This week’s Parashat Moses is still giving his final words to the Nation before God takes him home. Moses is giving more laws for the people. He has 2 declarations for the people to make once they enter the land. One is for the Nation as a whole where they say the Blessings and the Curses from 2 mountains. The other is for the individual when they bring their offerings before the Lord.
There are 12 Curses that Moses mentions such as making an idol and worshiping it in secret. Leading the blind astray. Moving your neighbor’s boundary marker. Dishonoring mother and father. He also mentions all kinds of sexual sins. What do all of these curses have in common? They are all done in secret. God takes the people and places them on 2 mountains where they say the blessings and the curses. Everything on the mountain is exposed. It can be seen from miles around. As they say the blessings and curse God is revealing to them He sees everything.
Moses gives instruction about bringing a tithe (1 tenth) of what the Lord has provided. Once a year the farmer is to bring in his offering of the tithe and say this declaration:
Duet 26:5-10
““You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation. When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves, we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! And now, O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the Lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him.”
Why does the farmer have to make this declaration the answer is in Genesis 28. Let me set the scene for you. Jacob had taken Esau’s birth right and his blessing. Rebecca came to Isaac and told him to send Jacob to her family to find a wife in order to protect him from Esau. Jacob leaves has his dream at Bethel and makes this vow:
Genesis 28:20-22
“Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.””
Jacob never honored this vow. Look at the conditions he placed on God. God kept him safe. God gave him food and clothes. However Jacob never made it safely back to his father’s house. Moses tells the people when you enter the land promised to your forefathers, you now have to honor your forefather’s vow. Jacob’s words caused the Nation of Israel to be bound to his vow. They are still bound by it today. The words you speak have more power than you know. Proverbs tells us even a foolish man appears wise when he keeps his mouth shut. I implore you as we transition from 5782 to 5783, watch the words that come out of your mouth. 5782 the year you build your house with your mouth. 5783 is the year the foot (movement/action) gets behind your mouth. Or it can be the year you put your foot in your mouth. Every word you speak creates something. Uncle Ben was right with great power comes great responsibility. Your words are power and you are responsible for what they create.
