Nitzavim is the Hebrew word for ‘ones standing’ as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land. They are the ‘ones left standing’ after the previous generation could not ‘stand’ due to their faithlessness. The Hebrew word for ‘stand’ is natzab and means ‘pillar’ or ‘garrison.’ The Israelites standing at the entrance to the Promised Land are the troops stationed to defend and guard the Land that Elohim will put in their possession.
Author: Yahulia
Parashah 50: Ki Tavo (When you come)
The Israelites will enter the Land, make homes, and plant crops. For the first time since receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Israelites will make a firstfruits offering to Adonai (Leviticus 23:9-11). They are to bake the finest flour with leaven into loaves, put it in a basket, and go to the place where ‘I Am’ put His Name.
Parashah 49: Ki Tetze (When you go out)
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).