Introduction
In life’s busy rhythms, we often need a moment of Selah—a spiritual pause or rest to breathe in and truly listen. Just as musical rests are essential to a symphony, silence and stillness allow us to perceive what God is doing in our hearts.
In this week's message on the Torah portion Re'eh (Hebrew for "See," beginning in Deuteronomy 11:26), we are invited to look beyond the surface of the natural world and see into the spiritual realm. Before us lies a clear choice: the way of blessing or the way of cursing.
1. Seeing and Hearing: The Two Paths
Torah portion Re'eh opens with God placing a choice directly before the people of Israel:
"See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse: The blessing, that you hearken to the commandments of Hashem your God... and the curse, if you do not listen..." (Deuteronomy 11:26–28)
This passage engages two key spiritual senses—seeing and hearing:
Hearing (Shema) means listening attentively to perceive who God is and what He desires for our lives.
Seeing (Re'eh) calls for spiritual sight beyond physical appearance, guided by the Spirit of God.
This message directly connects with the words of Messiah regarding the two ways: entering through the narrow gate versus following the crowd down the broad road. Many flock to the wide road and the mountain of cursing through negative words, compromises, and self-defeating patterns. However, believers are urged to choose the narrow gate—the path of obedience and life.
2. Crossing the Jordan: From Judgment to Rest
Deuteronomy 11:31 reminds the people: "For you are crossing the Jordan to come and possess the land that Hashem your God gives you... and you shall settle in it."
The River of Judgment: The name Jordan signifies flowing down out of judgment. Crossing over requires self-examination and facing spiritual battles to enter the promise.
Settling in Rest: To "settle" in the land means to rest or experience Shabbat within God’s promises.
While the weekly Sabbath gives us a designated sanctuary in time, it also serves as weekly practice for daily living. Every day of the week, believers are called to walk in community, love one another, lift each other up, and abide in divine rest despite trials or difficult circumstances.
3. Guarding Sacred Worship and Rejecting Idolatry
A major theme in Re'eh is the total elimination of idolatry. Israel was instructed to tear down pagan altars, smash sacred pillars, and obliterate idolatrous names from the land.
Modern Idolatry: Idolatry is anything that comes between us and God—whether status, wealth, or subtle besetting sins.
Uncompromising Word: God commands, "The entire word that I command you... you shall do it all and don't subtract from it" (Deuteronomy 13:1). This warning echoes the Book of Revelation against adding to or taking away from God's truth.
Testing Spirits: In a world filled with false messages, 1 John 4 instructs us to test the spirits to discern whether they acknowledge Messiah Yeshua coming in the flesh, rejecting any substitute teachings.
4. Living as a Holy Priesthood
Believers are called to look and live differently from the world around them:
Living Stones: As 1 Peter 2 outlines, believers are living stones built into a spiritual house and a royal priesthood.
No Room for Shame: Those who anchor themselves on the Chief Cornerstone will never be put to shame.
A People set Apart: Once we were not a people, but now we are the subjects of God's infinite mercy, called out of darkness to declare His praise.
5. The Pilgrimage Feasts: A Prophetic Timeline
The sermon concludes by highlighting the three central pilgrimage festivals detailed at the end of the Torah portion:
Unleavened Bread (Matzot): Seven days of putting away leaven and keeping the commandments (mitzvot) on our lips.
Weeks (Shavuot): Counting seven weeks (50 days) after Passover, celebrating both the giving of the Torah and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Tabernacles (Sukkot): The seven-day fall feast pointing forward to the final harvest, when the Bridegroom returns to dwell with His bride in the great heavenly shelter (sukkah).
Conclusion
We live in a time where creation groans, waiting for the manifestation of God's kingdom. As we learn to recognize the Master's voice with greater clarity, let us step through the narrow gate, walk continuously in His Sabbath rest, and choose the path of blessing each day.