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"Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever."
- Psalm 117, NIV

Parasha Devarim: These are the words

by Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber

The Scripture readings for the Shabbat of July 13/4 Av are: Devarim/Deuteronomy 1.1-3.22; Yesha'yahu/Isaiah 1.1-27; 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

Bo'uh, ur'shu et Ha'aretz
(Go in and possess the land)

As we enter into the final chapter of Torah we also enter into the final chapter of Moshe's life. The book of Devarim is a series of speeches Moshe gave to the Leviim (Levites) to read to the people. It was written approximately 1405 BC while Israel was encamped on the Plains of Moab. They were making their final preparation to conquer the land of promise. Greek translators named the book Deuteronomy, meaning "Second Law," however this is a mistranslation. The Hebrew name for the book Devarim actually translates "Words." Considering it contains a compilation of speeches, as previously stated, the proper Hebrew translation is therefore far more appropriate. Parasha Devarim is called, "These are the Words."

The words from this Parasha which struck me as I read it are found right at the beginning:

Devarim {1:6} HaSHEM our G-D spoke to us in Horeb, saying, You have lived long enough in this mountain: {1:7} turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and to all [the places] near thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Cana'anites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. {1:8} Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which HaSHEM swore to your avot (fathers), to Avraham (Abraham), to Yitzak (Isaac), and to Ya'akov (Jacob), to give to them and to their seed after them.

G-d is informing Israel that they had camped long enough at the foot of the mountains of Moab, it was time for them to take possession of the land. The old generation had died off, the new generation did not know Egypt. As discussed in a previous teaching this generation was anxious to go to the land Moshe had been talking to them about all these years. Not only that, they were ready and verse four reminds us of that. They had experienced the battle and defeat of Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, plus the most recient defeat of the Moabites. This was a redeemed community, who had been sanctified, trained and fortified with Torah over a period of forty years. They were ready to conquer HaShem's land and drive out paganism from its midst.

When Yeshua told His talmidim (disciples) the following, was He not basically saying the same thing Moshe said three thousand four hundred years earlier?

Mattityahu (Matthew) {28:19} Go, therefore, make talmidim of all the nations, giving them a tevilah (immersion), in the Name of HaAv (the Father), HaBen (the Son), and HaRuach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit), {28:20} teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Torah). And I am with you always, even unto the Ketz HaOlam Hazeh (end of the age).

Yeshua's talmidim were well prepared. They had won battle after battle against the spiritual forces of darkness. The final battle they faced at Yeshua's trial and execution was behind them now, it was time for them to take the world and drive out paganism. They were to bring the gospel of hope and everlasting life, to a hopeless and dying world.

How long have you been a believer in Mashiach (Messiah) Yeshua? How many battles have you won against the spiritual forces of darkness? Therefore if you are not already doing it, do you not think it is time for you to start taking the land and driving out paganism? Evangelism and spiritual warfare are not an option for believers, they are a command, given to us by our Commander in Chief. You can do it in stages as Yeshua suggested.

Ma'asim (Acts) {1:8} "But you will receive ko'ach (power) when the Ruach Hakodesh has come upon you, and you all will be the Eidut (the Witness) of me, in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and in all Yehudah (Judah) and Shomron (Samaria) and as far as ad ketzeh ha'aretz (ends of the earth)."

Start with your home, your family, your community (Jerusalem), then continue on to your city, and your province (Judah). When you feel confident and as HaShem leads, move out into your country (Samaria), and finally unto the whole earth. You have the message, you have the training, you have the power, now take the land and drive out paganism!

Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada.

" . . . it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
- Romans 1:16, NIV