PARASHAT NITZAVIM/VAYELECH

PARASHAT NITZAVIM/VAYELECH by Herschel Raysman

Nitzavim

Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:20; Isaiah 61:1-63: ; John 12:41-50

Vayeilech

Deuteronomy 31:1-30; Isaiah 55:6-8; Matthew 18:21-35

We have a double portion this Shabbat and we are almost at the end of this final book in the Torah. Next Shabbat is Parashat Ha’azinu, the 2nd song of Moses, and then, at Simchat Torah, we conclude with V’zot Habracha. We then roll the Sefer Torah back to the beginning and we commence a new cycle of reading and studying in Bereishit 1:1.

On the last day of his life, Moses gathered ‘kol Adat B’nei Yisrael’ – the entire assembly of the children of Israel together to listen to his final address. From the lowliest to the most highly esteemed, young and old, men and women… all gathered together to be renewed into the covenant of HaShem. Moses’ goal was to bring the new generation that had not experienced the meeting at Sinai into a renewal of the covenant with HaShem, because it is a collective covenant with Israel as a nation:

Dev 29:9 - 11

You are standing today, all of you, before the L-rd your G-d; your chiefs, your tribes, your elders and your officers, even all the men of Israel, your  little ones, your wives, and the alien who is within your camps, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, that you may enter into the covenant with the L-rd your G-d and into His oath which the L-rd your G-d is making with you today.“

Parashat Nitzavim is another one of the Torah readings that forces believers who believe the Word of God, to make a daily conscious choice of how to live a lifestyle that is pleasing to HaShem and that is in accordance with His Word. We live in a post-modern culture, and often, the religious establishment avoids challenging their constituents to make life-changing choices.

In the modern church, many leaders seen to avoid confronting or potentially offending the attendees with the essential message of the Gospel of Yeshua which is “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand”.

Everything is so politically correct today that there is an undercurrent of fear that if we say anything that can be construed as offense to someone else, that we can land up before the human rights council. It is in this context that we see that Nitzavim as an important Torah portion for everyone who confesses Yeshua as Lord and Saviour and who believes in the divine authority of the Bible.

In specifying ALL categories of people, the sages infer that everyone is responsible and accountable for the degree of revelation that they have received. And therefore, each person can influence others for the good whether leaders or ordinary laypeople.

The immediate context of these opening verses is important. Deut 29:9 – “Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do”.

Dev 28 contains a list of blessings if you obey God’s instructions and walk in His ways. However, if you walk contrary in disobedience, the number of curses are double than the blessings.

The people must have despaired and considered

a future without hope, for who is able to keep

G-d’s instructions impeccably?

In Matt 19: 16 – 26, someone approaches Yeshua and asked what he should do to have eternal life.  Yeshua essentially lists the Aseret HaDibrot to which the man answers that he already obeyed these commandments. Then Yeshua responded in vs 21:

21 Yeshua said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you own, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."

22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he had much property.

23 Then Yeshua said to His disciples, "Amen, I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25  When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?"

26 And looking, Yeshua said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

The rabbis discern that there are 613 mitzvot in Torah. 613 distinct instructions. When you deduct all the mitzvot that have to do with the Temple, the sacrifices, the duty of the Levites and the priests, we are still left with 245 commandments that are still applicable today. And, if you feel that this is far too many, you will be excited to discover that most scholars and theologians identify 1050 direct commandments in the new covenant.

But we can reduce all these instructions to one direct and profound commandment.

And, you have a choice of two! Yeshua said is the totality of all the mitzvot can be simplified to just one!

• Do to others as you would want them do to you – Matt 7:12 (Hillel’s golden rule)

• Love one another as I have loved you – John 13:34-35

We struggle with just this single instruction - to love and to do!

The only human response possible is an oi vay – woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips! Or, like the disciples asked despairingly,

‘who then can be saved’? Or, as Sha’ul said in 2 Cor 2:16,

“who is sufficient for these things?”

But, G-d never leaves us on a negative! There is always hope!

In Romans 7, when Paul is talking about the 2 natures wrestling within him, he says in despair:

Rom 7:24-25

24       O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

25       I thank God — through Messiah Yeshua, our Lord!

There is always hope for Rav Sha’ul (Paul) says hope never disappoints. And so, with these opening verses, Moshe offers consolation and comfort to them by saying ‘today, you are standing before the Almighty’. 

Despite the failings of your parents, and despite your own weaknesses and sins, you are poised to cross over and take possession of the Land promised to the Patriarchs, thus proving once again, that HaShem is faithful to keep His word! You are standing here today and the verb for ‘standing’ is in the present continuous sense. Therefore, this applies not only to that generation but to every subsequent generation.

Our G-d is a G-d of grace, mercy and new beginnings. There is always

the possibility of renewal, restoration and reconciliation if you choose

to follow the LORD with all your heart, soul and strength!

We will undoubtedly face many crossroads in our lives and

at every intersection, there is the potential for new beginnings.

The chazal (sages) suggest that every time we enter something

new or when we arrive at a milestone in life …. there is an opportunity

to stand before Hashem as our forefathers did,

and to be renewed in the covenants that HaShem cut with us!

He is indeed the God of new beginnings and our hope rests in Him!

What an awesome and gracious Messiah whom we serve!