Heaven Sent

[Shimon]

“For the land you are going in to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you came. There you planted your seed and watered it by foot, like a vegetable garden” (Deuteronomy 11:10, TLV). Therefore, consider that the land of Israel is irrigated by the rainfall from heaven, without having to employ any manual irrigation like it was so in Egypt. Perhaps, this may be understood as a consolation, when the manna will cease to fall from Shomyaim (Heaven), once B’nei Yisrael enters the land.

Eretz Yisrael “is a land that Ad’nai your G’d cares for—the eyes of Ad’nai your G’d are always on it, from the beginning of the year up to the end of the year” 11:12). So, the implication is as follows: that, if the people commit idolatry, then the L’RD “will shut up the sky so that there will be no rain and the soil will not yield its produce” (11:17). Consequently, Israel will know that they are being chastised, for their error, that they may do teshuvah (repentance). This is the rule of thumb, that G’d chastises those whom he loves, especially the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8). This precept is exemplified in Israel’s relationship with G’d.

Bnei Yisrael is further commanded to “impress these My words upon your very heart” (11:18, JPS), “to the end that you and your children may endure, in the land that the L’RD swore to your fathers to assign to them, as long as there is a heaven over the earth” (11:21, JPS). “The verse teaches you that the land of Israel was given to the Jewish people forever, like the heaven is over the earth forever. If you are exiled from the land, you will return to it” (R’ Bachya on 11:21; sefaria.org). Even while still mostly dispersed amongst the nations today, we are chastised, until our hearts return to the L’RD.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

 

“I am the living bread, which came down from heaven.”

- John 6:51, Tree of Life Version

 

“Behold, the eye of the L’RD is toward them that fear Him, toward them that wait for His mercy” (Psalm 33:19, JPS). For ourselves, wherever we may live in the world, G’d’s abundance will be bestowed upon us in due time, whether in this world or the next, as long as we continue to look towards Him in awe and reverence. Through the Messiah, who “came forth from the Father,” we are given “the words of eternal life” (John 16:28, 6:68, TLV). Through him, blessings abound, inasmuch that we abide in his word.

He clarified the essence of Torah in his words, particularly within his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5,6,7). And, he exemplified the teachings of both the prophets and Moses in his life. Also, he set a new standard: “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and Torah scholars, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19-20, TLV).

Edited July 30, 2021 by Shimon
clarity