Torah – Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 Haftarah – Isaiah 49:14-51 Brit Chadashah – Hebrews 11:8-13; Romans 8:31-39
This week’s parasha is pretty exciting. I love the timing of it. All of these parashot are, of course, Divinely inspired and correlate to specific windows of opportunity that are more accessible than any other time.
In this study, as in the last couple studies, Moses is preparing the Israelites to enter into the Promised Land at the same time he, (Moses) is preparing to enter the world to come. A strong theme that is present is remembering. Moses is, of course, reminding the people of the Mitzvah (Commands) of HaShem. It is important as we prepare to face new journeys in life along with all the challenges that are sure to come as well, that we take time to look back over the wonderful goodness of ADONAI. It is the memories of these amazing events in our lives that helps to inspire and encourage us as we face new challenges. We are reminded of just how big and mighty our G-d is. It is this process of remembering that can offer us the boost we need.
But as I studied the above verses, I noticed something that really begged to be shared. This time around I want to share with you the “TRUE” prosperity Gospel!
Oh no! Before you quit reading this, I must say it is NOT what you have been told. The problem with the prosperity gospel as taught by far too many wolves in sheeps clothing today is that it is naturally missing the main point.
The enemy is so clever. He knows he can’t just outright lie to us and get away with it. He gives us just enough truth so that it “seems right” and then he peppers in just enough lie to make it deadly!
Deuteronomy 7:12-15, “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the L-RD your G-d will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. 13 “And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. 14 “You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. 15 “And the L-RD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay [them] on all those who hate you.”
There it is! This is the blueprint, if you will, from G-d on how we can experience true prosperity. You will notice first that it begins with a promise. “It SHALL.” In other words, this is not a maybe kind of thing, it is a sure thing. If we hear and DO His Commands, then we will experience blessing in every area of our lives. We will have all the food, clothing and commerce we can handle. We will be blessed in our families in terms of having many children. We will be healthy, not experiencing any of the curses that the pagans suffered. Of course, there is one tremendous difference from this version of the prosperity goodness than you have likely ever heard before.
Most of those wolves I mentioned earlier tell you that in order to get access to this magnitude of blessing we have to first give monetary donations into their “anointed” ministries. THEN, they say, all these blessings come. The problem is that this simply is NOT the Word of G-d!