PARASHAH: “VaYelech” (and he went) DEUT 31:1-30
“I am 120 years old today,” starts Moshe, “I can no more go out and come in…”
Interestingly, he mentions his age, 120 years old. Guess the day he spoke to his people was his last birthday. He would complete 120 years on earth and give up the ghost. We can divide 120 years into 3 parts: the first 40 years, the second 40 years, and the third 40 years. “40” is the number of tests and trials.
He lived the first 40 years as a prince of Egypt and a general in the Egyptian army, through circumstances (which never happen by accident) Adonai sends Moshe running to the land of Midian, where he meets his wife and family and becomes a shepherd. So, we go from royalty to a shepherd, a profession loathed by the Egyptians. Then the last 40 years are the “ministry years”. Adonai changed his profession so that he could fit into God’s perfect plan, that of freeing his people from the bondage of slavery through HIS chosen vessel.
Moshe was 80 years old when he received the commission to free his people. The prior years were all “training years” or “Years of getting ready”. What will we be doing when and if we reach 80 years of life? Will we be ready to continue in ministry? Or will we be looking forward to a rocking chair and sipping iced tea through a straw?
We must take the example of Moshe, active until the day he dies. One can retire from a secular job, but not from ministry. Ministry is a life-long calling. Whether it be a pastor or rabbi, Torah teacher or Sunday School teacher, music leader, youth worker, or just giving out bread to the hungry along with a gospel tract of the “Bread of Life,” we must not think of retirement, not from that.
“I can no more go out and come in.”
Moshe has already been told that he is about to leave the land of the living, so he is to anoint the future leader. So, who will lead the people to the promised land? The answer is in verse 3:
“YHVH your Elohim Himself is passing over before you. He shall destroy these nations from before you, and you shall possess them. Yehoshua himself is passing over before you, as YHVH has spoken.”
There is a play on words here. Adonai Himself is leading the people; He is passing over before the people. This is what a king in battle does. The king leads his army. Yet the verse also states that “Yehoshua” will pass over before the people. So, who is leading? BOTH are leading. The spirit of YHVH is within Yehoshua (Joshua), whom Moshe has anointed as his successor.
“Yehoshua” will take the lead and lead the people to the promised land. “Yehoshua” (Joshua) is the longer name of “Yeshua” the name “Yehoshua” contains the name “Yeshuah” which is “salvation” or we could say, the name “Yeshua” with the added “h” which means “Behold, Salvation comes from “YAH” The name “Yehoshua” has the first three letters of YHVH (the “Yod” “Hey” and the “V”)
Symbolically, it is God himself who will take the people through the final steps of the journey to reach the promised land, through his servant Joshua. We will not live forever in our mortal bodies; sooner or later, we must name a successor, someone who will take our place. It might be our children, if in business, some faithful business partner, or if in ministry, someone who is mature in the faith.
After Moshe had finished writing the scrolls of the Torah, he gave them to the priests to put beside the Ark of the Covenant. So, I imagine that the Ark of the Covenant had some sort of “side-pocket” or a place to put the scrolls. Now, the “Aron HaKodesh” was complete, with a gold chest with the tablets of the Commandments, the pot of Manna, Aron’s rod, and now, the Torah scrolls. All to remind us that the “Torah is our guide and leader to give us the 'Bread of Life' who is Yeshua, who leads us through his Holy Spirit and his WORD.
Moshe also commanded that the Torah would be read during the time of Sukkot at the end of seven years (vss 10,11). It may have been just the book of “D’varim (Deuteronomy) or the whole Torah (from Genesis to Deuteronomy). The Hebrew Word used is "Sefer," which means "book."
Yes, the Bible consists of 66 books today, yet when Moses wrote down the words that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write, he wrote them as one long book, word after word. No paragraphs, nor verses, nor chapters. He probably used many pieces of parchment, papyrus, or pieces of thin leather. Deuteronomy, however, is a review of all that was written from Genesis to Numbers.
Why is the WORD of God important to us? What is its purpose in our lives? Why should it be so important to read and study it?
It shows us the perfection and sinless being of God and who He is. It points out our weakness and sinful nature, and it points us to reconciliation with God through Yeshua. Then it teaches us how to live a holy and righteous lifestyle through the mitzvoth (commandments) (In that order!) Good works do not come before salvation, rather the other way around. Righteous works will count towards rewards in heaven, not towards a salvation experience, THAT only comes by faith in the completed work of Yeshua at Calvary.
Let's not wait 7 years to read the Bible. Let's read and study it every day. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) B.I.B.L.E. In Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), which is part of the Talmud, it is written: "Love and pursue peace and love mankind, and bring (mankind) to the Torah" (Spoken by Hillel). This is witnessing and making disciples through God's Word. Rabbi Shammai said, "Make Bible study (Torah study) a fixed habit." Say little and do much. May our works show more than our words!
Shalom
Let's study the WORD!
“I am 120 years old today,” starts Moshe, “I can no more go out and come in…”
Interestingly, he mentions his age, 120 years old. Guess the day he spoke to his people was his last birthday. He would complete 120 years on earth and give up the ghost. We can divide 120 years into 3 parts: the first 40 years, the second 40 years, and the third 40 years. “40” is the number of tests and trials.
He lived the first 40 years as a prince of Egypt and a general in the Egyptian army, through circumstances (which never happen by accident) Adonai sends Moshe running to the land of Midian, where he meets his wife and family and becomes a shepherd. So, we go from royalty to a shepherd, a profession loathed by the Egyptians. Then the last 40 years are the “ministry years”. Adonai changed his profession so that he could fit into God’s perfect plan, that of freeing his people from the bondage of slavery through HIS chosen vessel.
Moshe was 80 years old when he received the commission to free his people. The prior years were all “training years” or “Years of getting ready”. What will we be doing when and if we reach 80 years of life? Will we be ready to continue in ministry? Or will we be looking forward to a rocking chair and sipping iced tea through a straw?
We must take the example of Moshe, active until the day he dies. One can retire from a secular job, but not from ministry. Ministry is a life-long calling. Whether it be a pastor or rabbi, Torah teacher or Sunday School teacher, music leader, youth worker, or just giving out bread to the hungry along with a gospel tract of the “Bread of Life,” we must not think of retirement, not from that.
“I can no more go out and come in.”
Moshe has already been told that he is about to leave the land of the living, so he is to anoint the future leader. So, who will lead the people to the promised land? The answer is in verse 3:
“YHVH your Elohim Himself is passing over before you. He shall destroy these nations from before you, and you shall possess them. Yehoshua himself is passing over before you, as YHVH has spoken.”
There is a play on words here. Adonai Himself is leading the people; He is passing over before the people. This is what a king in battle does. The king leads his army. Yet the verse also states that “Yehoshua” will pass over before the people. So, who is leading? BOTH are leading. The spirit of YHVH is within Yehoshua (Joshua), whom Moshe has anointed as his successor.
“Yehoshua” will take the lead and lead the people to the promised land. “Yehoshua” (Joshua) is the longer name of “Yeshua” the name “Yehoshua” contains the name “Yeshuah” which is “salvation” or we could say, the name “Yeshua” with the added “h” which means “Behold, Salvation comes from “YAH” The name “Yehoshua” has the first three letters of YHVH (the “Yod” “Hey” and the “V”)
Symbolically, it is God himself who will take the people through the final steps of the journey to reach the promised land, through his servant Joshua. We will not live forever in our mortal bodies; sooner or later, we must name a successor, someone who will take our place. It might be our children, if in business, some faithful business partner, or if in ministry, someone who is mature in the faith.
After Moshe had finished writing the scrolls of the Torah, he gave them to the priests to put beside the Ark of the Covenant. So, I imagine that the Ark of the Covenant had some sort of “side-pocket” or a place to put the scrolls. Now, the “Aron HaKodesh” was complete, with a gold chest with the tablets of the Commandments, the pot of Manna, Aron’s rod, and now, the Torah scrolls. All to remind us that the “Torah is our guide and leader to give us the 'Bread of Life' who is Yeshua, who leads us through his Holy Spirit and his WORD.
Moshe also commanded that the Torah would be read during the time of Sukkot at the end of seven years (vss 10,11). It may have been just the book of “D’varim (Deuteronomy) or the whole Torah (from Genesis to Deuteronomy). The Hebrew Word used is "Sefer," which means "book."
Yes, the Bible consists of 66 books today, yet when Moses wrote down the words that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write, he wrote them as one long book, word after word. No paragraphs, nor verses, nor chapters. He probably used many pieces of parchment, papyrus, or pieces of thin leather. Deuteronomy, however, is a review of all that was written from Genesis to Numbers.
Why is the WORD of God important to us? What is its purpose in our lives? Why should it be so important to read and study it?
It shows us the perfection and sinless being of God and who He is. It points out our weakness and sinful nature, and it points us to reconciliation with God through Yeshua. Then it teaches us how to live a holy and righteous lifestyle through the mitzvoth (commandments) (In that order!) Good works do not come before salvation, rather the other way around. Righteous works will count towards rewards in heaven, not towards a salvation experience, THAT only comes by faith in the completed work of Yeshua at Calvary.
Let's not wait 7 years to read the Bible. Let's read and study it every day. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) B.I.B.L.E. In Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), which is part of the Talmud, it is written: "Love and pursue peace and love mankind, and bring (mankind) to the Torah" (Spoken by Hillel). This is witnessing and making disciples through God's Word. Rabbi Shammai said, "Make Bible study (Torah study) a fixed habit." Say little and do much. May our works show more than our words!
Shalom
Let's study the WORD!