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Parasha Va'etchanan: And I besought
by Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber
The Scripture readings for the Shabbat of July 20/11 Av are: Devarim/Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11; Yesha'yahu/Isaiah 40.1-26; Mark 12:28-34. We're no longer under the Law? This weeks Parasha begins with Moshe pleading with G-d to change His mind and let him enter the land. As we know G-d doesn't, Moshe accepts, and bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel), remain encamped on the plains of Moab for approximately 30 more days. As we settle into the Parasha, Moshe has accepted his fate and goes on with the task of preparing bnie Yisrael to accomplish what G-d has placed before them; conquering the land and driving out paganism from its midst. Devarim {5:29} Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my Mitzvot (commandments) always, that it might be well with them, and with their bnei forever! {5:30} Go tell them, Return you to your tents. {5:31} But as for you, stand you here by me, and I will speak to you all the Mitzvah, and the statutes, and the huchim (ordinances), which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. {5:32} You shall observe to do therefore as HaSHEM your G-D has commanded you: you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. {5:33} You shall walk in all the way which HaSHEM your G-D has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. Here in these Scriptures lies the secret of driving out the devil, keeping him out and enjoying your inheritance. The only way it can be done we are told is by following G-d's commandments, not turn aside from them, not to the left nor to the right, but by walking in G-d's ways. Moshe repeats this exact same admonition no less than twelve times in this Parasha. Do you think he is trying to tell us something? Many believers today want the power from G-d, but they are not prepared to make the commitment G-d requires. That is why I believe the "We're no longer under the Law" theology, is so readily accepted by believers today. It is because it teaches power without the commitment. Yeshua never said He came to abolish the Law, in fact He said the exact opposite. Mattayahu (Matthew) {5:17} Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. To "fulfil" in the context Yeshua used it, meant he had come to restore the Law to its original intent. Proof of this interpretation are the Scriptures that immediately follow this verse. In them Yeshua separates the true intent of the Law, from the distorted religious practices of the Pharisees. Mattayahu {5:18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. {5:19} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. {5:20} For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. {5:21} Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: {5:22} But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. There can be no power without commitment to following the Law of the L-rd. The power comes from the Word. Yeshua is the Living Word. Upon salvation He, in the form of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), enters our hearts and gives us the power of the Word. G-d's Word is alive, it is powerful, but it can acomplish nothing unless it is alive inside of us. Yeshua has acomplished that for us. We can not defeat the enemy on our own, he is much to powerful than us. Moshe tells us this in: Devarim {4:38} to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as at this day. We need G-d's help in order to drive out the enemy and the only way He has agreed to help us is if we follow His commandments. What does it mean to follow His commandments? Does it mean we need to be perfect in our observances? Well, what it does not mean is that we reject His commandments and say we have been freed from them. But rather it does means is that we recognize there is no power without commitment and then we go about doing our best to live an obedient life. When we make the effort and do our best, as a saved person not relying on works for salvation, but rather expecting power from obedience, Yeshua will step in and do the rest.Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada. Copyright 2002
- Romans 1:16, NIV |