We continue to look towards the High Holy Days, and remember we are in the midst of the month of ELUL, when we are to look deeply into our soul and ask ourselves where we are in our walk with HaShem.

This Parasha seems to be full of laws that relate to commandments, precepts, statutes and judgments. There are many difficult topics here, including seventy- two commandments, both positive and negative, as counted by Maimonides.

Our sages saw the ultimate war in this portion of Scripture, the battle that rages within us. At the beginning, entry into the war is voluntary. In the end, is the commandment to completely eradicate the presence of Amalek.

Our internal struggle, that between good and evil, is against the yetzer hara (evil inclination). We know where our strength comes from, and G-d's mercy and grace, is where our salvation comes from. We are secure in Him when we trust and obey His commandments. As Shaul (Paul) states (Ephesians 6:10), we must put on the armor of G-d. Only with the whole armor, can we resist our enemy, and he will flee from us (James 4:7).

Not only is Amalek our adversary, but we can become our own worst enemy at times. If we do not trust and believe what G-d has said in His Word, that is showing weakness. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and have been set free to obey in repentance and newness of life, His Mitzvot (commandments). After speaking of his own internal battle with his yetzer hara, Shaul recognized that G-d is the only answer. There is no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua (Romans 8:1).

We are no longer guilty before G-d. We walk by the power of the Spirit in order to flee the dictates of the flesh, and seek after the dictates of the Spirit (John 3:18).

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.
 

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