Parasha Ki Tavo

The daylight hours are growing shorter. School bells are beginning to ring again. Football teams are kicking off their seasons. Tempatures are dropping. Can you feel it? The times are changing. The month has even changed. Yes, yes everyone knows it is September but did you know that we are in the Biblical six month, counting from Passover. Counting from Yom Teruah this is the twelth and last month of year. This is the month of return. Right now we are in the middle of a full thirty days given to reflect upon life and repent of sins. This is the time given each year to prepare for the High Holy Days of the Bible.

The Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah is just around the corner with Yom Kippur only ten days later. Between now and then is preparation time to reflect upon life, repent of sins, and return to the Father with faithful obedience and devotion. “Teshuvah for the forgiveness of sins,” says Acts 2:38.

In the book of Nehemiah this month is called ‘Elul.’ “Elul has been interpreted as an acronym, with its Hebrw letters “aleph,” “lamed,” “vav,” and “lamed” representing the words of Song of Songs – “Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li.” The words mean “I am my beloved and my Beloved is mine,” says ou.org. This name points to the love of YHWH. Even the zodiac sign for this time reflects the overall message of the month. This is the month of the Maiden – the maiden of Yisra’el returning to the Groom. “Return O Maiden of Yisra’el, return to these cities of yours,” Yermi’yahu 31:20.

With the serious theme of this month, it is fitting that each year at this time all Isra’el reads torah portion Ki Tavo. As Devarim concludes, the themes of the covenant are reviewed and a prophecy is given. If the people will just follow the instructions of YHWH then they will be the envy of the whole world. But, if Yisra’el is stubborn and rebellious then they will punished. Exile is foretold for the rebellious people.

One sage teaches that the twelve tribes of Israel gathered at the Mounts of Gerizim and Ebal. Six families were on one side while six were are on the other side. Moshe and the Levim are in the middle valley. Moshe reads aloud the Torah and states that obeidance leads to blessing and disobediance leads to cursing. The Levite elders would turn to Mount Gerizim and call out, “Blessed is the man who…,” and everyone would answer “Amein!” Then they would turn to Mount Ebal and call out “Accursed is the man…,” and everyone would answer “Amein!”

The Hebrew word for ‘curse’ found all over our reading is “awrar.” This word means to “execrate or bitterly curse, to declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce, to denounce evil against, or to imprecate evil upon; to curse; to protest against as unholy or detestable; hence, to detest utterly; to abominate.” This is not a pretty sight! The Yisraelites received, they brought all of this upon themselves for disobeying YHWH. While the ancient Hebrew word for ‘blessed’ is the term “barak.” Barak means to “to kneel, by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also bless, congratulate, curse, greatly, indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, thank.” As you can see these terms are complete opposites, they are staunchly different and come about by the different actions of Bible believers.

“And it shall come to pass, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of YHWH Your Elohim, to shomer and do all His mitzvot which I command you this day, that YHWH Your Elohim will set you on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of YHWH Your Elohim. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cattle, and the flocks of your sheep. Blessed shall be your basked and your bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out,” Devarim 28:1-6 from the Restoration Scriptures Version. The blessings continue and the curses are presented all throughout the parasha. There are infact twelve curses within Devarim 27:15-26 – one curse for each tribe.

The theme of all of this is that Yisra’el, each individual in Yisra’el, had the choice of life or death. This is kind of like a trial where the prosecuter and defendant both make their cases, except the crime has not been committed yet. The speeches have been made, the attorney’s have rested their cases, and now Yisra’el must decide whether or not to follow YHWH. This is the same situation that we are in today.

As we read this portion of Scripture during this time of preparation, we too must make decisions. We too must choose our future. Studing this portion brings us face to face with the truth that we are indeed in control of our destiny. What has happened in our past doesn’t really matter. How we were raised, what faith we grew up with, our thoughts, our feelings, our doctrines, our desires, and our problems don’t mean much. Now that we have been presented the choice we must decide to either follow YHWH or not.

Are you willing to follow YHWH in order to receive blessings and life? Or would you rather have things your way and inherit curses and death? Is there an area in your life that you just won’t surrender to the Almgihty? Do you follow vain traditions just because they are comfortable? Are you living obedience or acting in disobediance? Your actions prove your answer, and right now, before Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur is the perfect time to consider your devotion.

Jewish tradition teaches that the world was created during this month, on

exactly the twenty-fifth of Elul. If man was created on Yom Teruah, as many teach, then a few days prior would be the beginning of the world and the start of creation. This is how you come to the 25th date. Do you know what else occurred on the 25th? “And the wall was finished on the 25th of Elul, after fifty two days,” Nehemi’yah 6:15. After the dispersion at Babylon, Nechem’yah had urged the Hebrew people to rebuild the wall of Yerushalyim. With a spear in one hand and a tool in the other hand, the Hebrew people worked hard and completed the wall on the 25th of Elul!

You see, thousands of years ago the Gan Eden was created at this time. The place of perfect relationship with YHWH was made during this month. Centuries after Yahweh spoke the universe into existence, restoration came to the Holy City at exactly the same time. Today you have the same opportunity as Nechemi’yah. As we live during this special month and as we approach the High Holy Days we can experience restoration. Through our actions and through our choices we can return to Father and the essence of creation. Like the leaves of the trees that are starting to change colors, it is time for a change of heart. Blessing or curse, the choice is yours and the time to choose is today.

*for all things Biblical go to www.emetministries.com