This week’s parasha starts off in the middle of a major parent child conflict gone bad. Why had Yah been so adamant about Moses not being allowed to enter the promised land; at this time in history? Had Yah reached another breaking point similar to Genesis 6:6 KJV? Before we discuss these questions in detail I would like to share the summary of this parasha from the perspective of Rabbi Jonathan Cohen’s commentary (he is the spiritual leader of Mishkan Torah Congregation a more traditional jewish synagogue): In Va-etchanan, Moses concludes the first of his three farewell speeches to the new generation.

This portion begins with his description of how he pleaded with Adonai - va'etchanan means "And I besought ." - to permit him to enter the Land of Canaan (a request that God was to refuse [Based on Yah’s Breaking Point]). Va-etchanan stresses the timeless quality of the Torah. Thus, chapter 4 includes Moses' first impassioned exhortation to the people to remain faithful to God's laws so that they may live and prosper forever in the land that Adonai is about to give them. He reminds them of the day their parents received the Ten Commandments from God, and of the commandment to teach their children and their children's children. Moses warns them not to make or worship idols of any beasts, animals, fish or anything that is seen in the heavens because God made all of them. Although they are about to enter the Promised Land, Moses warns them that if they act wickedly, they will not live there long. But if they seek God with their heart and soul, God will not forget the covenant that was made with their ancestors, whom God loved and whose children God still loves. Then Moses names three cities on the east side of the Jordan as refuge cities for people who unintentionally kill others.

Chapter 5 introduces the second sermon. Moses starts by telling them that God spoke not only "to our ancestors, but to all of us, every one of us who is here today." He then restates the same ten commandments found in Exodus 20. It is in this sermon that the Shema is found: "Hear O Israel! Adonai is our God, Adonai is One," as well as the first lines of the Ve'ahavta, commanding us to love God with "all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might." We are commanded to bind these words on our hands and to let them be a symbol on our foreheads, to inscribe them on the doorposts of our houses and upon our gates.

Chapter 6 continues Moses' sermon: When the people enter the land, they are not to credit themselves for their prosperity. In Deuteronomy 6:20-25, Moses commands each person to retell the story of the exodus from Egypt when their children ask about the laws that God has commanded, explaining to them that we observe these commandments for "our lasting good and for our survival" because we were slaves in the Land of Egypt, and God freed us. The parasha concludes with Moses' telling the people that God will allow them to defeat seven nations much larger than themselves as they enter the Promised Land. He tells them to destroy the people of those nations and all signs of their gods and religions, and not to intermarry with them. We are told that the Hebrews are God's treasured people, a chosen people, a consecrated people. Therefore, they are commanded to follow God's laws and rules.

VE’ETCHANAN (AND I PLEADED- ואתחנן)

Once again it is time to understand the true meaning of Yah’s intentions [to include the reason for HIS BREAKING POINT] by looking deep into the Hebrew letters of the hebrew word Ve’etchanan. We do this in order to answer some of the serious questions posed in the introduction of this parsha: Ve’etchanan

Vav-ו

Tent peg- Add, Secure, Hook

Aleph-א

Ox Head- Strong, Power, Leader

ת-Tav

Cross Sticks, Mark, Sign, Signal, Monument

ח-Chet

Tent Wall-Divide, Half, Outside

Nun-נ

Seed- Continue, Heir, Son

Nun-נ

Seed- Continue, Heir, Son

In Conclusion: Yah’s breaking point towards us is vital for us to know and understand prior to HIS WRATH being revealed. In Numbers 27:12-17 KJV there was a fatal mistake made by Moses that was not forgiven him:

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

The following words and word phrases in this passage were picked by the spirit of Yah for us to be enlightened to why Yah’s breaking point was reached in this situation:

• Mount Abarim -עֲבָרִים
• For you Rebelled my commandment-מָרָה
• In the wilderness of Zin,-צִן
• In the strife of the congregation -מְרִיבָה
• To sanctify me at the water before their eyes-קָדַשׁ
• The water of Meribah in Kadesh-קָדֵשׁ
• in the wilderness of Zin.-צִן

Although Yah’s breaking point is something that most are unaware of; it is very real and in most cases PERMANENT. Only a handful of biblical characters have personally witnessed it first hand and lived to tell about it. King David and the Uzzah incident in 2 Samuel 6:1-7 and 1 Chronicles 13:9-12; is probably the most profound in the old testament. Peter and the Ananias and Sapphira incident in Acts 5:1-10 KJV is also an excellent example in the new testament. In each case one of the pluralities of Yah was abused. The Ruach or commonly known as the Holy Spirit was used improperly at a CRITICAL TIME in that person’s relationship journey with Yah. There is a scripture in the new testament that I honestly believe we lack the true meaning and spiritual consequences of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV. Sorry but I ran out of time again, to bad though cause this conclusion was going to be a good one. I will be sure to finish this one during ATS this Saturday.

Rabbi John Wesley A. II PhD & Pastor Martha

Congregation Beth Hashem in Durham, Raleigh & Greenville NC