obedience

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Parasha Reeh (See): The Mountain of Blessing

August 22, 2014 In this week’s Torah portion, God sets before the people of Israel a clear choice: they could either obey God’s commandments (mitzvot) and enjoy a life of blessing (brachah), or disobey and suffer the resulting curse (klalah). The blessings are to be proclaimed on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal when the people cross over the Jordan into the Holy Land. “When Adonai your God brings you into the land you are entering in order to take possession of it, you are to put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.” (Deuteronomy 11:29)

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Parasha Bechukotai (In My Statutes): Freedom from the Curse of the Law

May 16, 2014 In this Parasha, God promises the people that they will be blessed, enjoying prosperity and security in the Land, if they keep His statutes (chukkot) and commandments (mitzvot). He also warns that if they reject the Torah and abandon His covenant, they will be cursed.

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Parasha Tzav (Command!): Remembering the Amalekites on Shabbat Zachor

March 14, 2014 Parasha Tzav begins with the command for the burnt offering (korban olah) and the command to keep the fire burning upon the altar continually. Every morning, the priests were to shovel the ashes of the olah and to kindle wood in the fire to keep it burning. This reveals the continuity of our service to God in the offerings and prayers, one kindling the next. As well, as priests of the Lord, we are to keep a fiery enthusiasm burning in our hearts for our relationship with God. It is natural that there are times when the fire burns down to a lower level, but we must never let the fire totally go out. We must tend to the fire by removing the ashes and placing fresh kindling in the embers lest our service becomes routine and our fire for the Lord dies.

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Parasha Bo (Come!): Pharaoh Syndrome and How Pride Impedes Excellence

January 3, 2014 Bo, does not mean go as is commonly translated in English. It also is not the same word that is translated “go” in Exodus 10:3, which means send away. Bo has more of the meaning of come in. In this portion of Scripture, God told Moses, “Come in to Pharaoh” rather than “Go to Pharaoh.”

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Noach: The Faith of Noah

October 4, 2013 This week’s Torah portion specifically identifies that by the time of Noah, the earth was filled with violence (hamas). God decided to cleanse the world from that hamas by sending a Great Flood upon the earth that would destroy every living thing He had created. “So God said to Noah, 'I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence [hamas] because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.'” (Genesis 6:13)

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Parasha Tzav (Command): The Transforming Power of Praise

March 22, 2013 God gave to Moses the laws of the korbanot (animal and meal offerings). While such offerings seem strange, even outrageous, to modern man, they do pertain to worship and the attitude of the heart. Understanding them ultimately helps us to understand what Yeshua (Jesus) did for us on the Roman execution stake (cross), and why His death was necessary.

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Parasha Eikev (Because): Following the Lead of a Loving Father

August 10, 2012 Moses promises the Israelites that they would enjoy prosperity and good health if they walk in God's ways. It’s not enough to be hearers of the Word; we must also be diligent doers of the Word. All the blessings and benefits we receive from God are because of our obedience to His Word. Some of the rewards brought about by obedience to His Word include prosperity, favor, and good health.

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Parasha Va’etchanan (And I Pleaded): When God Says No

August 3, 2012 The Promised Land was Moses’ dream, vision, and goal. And after all his hard work, and all the complaining and trouble he put up with, not only was he not allowed to enter, but he had to support his successor who would—Joshua. Here is a true test of character: not only accepting that we won’t have our heart’s desire, but also being happy for those who will, and even encouraging them. Still, imagine the disappointment of Moses at not being personally able to experience the fulfillment of God's promise!

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Parasha Behar-Bechukotai (On the Mount-By My Decrees): The Year of Jubilee

May 17, 2012 Every seven years, the Land wasn’t to be worked in any kind of way. It wasn’t planted, pruned, or harvested. You may wonder how the people ate. Although they couldn’t reap or sow, whatever the land yielded could be eaten (Leviticus 25:7). While the land lay fallow, fruits growing of their own accord could be eaten by anyone.

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Parasha Shemini (Eighth): Drawing Near to God

April 20, 2012 Today, since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, the animal sacrifices that must be performed in the Temple can no longer be offered to the Lord. Judaism, therefore, focuses on the importance of the condition of the heart (repentance, charity, and good deeds), instead of the offering of animal sacrifices. Parasha Shemini, however, provides lessons that are relevant for all time, even today when animal sacrifices cannot be offered.

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