Fuel for Righteous Living

Parashat Ekev, Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Mary Haller, Tikvat Israel, Richmond, VA

Our portion this week covers topics that are essential for building an unshakable foundation of faith as well as a strong and unwavering relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses tells the people:

It is not by your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to possess their land. Rather, because of the wickedness of these nations, Adonai your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to keep the word Adonai swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. So you should understand that it is not because of your righteousness that Adonai your God is giving you this good land to possess—for you are a stiff-necked people. (Deut 9:5-6)

These words seem pretty clear. God was doing the kind and loving thing for a people who were, well, not so kind and loving. Today we might say God was paying it forward, giving out of his love to simply bless and provide. I believe there is more to it than simple kindness. God wanted to give the people a fresh start; God was reaching out to the people.  As I understand it, God was taking the first step towards building a relationship with the Israelites.  They were to respond accordingly by accepting God’s ways or rejecting them.  Last week's portion explains all the ways to live well through the commands and in the Shema. God wanted good things for the people and his statutes were their guide to living well.

The simple Hebrew word Ekev (the name of this parasha) is packed with deep meaning. When we take a close look at the origin of the word and familiarize ourselves with it, the word speaks loudly. We also need to understand its meaning in today’s western culture.

Ekev in Deuteronomy 7:12 means “because of,” or “on the heels of.” The biblical story of Jacob and Esau’s birth uses the root word Ekev to describe Jacob having a grasp on the heel of his twin brother as they are being birthed. The three-letter Hebrew root is the same for Ekev as it is for Jacob’s name, Yaakov.

An example we can consider to paint a picture of the meaning of Ekev is lake-effect snow. If you have ever lived near one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan for example, lake-effect snow would definitely be in your vocabulary. This snow occurs when cold air moves over the warmer lake waters, causing evaporation and the formation of narrow snow clouds downwind of the lake. The greater the temperature difference between the air and the water the greater the potential for a lot of snow. The snow comes in on the heel of the wind blowing across the lake. This is not because of the wind being a good thing or the waters being good or bad; it is just a result of existing forces of nature. Something happens because of something that preceded it.

Now that we have an idea of the meaning of Ekev as something or someone coming into our realm because of something or someone else, we should also take a moment to recall some of the highlights of last week's portion. In chapter 5 of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts how the people were fearful of the voice of God speaking out from the fire on the mountain. Moses reminded the people how he stood between the Voice of God and the people who were listening to all the words spoken. The words were instructions and commandments on how to live a life that would be pleasing to the God who delivered them out bondage to the Egyptians. This portion includes the well-known Shema. Many of us can recite this with hardly a thought, which poses the question of our heartfelt intention.

It is as important for each of us today as it was for the people just entering the land to have an understanding of the expectation God has for his people so we can live a life that is pleasing to him. A peaceful life full of blessings not just for ourselves and our families but also for our communities.

Moses continues to remind the people not to forget the God who was there to bring them into the Promised Land. The people weren’t perfect, they complained and even wanted to return to their former place when they were hungry for the food of Egypt. Moses continued to remind the people God delivered them because he loved them and had a plan for them. Again from last week’s portion we read:

Only be watchful and watch over your soul closely, so you do not forget the things your eyes have seen and they slip from your heart all the days of your life. (Deut 4:9)

It will be righteousness to us, if we take care to do all this commandment before Adonai our God, just as he has commanded us. (Deut 4:25)

God did not want the Israelites to forget what they had lived through.  God did not want the Israelites to forget He was with them throughout the 40 year journey.  God did not want the Israelites to forget the manna that fell daily or that their shoes did not wear out.

Like the Israelites, we too must not forget that we cannot build a relationship with God out of our own goodness or our own righteousness. As we read in Paul's letter to the Romans, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us” (5:8).

Our world today encourages us to be motivated by many things, money, career growth, better, bigger, and brighter things, but l want to leave you with this one thing Yeshua said: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. . . .  Whatever you did to the least of these My brethren you did it to Me” (Matt 25:35, 40). Yeshua painted a picture for those who truly loved him then and even today. We who desire his righteousness to live through us will always be willing to lend a helping hand to any and all in need. Out of our surrender renewal is birthed; out of our renewal transformation occurs. It is out of this transformation that our heart-felt worship wafts through the heavens to the throne room and our service is blessed.

Shabbat Shalom!