#47 — Parshat Vayelech
Devarim 31:1-30
Overview
In this the shortest of the parshot, Moses informs Israel He will not lead them into the promised land. But G-d will go before them and destroy the Canaanites; Joshua will be Israel’s new leader. Moses reminds them to do to the Canaanites as He commanded and admonishes Israel to be strong and courageous because the L-RD will not forsake them. (Deuteronomy 31:1-6)
The same encouragement is then repeated to Joshua in particular. (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)
Moses entrusts the Torah he wrote to the priests, leaders, and elders with an instruction to read it to the entire people every seven years at the feast of Sukkot, so Israel may obey the law and live long in the land. (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)
Then the L-RD Himself calls Moses and Joshua to the tent of meeting to commission Joshua as the new leader. G-d appears in the cloud which stood over the entrance of the tent. (Deuteronomy 31:14-15)
Besides G-d’s commissioning of Joshuah, Moses also receives a special song as “a witness for Me against the people of Israel.” This song is given as a testimony and warning – because Israel will apostatize from the L-RD and His anger will be kindled against them.
Moses wrote and “spoke the words of this song until they were finished in the ears of all the assembly of Israel” that same day. With that, Moses also finished writing “the words of this law in a book.” He commanded the Levites to deposit this book next to the ark of the covenant. Just like the song, the book serves as a “witness against you.” (Deuteronomy 31:16-30)
G-d knows…and still continues
God continues with his people
At the beginning of our parsha Moses encourages Israel, and Joshua in particular, to be strong and courageous. G-d will continue with His plan to give them the land of Canaan even though Moses will not be leading Israel anymore.
But that is not the only way G-d continues with His people. First, the Torah Moses wrote is entrusted to Israel’s leaders so that they will teach it to Israel.
But G-d knows what Israel will do with His instructions. So He gives Moses something in addition to the Torah: a special prophetic song.
G-d knows…and it’s not good news
The L-RD gives Moses this prophetic song because of what will happen after Moses’ death. What will happen is not good news.
This people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant that I made with them. Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day “Have not these evils come upon us because our G-d is not among us?” And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods. (Deuteronomy 31:16-18)
Our parsha also points to the cause of this tragic future: the rebelliousness of Israel’s heart. The L-RD says, “For I know what they are inclined to do even today”(Deuteronomy 31:21).
And Moses says, “For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the L-RD. How much more after my death!” (Deuteronomy 31:29)
If we are not Jewish, we should not assume Israel is uniquely prone to rebellion. G-d’s special revelation increases Israel’s responsibility, but this evil inclination is universally human, ever since our first ancestors sinned. (Genesis 6:5; 9:21) We would not have done better if G-d had chosen us.
Israel’s future apostasy isn’t good news. But the very fact that the L-RD gives this prophetic song in advance is very good news if we consider it well.
The song assures us G-d remains faithful to His people and promises even though He knows they will disbelieve and disobey. Instead of giving up on them, He takes special action in advance by giving His chosen nation this “song of witness.” He will secure His covenant with them. Let’s consider how.
The purpose of the song
G-d says the song will be “a witness for Me against the people of Israel.”At first, that may sound discouraging. But when we see G-d’s purposes in this, it actually is hope-giving.
In the prophetic song, the L-RD, who knows the end from the beginning, explains Israel’s history, especially the coming trouble of exile. Because of the evil that will befall them, Israel will conclude “Our G-d is not among us”(Deuteronomy 31:17). The L-RD will indeed hide His face (Deuteronomy 31:18). But the song explains the reason for L-RD’s absence. The prophet Isaiah later gives the same message as the song: “Behold the L-RD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your G-d, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Why does G-d bother to give Israel this advance witness at all?
The song vindicates the L-RD, yes – but that is not the only reason. And yes, the song makes the reason for judgment clear. The guilt of apostasy is exposed as the basest form of ingratitude. But the L-RD is not “rubbing it in” for vindictive reasons.
The L-RD’s ultimate goal is gracious. He brings us to our senses so we will return to Him, so things will end well for Israel, just as was predicted in Parshat Nitzavim. (Deuteronomy 30:1-3) The L-RD’s goal is the ultimate messianic repentance which will end in Israel’s ultimate wellbeing.
G-d will allow Israel to come into trouble because of their covenant breaking. But from there, as He said through the prophet Hosea, He “will make the valley of Achor (Achor means trouble)a door of hope.” (Hosea 2:15)
G-d knows what He can expect from us and knows in advance exactly all that will unfold. But He works on the solution before we even realize the problem. G-d’s first step is making us recognize the problem so we’ll receive His solution.
The open door
The promise of Deuteronomy which we learned in our previous parsha, Parshat Nitzavim, is also the goal of the prophetic song: the return to G-d through the open door of repentance.
This also was the first message Yeshua the Messiah preached:“The kingdom of G-d is at hand; repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15).He could proclaim the kingdom of G-d was at hand not only because He was Himself present as the messianic king. But also because He Himself is the guarantor of entrance into G-d’s kingdom when we heed His call and put our faith in Him.
Yeshua’s message is that G-d is like a father who welcomes us with an extravagant party when we come to our senses and return to Him. (Luke 15:11-32) This welcome is possible because of Yeshua’s own atoning death and resurrection.
To be continued….
Thus far in history only a remnant of Israel has heeded Messiah’s call to return to a right relationship with G-d on the basis of His atoning sacrifice. But the story is not over….
As we will see in our next parsha (which contains Moses’ prophetic song), Israel’s history will not end in gloom. An ultimate turnaround is ahead! The L-RD will atone for His land and His people! (Deuteronomy 32:43 NASB)
What about you? Have you experienced the turnaround that faith in Messiah brings? We’d love to connect – through the anonymous live chat or by email: info@insearchofshalom.com.