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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 27-28: Blessings and Curses before entering the Land

These two chapters are very heavy and they record far more curses than blessings. The previous chapters we covered tell us how God expects to treat one another and today’s chapters show us how God will either reward or punish the people depending on how well they put His words into practice.

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Appointments With God Tabernacles

Blessings of the statutes and judgments

Moses’ final words about the “statutes and judgements” have a particular significance for us during Sukkot. There are no amendments to the statutes of God. And we aren’t allowed change or alter God’s judgements. We should read them not to challenge them but to understand them, wrestle with them and apply them to our lives.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 49:22–33 — Ya’akov blesses his 12 sons — Ben-Yamin and Yosef; Ya’akov dies

We read the prophesies of the last days given to Joseph and Benjamin by Israel, their father. He also gives the final instructions for his burial. He wanted to be buried with his father and grandfather.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 49:16–21 — blessings for Dan, Gad, Naphtali, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin

We finish this chapter discussing the prophesies related to Dan, Naphtali, Asher, Yosef (Joseph) and Ben-Yamin (Benjamin). If we look at these prophesies as only relevant to the sons of Ya’akov (Jacob), we are missing out on the messianic significance of every one of these prophesies.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 49:1-12 — blessings for Reuben, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah

Many people who read Genesis 49 believe that the prophesies Israel gave to his 12 sons were only about their or their immediate descendants. This is not the case. These prophesies encompass our prophetic future and those of our descendants all the way to the very end of time.

Today’s talk focuses on the prophesies given to Israel’s first four sons, culminating with his fourth son, Yehudah (Judah). All 4 of these sons were sons of Leah, the daughter of Laban as well, which gives us an additional insight as well.