Deu. 4:3-4
Your eyes have seen what YHWH did at Baal Peor, for every man who went after Baal Peor, YHWH your Mighty One has exterminated from your midst.
But you who cleave to YHWH your Mighty One are alive, all of you, this day.”
Two elements of this passage may be easily overlooked, but they are both essential realities.
Firstly, Moses recalls the incident recorded in the opening verses of Numbers chapter twenty-five. As previously discussed, (in the blog about Balaam), there was more to the story.
What is told in Numbers 25:9 is that 24,000 people died as a result of this idolatry. What is not specifically mentioned in this narrative is that the rest of the people remained faithful.
While twenty-four thousand people partook in B–l worship, six hundred and six thousand seven hundred and thirty (Num. 26:52, 1) did not. This means that more than ninety-six percent of the population remained faithful to YHWH. As will be further discussed, this faithful generation (Deu. 4:4) is the very generation that would be offered the Renewed Covenant.
Secondly, Moses’s word choice in Deuteronomy 4:4 is unique. “But you who cleave to YHWH…” In Hebrew, the root word used, with these vowel points, is only found in Deu. 4:4, 2 Ki. 3:3, and Pro. 18:24.
The word itself means to be joined together as if glued, or holding on to something tightly without letting go. Used in Proverbs 18, it portrays the bond of true friends. It says that this bond is more familial than actual family.
The proverb “one who loves sticks closer than a brother” (Pro. 18:24b) may have inspired the saying “the blood of a covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”. It is a loyalty that supersedes blood ties.
Like Abraham, who was prepared to end his own son’s life to follow YHWH (Gen. 22), and the Levites, who did the same (Exo. 32:27-28; Deu. 33:9), this type of fidelity was expected of all YHWH’s people.
Deu. 13:7, 9
If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entices you secretly saying: “Let us go and serve other mighty ones…”
You shall not consent to him, nor listen to him, neither shall your eye pity him, or spare or hide him.”
This helps explain why Abraham was called YHWH’s true friend (Isa. 41:8; 2 Ch. 20:7; Ja. 2:23), and why those who follow YHWH’s Messiah were told to put His desire over their family and very life. Mat. 10:37; Luk. 14:26
He who is loving father or mother above me is not worthy of me, and he who is loving son or daughter above me is not worthy of me.”
If anyone does come unto me, and does not hate his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yet even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple.”
Isa. 40:3, 6-8
The way of YHWH, spoken of in Isaiah 40:3, can best be understood as the way YHWH taught our ancestors to go, when they were in the wilderness. Take, for instance, what is said in Deuteronomy 5:29-30 (31-32):
It can also be described as a path that is seldom followed. Consider what the arm of YHWH taught, as recorded in Matthew 7:13-14:
There is one Way that leads to life (Mat. 7:14/Deu. 5:30/32). The arm of YHWH will both gather YHWH’s people and rule as their king (Isa. 40:11, 10). He is best understood as YHWH’s Heavenly Messiah. YHWH’s Messiah would not speak in opposition to His Father. The Son gave no less than seven witnesses that He only ever spoke the Words of His Father. Joh. 3:34; 7:16; 8:28, 40; 12:49; 14:24; 17:8. The Two are one in accord.
This is the Voice that said, “In the wilderness, prepare the Way of YHWH”. What else did the Voice say?
The material plane, in which we currently live, is temporal. While it is here today and looks good for a time, it will vanish away like the grass and lilies of the field.
The only place we can place our hope is YHWH and His Word. The Two are one in accord. Like His Messiah, YHWH’s Word will endure forever.
As Kepha also testified: