Parasha: KiTavo (when you enter in) DEUT: 26:1 - 29:9

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

PARASHA: "KI TAVO" (when you enter in)

DEUT 26:1-29:9......... ISAIAH 60:1-22................ ACTS 7:30-36

We are nearing the end of Moshe's discourse to his people. He is giving instructions to be carried out once they are "in the promised land" the very first thing is the "tithe" of the crops of the land. As we know, Israel was a community of agriculture and livestock, the crops of the field and the animals were their "income" so 10% or "first fruits" were to be given, to the Levites, who managed the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later on, the temple.

We see this as a way of supporting the work they did, offering the sacrifices on behalf of the people, we do the same today, following the example of the Israelites. We bring our tithes and offerings to where "YHVH has chosen to put His name". be it in a synagogue or church, we support our rabbis and pastors, through our tithes and offerings. We do this through our paychecks from our jobs. For those who have gardens, or farms, this would apply also, bring the actual "produce" to our church/synagogue leaders to enjoy.

We must also remember that we are "strangers" in this land, like the Israelites, who were descendants of the "Arameans" we are here just temporarily, our permanent home is the "New Jerusalem" ALL the land belongs to YHVH, He is just allowing us to use it and enjoy it, we may "think" we own it, but just as He has given us "material possessions" He can also "taken them away" All He has to do is "move the air and the waters" (Katrina, Ike, Andrew, etc)

We see the "blessings and the curses" announced, the people all agree, they are all tied into either "obeying or disobeying" YHVH's commandments. Can we seeing anything different today? we are living under the same value system, but we are seeing those in leadership ignoring many commandments, evening allowing "same sex marriages" which is a "slap in the face of God" If the USA is not judged for this sin, then YHVH will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorra for playing "favorites" When we read the list of "curses" and "blessings" we can see that they make perfect sense, not only then, but now-a-days as well.

"Shema Israel" WE are HIS people, and as HIS people, should we not obey HiS instructions? His Torah?
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ISAIAH 60
Israel will be the LIGHT to the GENTILES. (HaOr l'ha'goyim) the word "goyim" meant those who were pagans, worshiping false dieties, today, the word is misused, and is used to describe those believers that come from other than Jewish descent, that was NOT the case in the beginning. Many of those pagans, once hearing the Torah through the mouths of the prophets, through Paul, John, Peter, etc, rejected their idols and became part of the community of Israel, through adoption, or as we know it, through being , "grafted in" . Isaiah is speaking of the coming Millennium, when "Israel" will be the "focal point" of all the earth, We can just imagine that time, so NOW is the time to support Israel, it will pay dividends in the future.
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ACTS 7:30-36

Moshe has been called! YHVH has spoken, and has commissioned Moshe for a great task, to return to Egypt to take HIS people out of Egypt, to the New land of promise, to be a "united people and a united Nation" no more just a "bunch of undisciplined slaves" but now a "nation of priests" . We have the same calling of Moshe, to "take the lost from the grips of HaSatan, and introduce them to Yeshua, through His Word, and afterwards, teach them the Way of YHVH , this comes through Bible study
in church/synagogue, and at home, Is our calling any different than Moshe's? is the "Great Commission" just a suggestion? or is it a ...COMMAND?

SHABBAT SHALOM.......Rabbi Ben Avraham