Parasha Devarim 5785

Me

Parasha Devarim, which means “words” and is the Hebrew name for the Book of Deuteronomy, is the final book of the Torah and opens with Moshe standing before Israel, recounting their wilderness journey with raw honesty and spiritual urgency. This isn’t just a historical review—it’s a prophetic wake-up call. Moshe confronts their failures, reminds them of God’s faithfulness, and lays the groundwork for the covenant renewal that’s coming. He recounts how they turned back in fear at the edge of the Promised Land, choosing doubt over trust. He reminds them of leaders appointed to help bear the burden of governance and justice, and how even in the face of rebellion, God’s mercy preserved the nation. This parasha sets the tone for the rest of Deuteronomy—it’s a call to remember, to repent, and to return. Moshe isn’t interested in sugar-coating the past; he wants Israel to own it, learn from it, and walk forward in faith. Parasha Devarim reminds us: if we forget where we’ve come from, we’re bound to repeat it. But if we root ourselves in the faithfulness of God’s promises, we’ll have the courage to move forward in obedience, no matter what lies ahead.

(Talk about first car accident… And continuing to drive afterward despite the initial fear and concern.)

We

God

Principle: There is nothing of this world for us to fear when our confidence rests in Ad-nai, who goes before us and is our strength.

(Repeat)

Parasha Devarim 5785

Deuteronomy 1:1–2 TLV

1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan—in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Di-Zahab. 2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.

Parasha Devarim 5785

According to the sages of the Mishnah, the seven place-names listed in verse 1 are not landmarks or geographical locations, but rather words of musar (rebuke) by Moses to the people of Israel. That is, instead of detailing their sins outright, he alluded to them with code words:

"In the desert" (בַּמִּדְבָּר) - that is, the time they complained "if only we would have died in the desert" (Exod. 17:3)

"In the plain" (בָּעֲרָבָה) - that is, their most recent sin with the Moabite women (and Ba'al Peor) in the plains of Moab (Num. 25)

“Opposite Suf" (מוֹל סוּף) - that is, the complaint of Israel at the shores of Yam Suf (at the start of the great exodus from Egypt)

"Paran" (פָּארָן) - that is, the Sin of the Spies, who were dispatched from Paran (Num. 13)

"Tofel and Lavan" (תּפֶל וְלָבָן, "libel" and "white") - that is, their libeling the white manna (Num. 21:5)

"Chatzerot" (חֲצֵרת) - that is, where Korach's mutiny against Moses took place

"Di Zahav" - (דִי זָהָב,"too much gold") the sin of the Golden Calf

There are at least six distinct times in the Book of Deuteronomy where God instructs Israel to not be afraid or fear not… Four of those are found in this week’s Parasha alone, and two of them are found in Deuteronomy 31 as leadership of Israel is passed from Moses to Joshua and Israel prepares to cross the Jordan… This is a substantial theme of Devarim as the 2nd Gen is preparing to take procession of their divine inheritance…

All 7 locations of failure on Israel’s part discussed earlier were at least in part due to fear

The latter half of Deuteronomy 1 Moses is setting up the rejection of the Promised Land by the 1st Gen which occurred out of fear…

Deuteronomy 1:19–21 TLV

19 “Then we journeyed from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as Adonai our God commanded us. Then we came to Kadesh-barnea. 20 I said to you: ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which Adonai our God is giving to us. 21 See, Adonai your God has set the land before you—go up, take possession, as Adonai God of your fathers has promised you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.’

Parasha Devarim 5785

Deuteronomy 1:29–33 TLV

29 “Then I said to you, ‘Don’t tremble or be afraid of them. 30 Adonai your God, who goes before you, He Himself will fight for you—just as He did for you in Egypt before your own eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you saw how Adonai your God carried you as a man carries his son, everywhere you went until you came to this place.’ 32 Yet for all this you did not trust in Adonai your God— 33 the One who goes before you on the way to scout out a place for you to camp and to show you the way you should go, in fire by night and in the cloud by day.

Parasha Devarim 5785

In Deuteronomy 3 Moses is reminding the 2nd Gen of HaShem’s victory over Sihon and Og

Deuteronomy 3:1–3 TLV

1 “Next we turned and went up the way to the Bashan. King Og of the Bashan came out against us—he and all his people—for battle at Edrei. 2 But Adonai said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have handed him over and all his people and his land. You will do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.’ 3 “So Adonai our God also handed over King Og of the Bashan and all his people, and we struck him down until no survivor was left.

Parasha Devarim 5785

Deuteronomy 3:21–22 TLV

21 “I commanded Joshua at that time saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that Adonai your God has done to these two kings. Adonai will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to cross into. 22 You must not fear them, for it is Adonai your God who fights for you.’

Parasha Devarim 5785

Principle: There is nothing of this world for us to fear when our confidence rests in Ad-nai, who goes before us and is our strength.

Parasha Devarim 5785

John 14:23–29 TLV

23 Yeshua answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. 25 These things I have spoken to you while dwelling with you. 26 But the Helper, the Ruach ha-Kodesh whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I said to you. 27 “Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give to you; but not as the world gives! Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid. 28 You’ve heard Me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe!

Parasha Devarim 5785

Principle: There is nothing of this world for us to fear when our confidence rests in Ad-nai, who goes before us and is our strength.

Parasha Devarim 5785

Romans 8:31–39 TLV

31 What then shall we say in view of these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? It is Messiah, who died, and moreover was raised, and is now at the right hand of God and who also intercedes for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

Parasha Devarim 5785

(Call worship team back up)

Principle: There is nothing of this world for us to fear when our confidence rests in Ad-nai, who goes before us and is our strength.

Parasha Devarim 5785

You

We

If our worship team will make their way back up to the stage.