Ekev

Parasha Ekev

Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25

Haftarah

Isaiah 49:14-51:3, 52:1-15

Brit Chadasha

Luke 4:1-13

Please pray this

Prayer before reading

Prayer

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parasha

That the Truth of Torah may

Come forth. Amen

This Torah Portion is the 46 portion in the Torah Cycle. Usually the word “Ekev” means heel. In fact, this word shares the same three root word as the name Jacob, who was born holding on to his brother heel.

However, in this forty-six reading, the third in Deuteronomy the word Ekev means “on the heel of,” or “because of.”

It is used in the first verse of this portion, which says: “and it shall come to past, because you hearken to these ordinances and keep and do them, that יהוה your El shall guard you with the covenant and the kindness which He swore to your fathers.” This portion of Deuteronomy describes the good things that will happen on the heel of believers who keep to the path of righteousness.

From a Kabbalistic standpoint, this portion is about the power of unity and, specifically, the understanding that even the greatest souls cannot do on their own what lesser souls can do if they have unity.

In order for an Assembly to be able to reveal great light, it is important that no one individual view him or herself, as more important than anyone else.  The smaller the ego, the greater the Light they will receive. The person who views themselves as the least of the group is the one who is responsible for opening up the gate of blessing and abundance from Above.

This is true only when we assembly together for spiritual reasons. It is also true with family and with work. The gift of this Shabbat is the understanding that nothing in the world can bring as much blessing as that of unity.

The Torah uses the Word Ekev, or heel to indicate that our journey to perfection is strictly about the diminishment of the self. What every believer want to awaken on this Shabbat is not just another understanding of how important it is to diminish our ego; we also want to grasp the idea of being a heel, of being the lowest.

It is only someone who merit greater and greater diminishment of his ego merit hearing the Word of the creator, that why we are told not to cast our pearls among swine’s.

The greatest secrets are found in the place that are least populated, the place where it is the quietest, where we are the least comfortable. This lesson applies to finding a teacher as much as it does to our spiritual life, but in both case, one sure sign that our spiritual journey is not the right track is its unpopularity. If our spiritual works is applauded by everyone that is the time to question it.

On the Shabbat of Ekev, we witness the power of unity, and we know that seeing ourselves as the weakest link in the chain allow us to be a conduit for the Light of the CREATOR. We also become aware that feeling, the faith of our soul, and the faith of our friends help to breakdown all the barriers our negative actions have erected between the Holy Spirit and ourselves.

All our spiritual life should be centered on the desire for the diminishment of our ego, and become the heel the lowest part of the body is the part that supports the whole body.

This Parashas continue with Moses encouragement to the nation of Yisrael, the Seeds of Abraham, to trust in יהוה in order to ensure their successful conquest of the Land and the abundant blessing in every aspect of their lives.

He stress again and again that all vestiges of idolatry had to be eliminate from our life and the land, for idolatry is an investment in the selfish ego.

This chapter is broken down in the following area:

1. In general, that, if they would serve YAHWEH, HE would bless and prosper them verse 12–15.

2. In particular, that if they would drive out the nations, that they might not be a temptation to them, YAHWEH would drive them out, that they should not be any aggravation to them in the future, verse 17.

Deu 7:12 “And it shall be, because you hear these right-rulings, and shall guard and do them, that יהוה your Elohim shall guard with you the covenant and the kindness which He swore to your fathers, - The reward. The Torah in this verse assures Yisrael that if they are careful to observe even the negative commandments, we can be certain that יהוה will reward us with His Covenant and kindness.

To the believers who may be contemplating with the choose of been popular or keeping Torah, there should not be a choice, as the next verse promise that יהוה will love those who are fearlessly loyal to Him, and destroy the other.

This might inspire other to love them, and יהוה will bless them and see to it that they and their possessions are not diminished by those who seek to harm us. The covenant with Abraham creates the environment were by the bountiful blessings, flows directly to His people without intermediaries.

Deu 7:13 and shall love you and bless you and increase you, and shall bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. – This verse discusses the blessings that will come upon the people when they listen to the Ordinances of the creator and fulfill them. The reward for caring is that we, in turn are cared for.

The Brain is the nerve center for the rest of the body, but it itself feels no pain. It feels nothing, yet all the things we feel comes from the Brain. When we are like the brain feeling for everyone else, but feeling no pain of our own, we receive more blessings in our life.

 "He will bless us with the tokens of His love above all people.’’ If we would distinguish ourselves from our neighbors by a singular service, YAHWEH would dignify us above our neighbors by singular blessings.

 "He will multiply thee.’’ Increase was the ancient blessing for the peopling of the world, once and again (Gen. 1:28; 9:1), and here for the peopling of Canaan, that little world by itself.

The increase both of their families and of their stock is promised: they should neither have estates without heirs nor heirs without estates, but should have the complete satisfaction of having many children and plentiful provisions and portions for them.

Deu 7:14 “Blessed are you above all peoples – there is not going to be a barren man or a barren woman among you or among your livestock. – This verse continues with the same notion, as he continues to remind us, as if to say please hear what I am saying. There will not be a barren man or woman among you. Prosperity is guarantee.

That if they would love EL YAHWEH and serve HIM, and devote themselves to HIM, HE would love them, and bless them, and multiply them greatly. What could they desire more to make them happy?

He will love thee.’’ YAHWEH began in love to us (1 Jn. 4:10), and, if we return HIS love in filial duty, then, and then only, we may expect the continuance of it, Jn. 14:21. "YAHWEH will bless thee with the tokens of YAHWEH love above all people.’’ If they would distinguish themselves from their neighbors by singular services, YAHWEH would dignify them above their neighbors by singular blessings.

"He will multiply thee.’’ Increase was the ancient blessing for the peopling of the world, once and again (Gen. 1:28; 9:1), and here for the peopling of Canaan, that little world by itself. The increase both of their families and of their stock is promised: they should neither have estates without heirs nor heirs without estates, but should have the complete satisfaction of having many children and plentiful provisions and portions for them.

Deu 7:15 “And יהוה shall turn away from you all sickness and put on you none of the evil diseases of Mitsrayim which you have known, but He shall put them on all those who hate you. – Moses continues to remind the people of the consequence of obedience. If blessing was not reason enough, then the promises in this verse might motivate them.

Some people are motivated by the blessing, some by the curse that might come upon them. Whichever one motivates us, the point is to be motivated.

That, if they would keep themselves pure from the idolatries of Egypt, YAHWEH would keep them clear from the diseases of Egypt. It seems to refer not only to those plagues of Egypt by the force of which they were delivered, but to some other epidemical country disease (as we call it), which they remembered the prevalence of among the Egyptians, and by which YAHWEH had chastised them for their national sins. Diseases are YAH’s servants; they go where HE sends them, and do what HE bids them. It is therefore good for the health of our bodies to mortify the sin of our souls.

Deu 7:16 “And you shall consume all the peoples whom יהוה your Elohim is delivering over to you – your eye shall not pardon them. And do not serve their mighty ones, for that is a snare for us. - That, if we would cut off the idolatrous nations, none should be able to stand before us. Our duty in this matter would itself be our advantage: You shall consume all the people which YAHWEH thy EL shall deliver thee, this is the precept. That, if they would continue to be devoted nations, they should cut them off all undevoted nations, and none should be able to stand before them. Their duty in this matter would itself be their advantage: You shall consume all the people which the YAHWEH TSEBAOTE shall deliver to us, this is the precept.

YAHWEH TSEBAOTE thy EL shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them, this is also the promise, verse 23. Therefore, we are commanded not to let sin reign, not to indulge ourselves in it nor give countenance to it, but to hate it and strive against it; and then YAHWEH has promised that sin shall not have dominion over us (Rom. 6:12,14), but that we shall be more than conquerors over it. The difficulty and doubtfulness of the conquest of Canaan having been a stone of stumbling to their fathers, Moses here animates them against those things which were most likely to discourage them, bidding them not to be afraid of them, verse 18, and again.

Deu 7:17 “When you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I, I am unable to drive them out,’ – What we think is who we are, or who we are is what we think. As believers we should never think ourselves inferior to anyone else. That those not mean that we are better than anyone else. It simple means that we must believe that we can do all things through Yahushua who strengthen us.

Let us not be disheartened by the number and strength of their enemies: Say not, they are more than I, how can I dispossess them? We are not to think that the most numerous must needs be victorious: but, to fortify Yisrael against this temptation, Moses reminds them of the destruction of Pharaoh and all the power of Egypt.

Deu 7:18 do not be afraid of them. Remember well what יהוה your Elohim did to Pharaoh and to all Mitsrayim, - This word “remember’ in the Hebrew means to take this to our heart, be assured, and be very sure of this fact.

We must remember what יהוה did to Pharaoh, His hands are never short, and He can still do it today. They had seen the great temptations, or miracles (so the Chaldee reads it), the signs and wonders, where YAHWEH had brought them out of Egypt, in order for HIM bringing them into Canaan, and thence might easily infer that YAHWEH could dispossess the Canaanites (who, Though formidable enough, had not such advantages against Yisrael as the Egyptians had; HE that had done the greater work could also do the less), and that HE would dispossess them, otherwise HIM bringing Yisrael out of Egypt had been no kindness to them. He that begun would finish. You shall therefore remember this.

 Deu 7:19 the great trials which your eyes saw, and the signs and the wonders, the strong hand and the outstretched arm, by which יהוה your Elohim brought you out. יהוה your Elohim does so to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. – No Elohim has ever able to take one set of people from among the nations, as YAHWEH had removed Yisrael from Egypt. This is proof of His absolute power and His love for His people.

YAHWH did so with challenges, as HE defied Pharaoh to test him, Exodus 8:5. With signs, by means of which Moses proved that Elohim had sent him.

With wonders, the plagues and with wars. The miracle at the sea, which the Egyptian saw as Elohim waging war against them.

The word and works of YAHWEH are well remembered when they are imported as helps to our faith and obedience. That is well laid up which is available to us when we have occasion to use it.

Deu 7:20 “And יהוה your Elohim also sends the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. – This completed their ruin; such influence had the devil in them that they would resist יהוה, but such power had יהוה over them that they could not. I will send my fear before thee; and those that fear will soon flee. Hosts of hornets made way for the hosts of Yisrael; such mean can יהוה creatures, make use of nature for the chastising of his people’s enemies, as in the plagues of Egypt.

Let them not be disheartened by the weakness and deficiency of their own forces; for YAHWEH will send them in auxiliary troops of hornets, or wasps, as some read it, probably larger than ordinary, which would so terrify and molest their enemies (and perhaps be the death of many to them) that their most numerous armies would become an easy prey to Yisrael.

Deu 7:21 “Do not be afraid of them, for יהוה your Elohim, the great and awesome Ěl, is in your midst. - Those who do not take warning by fewer judgments on others may expect greater on themselves. But the great encouragement of Yisrael was that they had יהוה among them, a mighty Elohim and terrible. And if יהוה be for us, we need not fear the power of any creature against us.

YAHWEH plagued the Egyptians with flies, but the Canaanites with hornets. Those who take not warning by less judgments on others may expect greater on themselves. But the great encouragement of Yisrael was that they had YAHWEH among them, a mighty EL and terrible, and if YAHWEH be for us, we need not fear the power of any creature against us.

Deu 7:22 “And יהוה your Elohim shall drive out those nations before you, little by little. You are not allowed to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. – This is both a corporate and an individual promise. - Let them not be disheartened by the slow progress of their arms, or the rising of the sun nor think that the Canaanites the darkness would never be subdued if they were not expelled the first year or first hour; no, they must be put out by little and little, hour by hour and not all at once.

We must not think that, because the deliverance of the people and the destruction of its enemies are not affected immediately, therefore they will never be affected. יהוה will do his own work in his own method and time, and we may be sure that they are always the best.

In our personal life, how many times we ask for certain behavior to be removed from our lives. Yet, our Father remove them little by little, as a child learn a little each day, the light of the Gospel shines brighter and brighter until a perfect day.

Let them not be disheartened by the slow progress of their arms, nor think that the Canaanites would never be subdued if they were not expelled the first year; no, they must be put out by little and little, and not all at once.

We must not think that, because the deliverance of the Assembly and the destruction of its enemies are not affected immediately, therefore they will never be affected. YAHWEH will do HIS own work in HIS own method and time, and we may be sure that they are always the best. Thus corruption is driven out of the hearts of believers by little and little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually; but that judgment will at length be brought forth into a complete victory. The reason here given (as before, Ex. 23:29, 30) is, lest the beast of the field increase upon thee.

This verse shows us that there is nothing we cannot change or overcome when we have certainty in our connection to the creator. There is no concept of impossibility within the Supernal Realm of the Creator.

               

Deu 7:23 “But יהוה your Elohim shall deliver them over to you and destroy them with a great destruction until they are consumed. – As the light of the Word is written on our heart, it displaces the darkness of sin. Sin is missing the mark, while the Word is hitting the Mark. The sixth days of Creation represent the six stages of our spiritual growth. In each stage, like a tree it must undergo development. This development destroys the darkness of sin in our lives. This destruction must be continued until all resemblance of sin is totally destroyed. This is what the sixth day of Creation is all about, the creation of perfect sons.

Corruption is driven out of the hearts of believers little by little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually; but that judgment will at length be brought forth into a complete victory.

Deu 7:24 “And He shall give their kings into your hand, and you shall destroy their name from under the Heavens. No one is going to be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. - The reason here given before in, Ex. 23:29, 30) is, lest the beast of the field increase upon thee.

Deu 7:25 “The carved images of their mighty ones you are to burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to יהוה your Elohim. – The man made god that human worship, we shall destroy. We shall not desire their wealth and their customs, less we are corrupt by it. These things are an abomination to  יהוה. The earth YAHWEH has given to the children of men; and therefore there shall rather be a remainder of Canaanites to keep possession till Yisrael become numerous enough to replenish it than that it should be a habitation of dragons, and a court for the wild beasts of the desert, Isa. 34:13, 14. Yet YAHWEH could have prevented this mischief from the beasts, Lev. 26:6. But pride and security, and other sins that are the common effects of a settled prosperity, were enemies more dangerous than the beasts of the field, and these would be apt to increase upon them. See Judges 3:1,4.

Deu 7:26 “And do not bring an abomination into your house, lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for it is accursed. – This verse prohibits anyone from benefit from an idol or its accouterments. The prohibition against any sort of profit from funds or other items that were obtained in violation of Torah.

The same spirit that drives people to worship idols propels them to seek monetary gain in other forbidden areas.