Torah Portion Behar/On The Mountain & Bechukotai/In My Decrees

 Leviticus 25:1-27:34; Jeremiah 16:19-17:14; Galatians

We are walking in today:  Torah Portion Behar/On The Mountain & Bechukotai/In My Decrees

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We have been given a double portion this morning, Fiveamprayer.  Each portion is named from the beginning words from that portion.  Here in Behar, on the mountain we have the directions that Moses received from Yahweh that the children of Israel are to follow once they came into the land that was promised to them.  To observe Sabbath year.  Every 7th year was to be a Sabbath rest for the land.  They could all freely eat of what grew of its own in the 7th year but they were not to plant nor bring in harvest in the 7th year.  Yahweh would make certain that they would have enough to eat without planting.  This is a action of trust. these are agricultural people.  They would not expect a crop to spring up without the land being tended to, planted and cared for. Yet this is what Adonai, their God instructs them to do.  Then after counting 7 Sabbath years the children of Israel were to go in the Jubilee season on the day of Atonement--a time of liberty throughout all the land and its inhabitants.  They could all eat freely of the land--they were not to sow nor gather up what grew on its own.  The property that was purchased now returned to the original owner.  The price of the land was based on the years until the Jubilee--they are warned not to cheat each other due to the years left until the Jubilee.  They were to set fair prices so that they will do well in the land that He is giving them.  There is the specific admonishment that the land is never to be sold permanently to anyone, for it is Yahweh's land and He is the one that is giving it to the children of Israel, that they must provide redemption for the land.  There is provision for the brothers who may become poor and they sell themselves into slavery, they are to be redeemed and not allowed to remain in the property of foreign people. If they sell themselves to a wealthier brother they are to be treated as hired servants and will go free in the year of Jubilee. 
With the other directions of how to manage slaves from the surrounding nations, we come to the second of our double portion--Bechukotai.  Here we have His decrees that gives the outcome of obedience.  The children of Israel will have the rains in the proper seasons, all the crops will yield at the proper times and there will not be any gap in the provision--for He will deal bountifully with His people!  For keeping His sabbaths and not setting up idols nor following after foreign gods.  This obedience also results in their enemies being unsuccessful in coming upon them.  The Israelites will be in peace and have victory over every enemy that attempts an attack.  But we must not stop there, what happens in disobedience?  Terror, diseases, all that is planted is eaten by their enemies, being ruled by those who hate them and running when no one is chasing them are the results of not upholding His directions, for considering them unworthy to obey.  The total disregard of the laws and statues of Yahweh yields the people being in a position of disregard by Him!  The pleas for help from enemies, the seeking out crops for the family provision and livelihood are all to naught.  This lets us know that like the children of Israel in those days, like today we can choose to follow His instructions for our wellbeing and benefit--not only for us but the whole community!  We have in the first portion that we are to buy back the land of our brothers or even our brothers ourselves that they would not remain in financial bondage.  The counting up to Jubilee afforded the standard for land prices and other items of purchase until it was returned to the original owner but never sold permanatly out of their hands for the land was given to them and Yahweh is the true land lord.  Click here to hear this again.