Punishment for a rebellious child, who refused to accept responsibility even after discipline, was death. Rebellion is willful insubordination. A rebel, according to the dictionary, is an ‘insurgent, mutineer, terrorist, and freedom fighter.’ Consider what happened on a ship when there was mutiny! A child, like a mutineer, could incite the family and the community into rebellion. Terrorist children within the nation of Isra’el would not be tolerated nor would freedom fighters!
Parashah 48: Shof’tim (Judges)
The ‘thou shalt not judge’ statement has become the mantra of tolerance infiltrating the Body of Messiah leaving it injured by sinful lifestyles and no justice for removing the blight of sin. While no one knows the motive of the heart, we are called to be fruit inspectors. We are to look at the person’s fruit and decide if the tree is good or bad (Matthew 12:33).
Parashah 47: Re’eh (See)
In Hebrew, ‘see’ is re’eh and is the imperative singular like a parent telling a child to ‘see’ something by saying, “Look!” The singular means that one individual’s response to the commandments will affect the blessing or cursing of the entire nation of Isra’el –– each person is accountable to the others. The words ‘seer’ or ro’eh means ‘shepherd’ and is derived from the sa
Parashah 46: ‘Ekev (Because)
The covenant of mercy is the eighth covenant given in Torah, a covenant Adonai made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The word for ‘mercy’ in Hebrew is rachum and means ‘compassionate.’ Listening to Adonai’s rulings, keeping and obeying His mitzvot brings forth His compassionate mercif