This Week’s Torah Portion: Eikev – עֵקֶב (Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25)
Why did God choose the people of Israel? Are we special? Better? Wiser? Mightier?
The answer is NO. We are not better than any other Nation, as God explains it to Moses:
“Yet it was to your ancestors that Adonai our God was drawn (Lusted in the original Hebrew) in love for them, so that God chose you, their lineal descendants, from among all peoples—as is now the case” (Deuteronomy 10:15).
God fell in love with our ancestors, and love is a mystery, it does not always make sense. God explains that Israel is smaller than other Nations, and not that great, however, God has a crush on us, so we are chosen.
Parsha Eikev Torah Summary:
Moses tells the Israelites that if they follow God’s laws, the nations who now dwell across the Jordan River will not harm them. (7:12–26)
Moses reminds the people of the virtues of keeping God’s commandments. He also tells them that they will dispossess those who now live in the Land only because they are idolatrous, not because the Israelites are uncommonly virtuous. Thereupon, Moses reviews all of the trespasses of the Israelites against God. (8:1–10:11)
Moses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and honey if the people obey God’s commandments and teach them to their children. (10:12–11:25)
Eikev
Why did God choose the people of Israel? Are we special? Better? Wiser? Mightier?
The answer is NO. We are not better than any other Nation, as God explains it to Moses:
“Yet it was to your ancestors that Adonai our God was drawn (Lusted in the original Hebrew) in love for them, so that God chose you, their lineal descendants, from among all peoples—as is now the case” (Deuteronomy 10:15).
God fell in love with our ancestors, and love is a mystery, it does not always make sense. God explains that Israel is smaller than other Nations, and not that great, however God has a crush on us, so we are chosen. Eikev