Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Devarim (‘Words’)
In many ways, we are living through times that feel unreal – different from the lives we have been used to, though much goes on the same. However, the outlook is grim. BBC News reports of scientists advising that unless preventative action is taken immediately, we should expect a second wave of coronavirus this winter. This pandemic has already put our nation into far greater debt than we’ve known in the past 300 years, and though our Government is trying its best to get the economy back on its feet, the warning signs of an economic disaster are clear.
With this in mind, what can we, as a Bible-believing remnant, take from this week’s Torah portion?
In these first three chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses gets the people of Israel ready to battle for the Promised Land. And he does so by recounting to them some of the major things that they, though a burdensome, bothersome and quarrelsome people (Deut 1:12), have achieved with God’s help since they met with God and were given the Torah at Horeb. They needed to have this positive view of Almighty God, of themselves as his chosen people, and of the good results of following his leading, in order to take heart and prepare for the challenges ahead.
We too have a battle to be ready for: to hold onto our faith in Messiah Yeshua and to spread the good news of salvation through the days ahead. Like the Children of Israel, each of us would do well to recall the events of our lives where Father God has clearly led and directed us, albeit with our own stubborn, wayward and sceptical (I speak for myself!) attempts to follow with trusting obedience. And this will strengthen us to be ready for what I believe we should hear through this passage, as God’s word also to us:
“Get up, get moving! Commence the conquest, begin the battle!” (Deut 2:24)
“Your eyes have seen everything that Adonai your God has done…[for each of us in our lives]. Don’t be afraid…because Adonai your God will fight on your behalf.” (Deut 3:21-22)
Go to it!
Author: John Quinlan
Bible quotes from the Complete Jewish Bible.
