By Yehuda Bachana.
Vayelech | Deuteronomy 31:1-30 | Hosea 14:2(1)-10(9) ** | Matthew 6:5-18 *** The Torah and Haftarah chapter/verse numberings are according to the Hebrew Bible (English chapter/verse numberings are within parentheses).
** Shabbat Shuvah: the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur which is named after the first word of the Haftarah reading from Hosea, and means ‘Shabbat of Return’
Parashat Vayelech: The Shofar Is A Call To (Re)turn To Yeshua
Shalom dear friends,
Right now we’re in the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which are also known as ‘Yamim Nora’im’ (or, ‘the Days of Awe’). From a traditional perspective, these are days for soul-searching and repentance.
This week-and-a-half is considered to be days of heavenly judgment during which it will be decided who will die and who will live, as well as who will be healthy or sick.
With the intention of being found worthy before the heavenly judgment, it’s customary to bless one another, as well as to ask for forgiveness, to reconcile, and to forgive.
Our Netivyah staff wishes to bless you, our dear friends and partners from around the world, with a year that’ll be as sweet as honey! May you be blessed with health and inner peace, and with happiness and joy. May this be a year of:
…Development and renewal.
…Good news.
…Prioritizing what truly matters in life.
…Laughter and positive friendships.
…Success in every area of life.
…Drawing closer to God thanks to the sacrifice of Yeshua our Messiah.
…Faith, God’s presence, and spiritual elevation.
…As believers, even if we don’t always believe exactly the same: to grow in mutual respect for each other. May we also grow in unity and cooperation by creating networks of helping hands with other local believers. Together we’re blessed with so many talents and gifts. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we’d give a little of that towards the local Body of Messiah, this year?
Feast Of Trumpets
In the Bible, Rosh Hashanah is known as ‘Yom Teruah’ (the ‘Feast of Trumpets’). The main commandment of Rosh Hashanah is (hearing) the blowing of the shofar: “On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.” (Numbers 29:1)
Paul the Apostle tells the believers of Corinth: “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8) Similar to Paul, Jewish Tradition also connects the Day of Trumpets to war and spiritual warfare.
In return to these ten days of awe, the sounding of the shofar reminds us of spiritual battle and the need to repent and tweak where we’re headed in all areas of life (be it relationships, faith, business, our attitude, and more).
On the one hand, the blowing of the shofar functions as the coronation of God as King over our lives. Then, as an act of spiritual warfare, the sound of the shofar serves as a reminder before God, asking Him for guidance, help, and even redemption.
Yeshua is our sacrifice; and yet, the responsibility for our personal, inner repentance still rests on our shoulders to step out in faith and (re)turn to Him. As believers in Yeshua as the Messiah of the world, the shofar also enlightens us, and serves as a personal wake-up call to look to Him and repent, and return to the confidence we (used to) have in Yeshua the Messiah.
The piercing question arises… Are we worthy? We can flee from the real answer to this question, and mumble half-heartedly: “Yeshua paid my debt.” With such an abstract answer we essentially empty the idea of God’s judgment of its meaning and weight.
One day, each and every one of us will stand before the throne. Yeshua the Messiah makes it clear that judgment awaits all of us. Are we worthy to be called the Disciples of Yeshua? Are we truly God’s workers? Have we built our lives as children of God who are in relationship with Him through the ups and downs of life? These questions aren’t meant to criticize, but rather as a reminder to reflect upon as we all tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our busy (and at times stormy) lives.
Praise be to God, the vast majority of Yeshua’s disciples honor God, and His light truly shines through our choices and actions.
I can confidently say that we’re worthy to be called Yeshua’s disciples!
I am sure that many of us can identify the moment(s) we’ve encountered someone for the first time, and we’re sure they’re a born-again believer, seeing how the Messiah shines through their hearts and lives.
This Torah Portion has ‘the next generation’ at its very heart. It’s my prayer that we will pass this baton to the next generation, by emphasizing His love and allow for Yeshua’s light to be truly instilled ‘in their hearts, creating loving and serving hearts of flesh (and not of stone). All in the name and for the glory of Yeshua our Lord.
According to tradition, Parashat Vayelech was uttered on Moses’ last day, as he says: “I am now a hundred and twenty years old.” This reminds us of the very common Israeli birthday wish to live ‘ad me’ah ve’esrim’ (‘until 120 years’). This blessing doesn’t originate from this specific verse, but rather from a similar one in Genesis: “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with[a] humans forever, for they are mortal[b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’” (Genesis 6:3)
It’s a privilege to grow old, even though we age differently. Some grow old with wisdom shaped from life experience, others remain active and sharp, while others remain fit and focus on a healthy life-style. Then unfortunately there are those who age with less dignity. Sadly enough, longevity does not guarantee a clear mind.
Moses is said to have been: “120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.” (Deuteronomy 34:7) Until his last day, Moses guided the people with strength and in good health. It isn’t in vain that Moses is considered the greatest human leader of the People of Israel.
At this advanced age, Moses declares that he can no longer ‘lead out and bring in,’ which is another way of saying: ‘to lead or guide’. This expression is also mentioned in relation to King David and King Solomon. After Saul’s death, the children of Israel come to David, crown him in Hebron, and argue that even when Saul was king, David was in fact the leader “who led out and brought in Israel” (2 Samuel 5:2). King Solomon also prayed and said: I am still a little child, I do not know how to lead out and bring in, meaning that he didn’t know how to lead the people.
Similar to this week’s Torah Portion, leadership is passed on to the next generation. We read how Moses is commanded to accompany Joshua to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, where the leadership is formally passed to Joshua.
At that special meeting place, Moses receives a prophecy from God, which says that the Children of Israel will abandon the way of the Torah, and that all of the curses and evil described in the previous Torah Portions will indeed happen.
This Torah Portion sets the stage for the sad encounter between the younger generation that realized this is a last farewell on Moses’ last day, from the beloved leader who brought their fathers out of Egypt and led them for 40 years in the wilderness. Their entire generation was born in the desert and knew Moses from birth. They were born under the wings of Moses’ leadership.
This Torah Portion is also sad for Moses who (on his last day) hears that Israel is destined to abandon their covenant with God and to encounter “many evils and troubles” (Deuteronomy 31:17).
For us it’s sad, too. Like Moses, much like a parent, we wonder: what will become of the children? Most little ones grow up in somewhat of a bubble, having been protected from exposure to worldly content that would influence and harm their innocence. We’re aware of the outside world that’s self-centered and out to gain at the expense of others. We aim to protect as we’re so aware of the cruel nature of the outside world and its love for negative and even fake media.
As parents, we rightly do our utmost to protect the next generation from the cruel predators lurking everywhere, in social media and even in the public parks. However, at some point, the next generation will go out into the big world, and that frightens us. Much like Moses, each parent wonders: is my child resilient? Did I give him or her the solid foundation to face the world without me?
Time passes at dizzying speed. It seems only yesterday that the ones who were little just a moment ago, now enter university or even move out to live on their own in the big world. That’s why it’s so important today to give children a broad and firm foundation, and as much knowledge as possible of the Scriptures, which will strengthen their faith identity and culture, sense of belonging, and of course their faith in the Creator of the world and in Yeshua the Messiah of the world.
Let’s conclude by lifting up the next generation, whether small or big, that they will (re)turn to faith in Yeshua the Messiah, as their personal Savior and with the Scriptures to guide them on to the right path, so they will be strong in faith through the ups and downs of their personal lives. May Yeshua renew their hearts to a heart full of the love of God.