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This week’s Parasha is entitled Ha’azinu which means “Give Ear”. It covers Deuteronomy chapter 32, and consists primarily of the Song of Moses, which can be seen as both a love song to Adonai, and a chastisement of the people of Israel.
The songs and poems that made it into the Bible are Holy Spirit inspired. They communicate truths about God and man, their nature, and their complicated relationship. Despite his flaws, Moses grew closer to Adonai over the course of his life, and God empowered him to write the first five books of the Bible. Moses also wrote this song about God’s power, man’s rebellion, and Adonai’s love and victory.
It begins by describing Adonai’s lovingkindness and faithfulness toward Israel, and it ends with a promise of vengeance, redemption and atonement for God’s Land and People. Its reminders about God’s character, and warnings about human nature are as true today as they were in the generation of Moses.
This song includes severe words of rebuke against Israel for their infidelity and unfaithfulness to God during the Exodus. The song touches on a consistent pattern of Israel’s behavior, and God’s response. Heaven and earth are poetically called to witness the song, and then Moses announces what could be seen as the thesis statement: Adonai is just, and loves His people, yet they defy and disobey Him. Moses then gives dire warnings about the consequences of giving into the temptation of turning away from Him once they enter the Promised Land.
Adonai warns them saying “I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend my arrows on them; they shall be wasted with hunger and devoured by plague and poisonous pestilence; I will send the teeth of beasts against them, with the venom of things that crawl in the dust”.
Yet at the same time, Adonai’s faithful love for Israel is assured. Despite the hardships the people of Israel suffered during their trek in the desert, and despite their repeated failures, the song ends with Adonai’s promise to avenge the blood of His servants and to reconcile them to Himself, and to secure the land given to Abraham. The parasha ends with Moses ascending Mt Nebo so that he could look at the Promised Land before he died.
All but a handful of that generation would die in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Moses himself was soon to die, having never entered the Promised Land. But he still praised God in song—reminding Israel of God’s power, love and faithfulness.
God wants to focus our attention on the seriousness of His Word! This opening phrase, “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth,” is echoed in other places such as Deuteronomy 4, Psalm 50, Isaiah 1 and Jeremiah 6, each time warning of impending judgment as a result of not listening to God.
While some see these verses as God’s judgment specifically on Israel, I believe that by extension the warning found here is valid for everyone, and that we should all take it very seriously.
Allow me to share some thoughts I gleaned from this passage.
Our actions have consequences, either for good or for evil. The outcome of our lives depends on our faithfulness to God our Rock who will lead and guide us into making better choices, that will lead to positive results.
Adonai is serious about sin, and He judges our sin. But, He judges us with redemptive purpose – so that we will return to Him. But returning to Him involves much more than just acknowledging our sin; we must be willing to die to ourselves and our desires, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into His will for our life. Those who are truly His will not only hear, but also obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Messiah Yeshua declared, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
God’s love is unchanging; it does not depend on what we do. And, we should not think we can earn salvation by doing good deeds. Adonai is after our heart, first and foremost. He is seeking men and women whose hearts are surrendered to Him, and who desire to obey Him out of love for Him.
Conversely, Adonai paid a heavy price for you. Deuteronomy 32:6 says “Is not He your Father who has bought you?” It reminds me of the words of Rabbi Paul in 1st Corinthians when he says “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” and he also says “You were bought with a price; so do not become slaves of men”.
The Haftorah found in 2 Samuel 22 has an underlying message of how faithful God had been in protecting David, as an illustration of how he protects the Jewish people. We, his people, both Jew and Gentile have not always dealt uprightly with Adonai.
And yet, despite our disobedience Adonai will always be faithful to the descendants of Abraham, and ultimately to all people who have given their hearts to His son Yeshua.
Scripture reflects the consistent love of the Creator! He not only redeemed Israel, but also redeemed us! And it was costly…it cost the very blood of His beloved Son Yeshua.
It’s only when we truly understand what Adonai has done for us that we will naturally (and not forcibly) desire to honor Him with our lives.
We too can sing and rejoice in the Glory of the Lord as we wait for Yeshua’s return. In the days to come, let us rejoice in the Lord, and let us reflect on the high price that was paid for us and lovingly honor God in everything we do.