Deuteronomy 33-34

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

DEUTERONOMY 33: 1-34:11

 

    Before we begin, I'd like to point out that we are still in the season of Sukkot, or the Festival of Tabernacles.  Today, September 26th is the 6th day.  

 

     I'd like to add one more point to the thread "Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles in the nutshell".  and that is the on the subject of a "sukkah" which is a temporary dwelling place.  "B'nei Israel (The children of Israel) all lived in "temporary dwellings for 40 years in the wilderness.  They lived in tents made of (probably) animal skins and/or tough fabric.  

 

     Today, those who practice "dwelling in sukkot" during these 7 days, make their sukkah from pre-fabricated material, or bamboo poles with palm or other tree branches with leaves.  Some even sleep outside in camping tents.  

 

     But...one thing to note is that WE ALL are living in "SUKKOT (temporary dwellings) 24-7, every minute, every second of our lives.  Our own physical bodies are SUKKOT.  We are living souls living within temporary physical bodies.  No wonder the scripture tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that we should not defile our bodies.  Yet many do that, with foreign substances, drugs, tobacco, unclean foods, even unclean thoughts, and activities can affect us in different ways, ways that will affect our physical bodies.  

 

     So, when you look at yourself, think of yourself as a "sukkah" a temporary dwelling which one day will change into a permanent, incorruptible body which will last for all eternity.  In the meanwhile, keep your present "sukkah" in shape,  eat healthy food, exercise, walk, ride a bike, drink water and natural juices, take vitamins, (especially garlic oil, 5000 mg), and just enjoy the physical life that Adonai has given to you.  Now for our study;    

 

    We are at the end of the five books of the Torah, yet as we all know, the whole Torah is ALL the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, yet this was the beginning of Adonai’s speaking his words to be written down by his chosen Prophets, in this case, Moshe. 

 

     In Chapter 33, Moshe blesses all the 12 tribes of Israel.  Very interesting are the words in verse 7:  “And this of Y’hudah, and he said, “Hear YHVH, the voice of Y’hudah and bring him to his people, His hands shall fight for him, and you be a help against his enemies.”

 

     The sacred name of Adonai is used here, as in all places where the name LORD is used, yet it is also in the name “Y’hudah”.  Y + H + V (u) d + H.  Here the letter “u” is also the “vav”.  So we see God’s name in the largest tribe.  As promised, Adonai will put his name in his people.

 

     Let’s go to the derashic level.  Does this point to something? We can take this to the “Sukkot” level.  “Shema YHVH, ha kol YHVH!”  God listens to God!  YHVH came to earth in flesh and blood as YESHUA during this time of Sukkot.  The Father brought the SON to HIS people.  The hands of Yeshua fought for Israel and for ALL of mankind.  He was a help against ALL enemies. 

 

     Yet the fight was on the spiritual level, against HaSatan and against the curse of sin.  Adonai lifted up and spread out his hands on Calvary’s cross to receive the nails, (symbolized by the letter “vav”) The very name YHVH symbolizes in the ancient Hebrew; “behold or revealed the hand, behold or revealed the nail” His very name points to Yeshua.  His death paid the price of sin for ALL of mankind, but to make it effective, one must trust in Yeshua’s sacrifice on the personal level, to receive HIM as LORD and Savior.

 

     (33:11)  O YHVH, bless his strength and the work of his hands, strike through the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, that they rise no more”

 

     We can look at this in two ways.  Adonai has indeed blessed Israel, even though it is a small country, about the size of El Salvador, (El Salvador was one of the first countries to accept and support Israel as a nation), a country that has a powerful army, the IDF and Air Force, and was able to defend herself through God’s power, against many Arab nations who wanted to see the destruction of the Jewish state.

 

     “accept the work of his hands” Yeshua, who is our “Cohen Gadol” our High Priest, put out his hands to receive the nails, and thus was his work, his offering, his sacrifice for us all, “accepted” by the Father.  Since sin entered the world by a man, (Adam) so a second man had to pay the price of sin that entered the world by the first Adam.  It couldn’t be any ordinary man, it had to be “God and Man” both, that is why Yeshua is called the “Second Adam”

 

     Chap 34:  We see that Moshe is ready to die and be buried by YHVH himself, yet he allows him to see the land which Israel will inherit.  It is amazing that Moshe saw ALL the land as far as the Mediterranean Sea.

 

     Mt Nebo or “Pisgah” (meaning “summit) is actually only 3000 feet high in elevation.  We went there in 1999.  The Mediterranean Sea is about 65 miles away towards the West.  Mt. Nebo is at the North end of the Dead Sea to the East.

 

      Perhaps Adonai gave Moshe a “Close-up look” a miracle that happened only that time, to see so far away.  Also, we need to understand that the physical earth, atmosphere, and sky were probably a lot clearer 3000 years ago, so, perhaps the Sea was indeed visible.  Is it possible that Adonai also gave Moshe a glimpse into the future, so as to see Israel in the future as well? 

 

     The book closes with Yehoshua Ben Nun taking the lead, being filled with the wisdom of Adonai.  He will lead the people into the promised land.  The very last word in Deuteronomy is “Israel” the last letter being “L” (Lamed)  The very first word in Genesis is “In” (B) as in “beit” (In the beginning) “B’resheet” so, the first letter is “B” or it can also be read as “V” So when we connect the two letters, “Lamed” and “Beit” we get the word “Lev” which means “heart”. 

 

     What can we learn from this?  We can say that “ever since the beginning, God’s heart was with Israel” and it still is and always will be.  He just has to act as a loving father who at times must discipline his children, yet never reject them nor forget them.

 

     It is also notable that Adonai said that “Moshe’s natural strength was not diminished, so that says a lot.  He was a strong as he was as a young man, and his eyesight was also keen.

 

       Yehoshua is symbolic of “Yeshua” who is the “Life” which is what the letter “nun” symbolizes.  Within the letters of the name “Yehoshua” is the name “Yeshua”, which when written in paleo Hebrew, we can see the name “Yeshua” with the letter “hey” (h) in the name, meaning “Yeshua is revealed” and “Salvation is of YAH”

 

     It is Yeshua who leads us into the promised land, which is the New Jerusalem.  He came in person during this time of Sukkot, which is all about “God coming to tabernacle among men” He came the first time as fire on top of Mt. Sinai, then came to dwell among the Israelites in the Mishkan, as fire and smoke, then he came in flesh and blood as Yeshua, then he returned in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) on Shavuot (Pentecost), and He is still here among us all.  He will return in the future to set up his millennial kingdom. 

 

     Yeshua is as close as prayer is.  He paved the way for us all, and the way was through the Cross of Calvary for all who believe.