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The International Mezuzah
Ki Tavo "When you come in"
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Isaiah 60:1-22
Psalm 51
Revelation 21:1-12
Photo of large uncut stone mezuzah at the entrance to Jacob and Leah's tomb in Hebron. Photo by H. Alewine.
Ki Tavo means "When you come in... [to the Land of Israel]." The root word, bo, means to come or go, depending upon context. As with Ki Tetzei, the First Mention of Ki Tavo is found in the Creation. The context of the first two mentions of bo is the search for a suitable bride:
"I will make him a helper suitable [עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדֹּֽו] for him. Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought [yavo] them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man calleda living creature, that was its name." (Ge 2:19)
"The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought [va-yevi-eh-ha] her to the man." (Ge 2:22)
The context of Ki Tavo is "When you enter the Land..." In a sense, the Land of Israel and Israel are "suitable mates." One was taken from the other. Adam was taken from the adamah...the sages say from the very earth of the Temple Mount. Eve's first name, Ishah, is taken from ish, man. None of the animals were suitable for Adam, and he understands this after he calls each of them by their particular essence, their names. Only in Ishah does he recognize that there is a helper suitable for him.
Ishah was "built" by Elohim to be an ezer kenegdo, a "helper against him." While having someone against you may not sound very helpful, this is the Divine hard-wiring of the female. The ceremony of blessing and cursing on Mounts Gerizim and Ebal demonstrate how.
When mankind departs from the "way" of Elohim, the Spirit opposes him, is against him [neged], and he walks to the curse side of the mountain from the mountain of blessing. When he walks in, or "goes in" in the way, she is a help and blessing to him. A perfect mate and companion. The "curse mountain" is unsuitable to "go in" the Land of Israel. The Father needed to demonstrate to Israel in a memorable way what made them suitable companions for His Land. The mountains of blessing and cursing were like an "ezer kenegdo," demonstrating help in blessing and opposition in cursing. This would remind Israel to remain on the path of faithfulness.
If one embraces the commandments, he necessarily turns his back on rebellion against the Word that lies in cursing. If he embraces rebellion against the commandments, then he turns his back on the mountain of blessings that lie in obedience, serving Adonai with "joy and gladness." One mountain is a holy marriage; the other is adultery with a beast, calling one's self by the name of an animal...desiring compatibility with beastly behavior.
Perhaps this is why Yeshua often calls righteous women "Woman," or Ishah. He calls her name as at the Creation, pointing out her restoration and compatibility with the Word and the Land, the physical representation of the Garden hovering just above. The women in Yeshua's life loved, cared for, and followed the Living Word. For this reason, he comforts Mary in the Garden after his resurrection. He calls her by righteous name. "Miriam." She was "from" Yeshua, the Word, and now she stood with him in life in what she'd thought was a garden of death.
Deuteronomy 28:6 explains the many un-hewn rocks that symbolize this relationship of compatibility with the Land of Israel:
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
A mezuzah marks the doorpost of a home that observes the commandments. It is customary to touch it and kiss one's fingers as a sign of honor for the Word of Adonai. It is a gesture of love for the Word, which is the family's constant companion when they come in and go out of their home. It is not just a sign to the family; it is a sign to anyone passing their home. It sends a message to all: "This is the Word we live by. We are compatible with it. If you come in here, expect to obey the same Word. Don't presume to bring in your own set of rules to this home. Come in here to learn, share, and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with gladness and joy."
There are multiple actions at this point in the Torah narrative that involve stones. You can join our livestream on Shabbat at 1:20 pm Eastern for a discussion of the stones' journey with Joshua, but in Ki Tavo, Moses has the stones of witness set up on the eastern side of the Jordan in Moab. By placing them at the entrance to the Land of Israel, the uncut stones send a similar message as a mezuzah on an Israelite home.
The stones are not shaped with a man's hand or tool. They remain exactly as Elohim created them, eternal witnesses to His Word. Unchanging. It is people who must change, not His Word:
Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, "Keep all the commandments which I command you today. So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you."
The Torah is written on the stones clearly, and tradition tells us that the words were written in the 70 languages of the nations as both a warning and an invitation. If they presumed to enter the Land of Israel as a stranger, then they would be expected to obey one law, one Torah, for both the native-born Israelite as well as the stranger. Once they realized what a wise and wonderful Elohim the Israelites served, how could the strangers not desire to serve Him also?
The text implies a deeper meaning to entering the Land, though. It is a given that Israel is entering the physical Land of Israel. Why do they need this international mezuzah "to enter"? There is more to "When you go in..." than meets the natural eye. The Garden of Eden hovers just above Israel. The Israelites were to place the international mezuzah at the doorway to Israel to remind themselves and the nations of the ultimate goal of Israel. They were to be a light to the nations, to guide the way back home with the Light and Lamp of the Word.
Moses gives the clue when three times in the Torah portion he calls Israel a "land flowing with milk and honey." Based on the Song of Songs, the sages identify what flows through the four rivers of Eden: milk, honey, wine, and balsam. Moses is reminding Israel of the higher spiritual calling in their name and the Name that is called upon them.
Calling all compatible human beings...don't be a stranger to the Garden!
We will explore the international mezuzah and more incredible connections in the Shabbat livestream. Also,
THE LIVE STREAM ON SHABBAT WILL BE EARLIER
due to teaching at our local congregation.
Bli neder, we'll live stream on Shabbat at approximately at 1:20 pm Eastern Time. Click Creation Gospel YouTube Channel to join the live stream on Shabbat.
The Torah portions on YouTube:
Extra study opportunities at no cost to you:
We are posting older class videos of Torah portions on YouTube. Click here to view the many Playlists available for free viewing. Did you know that you can access previous newsletter teachings? The archive is updated monthly. Newsletter Archives
Passover in Israel
The COVID restrictions have forced us to cancel the Sukkot tour, but we're restructuring for Passover 2021. Those who have registered can receive a refund of their deposits or apply it toward Passover.
LaMalah Children's Centre
The children at LaMalah are doing well and growing, according to Brother Ndungu. One young lady, Zipporah, will begin a two-year course to earn a Certificate In Community Health Assistant at Rachuonyo Campus of Kenya Medical Training College. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, she will begin with online classes, then report to campus when operations return to normal.
We were able to disburse the Fourth Quarter funds this week along with funds for the community to gather in Limuru for Sukkot.
If you would like to donate to the Kenyan LaMalah Children's Centre through The Creation Gospel, click on the Donate link below. It will say The Olive Branch Messianic Congregation on your receipt. Our local congregation is the non-profit covering for our ministry. Checks or money orders may be sent to:
The Creation Gospel
PO Box 846
East Bernstadt, KY 40729
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