Parashat Ki Tavo
This Torah portion is the penultimate Torah portion from Devarim. This is taken from Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8.
Once they entered the promised land, they had to bring their first fruits to the Temple and tell a story.
“And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.”(Deut 26:9–11)
Blessings without knowing the story behind infuses pride. When we take time to remember and thank, we become truly aware of the goodness and greatness of God.
There are three terms that are important “And now..Miyat..or Immediately…” Simchat ..with joy.. and the farmer brings on “his own-Misheli”.
This was echoed in Paul’s NT teaching.
Do good deeds as you get an opportunity. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”(Gal 6:10)
Secondly do it with joy. Give happily and cheerfully and with passion.“for God loves a cheerful giver.”(2 Cor 9:7)
Not because some one is imposing on me-but on my own.(Misheli)
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,”(2 Cor 9:7)
When we do for God, it not how much we do, but how we do.
This parashat also talks about the Blessings to be pronounced in Mount Gerizim and curses in Mount Ebal. The blessedness of keeping the law is very significant.
This is what happened in Mount Calvary. All the blessings come to us as we receive Christ the Son into our lives.
When any society or system turns their back on God’s word, “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron” (Deut 28:23)
