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The Torah portion for this Shabbat is called Va’etchanan, meaning “and I pleaded”. It covers Deuteronomy 3:23 through chapter 7:11. As the parasha opens, Moses pleads with Adonai to reconsider allowing him to cross over into the Land of Promise. God’s answer was a firm “No” but He did allow Moses to ascend Mt. Pisgah and get a bird’s eye view of the expanse of the land from a distance. God also directed Moses to commission Joshua as his successor.

In these chapters, the expression “watch yourself” is used repeatedly. Israel must maintain steadfast, unswerving loyalty and faithfulness to Adonai. There were to be no treaties with the surrounding, polytheistic nations, nor intermarriage with them. We are reminded of the tragic consequences of our infidelity at Baal-peor, and urged to walk according to God’s commandments – not only for our sake, but for the sake of those watching us. Through Moses God declares that we should obey His commands, saying, “… for that is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’ (4:6).

Isn’t it interesting that God cared that we make a favorable impression on those around us? Why would He care what the nations think of us, unless He desired that they also come to be His worshipers? That same sentiment is echoed through the prophet Isaiah: Also the foreigners who join themselves to Adonai, to minister to Him, and to love the name of Adonai… even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

So when Jewish people say, “We don’t try to convert people” it demonstrates just how far mainstream Judaism has drifted from God’s calling. We were to be a light to the nations! Furthermore, if Jewish people insist they are not trying to convert Gentiles, it means either,

a) they don’t think Judaism is important enough to make the effort, or,

b) they don’t think Gentiles are important enough to make the effort.

But let’s not forget that we are called to live quiet, dignified, godly lives, because just as Israel was on display to the nations, we too are being watched from the outside. That doesn’t mean we need to obsess about our “witness”. If we’ll keep our eyes on Yeshua, the Author and Perfecter of the Faith, and practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer and reading God’s Word, our lives will naturally reflect His character, and we won’t have to be self-conscious about how others perceive us.

In Chapter four, we’re reminded that nothing like what occurred in Egypt had ever happened before. The power of the Living God to free a nation from within a nation lets us know that He alone is to be feared! That should cause us both joy and reverence. Joy, because He cares about our situation and desires our greatest good; reverence, because He is not only all-powerful, but all-knowing. He knows every secret of your heart and mine. Nothing is hidden from the eyes of Him with whom we have to do!

Given the recent outbreak of violence on, of all places, the Temple Mount, I find it interesting that in chapter four, verse 40 we read, So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time. That land, includes the five Philistine cities of Gath, Ekron, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gaza. You’ll recall that Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians in 2005 in exchange for peace, which never materialized. No worries – we’re getting it all back – and then some – at Messiah’s return.

In chapter five the Ten Commandments are reiterated. Moses recounts the fact that when our people came face-to-face with God at Sinai, we were understandably terrified, and begged Moses to mediate for us. We dared not look upon God’s fiery presence or hear His voice, lest we perish. God commended us for that, and ultimately did appoint Moses to be our mediator.

Don’t let anybody feed you this nonsense that Jewish people can go directly to God and don’t need a middleman. We have always needed them. Moses was our mediator. The High Priest was our mediator. The prophets themselves were middlemen. And the only way to the Father today is through the Ultimate Mediator, Messiah Yeshua.

Chapter six contains the Shema, Israel’s central declaration of faith in the one true and living God.

Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

For centuries, our people have recited this passage, sometimes less as an affirmation of their own faith as much as a repudiation of the doctrine of the Trinity. But the word echad, meaning “one” is the same word we find in Genesis 2:24 to describe a man and his wife cleaving to each other and becoming “one flesh”. I am one person, my wife is another person, and yet we are one.

Grammatically speaking, Adonai echad doesn’t mean that God is an ontological unity. It means that He is unique. He is the only One! The Lord God of Israel is incomparable! And that is the message of the haftarah, Isaiah 40:1-26, an amazing and wonderful passage of Scripture!

And while the Shema is a statement of fact, the actual commandment is v’ahavta… you are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might. How are you doing with that first and greatest commandment?

It really is possible to love Him, but only because He first loved us!