CONGREGATION
MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION |
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CONGREGATION
MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO |
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Devarim {8:2} You shall remember all the ways in which HaShem your G-D has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His mitzvoth (commandments), or not. {8:3} He humbled you, and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you didn't know, neither did your avot (fathers) know; that He might make you know that ish (man) does not live by bread only, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of HaShem does ish live. As I read these verses from Parasha Ekev my heart went out to all the people who no longer attend Congregation Melech Yisrael because their faith was destroyed due to trials and tribulations that came into their lives. In fact I am dealing with a case now where tragedy has struck a family, but instead of drawing closer to the HaShem it appears as they are drawing farther away. How sad. Is this tragedy revealing what was truly in their heart? Some many ask, “How can you say this; how can I be so cruel in your judgement?” Well, I can because it is really not me that is saying it, it is HaShem! If we want to know how G-d deals with us, we only have to look into the Bible to see how HaShem deals with bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel). In this week’s Parasha HaShem tells us that He purposely sent bnei Yisrael into the wilderness and allowed them to hunger, and I can add to thirst, so that He could humble them that they may know what was in their heart. It’s easy for people to love HaShem, fulfil His mitzvoth (commandment), regularly attend services, serve in the congregation and tithe when things are going their way and they are being blessed, whether moderately or abundantly. However, how do they deal with their relationship and commitment to G-d and their congregation when trouble, tragedy, hardship and tribulation come their way? What do they do then; according to HaShem, that is the true indicator of what stuff they are relay made of. It is like being in the army. Officers never know what stuff a foot soldier is made of until they put them into battle and have them confront the enemy. Leaders, therefore, are always observing and evaluating the troops to see who is made of the “right stuff,” and those are the ones they trust and use to get the job done. How much more therefore, our G-d! I can not tell you how often I have called someone after not seeing them at services on Shabbat only to find out that they stayed home because they were too tired after a hard week at work or that they were depressed or that were feeing slightly ill, yet Sunday they were out doing chores and Monday they were right back at work as if nothing happened. How sad, because more then likely HaShem was testing them, and they failed. He was sending them these things, tiredness, depression, a slight illness to test them so that they would know what was in their heart. “How can a loving G-d do such things,” you may ask? “Would G-d actually send depression upon a person?” Well, if you believe what is written in the Bible, then you would not even have to ask that question. Yes He would, so as to expose what is truly in our hearts! If He sent Yisrael into the wilderness for forty years and caused them to hunger and thirst, then why would He not test us with these things? HaShem wants us to put Him first in our life, which, of course, is one of His commandments; in fact it is the greatest of them all: Devarim {6:5} and you shall love HaShem your G-D with all your heart, and with all your nefesh (soul), and with all your might. {6:6} These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; If someone loves HaShem with all their heart and with all their souls would they put their work before Him? Would they allow their depression to get between them? Would they not come and worship Him -- even if they were slightly ill? Yet Believers in Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) put G-d second all the time. They even put the mechanic, the movers and the television repair person before Him and then, of course, they still expect to be blessed. I have also all too often heard people say that they do not have to come to services in order to worship G-d because they can do it just as effectively from the privacy of their own homes. This is a lie from the pit of hell and those who say this, as well as those who believe it, are deceived. The Bible was not given to individuals it was given to a community of people, and that is why the writer of Ivrim (Hebrews) could unequivocally say: Ivrim {10:24} And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: {10:25} Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. I think we need to get it through our thick skulls that we can not get away with doing things our way. We are going to have to prove ourselves and that may involve difficulties and hardships, but it can never involve compromising the L-rd. Yeshua HaMashiach said it best: Mattityahu (Matthew) {10:37} "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. {10:38} "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. {10:39” "He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. Yeshua is telling us exactly the same thing as the verses I quoted at the beginning of this d’var from Parasha Ekev. He is saying that He will send tests of your commitment to Him through your families so as to see what stuff you are made of. Boiled down to the basics Yeshua HaMashiach is saying: Devarim {6:5} and you shall love HaShem your G-D with all your heart, and with all your nefesh (soul), and with all your might. {6:6} These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; Do you? Baruch HaShem Rabbi Ya'acov Farber |
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