It is the time of year when the book of Deuteronomy is read in synagogues around the world. Deuteronomy is my favorite book of the Torah, but not because of the commandments found within its pages. Not because of the events it shares. Not because it shares the end of Moses’ leadership of Israel and the start of Joshua’s. Not because of all of the supernatural encounters and events that take place.
I love Deuteronomy because, to me, it is the most New Testament book in the Old Testament. The very fact that we have the book of Deuteronomy is a proclamation of G-D’s amazing grace, mercy and love. From the opening sentence to the closing sentence, the book of Deuteronomy expresses G-D’s forgiveness and renewal. In a real way, the book of Deuteronomy is a documentation of Israel being born again.
Think about it this way: In the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, the people of Israel entered a covenant with G-D when they stood around Mount Sinai and with one voice said, “All that you say we will do.” Then they traveled from Sinai to the border of Canaan, committing various acts of rebellion along the way, until they reached the edge of the promised land only to have the majority reject the fullness of their promise.
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Instead of believing in what G-D promised, they believed what they were told by their leaders, even though everything in the land of promise was exactly as G-D’s Word said it would be. Yet, they chose to reject what G-D said and believe what their leaders believed. I say the majority rejected the fullness of G-D’s covenant promises; however, there was a minority, a remnant, who chose to believe G-D’s Word over what their leaders proclaimed.
Israel was fine with being the people of the G-D of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were happy to have the tabernacle and the sacrificial system. They were good with all of the commandments as long as they were in the wilderness. It wasn’t until they had to cross the border into Israel and fully receive the fullness of G-D’s promise that they believed the words of men over the words of G-D. It is at this point in Israel’s history that we enter the book of Deuteronomy.
If we think about the Torah this way, we find that the Gospels are very much like Genesis-Numbers. They tell the story of creation, of the birth of Israel, of Israel’s bondage (both physically and spiritually) and of their promised redemption. Deuteronomy is very much like the book of Acts.
Think about it: In the book of Numbers, the majority of the people of Israel rejected the fullness of their promised redemption (the promised land) when they listened to their leaders, rather than G-D. In the Gospels, we find Israel once again rejecting their promised redemption, Yeshua. When they choose to listen to their leaders, rather than G-D. In the book of Numbers, the majority of the leaders rejected G-D’s Word in favor of their own understanding, even though everything they saw and experienced was exactly as promised by G-D’s Word.
In the Gospels, we also see a majority rejecting G-D’s promise, even though everything they saw and experienced was exactly as promised by G-D’s Word. Yet, the Gospels also show the minority accepted G-D’s word and rejected the words of the majority.
Then we get to the book of Deuteronomy, where we see G-D’s grace and forgiveness as He renews His covenant with Israel, forgiving their rejection and restoring their inheritance. Just as in the book of Acts, we see G-D’s grace and forgiveness as He forgives Israel for their rejection and restores their inheritance.
The book of Deuteronomy was G-D giving Israel a second opportunity to receive the full promise of His redemptive work, just as Acts shows G-D giving Israel a second opportunity to receive the full promise of His redemptive work.
If you take the time to read Deuteronomy through the lens of grace, forgiveness, restoration and complete redemption, you will also agree that Deuteronomy is the most New Testament book in the Old Testament.
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Eric Tokajer is the author of “Overcoming Fearlessness,” “What If Everything You Were Taught About the Ten Commandments Was Wrong?”, “With Me in Paradise,” “Transient Singularity,” “OY! How Did I Get Here?: Thirty-One Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Entering Ministry,” “#ManWisdom: With Eric Tokajer,” “Jesus Is to Christianity as Pasta Is to Italians” and “Galatians in Context.” Visit his website at rabbierict.com.
