#41 — Parshat Eikev
Devarim 7:12-11:25
Overview
Eikev: “following,” “as a result of,” “because of.” Listening to the instructions G-d gives through Moses, Israel will enjoy G-d’s covenant and lovingkindness. Israel will be blessed and multiplied. The L-RD will clear the Canaanites away for them. The Canaanites and their idols must be completely destroyed; if not, they will be a snare to Israel (Deuteronomy 7:12-26).
Israel should not forget how the L-RD was their provider in the desert so they won’t say when they are satisfied by the abundance of the promised land “my own hand gave me this wealth,” and forget the L-RD, go after other gods, and perish (Deuteronomy 8:1-20).
The L-RD will not give Canaan to Israel because of Israel’s righteousness. Moses recalls how Israel rather provoked the L-RD to wrath, especially with the sin of the golden calf. He reminds them how it was upon his intercession that G-d renewed the covenant and was unwilling to destroy them (Deuteronomy 9-10:10).
Moses calls on Israel to love the L-RD, who loved them; to show love to the alien and to keep what He commands them. He reminds them they have seen G-d’s greatness and mighty hand. As a result of obedience Israel will live long in the land. The L-RD will give rain for their land. But if they will serve other gods He will shut the heavens. The result of obedience, on the other hand, will be that the land will be completely theirs (10:11-11:25).
A Matter of the heart
Motivating toward obedience
In our parasha Moses pleads passionately with the people to keep his commandment to hold fast to the L-RD. He does so by pointing to the consequences of obedience and disobedience. The difference is stark: either live long in the land or surely perish.
Beyond pointing to the consequences, Moses also calls on the Israelites to remember what G-d has done for them; how He has been patient and gracious to them. Taking that to heart will be a strong motivation toward obedience. On the other hand there are two things Israel should not say in their hearts.
Two things not to say
The first thing not to say in our hearts is “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17).
Moses warns the Israelites against forgetting how the L-RD taught them to be dependent on Him in the desert. Instead they should take to heart G-d’s care, provision, and leading throughout their desert wanderings. He instructs them to remember that everything they have is from the L-RD. They live “by every word that comes from the mouth of the L-RD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). All of life is completely dependent on His sovereign and mighty decree.
The second thing not to say in your heart is: “It is because of my righteousness that the L-RD has brought me in to possess this land” (Deuteronomy 9:4).
As Moses continues to explain this, he doesn’t mince words. “From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the L-RD (Deuteronomy 9:6). He especially recalls the sin of the golden calf.
Of course, Moses’ statements are a call to repent; a charge not to continue in this rebelliousness. But there is an additional reason he brings up what happened. Moses also recalls how he interceded for Israel and that the L-RD was not willing to destroy them (Deuteronomy 10:10). Moses reminds them of this so Israel will realize their entry into the land is all because of what G-d gave them in His patience, grace, and faithfulness. They should realize they enter because G-d is a forgiving G-d not because of their own righteousness.
Our heart is the core of our being, the seat of our will; it is where our deepest attitudes are formed. That’s why it is so critical not to say these wrong things “in our hearts.” The two things not to say are two statements of pride. If this pride will grip our hearts, we will go astray very soon.
Circumcise your heart
Instead of saying in our hearts “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” and “It is because of my righteousness that the L-RD has brought me in to possess this land,” we have to do something else with our hearts.
Moses says: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no longer stubborn” (Deuteronomy 10:16).
The circumcision metaphor means to lay aside all insensitivity of heart toward all G-d has given you and toward all G-d’s patience and grace toward you. If Moses wants Israel not to be insensible to one thing it is this: “Behold, to the L-RD your G-d belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the L-RD set His heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day” (Deuteronomy 10:14-15).
The G-d of heaven and earth has set His heart with a special love on Israel! He wants them to marvel at the fact that they are His chosen. “As it is today” indicates that, despite all Israel’s rebellion, this special covenant relationship with G-d is unchanged.
Moses understands it well: a recognition of G-d’s undeserved grace and special love is what leads to genuinely grateful obedience.
The Dynamic of the New Covenant
Moses wants to motivate Israel to grateful obedience by recognizing G-d’s special love and grace. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which Moses and the prophets anticipated as the solution for sin and rebellion, works exactly the same way.
When we start participating in the new covenant, G-d’s love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Our hearts are being gripped by the realization that “while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us” (Romans 5:9).
In our parasha, Moses describes how he effectively interceded for Israel after the sin of the golden calf (Deuteronomy 9:18-19, 25-29). But subsequently things have gotten out of hand even more. The covenant has been broken so badly that Moses’ intercession is no longer enough. But in his grave G-d gives a new covenant through an intercessor who is even better than Moses.
This superior intercessor is sorely needed because the covenant G-d made with Israel at Mount Sinai is so badly broken (Jeremiah 15:1, Jeremiah 31:31). The L-RD gives us the Messiah: He bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).
In our parasha, Moses calls on the Israelites to circumcise their hearts. But the ultimate hope of Moses and the prophets is that G-d Himself will circumcise the hearts of His people (see Deuteronomy 30:6). The L-RD gives us this inner renewal by making us realize His ultimate forgiveness, love, and grace through Jesus the Messiah.
Recognizing what Messiah has done for us through His atoning death and resurrection is where truly grateful obedience starts. That’s how the L-RD puts His law within us and writes it on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). When His love is poured out in our hearts we become truly motivated to do His will.
We would love to talk more about this with you.