Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)
This week’s Parasha is Ki Tavo, which means “when you come in” and covers Deuteronomy 26:1 through 29:9. In chapter 26 Moses is giving El Elyon, God most High’s command for the offerings of first fruits and tithes to be carried out once Israel crosses the Jordan River and enters the Promised Land. All that they ever had, or will have, comes from Adonai. In the previous Parasha, Moses had just reminded the nation of the laws God had commanded them to keep. This was a good time for Israel to be reminded of His gracious gift of the Promised Land, and the Israelis are expected to give back to Him the first fruits of their produce and tithes as an expression of thankfulness for His goodness.
We should also note that it doesn’t say some fruit, but first fruits. The Lord deserves better than our leftovers. Brothers and sisters, this would be a good time for us to think about whether we give the Lord our best or just our leftovers with regard to our time, talent, and treasure. Proverbs 22:9 says, “He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor”, and Proverbs 28:27 says, “He who gives to the poor will never lack, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses”. Yeshua said, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).
The Lord blesses us every day, so let’s be sure our hearts are in the right place when we come here on Shabbat, and offer Him our tithes and our worship praying and singing His Praises.
As we continue in chapter 26, the Jewish people are about to enter the land, and they will be required to give their tithes and first fruits. But there is another kind of tithe they are to give in the third year. In that special tithing year, in addition to giving to God, they are also to give to the Levites, to the fatherless and to the widow, so that they, too, can eat and be filled. When Adonai gives this command to the Israelis, He reminds them of HIS faithfulness, their deliverance out of Egypt, and provision of a fruitful land as an inheritance.
Moses concludes chapter 26 with the admonition from God to always obey these statutes and ordinances. By Israel’s agreeing to follow these laws, Adonai declares them to be His people and His treasured possession. He says that they are to be holy, which means to be set apart to accomplish His special purposes.
In chapter 27 Moses instructs the Jewish people to set up large stones coated with wet plaster, to write the words of the law on them, and to make burnt offerings. Moses again announces that when they cross into the Promised Land they are to divide the tribes so that on Mt Gerizim, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin are to stand and represent the promised blessings God will give Israel if they follow all His commands. And on Mt. Ebal, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali are to stand and represent the curses that will follow if they disobey the commands of God.
The Lord pronounces 6 blessings and 12 curses. Cursed is anyone who makes a false idol. Cursed is anyone who dishonors his father or mother. Cursed is anyone moves his neighbor’s boundary stone. Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife. Cursed is he who lies with his sister. Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law. Cursed is anyone who strikes his neighbor in secret. Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person. And finally, cursed is anyone who does not confirm the words of this Law by doing them. The last curse covers the rest of the 613 laws. After each one of these curses the Israelis were to respond and say, “Amen.”
In chapter 28 Adonai announces what will befall the Jewish nation in the centuries to follow. The prophecies foretell the time when Israel will be governed by kings, and all the idol worship that would take place, as well as the captivities that will result from Israel’s faithlessness. There is also a ‘performance clause’ so to speak. The blessings were conditional upon the people keeping all the commands. Now those who believe in Replacement Theology argue that, since Israel didn’t follow the 613 commandments, they forfeited their eternal right to the Land. But if the Replacement Theologians would read more carefully, they would realize that the generations that failed to live up to God’s commands would receive the curse and the remnant who repented would always receive their inheritance.
Also, Replacement Theologians overlook the fact that the covenant of land in Genesis 17 was unilateral – completely apart from Israel’s ‘performance’ – meaning that, for a time, Israel might not enjoy occupancy of the Land (due to disobedience), but He would never, ever change the name on the ‘Deed of Ownership’. There are no surprises for God; He sees everything before we even do what we do. And in Ezekiel 37:12, God announced that we would be restored to the Land, even calling it, “your own land.”
In chapter 29 we see that the Lord had not given the Israelis eyes to see or ears to hear; meaning that in their unbelief they failed to comprehend that it was through faith that they received His mercy and forgiveness, and not by their works. Ephesians 2:8-9 echoes this: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast”. In Ephesians Paul also declared that Adonai chose us before the creation of the world, saying, “In love He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Messiah Yeshua to the praise of His glorious grace.” Brothers and Sisters it is always the Lord that draws us to Himself. Unless God transforms us into disciples, we will not have eyes to see or ears to hear.
It is interesting to note that, with the exception of Reuben (who committed a great sin with Jacob’s concubine) and Zebulun, all the tribes on Mt. Gerizim will be the sons of Leah and Rachel, whereas the sons of the maidservants will stand on Mt. Ebal for the curses. Also, these curses reiterate 6 of the 10 Commandments.
Let me share some closing thoughts.
Some people notice that there are only six blessings compared to twelve curses in this parasha. But God knew Israel would prove disobedient, and the curses would befall us more than the blessings. He wanted His people to learn to trust Him, even if in retrospect, and through the pain of judgment and exile.
But in fact, Yeshua gave us eight additional blessings, known as The Beatitudes, not based on our works, but by His grace. In Matthew 5, Yeshua declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. And finally, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Paul ells us in Galatians 3:10 that the Law required us to be perfect, but it was humanly impossible. No one was justified by the law; rather, the righteous live by faith. Adonai’s glory is shown through His mercy and grace; if the Law could make us righteous, we would have no need of grace. But the Mosaic covenant was meant to be temporary, until Messiah would make final atonement for sin.
A.W. Tozer once said that a believer should, “Put away all defense and make no attempt to excuse himself, either in his own eyes or before the Lord. Whoever defends himself will have himself for his defense, and he will have no other; but let him come defenseless before the Lord and he will have for his defender no less than God Himself”. What a great quote! The Law shows us that we are unworthy and cannot stand on our own merit; but we can stand on the merits of the one and only Yeshua the Messiah. Brothers and sisters, when we meet our Maker the only defense we will have is the righteous blood of Yeshua. And it will be sufficient!