Vayelech - September 11, 2021

Torah Portion:
Vayelech - September 11, 2021
Torah: Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Haftarah: Hosea 14:2(1)-10(9), Micah 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27

Portion Summary:
—Moses’ final farewell to the people.
—The Lord prepares Moses for his death.

Devotional by Janet Cothrell:

“Chazak! Be courageous! Do not be afraid or tremble before them. For ADONAI your God—He is the One who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (TLV)

Here Moses uses his last act as their leader to encourage the people. He’s reminding them to stand in strength of faith and courage before the enemies that they will encounter, and that they are to be a people who rely on God to give them victory.

The term Chazak may be familiar to you if you read Torah or have been following these blogs. At the end of each book, the phrase, “Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazek!” is recited, and given the translation, “Be strong, be strong and be strengthened!” Chazak has meanings of strengthening, hardening, prevailing, being firm or resolute. This term is used mainly in Exodus 13 to describe the hand of the Lord. This would imply that the strength does not come from our own bodies or intestinal fortitude, but from looking to the One who gives us strength.

As we study the Word of God, we must have the tenacity to continue. As we follow the path He has set before us, we will need to draw on His strength to continue to make progress. The phrase at the end of each Torah book repeats the word Chazak three times. Some say this is to signify that He was, He is, and He will be with us, supplying His strength for the road ahead. In light of this: Chazak! Be strengthened!

Lord God,
I thank You for Your unlimited strength and tenacity. I can be weak and want to quit and take what seems an easier path, but I know that without You, every path in this life can become too hard to bear. Infuse me with Your strength so that I may finish, and finish with honor.
In Yeshua’s name, amen.