“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.
Yeshua told us that the second greatest commandment was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” How do we go from loving our neighbors on a theoretical level to a practical level? Exodus 21 doesn’t just show us how people should treat people. It also teaches us how God treats people.
God is going to treat you the same way you treat others. If you abuse people, God will allow abuse to come to you. If you are kind to others, God will be kind to you.
The list of the names of the offspring of Yisrael, f.k.a. Ya’akob (Jacob), can be read as a message about the work of the Messiah if the meanings of the names are strung together.