Avoid The Pit
- Posted on AugpmSun, 14 Aug 2016 22:54:44 -05002016-08-14T22:54:44-05:0010 17, 2016
- in Bible, Devarim, God, Hebrew, Messiah, Study, Torah, Yeshua
- by Hallelujah Girl
Once the snake was sliding along its path, when the tail began to complain to the head: “Why are you always ahead of me? I would rather be in front than in the rear.”
“Very well,” replied the head, “Do as you wish.” They switched positions and the tail led the way. A short while afterwards the snake fell into a slime pit, then it was singed by a fire, and finally it scratched its skin on a thorn bush that grew by the path. This was its fate because the head followed the tail (and the tail lacks eyes to avoid dangers).
As we dive into the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), also known as “Mishneh Torah/The Review of the Torah”, you may discover a soul-stirring discovery awaits, A strengthening of your faith (emuna), a stronger attachment to the greatness of the Holy One and His Torah.
The Hebrew word for Deuteronomy is Devarim. Devarim is translated in English to ‘words’ and sometimes, ‘things’. Words and things are two very different concepts in our western mindsets. The Hebrew word Devarim is a noun, masculine in gender, and plural in form. The verb root of this noun is ‘dabar’ (pronounced daw-bar), which means ‘setting in a row‘ or ‘arranging in proper order’. It is a process with a purpose, like writing a story or playing a song, or choreographing a dance, or devising a battle plan.
As you might be able to see Devarim are not ‘just words’ that Moses is speaking in the book of Deuteronomy, they are backed up by actions. These words can bring about significant reactions (positive or negative) to the hearer. These words are not doctrines, creeds, or statements of faith. These words have substance. At times they are nostalgic remembrances of the past, or prophetic declarations, some are even painful expressions from Moses himself. You might even read some ‘matter of fact’ words. Moses will encourage us with his words to be all that the Holy One has created us to be.
Moses would not be entering the Land the Holy One was giving to the Children of Israel because of his disobedience (striking the Rock instead of speaking to it). Moses begins his discourse of words by appointing judges/leaders over the Children of Israel. Once, seventy souls descended to Egypt when Joseph was in charge under Pharaoh, now they had multiplied to 600,000 men. It was essential because no longer would the Children of Israel be as one camp once they enter the land, they would spread out in their respective territories.
Choose for yourselves wise and discerning men, well known to your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ “You answered me and said: ‘The thing you have said to do is good.’ So I took the heads of your tribes, men who were wise and well known, and appointed them as heads over you—leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officials for your tribes. “I commanded your judges at that time saying: ‘Hear cases between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or the outsider with him. You must not show partiality in judgment—you must hear the small and the great alike. Fear no man, for the judgment is G~d’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me and I will hear it.’ “I commanded you at that time everything you should do. ~Deuteronomy 1:13-18
The Sages explain there were a total of 131 ‘judges/leaders’ per thousand people. Each category of leaders had unique functions. The leaders of thousands were commanders of a thousand soldiers, the leaders of hundreds were judges, those over fifty taught Torah, and those over ten carried out police duties. According to the Midrash, Moses required the men to have the following seven qualifications: 1) Learned in Torah and wise, 2) Modest, 3) G~d fearing, 4) Men who do not attach any importance to money and do not desire to enrich themselves (high moral standard), 4) Who seek truth and justice and reject falsehood, 6) Who are liked by all their acquaintances for their pleasant conduct and conscientiously fulfill all the Torah laws (so when they declare someone guilty they shall not be reprimanded), and 7) With a good reputation.
Moses specifies that the judges/leaders must recognize that they are agents of the Holy One in administering justice, and NOTHING but the FEAR OF G~D should enter in to their deliberations. A judge/leader who perverts his mission is sinning against the Holy One, for the judgement belongs to G~d. Our Messiah Yeshua speaks in John 8:15-16, “You judge according to the flesh, but I do not judge anyone. Yet even if I do judge, My judgement is true, because it is not I alone but I with the Father who sent me.” However, judges/leaders are held responsible only if they fail to lead. If they protest and you do not obey, they bear no guilt.
Likewise the story of the snake who’s tail wished to lead. If the people take the lead and great ones follow (rather than preventing or protesting against wrongdoings), pitfalls cannot be avoided.
If a man desires to be an overseer, he desires a good work. ~ 1 Timothy 3:1
In a time when our leaders, judges, and overseers are so far from the Word of the Holy One and insist on following the “tail”, misfortunes are happening all around us. Our government does not seem to be “for the people” or have any resemblance of being agents of the Creator of the Universe. My friends the ‘head’ is Torah, the Word, Our Messiah. Avoid the pitfalls and let the G~d of Abraham be the One who leads you.
Shalom, Happy Day,
Hallelujah Girl
Tags: #Devarim, #DonaldTrump, #HillaryClinton, #judges, #leaders, #PresidentialCandidates, #ReadYourBible #ItsAllAboutYeshua #TorahIsTruth