Parshat Vaetchanan (Rabbi Sedley)

"I implored G-d at that time saying, ...". (Deuteronomy 3; 23). Rashi notes that the word for 'implored' (which gives us the name of the Torah portion), 'va'eschanan' always means asking for a free gift. He explains: Even though the righteous could ask G-d in the merit of their righteous actions, they only ask G-d to give them a free gift, for G-d has said "I will show favour to whom I chose" (Exodus 33; 9).
Rabbi Yonasan Eibschitz, in his work Tiferes Yehonasan explains that they are not asking for G-d to give them something for nothing, but rather that they pray for their request to be fulfilled in the merit of what they will be able to do through the granting of this petition. Similarly, the Talmud (Sota 14a) explains that Moshe's sole motivation for wanting to enter the Land of Israel was in order that he should be able to perform the Mitzvot that can only be kept there, such as terumah, ma'aser, and tithes for the poor.
The Talmud (Kidushin 30b) states: "A person's evil inclination grows stronger every day, and tries to kill him, And if G-d would not help him he would never be able to overcome it." Furthermore, the Mishna (Avot 2; 4) says: "Don't trust in yourself until the day of your death." This means that even the most righteous person cannot rely on the fact that they have not sinned as an assurance that they will not sin in the future. If so, how could Moshe pray to G-d in the merit of Mitzvot that he hopes to perform in the future? Without G-d's help he has no guarantees that he will be able to keep the Mitzvot.
Later in the Portion the Torah states (5; 26) "Who can assure that this heart should remain theirs to fear Me [G-d] and observe all My commandments all the days?" On this the Talmud (Avoda Zara 5a) comments: Moshe said to the Jews, 'You are ungrateful, the children of ungrateful people. When G-d asked "Who can assure ..." you should have replied, "You, G-d, guarantee it for us.".
The Chazon Ish asks, how could the Jews be expected to ask G-d to ensure that they not sin? Doesn't that negate the entire concept of free choice? He answers that G-d gives free choice to each person. However, a person is permitted to persuade his fellow to serve G-d, either through force, or through encouragement. This is not considered annulling their free choice, since the actions he performs through his own free choice, and all of Israel are considered as a single person. This is the meaning of the verse; who can assure that there will always be righteous people in each generation concerned with bringing the hearts of the people close to the service of G-d.
G-d does not normally place this closeness in a person's heart, because if He would it would not have come from the person. If, however, a person prays to G-d that they should be brought close, and their prayers are answered, then the closeness that G-d brings about is attributed to the person, since it came about through his prayers. This is the meaning of the statement in the Talmud, that the Jews should have asked G-d to give the assurance. In other words, through this G-d would have been able to bring them close, since it would have been through their prayers.
This is Moshe's prayer. "You have begun to show your servant Your greatness...". Until now Moshe's prayers to come close to serving G-d have been answered, and he has reached the highest level of attachment to G-d that it is possible for a human being to attain. He is now praying that G-d continue to help him to draw close to G-d, through performing the Mitzvot, and to give him a chance to perform even more Mitzvot by entering the Land of Israel. Moshe is not asking that G-d answer him based on his past performance, but is praying that he be given not only opportunities to fulfil more Mitzvot, but the personal capabilities and inner strength to rise to the challenge of his evil inclination, and continue to draw close to G-d.

Vaeschanan Summary

Moshe relates how he implored G-d to permit him to enter into the Land of Israel. However G-d chastised Moshe, and told him that he should look out over the land, but that he would not be able to enter into it. Moshe tells the people to continue to observe the commandments which G-d has given them, and never to forget the revelation that they saw at Mount Sinai. They should tell their children and their children after them how they heard G-d's voice from the midst of the fire on top of the mountain that was shrouded in darkness and cloud. They received the Ten Commandments at that time, and the other laws were given to them through Moshe. They are commanded not to make any graven image.
Moshe reminds the people how fortunate they are to be entering into the Land of Israel, and that he will not be able to go with them. Being in Israel will have special tests of faith, and the Jews must remain strong in their belief and not forsake G-d. Moshe prophecies however that in future generations they will turn their backs on G-d, and that as a result of this they will be banished from the land, and be scattered amongst the nations of the earth. However, even in the midst of the exile G-d will not abandon the Jews, but will wait for them to repent and return to Him. Then He will bring them out of exile, as He brought them out of Egypt.
Moshe then set aside three cities of refuge on the east bank of the Jordan, for those who commit accidental manslaughter. These are the laws that Moshe expounded before the Children of Israel.
Moshe restates the Ten Commandments:
I am the L-rd your G-d who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make any carved image or idol.
You shall not take the name of the L-rd your G-d in vain.
Guard the Shabbat and keep it holy.
Honour your father and you mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your fellow.
You shall not covet that which belongs to another.
These are the laws that G-d spoke to the entire nation. He inscribed them on two tablets of stone which He gave to Moshe. The people beseeched Moshe to act as an intermediary and tell them what G-d said, because they were unable to bear the direct revelation of His presence. Moshe instructs the people to observe all these commandments in order that they should remain in the Land of Israel.
The first paragraph of the Shema is recorded, which states belief in the unity of G-d, and a commitment to studying and observing His commandments. Moshe warns of the dangers that prosperity can bring, causing the people to forget about G-d. However they must remember that it is G-d who gives us this prosperity, and must not turn their backs on Him.
We are prohibited from testing G-d, but should observe the commandments faithfully. We should pass our faith and belief on to our children, and teach them the commandments. G-d commands the Jews that when they enter the Land of Israel they must utterly destroy the seven nations that are there, and completely destroy all of their idols and temples.