Parasha EKEV (as a result) DEUT 7:12-11:25

Subject: Parasha EKEV (as a result) DEUT 7:12-11:25 Sat Aug 27, 2016 7:38 pm

PARASHA: EKEV (as a result)

DEUT 7:12-11:25...............ISAIAH 49:14-51:3.....................ROM 8:31-39

This study starts out with Moshe exhorting his people, "IF" you hearken to these judgments and keep, and do them......" This is a conditional promise.....He will love thee and bless thee, and multiply thee...... We see the blessings from obedience, but on the other hand, curses will follow disobedience. What are "judgments" one asks? There are various meanings in Hebrew, but one is the outcome of our correctly applying the Torah commandments in our interrelationships between our God and our fellow man.

Moshe is speaking to the second generation of Israelites. These people were only children and in their teenage years when they left Egypt, and 40 years have gone by, perhaps some have just a scant memory of all that YHVH did, so Moshe is reminding them, since they are about to enter "Eretz C'anaan" they must not forget, and they must obey and love the LORD, since the evidence of Adonai's caring for them has been witnessed by all. Moshe mentioned all the things that YHVH did to protect them and care for them in the past 40 years.

BUT.....he also reminds them that they were NOT chosen because they are or were a specially righteous people, Oh no, he says they are "stiff necked" but because the other nations were evil, Yet Adonai loved them and still does, "unconditionally", as He loves us all, unconditionally. Even though we do evil, and sin, he still loves us and showed his love on Calvary's cross. Yet as a father loves his children, when we rebel and sin, YHVH will chastise us, and yea, he will suffer, just as Israel suffered and was punished for rebelling
yet His love did not and does not falter. Moshe reminds the people of their rebellion and how they "provoked" the anger of Adonai,   "Remember and forget not how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath........(vs 7) That should be a lesson for us all, how the evil are punished and destroyed

10:12 "And now Israel (includes us all) what doeth YHVH they God require of thee, but the fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve him with all thy heart and soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD thy God"

When we see this verse, we see the word "fear" the LORD, it is a "fear" related to respect as one respects a king, a leader, not a fear related to terror, and IF we FEAR the LORD, Then...we will WANT to follow his WAYS. What are His ways? All the mitzvoth that are recorded in the Torah, but most important, the recognition that OUR WAYS are sinful, and that we come to a saving knowledge of Yeshua HaMashiach, so that we are re-united in fellowship with our heavenly Father through YESHUA. Then, we will have the desire to serve HIM and walk in his WAYS, the ways of Torah, the LIVING Torah, who is Yeshua.

10:16 "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart"........Moshe's words reflect the importance of "Spiritual circumcision" vs "physical circumcision". Not that physical circumcision is not important, it is for health sake for males, yet "spiritual circumcision" means a "spiritual conversion" it means being "born again" and rebel no more. Remember that "flesh and blood" can not inherit the Kingdom of God, only the Spirit can,
So we must be "born again" to inherit the Kingdom,
___________________________________________________________________________

ISAIAH 49:14-51:3

"But Zion said, the LORD hath forsaken me, and has forgotten me" this thought was in the minds of the Israelites because of all the chastisement , of all the bad things happening because of Israel's rebellion. YET God has promised to protect and preserve his people, and we read that the nations around Israel will receive the remnant.(49:22) The Israelites were dispersed to many countries of the diaspora, to Germany and East Europe (Ashkenazim)
to Spain, North Africa and middle east (Sephardim) and to Africa (Falashim) and of course, later on, do to immigration, to the USA, Mexico, Central and South America. In spite of the persecution and pogroms, Ha Am Y'hudi lives on and will live and be blessed for ever, and the promise of Abraham still is in effect; "I will bless those who bless thee, and curse those who curse thee" The nations that bless Israel, and uphold Israel, will indeed be blessed.
____________________________________________________________________________
ROM 8:31-39

"What shall we say then, if God be for us, who can be against us?" We can see this from the time of Noah, Moshe, and throughout history, If Ha Satan is against us, then YHVH stepped in and came to earth as a human, and gave his life for us all, being our sin atonement, He gave us YESHUAH through YESHUA HA BEN, Ben Adonai, Ben David, Ben Adam, even though we go through tribulation, suffering, and even death, our eternal life is secure, what is then our earthly life, just a vapor, a passing thing, we are here today and gone tomorrow, yet FOR EVER with the KING OF KINGS and LORD of Lords.

Shabbat Shalom. rabbi Ben Avraham