I’ve decided to start covering, maybe weekly, the Torah Portion. For more of an explanation, click here.

The portion of this portion I am going to talk about is mostly from Deuteronomy 26.  Although the tithing and first fruits section of 26 is interesting and, like chapter 14, it has changed my whole perspective on tithing in general, I’d like to focus on verse 26:5 for this week.

Deuteronomy 26:5 “Then you are to respond before Adonai your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and lived there as an outsider, few in number. But there he became a great nation—mighty and numerous. 6 The Egyptians treated us badly, afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us. 7 Then we cried out to Adonai, God of our fathers, and Adonai listened to our voice and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression. 8 Then Adonai brought us out from Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land—a land flowing with milk and honey.

Because our God is awesome, He keeps His word and He has no choice but to do so.  This covenant is the covenant that the whole Bible is based on and it comes from Genesis:

Genesis 15:7 Then He said to him, “I am Adonai who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans, in order to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 So he said, “My Lord Adonai, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9 Then He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old young cow, a three year old she-goat, a three year old ram, a turtle-dove (and Partridge in a Pear Tree) and a young bird.”

This is a blood covenant.  It wasn’t called a “creating a covenant”, not “starting”, not “making” but cutting.  This covenant was blood, it was “cut” by cutting animals. Normally, two men would walk through the blood, meaning that if someone doesn’t keep their end of the deal, it is their blood.  But read what God does:

10 So he brought all these to Him and cut them in half, and put each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 Then birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 When the sun was about to set and a deep sleep fell on Abram, behold, terror of great darkness was falling upon him! 13 Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed 400 years.

14 But I am going to judge the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will go out with many possessions. 15 But you, you will come to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here—for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” 17 When the sun set and it became dark, behold, there was a smoking oven and a fiery torch that passed between these pieces.

18 On that day Adonai cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your seed…”

What is what God has done for you, and this is what He will do for you:

Deuteronomy 26:8 Now today Adonai has affirmed you as His treasured people, as He promised you; that you are to keep all His mitzvot; 19 that He will set you high above all the nations He has made, for praise, fame and honor; and that you are to be a holy people to Adonai your God, as He has promised.”

This is reaffirming the covenant.  But as we know, we did not keep His mitzvot (commandments), we did not follow in His ways.  How many times even before we got to the promised land, did God want to wipe the Tribes out but Moses pleaded with God?  Our God is a good God, even though we are a stiffnecked people.

Hebrews 6:13-15

13 Now when God made His promise to Abraham—since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you, and surely I will multiply you.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham reached the promise.

It was the blood covenant that God knew we couldn’t live up to our end of the bargain, so He stepped in for us.  As Yom Kippur heads our way, remember that He gave us His blood to save us. Hebrews 9:12 says:

He entered into the Holies once for all—not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.