Hashem makes to perish before you, so you shall perish, because you wouldn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice.

9:1 Hear, Israel! You are to pass over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to the sky, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” 3 Know therefore today that Hashem your Elohim is He who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them and He will bring them down before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Hashem has spoken to you.

Ekev - Reading #1

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Reading #1 - Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

My Thoughts:

Ever wonder why Hashem gave the Hebrew people manna all those years in the desert? Here is your answer in 8:3 “He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that He might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Hashem’s mouth.” Wow. He taught them to not worry about the bread they were eating but to depend on His WORD instead. And as we know He actively spoke to them through Moses! Hashem spoke into existence many miracles and the people saw this. Even the manna was a huge miracle! We must learn that the Torah is Hashem’s spoken Word and His commandments are to be heeded. All glory and honor go to Him! Our one true Elohim!

Challenge:

Hashem is teaching the people that if they are obedient many good things will happen to them. Including in verse 14 that they will be “blessed above all peoples” and “there won’t be male or female barren among you”. A few years back a friend of mine had gotten married and they were having a difficult time conceiving a child. I began to pray this prayer over their lives and soon she got pregnant. It was a miracle! The doctors had told her she could not have children. And she did! Hashem’s promises are REAL. If you are trying to get pregnant or know someone who is, my challenge to you is to start praying this Scripture over their lives. But, first pray they will follow and obey Torah. Then pray that Hashem will bless the fruit of their womb. Praise Him!

Reading #1 - Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

7:12 It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Hashem your Elohim will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which He swore to your fathers. 13 He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your body an the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You will be blessed above all peoples. There won’t be male or female barren among you, or among your livestock. 15 Hashem will take away from you all sickness; and He will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you. 16 You shall consume all the peoples whom Hashem your Elohim shall deliver to you. Your eye shall not pity them. You shall not serve their gods; for that would be a snare to you. 17 If you shall say in your heart, “These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?” 18 you shall not be afraid of them. You shall remember well what Hashem your Elohim did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which Hashem your Elohim brought you out. So shall Hashem your Elohim do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover Hashem your Elohim will send the hornet among them, until those who are left, and hide themselves, perish from before you. 21 You shall not be scared of them; for Hashem your Elohim is among you, a great and awesome Elohim. 22 Hashem your Elohim will cast out those nations before you little by little. You may not consume them at once, lest the animals of the field increase on you. 23 But Hashem your Elohim will deliver them up before you, and will confuse them with a great confusion, until they are destroyed. 24 He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish from under the sky. No one will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them. 25 You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim 26 You shall not bring an abomination into your house and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it. You shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.

8:1 You shall observe to do all the commandments which I command you today, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Hashem swore to your fathers. 2 You shall remember all the way which Hashem your Elohim has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that He might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Hashem’s mouth. 4 Your clothing didn’t grow old on you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years. 5 You shall consider in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so Hashem your Elohim disciplines you. 6 You shall keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. 7 For Hashem your Elohim brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey; 9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarcity, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. 10 You shall eat and be full, and you shall bless Hashem your Elohim for the good land which He has given you.

Ekev - Week #3

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Matthew 16:13-20

1.1 First reading — Deuteronomy 7:12–8:10

1.2 Second reading — Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

1.3 Third reading — Deuteronomy 9:4–29

1.4 Fourth reading — Deuteronomy 10:1–11

1.5 Fifth reading — Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

1.6 Sixth reading — Deuteronomy 11:10–21

1.7 Seventh reading — Deuteronomy 11:22–25

Va'etchanan - Reading #7

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26

Apostolic Reading: Luke 3:2-15

Reading #7 -  Deuteronomy 7:1–11

My Thoughts:

Verse 7 and 8 are just powerful, “Hashem didn’t set His love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples; but because Hashem loves you, and because He desires to keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, Hashem has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” He chose His people because He loved them and He had made a huge promise to them (for the Land and to multiply). Sometimes it is so hard to grasp that with all our actions and behavior that Hashem would love us, but apparently He does. We see it in Torah over and over, where people make mistakes and Hashem forgives them (usually punishment or consequence occurs) and He continues His path of miracles through His people. Never think for once that Hashem does not love you because of something you have done or that you are not worthy. You are His creation and He has a very special plan for you.

Challenge:

Rarely do we see verses about how Hashem feels or what He does if people hate Him. But, we do see it today in verse 10, “He will not be slack to him who hates Him. He will repay him to his face.” Yikes. It sounds like He is not going to lightly dismiss hatred. That there will be consequences. The biggest punishment we know is that people who do not love or serve Hashem, will be eternally separated from Him. That sounds like the worst and most awful consequence possible. Your challenge today is to take a look around you at those people who you know do not have a relationship with Hashem or the Mashiach Yeshua. See if you can start speaking positive, spiritual words into their lives. Try to be a “light” to them regarding Hashem and Torah. You never know -- this could change their life forever! Amen.

Reading #7 -  Deuteronomy 7:1–11

7:1 When Hashem your Elohim brings you into the land where you go to possess it, and casts out many nations before you—the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—seven nations greater and mightier than you; 2 and when Hashem your Elohim delivers them up before you, and you strike them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them. 3 You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son. 4 For that would turn away your sons from following Me, that they may serve other gods. So Hashem’s anger would be kindled against you, and He would destroy you quickly. 5 But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to Hashem your Elohim. Hashem your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 Hashem didn’t set His love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples; 8 but because Hashem loves you, and because He desires to keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, Hashem has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that Hashem your Elohim Himself is Elohim, the faithful Elohim, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments, 10 and repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him who hates Him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which I command you today, to do them.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

Verse 5 reveals Hashem’s plan for the future, “Hashem’s glory shall be revealed,and all flesh shall see it together.” In the Olam Haba (the world to come) there won’t be any “doubt” about whether Hashem exists -- everyone will see Him and His glory. There will be no excuse, no escape. This is a promise. It is prophesied over and over in the Tanakh and Apostolic Writings. There is this knowledge for those of us who love Him and serve Him. We won’t always live on a corrupt and sinful planet. There is His plan for a future Place. A Place with Him and His Glory. Take some time in your life to prepare for this Place. Make sure you are right with Him.

Challenge:

In verse 21 we are reminded of Hashem and who He is,  “Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? Haven’t you been told from the beginning? Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth?” There isn’t reason that a person should not “know” about Hashem. We have had His Torah from the beginning. And in our lives it is at our fingertips. We can read it online, we can have written copies of it in our home. We can “know” about Hashem because we have “heard” about Him. No excuses. Your challenge today is to check your heart. Run a spiritual EKG and see what your “heartbeat” is? Are you looking out just for yourself -- or do you choose to serve the Holy One and go with His plan? Double check it today. Amen.

Haftarah:  Isaiah 40:1-26

40 “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your Elohim. 2 “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Hashem’s hand double for all her sins.”

3 The voice of one who calls out,

    “Prepare the way of Hashem in the wilderness!

    Make a level highway in the desert for our Elohim.

4 Every valley shall be exalted,

    and every mountain and hill shall be made low.

    The uneven shall be made level,

    and the rough places a plain.

5 Hashem’s glory shall be revealed,

    and all flesh shall see it together;

    for the mouth of Hashem has spoken it.”

6 The voice of one saying, “Cry!”

    One said, “What shall I cry?”

“All flesh is like grass,

    and all its glory is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers,

    the flower fades,

    because Hashem’s breath blows on it.

    Surely the people are like grass.

8 The grass withers,

    the flower fades;

    but the word of our Elohim stands forever.”

9 You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.

    You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength!

    Lift it up! Don’t be afraid!

    Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your Elohim!”

10 Behold, the Adonai Hashem will come as a mighty one,

    and His arm will rule for Him.

    Behold, His reward is with Him,

    and His recompense before Him.

11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd.

    He will gather the lambs in His arm,

    and carry them in his bosom.

    He will gently lead those who have their young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

    and marked off the sky with his span,

    and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket,

    and weighed the mountains in scales,

    and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has directed Hashem’s Spirit,

    or has taught him as his counselor?

14 Who did he take counsel with,

    and who instructed him,

    and taught him in the path of justice,

    and taught him knowledge,

    and showed him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket,

    and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance.

    Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.

16 Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,

    nor its animals sufficient for a burnt offering.

17 All the nations are like nothing before Him.

    They are regarded by Him as less than nothing, and vanity.

18 To whom then will you liken G-d?

    Or what likeness will you compare to him?

19 A workman has cast an image,

    and the goldsmith overlays it with gold,

    and casts silver chains for it.

20 He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot.

    He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved.

21 Haven’t you known?

    Haven’t you heard?

    Haven’t you been told from the beginning?

    Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,

    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

    who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

    and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in,

23 who brings princes to nothing,

    who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.

24 They are planted scarcely.

    They are sown scarcely.

    Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground.

    He merely blows on them, and they wither,

    and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.

25 “To whom then will you liken me?

    Who is my equal?” says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high,

    and see who has created these,

    who brings out their army by number.

    He calls them all by name.

    by the greatness of His might,

    and because He is strong in power,

    not one is lacking.

Apostolic Reading

My Thoughts:

Today we read about John the Immerser and how he fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah (also today’s Haftarah). John had the privilege to prepare the people to receive Yeshua the Mashiach. He reminded them about Torah and their relationship to Hashem. He taught words of Torah to reignite their passion for Elohim. He got them ready to hear what the Mashiach would bring them -- which was all about returning to Hashem. Today we need more “John the Immersers”. We need people to prepare the way for the Mashiach to return and for the Olam Haba. We can all do this by loving and serving others. By teaching them Hashem’s Word whenever possible. By reflecting His light to the world. Start today.

Challenge:

John taught repentance (verse 3). You may think that this was probably not necessary, that everyone already knew about repenting for their sins. But, what if they had forgotten? What if they were straying from their relationship from Hashem and serving other gods? What if they had forgotten how to ask for forgiveness and how to forgive others? Isn’t that what is happening today? When was the last time you repented to Elohim for something you had done? When did you make restitution lately for a sin you have committed? Your challenge today is to look over your life and detect the sins you have committed. Go to Hashem immediately and ask for forgiveness -- repent (turn around) from what you have done. And make it right. Make it right with Elohim and with the people you affected. Do it. Amen.

Apostolic Reading: Luke 3:2-15

3:2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of Elohim came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of Hashem. Make his paths straight.

5 Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight,

and the rough ways smooth. 6 All flesh will see Elohim’s salvation.’”Isaiah 40:3-5

7 He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that Eloihim is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.”

10 The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”

11 He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”

13 He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”

He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps He was the Mashiach.