September 21, 2024: Parashah Torah Portion Ki Tavo - “When You Go In”

Shabbat: September 20th, 2024 at sunset until September 21st, 2024 at sunset.

Scriptures:

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Haftarah (Prophets): Isaiah 60:1-22

Brit Hadashah (New Covenant): Ephesians 1:3-6, Revelation 21:10-27

Restore Israel Team: Elihana Elia, Dr. Hadassah Elia & Devorah Silva

"When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there." Deuteronomy 26:1-2

In this week’s portion, Moses concludes the legal section of his message to the people by first ordaining that the first fruits of the crops (called “Bikkurim”) be brought to the priests in a prescribed manner.

To fulfill this commandment, each Jewish farmer was required to travel to the Sanctuary with the best samples of his new crops to present before the altar. He would then recite a brief history of the Jewish people concerning Jacob’s wanderings, the experience of slavery in Egypt, the great Exodus, and their present possession of the promised land.

When he would finish, he would then sacrifice peace offerings to celebrate God’s provision with his family and friends.

According to Jewish tradition, the First Fruits of the Crops referred particularly to Shivat Ha'Minim (the seven species of fruits) of the Promised Land: Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (Deut. 8:8).

As soon as a Jewish farmer saw the first sign of ripening fruit in his field or orchard, he would tie a string or reed around it and designate it as Bikkurim בכּוּרים. Later he would pick the best samples from these fruits, put them in a basket woven of gold and silver (the poor used wicker baskets of peeled willow branches) and set off for the Mishkan (Temple), in Jerusalem to present his offering at the Sanctuary.

Technically speaking, the "Season of Bikkurum" began after the holiday of Shavuot, in late spring, and indeed Shavuot is sometimes called Chag Ha'Bikkurim - The "Festival of First Fruits."

Bikkurim were associated with the harvest season, though they could be presented throughout the summer, until the time of Sukkot (fall harvest).

The Formal Declaration:

At the Mishkan (Temple), each family would present the basket of first fruits to a Kohen (Priest) that would be waved in seven directions (tenufah) and then placed before the altar.

The following passage would then be recited (first by the priest, and then repeated by those presenting their offering):

5 “And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6 And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. 7 Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror,[a] with signs and wonders. 9 And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God. 11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you." Deuteronomy 26:5-11

It's in times like these that we need to look back and remember, reflecting on all that the LORD has done on our behalf, how He has heard our cry for help, how He has provided and brought forth victories and breakthroughs in our lives!

It's important to write down the blessings, the miracles, the amazing answers to prayers that YHWH has done in our own lives, so that we do not forget His goodness and kindness towards us!

When we reflect on these things, it motivates us and encourages us to keep going, to trust the LORD in deeper levels, to surrender in ways we have not done before, causing our faith to increase!

And just like the LORD required His people, during this time of offering the basket of first fruits, to recount out loud the history of where they came from and how they got to where they currently are at now, speaks of the importance of implementing this kind of exercise in our own lives, in order to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude unto our God, for the awesome deeds He has done on our behalf!

This puts things into proper perspective, so that we do not allow the enemy a foothold in our lives by causing us to only focus on ourselves, or on the negative, the challenges and difficulties, or deceive ourselves into thinking that we built our own lives of success ourselves! All of these scenarios can cause our hearts to become hardened with pride.

Instead, YHWH commands us to be diligent in obeying His Commandments, so that we don't fall into the traps of the enemy, who is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour!

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves." James 1:22

In this season of the 40 Days of Teshuvah, in this month of Elul (אלּול) we are called to prepare our hearts for the Yamim Nora'im - The "Days of Awe," by getting our spiritual house in order.

During this time we make additional effort to repent, or "turn [shuv] toward God." In Jewish tradition, these 40 days are sometimes called Yemei Ratzon (יְמיֵ רצָוןֹ) - "Days of Favor," since it was during this time that the LORD forgave the Jewish nation after the sin of the Golden Calf.

"11Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell, 13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

15He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint. 16He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper.

17You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” 18But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.

19If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. 20Like the nations that the LORD has destroyed before you, so you will perish if you do not obey the LORD your God." Deuteronomy 8:11-20

Amen and Amen!