In this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion) God commands the children of Israel to bring the firstfruits of the produce of the Land and rejoice before Him (Deut. 26:1-11).
These first eleven verses of the Parasha contain very specific instructions for the Israelites when they enter into the Land of Promise. God commands them to take some of the firstfruits of the produce of the Land and bring it in a basket to a specific place, which God would place His name. This specific place which would eventually be Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 23:25 & 2 Chronicles 7:11-16). The fruit is to be given to the priest and shared with the Levite and the alien.
Why are the firstfruits to be shared with the alien?
Because the Israelite is to remember, that his father “was once a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and sojourned there…” (vs. 5) The Jewish people were once aliens and they must always remember to treat the alien with kindness.
The Israelites are also commanded to bring the tithe of the third year, which is to be given to the Levite, orphan, & widow (Deut. 26:12). Then there is a set prayer that they are to recite (Deut. 26:13-15). Set prayers are something that religious Jews do well. The Jewish prayer book (The Siddur) is filled with set prayers to pray in the morning, afternoon and evening. There are also prayer books for the Sabbath and various holidays.
In this particular prayer Jews are to remind God that they have fulfilled the command of the tithe. They are to declare their obedience and that they have not transgressed God’s commandment. There is a confirmation here of total obedience to all that God has required. After this lengthy statement of obedience there is a petition for God to bless His people Israel and the ground which He has given to them, a land flowing with milk and honey (Deut. 26:13-15).
This command of bringing firstfruits of our produce and a tithe to God combines several principles that we can and should apply to our lives today.
-
Obedience – Obedience to God’s Word is the foundation of our faith in God. We must seek to understand God’s Word for ourselves and appropriate it in our lives as much as we are able in the days in which we live.
-
Remember – In remembering the past we recall our former state and our humble beginnings. We also remember the promises of God and how He has fulfilled His promises to us. We remember the miracles that He has performed and the way God has shown His power in our lives, especially bringing us out of the kingdom of darkness and into His marvelous Kingdom of Light!
-
Giving to God – In bringing our tithe to God we remember our source of blessing. We remember that we are not the source of provision and blessing but He is!
-
Generosity – God is very clear to share our abundance with those who minister before Him, with the alien, with the orphan, and with the widow. We are to be generous with others as God is generous with us.
-
Rejoice – Our giving is not to be grugingly but with joy (Deut. 26:11 & 2 Corinthians 9:7)
-
Petition – God is a loving Father who delights in His children. As we walk in step with Him and in obedience to His commands we will make requests of Him and He will hear us (Deut. 26:13-15; John 14:13-15).
Walking according to God’s ways will always lead to blessing! Let us be quick to obey God’s Word, be generous with the blessings that He has given us, and rejoice before God continually!
-
“Rejoice in the Lord always…” “…make your requests known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Yeshua the Messiah!” (Philippians 4:4-7)
-
“Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
Shabbat Shalom!
Torah Reading: Deut. 26:1 – Deut. 29:9
Haftarah Reading: Isaiah 60
Return to Torah Portion Homepage