"Persisting & Serving HaShem" Parashat Hashavua V'zot HaBracha; By CMY

[Mevaser]

"Persisting & Serving HaShem" Parashat Hashavua V'zot HaBracha; By CMY
http://www.cmy.on.ca/toraportions200...haberachah.htm (Online version)
Congregation Melech Yisrael, Toronto, Canada
Shabbat 15 Tishrei 5764, October 11, 2003
http://www.cmy.on.ca / cmy@ca.inter.net

This week's Reading list:
* Devarim / Deut 33:1-34:12
* Yohoshua / Josh 1:1-18
* Mattityahu / Mathew 17:1-9
* Yochanan Markus / Mark 9:2-10
* Lukas / Luke 9:28-36
* Yehuda / Judah 3-4, 8-10

Baruch HaShem (praise G-d) we have arrived at the last Parasha of this year's reading cycle. Over the past eleven weeks we have been studying in the Book of Devarim but almost throughout the Torah we have been following, not only the lives of the bnei Yisrael (children of Yisrael), but also the life of Moshe (Moses). If you were any way as involved as I was in the account of Moshe's life, then you cheered with him at his victories and you lamented with him and felt his pain at the difficult periods in his life. In fact in most instances if you were any way as involved as I was you related to Moshe and to the struggles, rejections, trials and tribulations he had to endure.

Here now in Parasha Vezot HaBeracha we have arrived at the end of the journey with Moshe and what a journey it has been. Sadly after all we went through with him, it has to end with Moshe not entering into the land that he so diligently, humbly, sacrificially, lovingly and uncompromisingly lead bnei Yisrael to. The fact that Moshe made it this far is a feat in itself. How many of you would have hung in there as long as he did under the same circumstances? Therefore not to be allowed to enter in must have been a tremendous blow to this hard, hard working man. If anyone deserved to enter the Land he did!

You see three quarters of the way into his gruelling journey Moshe failed HaShem. It was not an ordinary failure however, but one that dishonoured the character of HaShem thus meriting the harsh judgement of not being allowed to enter the Land. (See Parasha Chukat 5762 for further explanation).

This is what I would like to discuss in my D'var Torah today; failures, or more specifically failing HaShem. I am sure all of us have in some way failed Him at one time or another. If we did not I do not think we would be human. Moshe was just an ordinary human being who was serving an extraordinary G-d, so I think we should all be able to relate to this message.

Devarim {33:1} This is the blessing, with which Moshe the ish (man) of G-D blessed the Bnei Yisrael before his death.

If you are anything like me then I know you love the L-rd with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength, just like the Shema tells us to, (Devarim 6.4-5). However if you are anything like me then I also know that you have failed HaShem, perhaps more than once, in more than one way. Sure just like Moshe I know that I have experienced consequences for my failures. Yes there are consequences for sin. Yes even though we confess and even though we repent and even though we have the atonement of Yeshua to fall back on, we still suffer consequences for our sin. Despite this fact however, the end of Moshe's journey should not be a discouragement, in fact it is an encouragement to me and it should be an encouragement to every single believer in Mashiach (Messiah) Yeshua who is reading this D'var Torah.

Here in Parasha Vezot HaBeracha the last chapter of Moshe's life is being written; recorded for time immemorial in the eternal Word of HaShem. And what does El Gibor (Mighty G-d) call him at the twilight of his life, what title does our G-d give Moshe? Remember now Moshe failed HaShem terribly and as a result was only going to be allowed to see the Promise Land but not set foot on it. Look closely at the verse I have chosen to use for our shiur (study) this week. El Gibor calls him "Moshe the ish of G-d."

Let this statement by El Elyon (Eternal One) be an encouragement to every single one of us who have in some way have failed HaShem and I know that means everyone. Yes we may suffer the consequences, yes we may not achieve that final last few steps to plant our personal victory flag, but if we persist if we continue to diligently serve HaShem to the best of our ability, if we are faithful to the end, in the end, HaShem will say of you "(your name) the ish (man)/isha (woman) of G-d. I do not know about you but for me that would make it all worth the while!


Ivrim / Hebrews 12:1-7 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment -- that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement -- and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua -- who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before Him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of G-d. Yes, think about Him who endured such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that you won’t grow tired or become despondent. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin.” Also you have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons: “My son, don’t despise the discipline of HaShem or become despondent when he corrects you. For HaShem disciplines those He loves and whips everyone He accepts as son.” Regard you endurance as discipline; G-d is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father?

Chazak Chazak Venitchazek
Be Strong, Strong and let us be strengthen!

****************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Jack (Yaacov) Farber

Hallelujah to our L-rd, our Teacher, our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
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