Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: Ekev (as a result)
Torah: Devarim 7:12-11:25
Devarim 8:1 All the commandment which I command you this day shall you observe to do, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Avinu swore to avoteinu.
** In this verse, as in several others, the word translated “commandment” is “mitzvah”. Mitzvah is the singular version of the word that is usually used, “mitzvot”, the plural version, usually translated commandments. So we learn a different perspective from this verse. We should be focusing on keeping “all of the commandment” and avoid picking and choosing to observe only the parts that we like.
22 And Avinu Elohekah will put out those nations before you by little and little: you may not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase on you. 23 But Avinu Elohekah shall deliver them to you, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.
** The “obstacles” in our lives, the things that distract us from our life’s journey, should be methodically removed. The Scripture warns us about trying “drastic” changes that may cause another problem for us. A long term persistent attitude in our repentance is prescribed for a permanent change.
Devarim 8:10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless Avinu Elohekah for the good land which he has given you. 11 Beware that you forget not Avinu Elohekah, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command you this day: 12 Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and dwelled therein; 13 And when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 Then your heart be lifted up, and you forget Avinu Elohekah, which brought you forth out of the land of Mitzryim, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which avoteinu knew not, that he might humble you, and that he might prove you, to do you good at your latter end; 17 And you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth. 18 But you shall remember Avinu Elohekah: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to avoteinu, as it is this day.
** Stay focused on “The Source” and remember to do what “The Source” wants us to do. We are being “called” into a journey of obeisance to Avinu. Beware when your “heart” (ego) starts telling you how “smart” you are.
“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that Avinu swore to give to your fathers.” (De 8:1)
“5 You shall love Avinu Elohekah with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” (De 6:5-6 ESV)
** If Avinu were to bestow His goodness on us even when we do not deserve it, He would not be doing us any favors. First, we would feel like little children whose parents overlook their infantile behavior because adult behavior cannot be expected of them. Worse yet, it would undermine our belief in Divine justice. We would thus live lives of shame and confusion. The rewards for observing Avinu’s commandments are so great that they are out of proportion to the effort required to fulfill them. Nonetheless, for the above-stated reasons, Avinu made the bestowal their reward dependent upon our efforts, and the bestowal of their infinite reward dependent upon effort that specifically mirrors their infinite, unlimited nature.
Therefore, we must take care to fulfill the seemingly less-important commandments with the same devotion with which we fulfill the seemingly more-important ones. This shows that what matters to us is that Avinu wants us to observe these commandments, not our own evaluation of which ones are important or which parts of others we decide to obey based on our “likes” or dislikes”. Avinu then bestows His goodness upon us far beyond the strict dictates of what we have earned.
Want to know why Avinu loves Moshe?
“This Moses did; according to all that Avinu commanded him, so he did.” (Ex 40:16 ESV)
12 And now, Israel, what does Avinu Elohekah require of you, but to fear Avinu Elohekah, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Avinu Elohekah with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 To keep the commandments of Avinu, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good?
The question for us is simple. Are we guilty of picking and choosing parts of certain commandments to obey while ignoring the rest of the command?”
We need to examine the ways that we are observing Avinu’s commandments to see if we are really doing what we are commanded.
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