This week’s parasha answers the question of whether the term “Love”  is a Learned or Innate behavior.  Although most of us are aware of the basic understanding of these terms; please allow me to humor you once more as the apostle peter once stated in 2 Peter 1:12-14 NLT “Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life,’.  No! No need to worry;  I am  not about to checkout early or before the time. But it is important that we discuss these terms enlight of this particular parasha.

Professor John R. Meyers (https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/entomology/meyer) the dean of the entomology department (a branch of science that deals with the study of insects) at NCSU has this to say about the above terms:

Behavior is what animals do.  It can be defined more precisely as an internally directed system of adaptive activities that facilitate survival and reproduction.  Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior -- particularly when that behavior occurs in the context of an animal's natural environment.  Ethologists strive to observe, record, and analyze each species' behavioral repertoire in order to understand the roles of development, ecology, physiology, and evolution in shaping that behavior.  Insects have always been popular as subjects for behavioral research because, in comparison to vertebrates, they have relatively simple nervous systems, they exhibit discrete responses to external stimuli, and they are more conducive to ethical experimentation.  Although they may lack the capacity for intelligence or forethought, they still display a fascinating array of adaptive behavior that is a source of wonder and amazement to anyone who takes the time to study it.  Please know this is not just blaw blaw blaw; there is a proverbial  rhyme to my reason.

In his discussion pertaining to innate behavior he states: Innate behavior is genetically programmed.  Individuals inherit a suite of behaviors (often called an ethogram) just as they inherit physical traits such as body color and wing venation.  In general, innate behaviors will always be:

1. Heritable -- encoded in DNA and passed from generation to generation
2. Intrinsic -- present in animals raised in isolation from others
3. Stereotypic -- performed in the same way each time by each individual
4. Inflexible -- not modified by development or experience
5. Consummate -- fully developed or expressed at first performance

Where as he contrasts this definition to the learned behavior: Learning can be defined as a persistent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience.  Since a newborn nymph or larva has no prior experience, its first behaviors will be entirely innate.  Each individual starts life with a "clean slate":  it acquires new skills and knowledge through trial and error, observation of other individuals, or memory of past events.  In general, learned behaviors will always be:

1. Nonheritable -- acquired only through observation or experience
2. Extrinsic -- absent in animals raised in isolation from others
3. Permutable -- pattern or sequence may change over time
4. Adaptable -- capable of modification to suit changing conditions
5. Progressive -- subject to improvement or refinement through practice

Okay so which behavioral category is it Learned or Innate!?!  Oh I get it, this is  when John 3:16 in the KJV comes in “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”- you know that whole unconditional “LOVE” thing.  And you know this thing is passed down from generation to generation: Exodus 34:7a KJV WHO KEEPS LOVINGKINDNESS FOR THOUSANDS (GENERATIONS), who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

No, no, no, on second thought that can’t be it … you gave us a big hint when you said that this parasha answers the question. So with that said, it must be this passage of scripture in this week’s parasha which answers the mystery questions: Deuteronomy 7:12-13 KJV “Wherefore it shall come to pass, IF YE hearken to these judgments, and KEEP, AND DO THEM, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: AND HE WILL LOVE THEE, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

See THEN doing the commandments which had to FIRST be learned is the love of Yah (God). And even John himself in his old age (around 90 to 95 AD) learned this truth when he wrote this in 1 John 5:2-3 NASB “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

In Conclusion: Although both arguments have very valid points of reference the answer is … “This daily devotional has been interrupted in order to broadcast an urgent spiritual announcement “ the rapture is coming soon be ye also ready because we know not the day or the hour when Yahushua/ Jesus will return for his messianic bride” now back to your irregular daily messianic devotional …  So based on that fact we will restate the answer to this conundrum at next Adult Torah Study this coming Saturday. Until then Shalom Shalom.

(EIKEV (BECAUSE [OF])- עקב)

Yep you guest it; once again it is time to understand the true meaning of Yah’s intentions [to include the reason for THE POWER OF THE RESCUE HUG] by looking deep into the Hebrew letters of the hebrew word EIKEV.  We do this to gain clues pertaining to the answer  about the question; is LOVE an Innate or Learned Behavior?

ע-Ayin

Eye- Watch, know, Shade

ק-Koof

Sun on the Horizon- Condensed, Circle, Time

ב-Bet/Vet

Tent Floorplan- Family, House, In

We will discuss this in more detail during Adult Torah Study!  See Yah This Sabbath ... Much love in Yahushua!

Rabbi John Wesley A. II PhD & Pastor Martha

Congregation Beth Hashem in Durham, Raleigh & Greenville NC