In our reading this week we see Moses is still giving his address to the Israelites. Moses begins the Parashat by telling the Israelites God is giving them the choice between blessing and a curse. He then tells them that God will choose a place and put His Name on it. Things are about to change they will no longer worship the way they have in the wilderness. They will no longer be able to offer offerings just anywhere. They will have to offer them at an appointed place and time. They may butcher an animal for food anywhere, but it will not count as an offering. They are then given laws about the animals they can butcher and eat. The Parashat ends with the Festivals of God. They are told they are required to show up in Jerusalem 3 times a year with their offerings. The 3 times a year are Passover, Days of Awe, and Tabernacles. During these Festivals they are to celebrate and eat with their son. Daughters and the Levites.

Here is what I find interesting, God gave the Israelites a Promised Land. In that Promised Land there is a special place for them to meet the Lord. The location they are called to meet the Lord 3 times a year is the very location of the Garden of Eden. In the Garden of Eden God would meet with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. Now they have to meet God 3 times a year. God gave Adam laws about food. God told him he could eat anything except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve eventually disobeyed God. Eve grabbed the fruit and ate it. She then gave the fruit to Adam. They shared the fruit. Now God says you will share the meat of your sacrifice with everyone.

Adam and Eve had an audience with God everyday. Because of their sin the Israelites only get 3 times of year to bring their offerings to the Lord. These are the offering they acquired from the sweat of their brow. That is the curse that God placed on Adam.

Remember how the Parashat began. I am giving you the choice of Blessings or a Curse. Mankind has been living in the curse ever since Adam and Eve sinned. God is now showing us how to reverse the curse. When we obey God’s Word we are obeying Christ. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Word of God. We are making Him the King of our life. He gave His life in exchange for our condemned lives. He is the Tree of Life. Today He is still saying I give you the choice today between Life and Death, Blessing and Curses. What will you chose?