Haftarah – Conclusion – Yeshayahu (‘(the) LORD He saves’, ‘ Isaiah’) 1:1-27
Torah verses cited in the RCS (Renewed Covenant Scriptures – please see our Glossary in the section that follows our weekly Torah teaching) – 4 ( please note – I use Dev. as short for Devarim as Dt. is short for Deuteronomy).
Dev. 1:10 Heb.11:12
1:16 Yochanon (‘ God is gracious’ ‘John’s’ original Hebrew name) 7:51
Dev. 1:17 Jacob – not ‘James’ 2:9. Please see our Glossary
2:5 Acts 7:5
Keys to Open Up the Reading
Devarim means ‘Words’. Unfortunately, as we explain in our audio teaching, Devarim is generally incorrectly taught to my dear Christian brethren from its Greek name Deuteronomy, ‘Second Law’.
Mark contains much that is found in the other two Synoptic Gospels Matthew and Luke – yet no one considers Mark in the same way that Devarim is incorrectly seen as ‘Second Law’!
The rabbis correctly point out – of the 100 instructions and commandments given in Devarim, 70 are new.
Devarim is reiteration and emphasis of what was revealed and taught earlier in the Torah; however, it is primarily about the Teaching, Direction, Revelation, Law, and Guidance the Israelites will need as they now enter the land that will become Israel. More deeply, in keeping with the deeper meaning of the Hebrew word Torah, it is also about the ‘seed’ from the Torah the Israelites receive in order to promote their growth.
As one of the great Torah commentators astutely points out; Devarim is Israel’s introduction to the new life they would need to forge in Israel itself.
In this week’s reading in particular, Moshe both recounts and reminds the Israelites of what the LORD gave him to teach the Israelites in the Wilderness. The rabbis are correct that there is also, in this instance, not a direct but rather a veiled what would be called in Hebrew literally a warning, i.e., a rebuke of the Israelites
Moshe also though very much desires that the LORD increase and bless the Israelites!
Moshe demonstrates the higher level character traits and spiritual level that few have; despite too often being badly treated by his fellow Israelites, Moshe wants the best for them. While Yeshua had more support from his fellow Galilean Jews than is generally acknowledged and taught to Christians, Yeshua’s main opposition came from the Judean Jews. (What is typically translated in Yochanon as ‘the Jews’, in most instances actually should be translated ‘the Judeans’).
Yeshua wept for Yerushalyim as he approached it for the very last time Lk. 19:41.
Moshe – even though he will not be able to enter the Land of Israel because of what he did in front of the Israelites by striking the rock instead of speaking to it to bring forth water, in Bamidbar Wilderness the Book of Numbers, nonetheless; Moshe does not want the Israelites to be left like sheep without a shepherd. Cf. also Mt. 9:36.
Torah – Haftarah Connection
As we point out in our teaching; the LORD does not raise up a prophet in Israel to encourage them to ‘keep up the good work’. There is no need for a prophet to do that. Prophets are raised up when the people have turned from the LORD, turned to idols, turned from His Torah, and/or there was a lack of righteousness and justice being exercise towards the disadvantaged. That – rather than primarily predicting the future – is the main mission function purpose of a Prophet.
We point out in our audio teaching that Paul hopes God would raise up prophets amongst the Corinthians – to turn them back when they needed to be turned back to the right way of following Yeshua. Cf. 1 Cor. 14.
Thus Yeshayahu (‘Isaiah’) is raised up accordingly for Israel. The LORD speaks directly through a Prophet. Moshe too is called a prophet cf. Bamidbar Wilderness (‘Numbers’) 12. You may be surprised to learn who is actually the first one called a prophet in the Bible. It is actually Abraham, by the LORD Gen. 20:7. Be sure to see the context of the chapter.
The Prophet recounts to Israel how they have strayed from the LORD. Yet – as praise the LORD He always does (l) – there is always an encouraging word and a concrete promise of restoration!
Summary & Outline of the Torah Reading Chpts.
Chapter 1
Moshe’s Indirect Warning to Israel
Lest we forget – the Prophets in Hebrew are extremely bold and very vivid; they don’t pull any punches! That is not the case here with Moshe.
Moshe wants to remind the Israelites in a more indirect way about their time in the Wilderness; and that they don’t do some of what they did then, upon entering the land of Israel. The Israelites are on the verge of but not quite into Israel. Thus, it would be inappropriate for Moshe to obviously take them to task for negative things they haven’t done.
Judges Are Appointed
Moshe recounts that it became too much to him to decide various matters in disputes that arose; he reminds the Israelites that men of wisdom and distinction from the Tribes were set up to adjudicate things. Anything that was too difficult for these men was brought to Moshe.
The Mission of the Spies is Recounted
In this instance, the People are reminded of the lack of steadfastness in the LORD. It was this lack of steadfastness, except for Yehoshua and Caleb among the 12 Spies, that led to the People also feeling that they couldn’t conquer land; that they were overwhelmed. The Torah in Hebrew being vivid and concrete rather than conceptual, tells us the People felt like ants in comparison to the inhabitants of the land
The People thought, if you will, in the natural rather than the spiritual!
Chapter 2
Moshe recounts what the LORD said as the Israelites passed through the lands of Esav (‘Esau’)/Seir and Moav (‘Moab)’. (The name Moav ‘From my father’ comes from one of the sons that one of Lot’s daughters conceived from Lot after the destruction of S’dom & Ammorah ( Sodom and Gomorrah. Cf. Gen. 19:27).
The Israelites are commanded not to disturb these peoples as they pass through.
The LORD tells Moshe to tell the Israelites to march towards the Land.
Moshe recounts that the LORD delivered the kings and the peoples that opposed them Into Israelites’ hands. This is to encourage the Israelites that though there is fighting against various kings and inhabitants in the land, the LORD will fight for them! There is we believe a very key spiritual dynamic to this. The Israelites cannot drive out the idol-worshiping, totally morally bankrupt peoples of the land merely by being physically or militarily superior.
That would not differentiate the Israelites from any other physically or militarily powerful people. The Israelites absolutely must – must – be and do and operate within the parameters of godly, ethical and moral conduct that is expected of the People who accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai. Cf. Ex. 24:7, etc.
The Book of Devarim will shortly point out that it is having the LORD and the Torah, that the peoples around them will be amazed at and see the difference! This is reminiscent of Peter in 1 Peter 2 telling followers that they should have such ethical and moral conduct that the pagans would see it and glorify God because of it! Cf. 1 Pet. 2:12; cf. esp. 2 Pet. 1:3-12.
Chapter 3
The Account of the Kings and People that were Overcome by the Israelites Continues.
This is to remind and strengthen the Israelites that as the LORD delivered those that opposed His People in the Wilderness, into the Israelites hands, He would do so for them In the Land of Israel, as we mentioned above
The Heritage of the Tribes of Reuven, Gad, and Half of Manasseh
These tribes are to be on the east side of the Yarden Jordan River. They had requested to be there because of the good land there apparently, for the large herds they had.
The Parsha (portion) ends with Moshe reminding the Israelites that he commanded Yehoshua/Joshua, about everything the LORD had done to the two kings that opposed the Israelites.
Thus the Israelites are not to fear those who oppose them – the LORD will fight for Israel! Cf. Ex. 14:13-14. Cf. Ex. 14:19. As we point out in our teaching the Hebrew word war comes from the verb ‘struggle’. The word ‘bread’ in Hebrew comes from the same root letters; as we pointed out is there not a struggle for man to obtain bread after what Adam did?
Mussar – Ethics Morals Discipline Commitment
The Israelites would need discipline but most especially commitment, to what they had covenanted to by accepting the Torah on Mount Sinai.
There is no – and there could be no – going back to Egypt or anywhere else. Not only physically but also spiritually. There could be no excuses; the Israelites could not say, “Gee, on second thought we changed our mind”. Let us reiterate – there could be no excuses by the Israelites for not entering the Land; not that they made any.
However, speaking the truth in love (cf. Eph. 4:15) – I have seen and heard of far far far far too many instances of my dear Christian brethren saying they had ‘faith’ and ‘we’ll do such and such’. Then, when the time comes out come the ‘excuses’ and ‘we’re not sure we can do this’, etc.
My ancestors, meaning the Jewish People, did not rashly take the Torah upon themselves. In fact, to their great credit, they said we will do before they said we will hear cf. Ex. 24:7. Followers of Yeshua need to be fully aware; ‘everything’s under the blood’ is not a reason to back out of things or make excuses – as though there are no consequences – or one does not have to give an account accordingly! Cf. Mt. 12:36-37. Cf. 2 Cor. 5:10. As righteousness and justice are particularly reiterated in the Book of Devarim, so should followers keep in mind that those things absolutely did not end with the coming of Yeshua!
Please allow us to reiterate something we pointed out in our audio teaching; that in 2 Pet. 3:13 Peter says that righteousness, more deeply, will dwell on Earth like a neighbor. Peter draws this from Yeshayahu 65:17-25. Righteousness – and we are not talking about it in its legally forensic sense, meaning justification – is the ideal that we need to strive for!
When it comes to the practical matters of life that the Israelites will have to deal with, in which the LORD gave Moshe instruction, revelations, teaching, direction, and law, we see something very similar in 1 Corinthians.
In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul takes the Corinthians to task because they are taking brethren to pagan courts; rather than settling matters within their own assembly. In similar fashion to what Moshe says to Israel, Paul does so in a greatly condensed manner with the Corinthians. Paul also does this when it comes to inappropriate physical relationships, where the Torah may spell these out in great detail/very specifically.
In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul also very much warns the Corinthians in a very similar way that the LORD and Moshe warn the Israelites, that they absolutely can have nothing – whatsoever (!) – to do with the ways and the practices of the pagans!
Revelation 2-3 is Yeshua’s Torah like what is called an Hebrew literally warning, i.e, admonishing rebuke to 7 assemblies of Gentile followers. (We have explained elsewhere in our teaching the following. The reference to the synagogue of the Enemy Rev. 2:9 & 3:9 and those who say they are Jews but are not, in first-century historical cultural context is not about Jews. Rather, it is what your Jewish Brothers today call ‘wannabes’. That is, Christians who ‘wannabe’ Jews; rather than being satisfied that as the Gentile they were made, they too are included, by one’s steadfast trustworthiness in Yeshua. Cf. 1 Cor. 7:17-21).
In Rev. 2:12, Yeshua addresses Pergamum and in verse 14 references something that was read a few weeks ago in the Torah reading Balak. Apparently, in Pergamum, there were those eating food sacrificed to idols and being sexually immoral; the latter, is especially what Bilam (‘Master of people’, ‘Balaam’) had Balak do to lead the Israelites astray. This was to curse them by more deeply in Hebrew what means ‘hollow them out’.
That is, get the Israelites to ‘hollow out’ one of the key things that separated them from the Canaanites; not acting in ways the Torah calls in Hebrew abominable – as the various people groups in the land of Israel. Scholars point out that the term Canaanite actually covers about 11 different groups of people.
Followers must recognize that being a follower of Yeshua, though something not done by covenant, nonetheless means a firm commitment to godly character, conduct, and integrity is expected! As well as, leaving behind all of the understanding, thinking, life, actions, and practices of the ungodly pagans
Chizik – Strengthening & Encouragement
Though the LORD does not directly fight for followers of Yeshua as He did for Israel, followers should be strengthened and encouraged by what the Torah teaches regarding the LORD fighting for Israel!
As followers of Yeshua, unlike Israel, we are not in a physical but rather we are engaged in a spiritual battle. Though we have to do the resisting and fighting ourselves, cf, Jacob 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:8, Paul makes it clear beginning with Eph. 6:11, that we are very much equipped to do so! Commentators astutely and correctly point out that all of the armament is defensive – except for the sword of the Word.
The more one understands the Torah – and that for Christians the Torah is really about godly and Mashiach-like character, conduct, and integrity – the better equipped one is for the big spiritual warfare battle!
Also, one has the opportunity to grow and raise what is called in Hebrew (their) spiritual level by learning from the Torah’s teaching, on the higher level of righteousness and justice that’s expected of godly people.
Praise God – as we are equipped with the Ruach Hakodesh (original Hebrew name of the Holy Spirit) – we are able to learn, grow, and apply righteousness & justice in our relationships with our brethren accordingly!