If the United States of America are in decline as a superpower, it is not the fault of the Communist Chinese, the Russians or the European Union. It is our own fault. The diagnosis and the remedy of this decline are the Torah portion כי תבוא Ki Tavo (“when you come in [to the Land],” Deut. 26:1–29:8).
The Tenth Commandment tells us, “Do not covet…” (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21). Coveting is not a word we often use in the modern English, but when we do use it, we usually define it as desiring someone else’s stuff.
But the Torah passage כי תצא Ki Tetze (“when you go forth,” Deut. 21:10-25:19) teaches us that there’s more at heart than just desire for that brand new car in your neighbor’s garage. We are taught to be content with what we have — especially, our spouse — and not to usurp or seize what’s not ours. Treating others fairly is part of the “Golden Rule,” also known as the “Second Greatest Commandment”: Love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18).
The practical application of the Fifth Commandment to honor one’s mother and father (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16) goes far beyond our parents. In the Torah passage שֹׁפְטִים Shoftim (“judges,” Deut. 16:18–21:9) and via the teachings of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), we learn that this instruction also applies in our we interact with and respect those who have power over us.
Socialism and racism are big topics of today’s society. Does the Bible have anything to say about these issues? Torah reading ראה Re’eh (“see,” Deut. 11:26–16:17) gives us Heaven’s insights into these two important matters.
Torah reading עקב Ekev/Eikev (“consequence,” Deut. 7:12-11:25) us how to keep the first of the 10 Commandments. God is telling the children of Israel to remember Him when they enter the Promised Land. He is bringing them into the Promised Land because of the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Remember the Promised Land; remember the Promise Giver.
It’s good to know God’s commands, but it’s also good to have examples of how those commands were either kept or broken as a lesson for us. The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) give us knowledge, but Deuteronomy has been given to us so we can exercise wisdom in how keeping them.
There’s a lot of misinformation in the Body of the Messiah about the role of God’s Law in “the gospel” — and whether it can or should have any role at all. But in the Torah reading ואתחנן Va’etchanan (“and I pleaded,” Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11), we see that a heart connection between Heaven and Earth is as much a central message of the 10 Commandments given to Israel by Moshe (Moses) as in the Sermon on the Mount given to Israel by Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).
Our legacy — what will outlive us — is our impact on the culture by Heaven’s changing our “heart of stone” that weighs us down to the dead-end deeds of this world into a heart that beats in time with the footsteps of Yeshua.
We live with gravity. Though considered a weak force, between the massive Earth and us on its surface, gravity keeps us grounded, but it can also crush us. In the International Space Station in orbit, astronauts don’t feel gravity, and they need something to grab onto and push off of something. But if you were to go to Jupiter, gravity is so strong, that it would crush humans and kill them instantly.
How much more will “spiritual gravity” (aka “the flesh”) drag us down, age us and crush us unless we morally stand against it?
In the Torah reading דברים Devarim (“words,” Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22), we learn that God wants us to moving forward — rather than going in circles like a stunt driver burning doughnuts on the pavement — repeating the same mistakes. God treasures us and wants us to reach our destination and enter His rest. One day His rest will encompass the entire world and what we learn and practice now is a preparation for that time. God is willing to help us standing against the gravity of our old way of life and help us stand for what is right.