RE’EH (רְאֵה) — Behold! Choose the Way of Life!
Shabbat Shalom and God bless!
This week’s Torah portion is Re’eh (רְאֵה), meaning “See,” “Look,” or “Behold!”
The name comes from the opening words of Deuteronomy 11:26: “See (Re’eh), I set before you today a blessing and a curse.”
The Hebrew word re’eh is a command. Moses in the book of Deuteronomy is not simply telling the second generation of Israel to glance at something with their physical eyes. He is calling them to perceive spiritually, to discern the reality before them, and to make a choice.
As Israel stands only days away from entering the Promised Land, they must choose to faithfully walk with Him.
Throughout these chapters Moses repeatedly warns Israel about compromise. The land they are entering is filled with idolatry, false worship, and pagan practices. If Israel desires to enjoy God’s blessings, they cannot worship Him however they please. They must worship Him according to His Word.
As we journey today through Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and the Gospel of John, today we’ll see how God sets before His people the true source of life, and each person must decide whether they will receive Him or reject Him.
Today Each reading also confronts us with the same question:
Will we choose the life God offers, or will we continue pursuing the things that cannot truly satisfy?
Today we’ll be reading from:
TORAH: Deuteronomy 12–16.
PROPHETS: Isaiah 53–55:5.
GOSPELS: John 6:22–51.