Parsha “Ki Tavo” (Deuteronomy 26:1 thru 29:8) is the most well-known collection of “blessings and cursings” in the Bible.
There is, of course, much more. But this year, there’s an additional twist as well. Having taught this for a number of years at this point, and noting just how relevant – and DESERVED – those curses are, it time for a different take. After all, if it’s not obvious by now how and why those curses apply, it’s fair to ask: Just what is it gonna take?
The Erev Shabbat overview begins with something that might seem quite different from how this one ends…what does ‘first fruits,’ and things that have to with His appointed times, have to do with blessings and cursings?
But it’s no coincidence this parsha coincides with the coming of the Fall Feasts, and all they represent.
The Sabbath midrash is a look at the question that should especially resonate this year: The reasons for the curses should be obvious, but will not be to far too many. And Deuteronomy 27:26 is why! Doesn’t it tell those who deny His Word exactly what the consequences are?
The curses are deserved, arguably even overdue; but YHVH is patient, to give all who will a chance to ‘return’ to Him. The question for those with eyes to see then becomes, what do we do now? And Mark Call, of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship, suggests the answer is in there, repeatedly.
It starts with “fear not!” – but it turns out that there is more than one Hebrew word for “fear,” and the difference is vital to the second part of the answer, especially for the time of Sukkot: REJOICE!
“Ki Tavo: So – the Well-Deserved Curses are Here…NOW What?”
The combined two-part teaching is here:
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