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The Torah reading for this week’s Parasha is entitled
Va’etchannan, meaning (I pleaded) which is taken from the book of Deuteronomy Chapters 3:23 – 7:11.
We open as Moses reviews, in retrospect, how Adonai refused his request that he be allowed to cross over the Jordan and enter Canaan. Moses’ deepest longing was to see the God of Israel glorified -and to– again witness his mighty hand.
It is sadder than sad, when you think, how Moses glorified Adonai every day of his redeemed life, except at the waters of Mari bah
“Adonai said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not trust me enough to honor me and show the people that I am holy. “You did not show the people, that the power to make the water came from Me, so you will not lead the people into the land that I have given them.” Num 20:12
Also, the mantle of leadership was passed from Moses to Joshua. Moses was summoned to Mount Pisgah, where he was allowed to view the promised land and then to die.
Chapter 4 unfolds with Moses giving the nation a stern Exhortation to obedience.
The people were exhorted to recollect how Adonai had destroyed the ungodly, that were among them, and how He had preserved all those who were faithful.
The Israelis were told of the excellence of the divine decrees, That Adonai had given them. Moses pointed out that no nation in existence could boast of any such covenants, laws, precepts, statutes, judgments, Commandments. Or of having God so near.
Moses urges Israel to obey God word and reminded them that, God’s Word was their wisdom, power, and protection.
The law giver predicts the judgments of Adonai against them, should they turn to idolatry,
He reminds the people again, of God’s mercy to all who repent and turn back unto Him.
Moses asks Israel the sobering question, did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as they had heard, and lived? Duet 4:33.
It was a general thought that if God appeared to men, it was for the purpose of destroying them. Most of the extraordinary manifestations of God were in the way of judgment, Israel heard God’s voice speaking to them in a distinct, articulate manner.
They saw the fire, the symbol of His presence. God appeared to them, yet no person was destroyed,
He came, not to destroy, but to save.
Adonai instructs Moses to set up three sanctuary cities east of the Jordan.
Chapter 5, “Moses repeats the Ten Commandments, the basis for God’s Moral Law. Israel was to hear, learn, keep, and do these laws. In obeying the Law, they would be honoring Adonai and ensuring Israel’s success.
Just as Israel received the commandments twice, I believe today, that every redeemed soul receives two servings of the Law. First, we stand under the law to be judged, condemned, and hemmed into Messiah, as our only hope.
“What the law says, is for those who are under the law, it stops anyone from making excuses. And it brings the whole world under God’s judgment”, “because no one can be made right with God by following the law.
The law only shows us our sin”. Rom (3:19-20).
Secondly, we received the Law, only now it is season with grace, and through faith in Messiah, Now asking that the Holy Spirit should write His law in our hearts, and to empower us to walk in true obedience, God’s grace gives us the power to do what truth demands.”
Moses conveyed to the Israelis that, the Law is perfect, and that it is written in stone, and therefore is permanent. Remember Yeshua! Is the Word of God, it’s only by Yeshua shed blood that our salvation is made possible.
“We would do well to remember”, “That when the conscience has not learned the efficacy of the Blood of Yeshua, it shrinks from contact with God’s holiness,
Chapter 6, Is a continuation of the same subject as the former. Moses, the man of God is exceedingly earnest in enforcing obedience to all the Israelis. I will also point out that the great Shema, hear ye old Israel, is contained in this chapter.
Chapter 7, Having reminded the people of the events of the past, Moses now warns them of the perils of the future. For centuries Israel was a slave nation and for forty years it had been a pilgrim people.
Now the people were to settle down in their own land, so they needed to beware of the dangers that would come with this new environment.
It was God’s purpose to drive out the heathen nations and establish Israel in Canaan. But He had to warn Israel to destroy these nations and in no way compromise with them.
Moses’ argument in this passage is simple: Israel is God’s chosen people, separate from all other nations. God chose them because He loved them, and He proved His love by bringing them out of Egypt and faithfully caring for them in the wilderness.
This principle of separation runs throughout Scripture; God separated the light from darkness (Gen 1:4). He commanded Israel to be separate from the other nations, Ex 34:11- 16.
He commanded the church to be separate from the world, 2 Cor 6:14.
Today, we live in a time when the church and the world are so mingled that it is difficult to tell who really belongs to Messiah.
In closing, the Scripture says that these things were written for our benefits, and that Moses wrote, of Messiah. Just as Adonai delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage
So, Yeshua’s death, was our pathway out of the darkness and into His light, and He broke our bonds of sin, hell, death, and the grave.
Moses paid a price of not sanctifying Adonai. For us, disobedience, rebellion, and not serving and glorifying God, Will keep us from entering His blessed eternal kingdom.
Precious Father, We plead to You, please! give us hearts worthy of sanctifying, glorifying, worshiping, and serving You. Please! Allow Messiah to be formed in us in a larger and saving way. O Lord our God, please! forgive us, help us, save us, deliver us, and give us your atonement