See, I Set Before You: A Reflection on Parashat Re'eh
Parashat Re'eh opens with a single Hebrew word that gives the portion its name: re'eh—"see." "See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse" (Deuteronomy 11:26). Moses is not offering a suggestion. He is asking Israel to open its eyes.
What's striking is the grammar. Re'eh is singular—spoken to each person—while "before you" (lifneichem) is plural, spoken to the whole community. The choice between blessing and curse is set before all Israel together, but the seeing must be done one heart at a time.
A choice renewed weekly
That rhythm is familiar to anyone who keeps Shabbat. Every week the day arrives for the whole community at once, and every week each of us decides—individually—whether to stop, to see, to receive it. The blessing is corporate; the choosing is personal.
For us as a Messianic community, Re'eh also points to Yeshua's own way of speaking: "He who has eyes to see, let him see." The Torah's invitation and the Messiah's invitation are the same invitation—to notice what God has set before us, and to choose life.
As you prepare for Shabbat
- Read Deuteronomy 11:26–12:10 slowly, and notice every occurrence of "see" and "place."
- Ask: where has God set a choice before me this week that I have been avoiding?
- Come Saturday at 10:00 AM ready to hear the portion chanted—and stay for oneg.
Shabbat shalom.