בס”ד

Parashat Ki Tavo (When you come) Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22

This week’s prophetic reading opens with the words, “Arise and Shine! For your light has come.“ This passage should be understood as Messianic in nature. It is not only the Glory of G-d which is returning, but the coming of Messiah Himself in order to establish the Kingdom. It is important to notice that the illumination of the Kingdom will not only impact the Jewish nation, but also bring about a great change among all nations,

“The nations shall go to your light…” Isaiah 60:3

There is a debate among the scholars as to whom the phrase “to your light” refers. Some believe it is the Jewish people who will be so impacted by the redemption that Messiah will bring, that it will be at this time that Israel will fulfill her calling to be a “light to the nations“. Other scholars believe it to be the Messiah Himself. The confusion about this verse may be based in the simple fact that there is such a close relationship between Yeshua and Israel that it is hard to distinguish between the two.

In regard to the believers today, we are called the Body of Messiah, hence as the result of the redemptive work of Messiah Yeshua there should be such intimacy between the believer and Yeshua that his life becomes hidden in Messiah. Prophetically many of the things that HaShem commanded Israel to do, it was actually Messiah Who fulfilled them. Within the book of Isaiah there is the concept of the “Suffering Servant“. Many of these passages point to Yeshua, but some point to the Jewish people. Often times it is not an either or situation, but the proper interpretation relates to both. While other times one must be dogmatic and state that a “Suffering Servant” passage speaks only to one of them. If one studies the context and pays attention to the clues within the given passage it is not difficult to discern the intent of the prophecy.

In returning to our study of Light, one needs to remember those beautiful words of Messiah Yeshua Who said,

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

And the fact that Yeshua said to His disciples,

“You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:14

What is the conclusion? The conclusion is that when the believer walks the same road as Yeshua desiring to serve Him, he will suffer. And it is when the believer suffers for his service he will be the light, which will illuminate for others the Glory of G-d and draw others to Messiah.

Arise and shine for your light has come!

Shabbat Shalom