Reflection for V’yeilekh
“Strong and Courageous,
Never Forsaken”
Hebrews 13:5-8
excerpted from TorahScope Apostolic Scriptures Reflections
In most years, the previous Torah portion Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9[10]-30:20), is read along with the rather short V’yeilekh (Deuteronomy 31:1-30). I think because Deuteronomy 31 contains a specific admonition, which is repeated and carried through much of the rest of Scripture, that it is good for us to target our attention on V’yeilekh. Here, what piques our attention is how Moses spoke to the Ancient Israelites, exhorting them that the Holy One would never leave or forsake them:
“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, WMB).
One specific place, where Deuteronomy 31:6 is appealed to, is in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Its author reminded the audience how God is faithful toward His people, and that they should be content with what they have:
“Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you’ [Deuteronomy 31:6]. So that with good courage we say, ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me [Psalm 118:6]?’ Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith. Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:5-8, WMB).
Here we see an amplification of Moses’ word that God would never desert or forsake His people. Yet, a comment about being free from the love of money (Grk. aphilarguros), prefaced what is seen in Hebrews. Too frequently, we as Believers think that the Lord has forgotten about us when our finances are not where we think they need to be. But no one ever said that the life of a Believer is necessarily a rich one. In the estimation of the Apostle Paul, “But having food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8, WMB). Food, clothing, and shelter are the basic needs which we are essentially guaranteed for life on Earth. Everything else is a bonus!
You may be reminded of how Yeshua the Messiah spoke about how a person is only able to serve one of two masters. Each of us has to make the decision of whether we are going to serve the Lord or serve money:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon” (Matthew 6:24, WMB).
In this current season of reflection, it might be beneficial for you to analyze some of your thoughts. Inspect your heart to determine if you are primarily depending on your human abilities, rather than on the provision of our Heavenly Father. In this day and age with all of its uncertainties, some of us really do need to remember that the Lord will never leave or forsake us! However, some of us may need to be soberly reminded that each of us has the potential to leave and depart from Him—especially if we are deluded to think that our mortal abilities, talents, and gifts are what ultimately provide us with material “salvation.” The right mindset is one which simply desires to turn toward Him, so that we might commune with Him.
During this Fall high holiday season, I would encourage you to be honest with yourself, and think about where you might presently stand before the Lord, as you depend upon Him for all things. Do you have any unresolved conflicts which need to be straightened out? I would submit that a part of being strong and courageous, is being able to look into your own heart, and make decisions and choices which will draw you closer to Him. Make sure that your desire, to know Him and His ways, grows moment by moment, so that everything you do is to the glory of God! As Paul once explained it,
“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11, WMB).
Being committed to knowing the Messiah Yeshua, the power of His resurrection, the suffering He endured for you, and being conformed to His death—will all enable you to really understand the great magnitude of the love of God for humanity (cf. Ephesians 3:17-19). Be strong and courageous in your walk with the Lord, knowing that He will never leave you!
