Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, July 27, 2020
Shalom,
Rabbi’s request: Please pray for our Shomair summer camp which starts today. We call it “Shom’rim Tze’ir’im” meaning “Young Watchmen.” This year our theme is “Discipleship Boot Camp.” We are all in the Lord’s army, so it’s time for our young people to learn the disciplines of the kingdom of God (found in discipleship). Please pray into this and include God’s protecting love over all the campers, counselors, and staff. We will break camp on Friday so as to be home in time for Shabbat. Blessings.
I want to publicly thank Jonathan Allen, a Messianic scholar from England, for inspiring this portion of the RR. He writes a weekly commentary (drash) on the Torah portion. This week’s drash can be viewed here: https://www.messianictrust.org.uk/parashiyot/0000be+vaetchanan-17.php Then follow the links at the bottom of the page to subscribe.
This week’s Torah portion is VaEtchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) meaning “And I pleaded.” Moses was speaking (writing about), begging God to let him cross over the Jordan. On a larger scale, he’s writing about the consequences to those who refuse to obey God’s instructions, even leaders.
Speaking of “entering in” (another way of saying “crossing over”), Yeshua presents us with an opportunity… Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The word “Hebrew” means “one who crosses over.” We all have to use faith to “cross over” into the promised land. Even then, there are battles in the face of opposition. Yet we have this promise from God (which is also part of the great commission)… The last few words of Matthew 28:20b “And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” It goes hand in hand with this… Deuteronomy 31:8 “Adonai—He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.”
Vaya Con Dios Muchachos!
Week 31
Memory Verse: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
151 7/27 Monday: Luke 1
152 7/28 Tuesday: Luke 2
153 7/29 Wednesday: Matthew 1-2
154 7/30 Thursday: Mark 1
155 7/31 Friday: John 1
Question of the day: What is “The Magnificat?”
Answer: I’m glad you asked. Listen to this… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEY2rsV3yvQ or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfJ4Sdy0JSU
Luke 1:46 Then Miriam said (to her cousin Elizabeth), “My soul magnifies Adonai, 47 and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior.
Miriam (Mary), the mother of Yeshua was in awe of what was happening to her. God did the “new thing” he promised in Jeremiah 31:22, that the woman will “go around” the man. Luke 1:34 Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am not intimate with a man?” That “new thing” spoken of by Jeremiah is the virgin birth.
The Bible asks a question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” This is spoken to Abraham and Sarah when they were told of Sarah’s pregnancy at the age of 90. Now a form of that is spoken to Miriam… Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Why couldn’t God cause a virgin to give birth? That’s not so hard to believe after all, now is it?