Parashat Devarim

Devarim-means “Words”. Now these are not Words of God, but words of Moses- Moshe Rabeinu(Moses the teacher). By the end of Numbers we think that the life of Moses is over. In the words of Rabbi Sacks- “ By the end of the book of Bamidbar, Moses’ career as a leader would seem to be ending. He had appointed his successor, Joshua, and it would be Joshua, not Moses, who would lead the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land. Moses seemed to have now achieved everything he was destined to achieve. For him there would be no more battles to fight, no more miracles to perform, no more prayers to make on behalf of the people.

It is what Moses did next that bears the mark of greatness. For the final month of his life he stood before the assembled people, and delivered the series of addresses we know as the book of Deuteronomy or Devarim, literally “words.” In these addresses, he reviewed the people’s past and foresaw their future. He gave them laws. Some he had given them before but in a different form. Others were new; he had delayed announcing them until the people were about to enter the land. Linking all these details of law and history into a single overarching vision, he taught the people to see themselves as an am kadosh, a holy people, the only people whose sovereign and lawgiver was God Himself.”

It is also a big transition from the Words of God to Words of Moses. It reflects the desire of heaven to partner with man. Moses sees an entire new generation of people. All those who started the travel with him died, except Joshua and Caleb. It seems, to clarify the Torah to this new generation, he took time to explain it to everyone. This is also called as Mishnei torah or Revised torah and thats where Deuteronomy (Second Law).

The words spoke by Moses in those locations -Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. These are the places where all of Israel’s rebellion took place.

As a leader, he encouraged the people to move forward- They were never to be discouraged. “Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.”(Deut 1:21)”

God was faithful even to Edomites and Ammonites. Israel was asked not to take any of their territories. Did they deserve that. Yet being with Abraham and the family was enough for them to get their inheritance from the Lord.

God delights to partner with you. Be a source of Blessing! Keep the Laws of the Lord and talk it to the generations.