Weekly reading – עֵקֶב – Ekew – sequence; Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25; Isaiah 49:14-51:3
It is not poverty that poses the greatest threat to faith, but prosperity. It is not want that makes people forget God, but often abundance itself. With this surprising message, Moses prepares the people of Israel for their entry into the promised land. Before they enter a land overflowing with God’s blessing, he warns them of a danger that is more relevant today than ever: the moment when gratitude becomes taken for granted and blessing turns into indifference.
Before the Israelites entered the promised land, Moses didn’t warn them about wars, famine, or want. Surprisingly, he warned them about prosperity. At first glance, this seems strange. After all, the divine promise was precisely to enter a land “flowing with milk and honey,” a land full of wheat and barley, grapevines, figs, and pomegranates—a life of abundance and blessing. So why does Moses pause at this very moment and warn of the...
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