“Hear, O Israel”: The Shema’s call to hear the words of the LORD and obey them resonates with both the ancient Israelites and modern believers in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). This study of Torah reading עקב Ekev/Eykev (“because,” Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25) underscores the need for humility, reverence and trust in God’s promises over assuming Heaven is blessing based on our righteousness.
Some have disregarded that at the time of Yeshua the Messiah’s (Jesus the Christ’s) earthly ministry and in modern times that Israel had anything to do with Bible prophecy, citing the perceived failings of the people in trusting God.
But as we see in this week’s Torah reading — Ekev or Eikev (“consequence”), Deut. 7:12-11:25 — God is faithful to His promises. We should be grateful for God’s mercy and bigger plans for our lives. Find out more through these Bible studies on this passage.
Here’s a key point in Moshe’s talk with the second generation of Israel freed from Mitzraim (Egypt), as recorded in עקב Ekev/Eikev (“consequence,” Deut. 7:12-11:25): Teach the next generation how to be righteous, or they will slip into sin and corruption.
Discover how this is fundamental to Heaven’s mission through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), that the righteousness of One can save the many who have suffered since the sin of one, Adam.
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.
Whether we’re secular or religious, we all worship something. What does it mean to worship or not worship?
The Torah reading עקב Ekev or Eikev (“consequence,” “because,” Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) focuses on an elaboration of the First and Second of the Ten Commandments.
The lessons in Ekev also teach us that Heaven’s blessings come with a condition: Listen to God; observe and follow. Some will say that salvation doesn’t come from obedience, but the lesson in Ekev is more about building the relationship with Heaven than forming it. Discover how.
Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) gave three answers to HaSatan (the devil) after His 40 days in the wilderness. What was Yeshua trying to say with, “Man should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4)? In His refutations of HaSatan while being tempted, Yeshua quoted heavily from the Torah reading עקב Ekev/Eikev (“consequence,” Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25.
What did Yeshua want His disciples to learn from this account, recorded in Matthew 4:1–11? Anytime Yeshua cited scripture, He seemed to referred to the entire context of that verse, not merely the verse itself. Yeshua’s apostles taught in the same manner. They cited a reference, expecting their disciples to go to scripture and read it in context.
When Yeshua confronted HaSatan, He pulled from much of Ekev, not just the small snippets He quoted.
We are seeing the heart of God in the book of Deuteronomy. He makes promises and follows through with them. There are those who believe that the foundation of the modern state of Israel has nothing to do with God, because the current state of Israel is largely a secular state. But what does it mean about the LORD’s promises if He were to turn them off like a light switch? What would that mean for another great promise from the LORD, the grace given us through Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ)?
Continuing with the explanation of the First Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:1–11:32), the instructions in the Torah reading עקב Ekev or Eikev (“consequence,” Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) covers the following: Follow the LORD rather than the nations (Deuteronomy 7:1–26). Do not forget the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 8:1–20). Do not boast in your own righteousness (Deuteronomy 9:1–10:11). Fear the LORD (Deuteronomy 10:12–22). Keep the commands of the LORD (Deuteronomy 11:1–32).