Parashah 53 Haazinu Deuteronomy 32:1-52 By Dr. K. Blad© Second edition 2013-14 Lucrative copying not permitted. Torah Readings: 32:1-6 32:7-12 32:13-18 32:19-28 32:29-39 32:40-43 32:44-52 Maftir: 32:48-52
Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51 Comments Haazinu Means “listen” The First Aliyah, 32:1-6 The song of Moshe, which we will now study, tells Israel’s entire history from the beginning to the end. We could summarize the its content with the first six readings: 1-6 HaShem’s Name and work for the world and for Israel. 7-12 Israel’s beginning. 13-18 Israel’s success and falling away. 19-26 Israel’s downfall after the falling away. 29-39 Israel’s dispersion among the nations. 40-43 Israel’s salvation and its worldwide influence. 1-6 HaShem’s Name and Work for the World and Israel 32:1 “Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth.”(HNV) – The heavens and the earth are two witnesses that testify against Israel, see 30:19; 31:28, for they have documented Israel’s entire history. Actually there are three witnesses, since the Hebrew word for heavens, shamayim, is in dual-form, in other words, it is talking about a couple of heavens. Israel’s history is written both in the heavens and on the earth. These two or three witnesses will be the first to “cast the stone on Israel if Israel is unfaithful to the covenant with HaShem”, see Deuteronomy 11:17; 17:7. HaShem must therefore create new heavens and a new earth after the thousand-year reign, so that these two or three witnesses will not continue to speak against Israel and be reminders of what has happened in its sinful history. In Isaiah 65:17-18, it is written, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Yerushalayim a rejoicing, and her people a joy.”(HNV) In Revelation 21:1, it is written, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.”(HNV) The heavens and the earth were taken as witnesses because they remain, see Jeremiah 31:35-37. The Torah scroll can be burned up, but not the stars or the stones. They are witnesses that remain. Moshe mentioned the heavens first and then the earth. This teaches us that he was closer to heaven than he was to earth. 32:2 “My doctrine shall drop as the rain; my speech shall condense as the dew, as the small rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.”(HNV) – Rain is a picture of the written Torah, which comes directly from heaven in measurable quantities. The dew could symbolize the halachah,[1] which comes from the earth, from man, and is flexible and has no limits, since it changes according to the needs of every generation. There are 42 verses in this song, starting from verse 2. These 42 verses represent HaShem’s great Name with 42 letters, which is mentioned in Talmud.[2] According to R. Munk,[3] each verse describes different secrets of the Name. 32:3 “For I will proclaim the name of HaShem: ascribe greatness to our God.”(HNV revised) – From this verse, Talmud[4] has established the halachah that one ought not read or study Torah without first speaking a blessing. This text also tells us to bless God whenever anyone proclaims HaShem’s Name. Therefore, when anyone utters a blessing and names the Name, those who hear it answer, “Baruch[5] Hu u-varuch Shemó”, “Blessed be He and blessed be His Name”. In the second temple, when the people heard the Name spoken, they responded with the blessing, “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchutó le-olam va-ed”, “Blessed be His Kingdom’s glorious Name forever and ever”. One is also required to bless the Eternal after having read the Torah in the synagogue. The blessing after reading the Torah comes from the commandment to bless the Eternal after having eaten, see Deuteronomy 8:10. The Torah is food for the soul and HaShem is worthy of being blessed after we have been satisfied by his Torah. 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice: an God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.”(HNV revised) – HaShem is compared to a rock. This speaks of steadfastness, strength, weight, something immovable and sure. This word occurs five times in this song in reference to the Eternal, see 4, 15, 18, 30, 31. Yeshua the Messiah reflects the Father’s character and therefore he is also called a rock, see Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; Matthew 16:18; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 10:4, and 1 Peter 2:8. According to Jewish custom, verse 32:4 is quoted when in mourning, together with Jeremiah 32:19, which says, “great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”(HNV) 32:5 “It is not He who is corrupt, the fault is with his children; a perverse and crooked generation.[6]” – Corruption does not come from HaShem, but from his children. In Talmud,[7] there is a discussion about whether those who are corrupt can be called children of HaShem. “perverse and crooked generation” – Our great rabbi, Yeshua, quoted these words in Matthew 12:39 and 16:4. 32:6 “Do you thus requite HaShem, foolish people and unwise? Isn't he your father who has bought you? He has made you, and established you.”(HNV revised) – HaShem continues to call himself the Father even of the perverse children, see 32:19. If an Israelite sins, he does not stop being HaShem’s child, and there is always a way back. However, if he continues sinning without repenting, in time he will loose the right to be a son, since he willfully chose to go the way of sin. In Luke 15:24a, it is written, “for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.”(HNV) The Second Aliyah, 32:7-12 7-12 Israel’s Beginning 32:7 “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.”(HNV) – This verse, along with the text in Deuteronomy 17:8-13, is the basis for the authority of the judges among the Jewish people. According to Rashi, the word “father” is referring to the prophets, who were called fathers, see 2 Kings 2:12; Acts 3:25. “Your elders” refers to the sages, the wise men, in Hebrew chachamim. Nachmanides teaches that this verse says that time is divided into two parts, the days of old and the years of many generations. The days of old are referring to the six days when everything was created, and the years of many generations are referring to the time from Adam and forward. Starting from the first of the creation six days, the universe is approximately 15 billion years old, since the six days of the creation have lengthened because the universe has expanded since then. If we calculate, according to the Scriptures, the time from Adam and on, we will see that we are coming close to the year 6000. The Messianic reign will start year 6001. 32:8 “When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the children of men, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Yisra'el.”(HNV revised) – One can understand this verse to say that the borders of the nations were established according to the number of the Israelites. The borders of Israel were reserved and revealed to the prophets of the people of Israel. Israel has not yet had the whole area that the Eternal promised them. The promises are still waiting to be fulfilled. When the Mashiach comes back, Israel will be given the entire area that was promised. The borders that Avraham received a promise about, were determined according to the number of the children of Israel that will populate that area during the Messianic reign, see Genesis 12:7; 15:18-21; Exodus 23:31; Numbers 34:2ff; Deuteronomy 11:24; 34:4; 1 Kings 4:21; 1 Chronicles 9:26; Psalm 80:11; Romans 4:13. The Messiah said, as it is written in Matthew 5:18, “For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the Torah, until all things are accomplished.”(HNV) This means that if Israel never receives the whole area that the Eternal promised Avraham, both HaShem and his Messiah are liars. Can the Eternal lie? No! He cannot lie, see Titus 1:2. This means that during the Messianic reign, Israel will have the entire land area from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. 32:10 “He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness; he compassed him about, he gave him discernment, he kept him as the pupil of his eye.”(HNV revised) – This is alluding to the time when God and Israel met in the desert, specifically the time at Sinai. There he embraced the people and they received knowledge when they entered the covenant with the Eternal. Israel is the pupil of the Eternal’s eye in an allegorical way, because the Eternal has no body. The text literally says, “pupil of his eye”. The eye is the most sensitive place of the human body and it is what one protects the most. Those who try to touch HaShem’s eye will be severely punished. In Psalm 17:8, it is written, “Keep me as the pupil of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings,”(HNV revised) In Zechariah 2:8-9, it is written, “For thus says HaShem of hosts: 'For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the pupil of his eye. For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a spoil to those who served them; and you will know that HaShem of Hosts has sent me.’”(HNV revised) In Proverbs 7:2, it is written, “Keep my commandments and live; guard my Torah as the pupil of your eye”(HNV revised) The Third Aliyah, 32:13-18 13-18 Israel’s Success and Falling Away 32:13 “He made him ride on the high places of the earth, he ate the increase of the field; he made him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock”(HNV) – This is talking about the land of Israel, which is considered to be the highest place on the earth. That is why it is never said that one goes down to Israel, but rather always up to Israel. To make aliyah, “ascension”, is the Hebrew way of speaking about immigrating to Israel. Honey out of the rock can be understood as the sweet nectar from the fruits that grow in the mountain rocks. Because of the sun that heats up the rock, the fruit becomes sweeter than usual. Rashi says that fig cakes are compared with rocks and the honey, i.e. the nectar, from these cakes is very sweet. According to Rashi, the oil out of the flinty rock is referring to the olive trees in Gush Chalav, a place in the Galil (Galilee), which, according to Talmud,[8] produced a lot of olive oil. 32:14 “Butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat; of the blood of the grape you drank wine.”(HNV) – This is talking about the time of King Shelomo and on, see 1 Kings 5:2-3; Amos 6:4, 6. The animals in Bashan were very fat. Bashan is the area that is in the north of Israel east of the Yarden River. This text teaches us that wine symbolizes blood. This is why the Mashiach said that the third cup of the Seder meal during Pesach represents the renewing of the covenant with Israel in his blood, which would be poured out so that many could be forgiven, see Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25. The renewed covenant was made with Israel and Yehudah. This means that one who partakes of the new covenant is a part of Israel. One who is not a part of Israel has no part in the new covenant, see Jeremiah 31:31, 33. 32:15 “But Yeshurun grew fat, and kicked: you have grown fat, you are grown thick, you are become sleek; then he forsook God who made him, lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”(HNV revised) – This is the first time that the word Yeshurun occurs in the Scriptures. It is one of the names of Israel. According to Rav Ibn Ezra, it comes from yashar, which means “upright”, “straight”. There are three levels of spirituality in the three names of Israel. Yaakov – Israel – Yeshurun, see 33:26, 28. Yeshurun is the highest. Talmud[9] says that the name Yeshurun was engraved together with the twelve tribes on the high priest’s breastplate of judgment. This text speaks of the people’s apostasy at the end of Shelomo’s rule and later when the kingdom was divided. Their financial success brought about exactly what the Torah warned against. In their wealth, they forgot HaShem, and from then on it went downhill, just as HaShem had said it would, see Deuteronomy 8. The Fourth Aliyah, 32:19-28 19-26 Israel’s Downfall after the Falling Away 32:20 “He said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.”(HNV) – Here begins the time of Israel’s downfall. Nachmanides points out the fact that up until this point, Moshe spoke in his own name, but from here on he speaks in HaShem’s Name. 32:21 “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their idols: I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”(HNV revised) – Since the children of Israel took as their gods that which was not God, in Hebrew lo-El, HaShem takes a people that is not a people, in Hebrew lo-am. In the p’shat level, the simple level of interpretation, this means that Israel would be mistreated by a people who were not considered a people. According to Rashi, this is referring to the Kashdim (Caldeans) and Esav (Romans). The Caldeans are the same as the Babylonian people, the settlers of the ancient Caldea, Babylon. That empire destroyed the first temple. According to Nachmanides, the Kashdim were not a nation to begin with, but God gave them greatness in order to use them to conquer and dominate the world. Gur Ariyeh says that the Kashdim had no special significance since they did not have their own writing or language, see Megillah 13b, and therefore they were not numbered among the 70 primary nations. A descendant of Esav founded Rome. It was the Romans who destroyed the second temple. Gur Aryeh, based on Talmud,[10] claims that Edom was not considered a nation either, for they did not originally have their own writing or language. According to the drash level, the text can be interpreted to be speaking about the gentiles who, because of Israel’s backslidden state, have been given the opportunity to receive the Spirit and be a part of God’s heavenly people. This possibility was created through the Messiah Yeshua’s work. In the same way as Israel considered as their gods that which was not God, HaShem considers those from among the gentiles who have converted as his own people. Within the spiritual Israel there is a people, more numerous than the Jews, who are of gentile origin, whom the Eternal has taken as his people through Yeshua HaMashiach. These gentiles have, through adoption, the legal right to be called Avraham’s children and God’s children. Therefore they are also heirs of the blessings that belong only to Israel. This provokes the Jews to anger. In Hosea 1:10, it is written, “Yet the number of the children of Yisra'el will be as the sand of the sea, which can't be measured nor numbered; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”(HNV revised) In Romans 10:19, it is written, “But I ask, didn't Yisra'el know? First Moshe says, ‘I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry.’”(HNV) Rabbi Shaul expands on this text in chapters 10 and 11 of Romans. At the end of chapter 11 it says that because of the falling away of a part of Israel, the gentiles partake of some of the rights that belong to the children of Israel. This brings the Jews to jealousy, so that they also want to receive the salvation given through Yeshua HaMashiach, which is primarily for the Jew and then also for the Greek. How are the gentiles, who have converted to Israel’s God through Yeshua HaMashiach, to awaken the jealousy of the Jews’ who do not believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, if they continue to practice pagan rites and are not at all interested in partaking of the inheritance that was given to the Jewish people? How can born again Christians awaken the Jews’ jealousy if they despise the Jewish culture, reject the Torah, the Shabbat, the Jewish feasts, and Hebrew theology? When I was a child, we had a dog named Zimba. Sometimes she would not like to eat and she would leave her food in the bowl. However, as soon as the cat came near the food, Zimba would suddenly get hungry and want to eat… It is not the Jews who believe in Yeshua who have the calling to awaken the jealousy of the non-believing Jews, but the gentiles who have taken on the universal Judaism of the Messiah, as it is written in Romans 11:11, 13-14, “I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy… For I speak to you who are gentiles. Since then as I am a shaliach to gentiles, I glorify my ministry; if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.”(HNV revised) 32:26 “I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the memory of them to cease from among men”(HNV) – According to Nachmanides, the words “I would scatter them” are referring to the ten tribes, and the words “make the memory to cease from among men” are referring to the two tribes. But the Jews were saved from this judgment by the merits of their forefathers. 32:27 “Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, Our hand is exalted, HaShem has not done all this.”(HNV revised) – If it had not been for the sake of the honor of the Name of the Eternal and for the merits of the forefathers, the twelve tribes would have been wiped out. However, HaShem has a plan of restoration, not only for the Jews, but for all the tribes. 32:28 “For they are a nation void of counsel, there is no understanding in them.”(HNV) – The children of Israel are called ignorant when they do not take the Torah seriously and live according to it. The great majority of the people of Israel have not cared about the Torah throughout the course of history, and therefore the people are called void of counsel and having no understanding. The fact that the majority of the Jews rejected the Messiah when he came the first time is further proof of the great ignorance concerning the Messianic prophecies that are in the Torah, which are clearly pointing to Yeshua. The Fifth Aliyah, 32:29-39 29-39 Israel’s Dispersion Among the Nations 32:35 “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot shall slide: for the day of their calamity is at hand, the things that are to come on them shall make haste.”(HNV) – Vengeance belongs only to God. No man has the right to take revenge for himself. You may defend yourself, but never take revenge. If a person wants to take revenge privately, then he is taking God’s place. He is the one who will judge each one according to his actions. He is the highest judge, not we. On the other hand, he can delegate his authority to earthly authorities. Thus the authorities not only have the right, but also the obligation, to carry out the Eternal’s judgment on sinners, when their sins are evident. In Romans 12:19-21, it is written, “Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, ‘Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.’ Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”(HNV revised) In Hebrews 10:28-31, it is written, “A man who disregards Moshe's Torah dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unclean thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance belongs to me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will repay.’ Again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”(HNV revised) 32:36 “For HaShem will judge his people, change his mind for his servants; when he sees that their power is gone, there is none remaining, shut up or left at large.”(HNV revised) – At this point begins the process of restoration for the people who have been overrun by enemies and curses because of their sins. When Israel’s power is completely crushed, then the Messiah will come as a warrior and deliverer, see Daniel 12:7. 32:38a “Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-offering?”(HNV) – This verse is the foundation for the Talmudic[11] prohibition against using wine from gentiles while ministering, and also the rabbinic prohibition against drinking wine that was made or handled by gentiles. 32:39 “See now that I, even I, am God, There is no God with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; there is none who can deliver out of my hand.”(HNV revised) – Here is yet another text in the Torah of Moshe which speaks of the resurrection of the dead. Other texts in the Tanach that speak of this are Genesis 22:5; Exodus 3:15 (see Matthew 22:31-32); Deuteronomy 31:16; 1 Samuel 2:6; 2 Kings 5:7; Psalm 16:10; 49:15; 73:24; Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; 53:12; Daniel 12:2; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Hosea 6:2; 13:14. This context teaches us that the resurrection will take place in connection with the final war against Israel. At that time the Messiah, who carries out the vengeance of the Eternal, will return with the clouds of heaven. Then the dead in Messiah will rise and, together with those who live and believe in him, be caught up in the air (not to heaven), after having been clothed in eternal bodies like the resurrected body of the Messiah Yeshua. They will be judged for their actions and come down, together with the Messiah, to do war against the multi-national forces that have risen up against Yerushalayim. The following verses talk about this war. The Sixth Aliyah, 32:40-43 40-43 Israel’s Salvation and its Worldwide Influence 32:40-43 “For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, As I live forever, if I whet my glittering sword, my hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to my adversaries, will recompense those who hate me. I will make my arrows drunk with blood, my sword shall devour flesh; with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the leaders of the enemy. Rejoice, you nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, will render vengeance to his adversaries, will make expiation for his land, for his people.”(HNV) – This is speaking of the last war against Israel before the second coming of the Messiah Yeshua. This text is in line with Zechariah 14 and Revelation 19. In Zechariah 14:1-15, it is written, “Behold, a day of HaShem comes, when your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all nations against Yerushalayim to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then HaShem will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Yerushalayim on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. You shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Atzel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of `Uzziyah king of Yehudah. HaShem my God will come, and all the consecrated ones with you. It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost. It will be a unique day which is known to HaShem; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light. It will happen in that day, that living waters will go out from Yerushalayim; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter will it be. HaShem will be King over all the earth. In that day HaShem will be one, and his name one. All the land will be made like the `Aravah, from Geva to Rimmon south of Yerushalayim; and she will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Binyamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Chanan'el to the king's wine-presses. Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Yerushalayim will dwell safely. This will be the plague with which HaShem will strike all the peoples who have warred against Yerushalayim: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth. It will happen in that day, that a great panic from HaShem will be among them; and they will lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor. Yehudah also will fight at Yerushalayim; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, and silver, and clothing, in great abundance. So will be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the animals that will be in those camps, as that plague.”(HNV revised) In Revelation 19:11-21, it is written, “I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called ‘The Word of God.’ The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, Almighty. He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, ‘Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, and small and great.’ I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.”(HNV) After this war, the Messianic reign will come with a thousand years of peace on the whole earth. In Zechariah 14:16-21, it is written, “It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Yerushalayim will go up from year to year to worship the King, HaShem of Hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. It will be, that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn't go up to Yerushalayim to worship the King, HaShem of Hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt doesn't go up, and doesn't come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which HaShem will strike the nations that don't go up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that don't go up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day there will be on the bells of the horses, ‘CONSECRATED TO HASHEM;’ and the pots in HaShem’s house will be like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in Yerushalayim and in Yehudah will be consecrated to HaShem of Hosts; and all those who sacrifice will come and take of them, and cook in them. In that day there will no longer be a Kana`ani in the house of HaShem of Hosts.”(HNV revised) In Revelation 20:1-6, it is written, “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Yeshua, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Messiah for the thousand years. The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and consecrated is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah, and will reign with him one thousand years.”(HNV revised) The Seventh Aliyah, 32:44-52 32:47 “For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Yarden to possess it.”(HNV) – No part of the Torah is unimportant. Everything is meaningful. When you put the Torah’s teaching into practice, you will have a blessed life in this world and eternal life in the coming world. Moshe’s Torah speaks of Yeshua and testifies of his work of atonement. One who submits to Moshe will believe in Yeshua, for he wrote about him, as it is said in John 5:46-47, “For if you believed Moshe, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. But if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"(HNV) If a Jew does not believe in Yeshua, it is because he does not believe Moshe. 32:52 “For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Yisra'el.”(HNV) – Moshe prayed a lot to HaShem that he would revoke his judgment so that Moshe would be able to enter the land, but HaShem said no. What was the reason that the Eternal would not let Moshe cross over a little brook to place his feet on the Promised Land? It was not only to show the seriousness of sin in leaders. Neither was it only to show the finality of his decisions. There is a much more important reason behind this. What is this reason? This great prophet Moshe, who conveyed the Torah to the world, who had done great miracles and spoken to the Eternal face to face, this man who had reached the highest level of consecration that a man can reach, did not have enough merit in himself to cross over or to lead the people over into the Promised Land. There was only one person who could bring the people over. His name was Yehoshua. The shorter form of that name is Yeshua. This teaches us that Moshe’s work was not complete. Moshe’s Torah is not enough for a man to be able to cross over from death to life. Not even Moshe himself could come over into the land because of his sins. There is only one man who can bring us over to the Olam habah, the coming age. His name is Yeshua. Through Moshe, HaShem appointed Yehoshua as the leader who would bring the people from one world to another. One who submits to Moshe therefore follows Yeshua, and will have his entrance into the coming world secured, as it is written in John 11:25, “Yeshua said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, yet will he live.’”(HNV) |
