Parashat Re’eh

Re’eh means “See” -its all about embracing a new vision. This torah portion is taken from Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17.

Its all about a new vision “Today”. God is a wonderful God who speaks every day of our life. He sets before us His promises, His statutes and ordinances. He has given us the choice to accept it for our well being.

He never forces His way . He has always given us the choice to accept His ways .

This Parashat also stresses the importance in worshipping the Lord in the place where He choses. Biblical worship is more about surrender. The place where He chose was most important and folks had to take that journey to go and rejoice before the Lord.

“Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD: And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you”(Deut 12:1112)

Going, giving, rejoicing is God’s action plan for His people. We are stewards of the Lord for whatever He gives us. Its all His and when we forget stewardship, we forfeit the fulness of His blessings.

The Israelites had to give heed that they never ate flesh with blood as life was in the blood. They also had to be generous in their giving. There was a jubilee year where they had to cancel their debts and release the slaves. The poor would always be there in the land and it was the duty of the well off to take care of them.

False prophets were also to be carefully dealt with. There was a possibility that their predictions could come true-yet if they diverted the people to another God, they should never be heeded to.

“Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him”(Proverbs 13:3–4)

God wanted His people to love Him for who He is and not for the pleasantness of situations around them. Falsehood, prosperity, offerings, lifestyle all should be aligned to their knowledge of God.

“Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”(Deut 14:1–2)

This parashat ends with the regulations regarding the observance of the Passover and how they should celebrate Shavuot the Festival of Weeks.

God desires to be in every detail of our life. Our character,convictions,conduct to celebrations