The Law had been given, but clarification was needed
By Numbers 25, Israel had Torah (God’s instructions), but different situations arose in Israel’s history which needed clarification.
One such instance occurred in Numbers (B’midbar) 27 when a man named Tzelophehad (commonly spelled, Zelophehad, in English translations) died in the wilderness.
He was survived by 5 daughters.
Tzelophehad’s family
It appears Tzelophehad had been a decent man.
Nothing is said about his wife, so she may have died many years earlier.
Yet somehow Tzelophehad managed to raise up 5 thoughtful daughters:
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
Machlach‘s name refers to “sickness.” If she was the firstborn, as suggested by the name-order listing in the Bible, perhaps her mother struggled during childbirth. Noah‘s name is derived from a word meaning, “movement,” referring to “trembling” or “quivering.” Perhaps she was seen as “nervous” or “anxious.” Choglah’s name is a bit more obscure, probably meaning, “partridge” according to Strong’s Hebrew Concordance. Maybe she was a crier as an infant, because, according to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, partridges were known for their loud cries that attracted plenty of attention. Milcah is a form of Malchah, meaning “queen,” and Tirtzah describes a “favored” one or one in whom there is “delight.”
These women knew right from wrong and just from unjust. They were respectful of Moses and they concerned themselves with a legal matter, demonstrating that they also respected YHVH.
The legal precedence was such that sons received a father’s inheritance.
But Tzelophehad had no sons!
He did, however, have some independent thinkers!
His daughters concerned themselves with an issue of fairness, seeking justice, not only for themselves, but for the legacy of their father.
Moses & Eleazar hear the daughters’ petition
Tzelophehad was never part of Korah‘s clan. Tzelophehad’s daughters made a special point to ensure their father’s legacy would in no way be connected to Korah.
Tzelophehad had nothing to do with the rebellious uprising.
Machlah, Noah, Choglah, Milcah, and Tirzah appeared before Moses, Eleazar, and the princes of the entire Israelite assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
No sickness or nervousness would keep them from walking in favor.
They did not seek attention for attention’s sake.
The 5 sisters had in them the confidence that they were daughters of Israel, queens in the royal kingdom of a holy nation blessed by the Almighty One. They were bound as sisters, and they made their petition together.
Moses didn’t make a decision until he had consulted the Supreme Law-Giver, ADONAI. Moshe prayed and the LORD responded to him that Tzelophehad’s daughters were right:
They should be given the inheritance of their father, and the commandment would stand for all of Israel.
There was only one caveat (described in Numbers 36) which was that the daughters had to marry within their tribe.
Individual and community rights
These five brave women took a stand for their human rights. Some would say they remained limited due to the provision that they must marry within their clan, but culturally speaking, they were still granted significant freedom to marry whoever they wished within their tribal grouping.
Rabbi Johnathan Sacks, of blessed memory, delves deeper into the human rights discussion that arises from Numbers 27 in his article titled, Complexity of Human Rights. Of particular interest, the dichotomy of the individual rights justly pursued by the five daughters of Tzelophehad and the group or tribal rights that are also an important part of wholesome justice.
Today, most people are only focused on their individual rights, to the exclusion or disregard of the needs and rights of the wider society. This can lead to major distortions in appropriate social justice. The “me” culture of today forces wider society to adapt to outlandish policies demanded by at times defiant individuals, in a less-than-holy and unjust way.
The lesson from Numbers 27 is that when an individual pursues justice in a righteous and holy way, then their needs can and should be addressed, and the wider society will benefit from that individual situation.
Machlah, Noah, Choglah, Milcah, and Tirzah would marry within the tribe, for their own benefit, but also for the benefit of the nation of Israel.
Families come first, and this Scripture passage illustrates that.
The 5 daughters of Tzelophehad were blessed and heard because of their faithfulness and obedience, and the nation of Israel prospered, even to this day.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which you needed to stand for justice? Are you going through a circumstance right now in which you need to lean on the LORD’s favor to help you win your case? Do you have a prayer request? Leave a comment, or email us at [email protected]. We would love to pray for you! Also, take a moment to subscribe to our email list so you can receive encouragement straight to your inbox! We promise not to overwhelm you with emails. Shalom!
King Balak believed in the supernatural realm. He professed faith in Balaam’s powers: “I know that whoever you bless will be blessed and whoever you curse will be accursed!” (Num.22:6). Clearly, Balaam had a reputation as a divination expert in the region. Balaam has been called a “prophet for profit” and the “seer who couldn’t see.” He didn’t get these nicknames for no reason. He had a prophetic gifting and even interacted with the LORD God of Israel, but he was much more interested in collecting divination fees than seeking the will of ADONAI.
A Talking Donkey, Border-line Animal Abuse, and a Message
King Balak wanted Prophet Balaam to curse Israel in hopes that he could fight against the Israelites and win.
Balaam had every intention of fulfilling the king’s request through his oracles, but the God of Israel told him not to curse Israel because they are blessed.
If you have never read the account, I encourage you to do so because you will read about a talking donkey, border-line animal abuse, and a special messenger/angel of the LORD with a message for this selfish prophet.
Why rely on the media to inform you of stuff that is “strange but true?” You can’t make this stuff up, nor would you want to. Read Numbers 22 for yourself here.
“The rebuke that Balaam received from the donkey . . . was the result of miraculous intervention by God, but Peter emphasizes the ironic symbolism: Balaam’s sin was irrational, and he was rebuked by an irrational beast.”
Beale, 1056
Likewise, Judah (known more commonly in English as Jude) categorizes Balaam right along with other ungodly people who have gone before, from the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, and Korah, all acting “like animals” who have no reason.
What we can learn from the false doctrine of Balaam
Balaam thought “a little sin” wouldn’t do any harm. That just wasn’t true.
Balaam’s demise should be a lesson to the lukewarm. There are so many people who attend churches and congregations, yet have little love in their hearts. So many people claim to be pastors and teachers, prophets and evangelists, but they either have given up the anointing or have sought to use it for selfish gain.
We must beware of the false doctrines that prevail, and seek only the LORD and His Truth.
Too many believers today think that if they have one foot in the door to heaven, they can experiment a bit with the other foot.
That’s a bad idea because before they know it, they will slip on the uneven ground.
Follow the way of the LORD – stay true to Him and His Word, and He will guide You in His Perfect way.
Balaam ended up blessing Israel and prophesying of the coming Messiah!
As much as Balaam didn’t want to admit it, he knew he couldn’t get away with cursing Israel.
The prophecy ends with various descriptions of Israel’s triumphs.
Balaam and Balak, defeated, went their own separate ways. (Numbers 24:25).
Sometimes the enemy will try to raise up all kind of chaos in your life. If you remain faithful to Messiah Yeshua, Jesus the Son of God, the devil will eventually have to give up and move on. The victory is guaranteed, if you will continue to trust in Him.
My brother in Christ was asking if this would be considered a Messianic prophecy.
I responded that yes, I believe this is a Messianic prophecy because Balaam wanted so very much to curse Israel (but again see Numbers 23:8 in which he discovers that is altogether impossible). The LORD puts His Word into Balaam’s mouth and Balaam ultimately finds himself prophesying about the future – including the coming Messiah.
Israel is at war today.
The Messianic prophecy of Numbers 23:21 is indeed an uplifting promise for us to remember today and to share with our friends in Israel.
There shall be a time when “no misfortune is seen in Jacob”
and “no misery observed in Israel.”
This verse gives us the certainty that we know the LORD their God is with them – the King, the Lion of Judah, and ultimately Israel will have victory and the shout of our King will be heard.
Maranatha!
Please leave a comment below with your thoughts!
Divine Empowerment in an “Inclusive” Age: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2
The Empowerment of followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)
Acts 2 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture:
I think it is my favorite because it was completely ignored by the church I attended growing up.
And I attended faithfully.
Obsessively faithfully.
If the doors of that church were open, I was there. Choir practice, youth leadership teams, bell choir, instrumental ensembles. It was a very large church with a large staff, so there were many opportunities for me, and I’m thankful for that. I probably wore out the pastors with all my theological questions, but they put up with me!
But despite all of those years in the church, I had never heard Acts chapter 2 when the LORD empowered the believers with the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh).
I even learned to preach and lead entire worship services before I went to college.
The problem is, I had learned to preach a false gospel…
I didn’t know that, of course.
But when I did figure that out, I felt deceived!
I was angry, hurt, but on-fire for Jesus (Yeshua).
My experience in a universalist church
See, I grew up in a universalist type of ‘church’ in which everything and anything could be considered ‘divine’ and the deity of Messiah was even questioned.
It was normal to practice ‘mysticism’ and the congregation built a pagan labyrinth so that they could become ‘closer’ to God. ‘Sin’ was explained away through relativism and none of the leaders I knew believed in a literal eternal hell.
Liberal social justice agendas were presented as ‘gospel;’ and homosexual clergy were not only accepted, but encouraged.
I am a very spiritual person and have been since I was very little, so I was intrigued by the “historical Jesus” debate and the off-center teachings presented to me by my pastors as a teenager. I had the opportunity to travel to France, and walked on the Chartres labyrinth, excited to bring back books and souvenirs reflecting what I know now to be an occult practice.
I had no idea that we were so outside of a Biblical framework, but I did know that the pastoral staff thought ill of evangelicals, calling anyone who took the Bible at its word a “fundie,” their pejorative term for a fundamentalist.
There was always talk of “inclusion,” but this really meant including only those who agreed with their far left agenda.
I was taught an imitation, but the LORD led me to TRUTH
When I went to college and later to Divinity School, I realized how far the church had strayed from Biblical Truth.
By studying Hebrew, I was awakened to the reality that Scripture is inspired and without error in its original form.
The one nice thing about being raised as a ‘Unitarian Considering Christ’ was we were always open to Judaism. I never struggled with the concept that Messiah Jesus stood on this earth as a practicing Jew, a Holy Rabbi with the greatest teaching of all time. Eventually, I accepted my Savior Yeshua and the glorious gift of salvation.
Hallelujah!
The Postmodern/Emergent Church is looking for an “experience”
The postmodern and emergent church movements were popular when I was a student. One thing that stands out to me with those who want to start drawing and painting in church is that people are genuinely looking for an “experience.”
The church, as a whole, has strayed so far from Scripture that people don’t realize that the experience they are looking for is found within the pages of the Holy Bible and that everything else is a cheap imitation.
Well-meaning people add things into worship services, not intending to become idolatrous, yet these extraBiblical practices lead people far far away from what they actually need.
Worldly empowerment vs. Divine empowerment
Inclusiveness, feminism, empowerment – all key words in the liberal agenda, mask the true need in the world today. The Gospel is inclusive of all who would be willing to make a change, but the Gospel isn’t going to change to suit humanity’s deviant desires.
It is good to feel empowered! But you have to be empowered with the right thing!
That’s why the power from on high is so important. Acts 2 is all about supernatural empowerment!
The Holy Spirit will empower you in your calling to do the will of the Father.
The world offers a false empowerment. Feminists and liberal activists don’t actually support or love women. They hate Biblical womanhood because they want women to be men.
That devilish agenda says: Go ahead, have children, but make sure you’re back on the job in 6 weeks after you have your baby. We wouldn’t want you to reconsider and stay home with your children.
When my second son was born, I had been serving as a hospital chaplain on a staff of primarily men. When I informed them I would not be coming back because I was choosing to stay home with our little ones, they told me I was overly traditional and that I would regret my decision.
No regrets here.
To me it was humorous that I had grown up more liberal than any of them, and now they were calling me ultra-conservative. 🙂
Shavu’ot = Pentecost
The believers gathered in the Upper Room were there on a feast day. It was called Shavu’ot, and Jewish believers had celebrated it for years. Our English translations call it “Pentecost,” and many Christians today mistakenly believe it was a newly established feast day after the Resurrection, but that’s not right.
The word for “Pentecost” comes from Greek, for 50, because Shavu’ot referred to the Feast of Fifty Days, better known as the Feast of Weeks. The timing of Messiah is perfect, so on this exact day, 50 days after the resurrection, the LORD poured out His Spirit upon the gathered believers to coincide with the feast.
Are you experiencing a time of waiting?
In Acts 1:4, Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Promise of the Father.
Maybe you are waiting. Maybe you know the LORD has something more in store for you, but you’re in a waiting pattern. If you are waiting, but with a sense of expectation, with faith that He will work in your life – I assure you, He will.
The last phrase there, in Greek, “upon each and every one of them” is important for those interested in “inclusivity.”
The Greek is emphatic meaning that this included men and women.
ἐφ’ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν eph hena hekaston auton Upon each and every one of them
The gifts and calling of the Eternal One are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He calls men and women to share the Good News, and to be empowered by His very Spirit to do it well.
What was going on before this moment, before the power of Adonai came?
Prayer and supplication. Both men and women were present in an Upper Room prayer meeting.
The LORD uses men and women. In different ways, yes, but (if you are a woman reading this) don’t let anyone tell you that there’s no place for you in the ministry. That simply isn’t true. If He has given you a voice, you have something to say, so long as it lines up with the Word of God. Most of the people in the Upper Room were men. The women were outnumbered. But they were most certainly included.
God chose this group of men and women to be present to receive the inaugurating outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit because they were faithful in prayer and they were willing to obey!
Comfort will come after pain or loss
I have used this passage with women’s ministry groups because women in all walks of life endure all sorts of challenges and pain: Women who have recently lost their own mother, women who have been told by doctors they cannot have children, women who have ended pregnancies due to poor guidance by nonChristian medical staff or women who genuinely felt there was no other option, women who now live with the regret or guilt of any type of past sins.
The most emotionally painful thing to endure might be the mother who lost a child, whether that child was an unborn baby or an adult child. Many times it is out of that pain that the LORD will use you to minister to someone else. If you’ve been marginalized from the pulpit because you are a woman, you will also understand a hurt others will not understand.
Whatever you relate to as a horrible pain to endure was exactly the kind of pain the women (and the men) endured the day after the crucifixion.
Even though they knew what they had seen and heard and they knew that Jesus was the Messiah, and He told them He would rise again and He promised to send another Comforter . . . even so, there must’ve been so many questions going through their minds.
Maybe you have experienced something earth shattering. Maybe you have watched as something you have loved, dreamed of, or even built seems like it’s gone. When we ministered in Alabama and Tennessee, we frequently worked with people who had suffered devastating losses after tornadoes raged through their neighborhoods. Just know that the Spirit of the LORD can help you get through whatever has distressed you or twisted your life upside down.
What is your own personal Sabbath’s Day journey?
The verses contained in Acts 1:12-Acts 2:1 describe what occurred in (what most have calculated to be) 10 days from the Ascension described in Acts 1:9.
If there is a situation right now in your life, give it a few days. It might take ten, it might be four . . . it might be more than 10. But like I said earlier, God’s timing is perfect. You can trust Him.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12), a Sabbath’s Day journey – meaning it was a fairly short walk. They would not receive the Promise of the Father without resting in Him, without listening for His voice.
Maybe you’ve been traveling more than a Sabbath’s Day journey, keeping your agenda jam-packed. Honor the Sabbath, and the Lord of the Sabbath will meet you right where you are. Not everyone who desires to be baptized in the Holy Spirit receives that blessing right away. Think of it as a journey: He will satisfy your hunger and thirst when you need it most.
The Holy Spirit provides anointing so that you can be a Godly example to others
There is nothing more noble than to be an anointed, Holy Spirit-filled servant of God.
We need the power of God to change the way we speak, the way we interact, the way we present ourselves. You know, something that has been lost over time is the art of etiquette. I noticed this particularly when I lived in the south, having grown up in the north. Up North, we don’t usually say “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir.” It is wise and godly to teach your children, or your spiritual children, the etiquette of God’s Word. How to be a Godly example for others. It is more than attending an assembly. It is living the Word in thought, word, and deed, so that the transformation Christ has worked in you will be evident to all.
We need our etiquette to be anointed! If you comport yourself with grace, doors will open for you.
The Holy Spirit will empower you to pray for the salvation of your city!
We are not in Jerusalem, but we can tarry in our own cities, asking the LORD to intervene in these last days. I know from experience that those who have been immersed in false doctrines CAN be led to the Truth, but it requires prayer!
I am thankful for believers who prayed for me!
Pray, with fervor, without ceasing so He will send an outpouring of His power upon and into you, either for the first time, or for a new time.
Pray, pray, pray until the yoke-breaking, curse-disrupting and destroying, Almighty Power of the Most High descends upon you and believers around you and ignites your home and your city and your congregation with the Love of Messiah.
The most inclusive wonderful thing you can ever do is pray for someone and welcome them when they decide to become a citizen of heaven, too!
I look forward to hearing YOUR testimony! Please share your comments below. If you have not yet met Yeshua, the Promised Messiah of Israel, please reach out. He loves you very much and lived and died so that you could live eternally with Him. I would be so honored to pray for you or with you. If you’d like, please consider subscribing to our email list! Blessings and Shalom!
Dead Bodies, a Red Cow, Snakes, and the King’s Highway: The makings of a movie, or an intense Numbers Bible Study?
Most people probably don’t count the passages of Scripture in Numbers 19-21 (known as Parashat Chukat) as among the most understandable or relatable of the Bible.
This portion of Scripture definitely won’t be the favorite of anyone uncomfortable with dead bodies!
The Red Heifer and Bible Prophecy
These chapters talk about a red heifer that is to be burned so that, mysteriously, its ashes can purify an unclean individual who has touched a dead body. Specific instructions are given about how to be purified if you’ve touched a corpse, what to do if an open container without a lid fastened on was in the tent when someone died there . . . lessons on decontamination, in a sense. Relatedly, the origins of medical advice, quarantines, and cleanliness are all rooted in Torah: even the serpent symbol used today by the medical community was loosely inspired by Moses’ bronze snake in Numbers 21:9.
While red cows exist, they have not existed in Israel until very recently, 2018 to be specific. That means that for over 2,000 years, there was no red heifer anywhere in Israel. CBN news reported on the 2018 red heifer and since then, there have been other candidates. Ever heard that Crystal Lewis song, “People get ready, Jesus is coming?” Yeah. It’s true. He’s coming back! Get ready.
While it is impossible for us to fully understand the LORD’s reasons for each instruction given in His Word, we can rest assured that He does have a reason for everything, even if we don’t understand.
Moshe (Moses) of all people, knew to obey God’s instructions, yet, on one famous occasion, he let his emotions get the best of him. When the people complained that they had no water to drink, ADONAI told Moshe to speak to a rock, and it would “give out its water” (Numbers 20:8, TLV).
In Numbers 20:10, Moses called the people “rebels” (an insult in their day) and pounded on the rock twice rather than speaking to it.
We generally assume this is because Moses was angry.
He might also have been extraordinarily nervous.
Speaking was not Moses’ forte. He stuttered – – – so the idea of talking to a rock in front of the entire nation of Israel was probably not something he was too eager to do.
Was Moses indeed a stutterer? Neurologists and theologians don’t collaborate as much as perhaps they should, but an article in First Things looks at the evidence from neurological science that CONFIRMS the widely-held interpretation/assumption that Moses stuttered.
The LORD had his reasons for commanding Moses to trust Him and speak. The rock contained water and could respond to verbal command. What’s more, Jesus Christ the Anointed One, Messiah Yeshua, warned the Pharisees that rocks would cry out if the believers ceased from praising their Father (Luke 19:40). But ultimately, the command to speak to the rock in Meribah was not so much to prove that such a feat could be done as it was a test of faith! Moses failed to obey, and it cost him: he and that generation would not live to see the long-awaited Promised Land.
In any case, water did gush out of that rock, quite a sight to see.
Something out of a movie?
The LORD provides for the Israelites’ needs, but the people can’t seem to shake their grumbling addiction.
They complain there is no bread, no water, and that they are sick of manna.
By Numbers 21:6, ADONAI’s patience had grown thin. He sent poisonous snakes which started biting people and many died. God is long-suffering, so even after all of this He makes a way for healing and restoration. Moses is instructed to construct a bronze snake on a pole (nehushtan), which would provide healing whenever a bite victim looked at it.
So many supernatural occurrences! These accounts in the book of Numbers really seem like something out of a movie!
Unlike a movie, however; all of what is written in Scripture is completely true. The Author is your Creator, and He will be your Savior if you will turn to Him in faith!
The King’s Highway
If all of this wasn’t enough trial and tribulation, the Israelites had to traverse land that was controlled by enemies.
In ancient times, there was a highway that connected the north to the south for purposes of travel and trade. This highway was known as the “King’s Highway,” and it was rightly named, because different kingdoms controlled access to the main road.
The King of Edom would not allow Israel to pass through their territory, nor would King Sihon and Og of the Amorites.
Israel had to wage war.
Israel won and began to live in the land which had belonged to the Amorites.
Israel’s history is full of struggle and strife, but ultimately, Israel wins.
Today, as believers, we are part of Israel. We, too, have rebelled and fallen short of the expectations set out for us by the Word of God. Yet, in His infinite grace, mercy, and love, the LORD God of Israel has made a way for us.
We do not deserve permission granted to walk upon His Holy Road, but we walk the True King’s Highway, and He gives us victory along the way.
I am reminded of a hymn we sang growing up:
I know not where the road will lead I follow day by day, or where it ends: I only know I walk the King’s highway. I know not if the way is long, and no one else can say; but rough or smooth, up hill or down, I walk the King’s highway. And some I love have reached the end, but some with me may stay, their faith and hope still guiding me: I walk the King’s highway. The way is truth, the way is love, for light and strength I pray, and through the years of life, to God I walk the King’s highway.
King’s highway, Evelyn Atwater Cummins
Thanks for reading! Let’s continue walking along our King’s Highway together as we study the book of Numbers together! What strikes you as most interesting from this passage? Please leave a comment and consider joining our email list or sharing with your friends! Shalom!
Shabbat Shalom!
May you have a restful and blessed Shabbat with your family!
“So there remains a Shabbat rest for the people of God.
When the Israelites left Egypt, they were full of joy and the promise of a new future. They looked forward to the day when they would reach the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey.
But the Promised Land was more than just special adamah אֲדָמָה (earth/ground). That Land was to be reflective of the spiritual posture of its inhabitants . . . and this generation was not up to par.
Grumblings, murmurings, and rebellion have a way of interfering with what could otherwise be a pleasant journey.
Ever try to take a fun road trip with grumpy children? So much for a pleasant journey.
And every congregation, large and small, has to deal with the occasional segment of dissenters.
Today, let’s look at Numbers 16, the account of Korach’s (Korah’s) rebellion against Moses and Aaron.
Korach’s Populist Plan for an Uprising
Korah (Korach) convinced 250 other Israelite men to join him in a populist plan for an uprising.
When trying to reason with Korah didn’t work, Moshe wanted to talk to Dathan and Abiram, but those two had fallen as low as Korah and refused to even have a discussion:
You see, sowers of dissent create distrust of leadership and cause disunity in the congregation.
Korah’s ambitions demonstrate that he wasn’t content with what he had been given and was convinced he could do a better job at being priest than those who were appointed to those positions.
Like Lucifer, Korah wanted a position that didn’t correspond to him. He wanted to be High Priest.
Power struggles in Ministry
Maybe you have served on a ministry team or even pastored.
I’ve lost count of how many times we as congregational leaders have had to deal with the Korahs of our day.
How often we meet wolves in sheep’s clothing vying for power, unwilling to submit to wise counsel, questioning leadership, and ultimately trying to divide the flock.
It is a sad situation really, because these types of negative people are truly dealing with jealousy issues, anger, resentment, pride, and a whole host of sinful attitudes which they have never dealt with, repented from, or healed from.
These types of unhealthy individuals want to take down half the congregation – right down into that pit of defiance right along with them.
Don’t take the bait.
Spiritual Abuse is Real
Since we’re already talking plainly, let’s be real.
Just like not every sheep is a rebellious Korah, not every pastor is a humble Moses.
There can be a lot of toxic relationships, even in the church.
Sometimes pastors themselves are immature or hurt and treat their congregants inappropriately, or even abusively.
Pastors who do not have the backbone nor Moses-like prayer life to handle a challenge to their authority will often use an illustration like the account of Korah to attempt to scare rogue sheep into compliance.
Unfortunately, this can lead to spiritual abuse on a wider scale, as entire congregations have to endure harsh sermons warning them that if they don’t obey (the pastor or church leaders), the LORD might have a giant sinkhole take them out.
Recognize these types of unhealthy situations and make sure you and your family are being pastored with love and genuine care.
How true leaders respond in times of betrayal or unrest
Moses demonstrates how pastors and ministry leaders ought to respond in times of betrayal and unrest: he gets on his face before the LORD.
Later in the chapter, Aaron stands in the gap between the living and the dead to intercede.
True leaders spend time in sincere, earnest prayer.
Korah’s friends become slaves to their pride
Dathan and Abiram attempt to rewrite history to suit themselves.
These former slaves now claimed Egypt’s riches had been accessible to them as a land flowing with milk and honey.
These former slaves used Moses’ previous status as Prince of Egypt against him, to claim he lords over them.
Truly, Dathan and Abiram aren’t really just former slaves, they have bought into the insubordinate spirit of Korah.
They had become slaves to their pride.
The devil has a way of twisting history to make the Egypts in life sound so pleasant and deceive us right into temptation.
Dathan and Abiram absorbed Korah’s poison.
They sound like two deceived puppets spewing up Korah’s own complaints, which happen to be unrealistic expectations of Moses.
They are upset that Moses hasn’t brought them into the land ADONAI will bring them into, when HE decides. Dathan and Abiram whine that they haven’t been given their inheritance, but unlike the daughters of Tzelophehad who justly approach Moses regarding their inheritance, the Korah followers are bitter and impatient.
Korah, the Social Influencer
Today, we have social media “influencers.”
Korach was the social influencer in his day. He didn’t get YouTube awards or Facebook fans, but he had enough followers to cause a major disruption. That generation would never make it to the land of milk and honey.
Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the rest of his gang had a choice between life and death, but their own hunger for ambition was met with a severe punishment from on high.
Rather than their hunger being satiated, these defiant individuals were swallowed alive by the earth and went straight into “she’ol.”
Hell.
Straight to hell.
Be careful who you allow to influence you.
Korah’s fate and our lives today
If the LORD is going to cause the earth to swallow anyone up, let them go by themselves!
Don’t get dragged down right along with them.
What kind of media do you listen to?
What kind of social media do you participate in?
Make sure you are on the right side of history, so you can enjoy the provisions of milk and honey that are prepared for the faithful.
This portion of Scripture has been used to scare people, and we all benefit from a healthy reverence and fear of the LORD. But, rather than be consumed with terror, this passage should be seen as an encouragement to all who believe and follow our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
God will deal with the rebellious ones.
Follow God’s Word and learn what it is He wants for you. Pray and stay faithful and He will bring you into His Promised Land.
Giant sinkhole swallows cars in Jerusalem:
During the same week of this Parashat in 2021, a giant sinkhole swallowed up some cars in Jerusalem! I’ll leave it up to you to decide if it was mere coincidence! 🙂
Are you a positive, godly influencer? How do you handle the Korahs in life? Please leave a comment, subscribe, or share with your friends! Be blessed, to be a blessing. Shalom!
Today, we will look at Numbers 8-15 as well as a familiar passage from John 8 as we explore what happened to a man who was gathering firewood on the Sabbath.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Many of us learned this somewhat outdated rhyme growing up.
Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Words do have the power to harm. Harsh, hate-filled words can hurt us and can leave us pretty scarred. On the flip side, words can be life-giving and confidence-building, a source of blessing.
Obviously, the childhood rhyme intends to help a child overcome being teased with the reassurance that childish name-calling usually excludes physical harm.
Unfortunately, our own words can come back to bite us. Sometimes we harm ourselves by the foolish things we say. A careless thought can become a careless word, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Care must be taken to cultivate a life of kindness, goodness, and self-control, led by the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh), so that the demeanor of the believer becomes more righteous in outlook and attitude rather than maintaining the self-serving posture of the natural man.
Learning from Miryam: We must be careful how we speak
Lashon Hara in Parashat Beha’alotcha/Beha’alotecha
When an individual fails to speak in a righteous manner, he or she risks committing sin known in Hebrew as lashon hara.Lashon hara means “evil tongue” or “wicked talk” and is considered a grave sin in Judaic thought, and for good reason. In Parashat Beha’alotecha Miryam was punished by God because she disapproved of her brother Moshe’s marriage to a Cushite woman and spoke against him (Numbers 12:1, 10).
Lashon hara engages the realm of death and brings curse right along with it. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik aptly wrote “Death is the symbol of the most intense defilement; therefore, he who is holy unto his Lord must keep away from such defilement.” (Soloveitchik,Halakhic Man, 32).
Most Christians have never so much as heard of lashon hara let alone tried to refrain from it. Overly simplistic sermons lightly address gossip, but all too many churches thrive on the gossip mill and abuse the doctrine of grace. If you have a prayer request for someone else, there is no need to give every exhausting, gossipy detail. The LORD knows the need. Explain enough, but have wisdom to avoid gossiping.
Scripture calls us to a much higher plane.
As called out, set-apart people, followers of Messiah should emulate Him. Yeshua (Jesus) was careful with His words, and we should be, as well. He, of course, knew Torah, and would have been entirely familiar with passages such as Numbers 15:30-31. In it, the reader is cautioned, that “the person who sins defiantly, whether native or outsider, reviles ADONAI and that person is to be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the word of Adonai and has broken His commandment, that person will certainly be cut off—his guilt will remain on him.”
Regardless of whether or not Miryam was justified in her opinion, evil speech could not be tolerated under the Law as it would lead to defilement. Defilement can be described as a state of being in which the offender could not rightly appear before the Holy One. Ultimately, lashon hara leads to destruction, so it must be dealt with immediately at its source. As the Apostle Paul (Rabbi Sha’ul) said, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Rom.6:1-2a).
Learning from an unnamed man who was gathering firewood: We must be obedient
Keep Parashat Beha’alotcha in mind as you study Parashat Shlach
In Numbers 15:32, an unnamed fellow is stoned for collecting sticks and stones on the Sabbath day.
Yes, you read that right. Stoned. To. Death.
Numbers 15:32
Consider this:
Have you ever worked on a Saturday?
Have you ever tidied up your house or done some yard work on the Sabbath?
Miryam became a leper, but this Sabbath-breaking man was immediately put to death.
What is the difference between Miryam’s sin and firewood-man’s sin?
Miryam’s lashon hara sin was directed at Moshe (Moses).
The unknown guy’s Sabbath-violating sin was directed right at the Holy One.
Miryam endured a status of defilement as a punishment, but the unnamed man truly, in a sense, selected defilement – as a choice.
He did not concern himself with things above, but lived for the moment and disregarded God’s commandments.
The man in Numbers 15:32 is not named because he could be any of us
Why is gathering wood on Shabbat such a horrible thing?
Well, to put it into everyday language: it was like shaking your fist at your Creator.
“I don’t need You or Your Shabbat.”
2. “I don’t have time for You or for Your Shabbat.”
3. “I don’t care about the parameters in which I am to live.”
The work involved with gathering wood suggests the man was planning to start a fire, likely to cook a meal.
These are all prohibitions outlined by the Torah as violations of the Holy Sabbath.
He was guilty of blatant defiance.
Gathering firewood just doesn’t seem “so bad.”
As human beings with our limited understanding, we tend to “rank” sins. It would seem gathering firewood is a much “lesser” sin than a murderer or an abuser.
But we have to realize that sin is sin. Any transgression of God’s Eternal Law constitutes sin. Any.
And there is Good News! It’s more than Good, it’s Excellent News — the LORD has made a way for us through His Son, Yeshua (Jesus).
We fall short. But He doesn’t. He is the All-Sufficient One. And He extends His grace and mercy, His perfect forgiveness to you and me if we will receive Him.
Forgiveness is Available
This point is beautifully demonstrated by our Savior when, in the Gospel of John chapter 8 Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) forgave a woman caught in adultery.
She was guilty, on all counts, of violating Torah.
Like the Sabbath firewood gatherer, she had violated Torah and her punishment (according to the Law) should be stoning.
Also like the firewood man, this woman is unnamed. All of us should see in her our own rebellions and failings.
Despite the adulterous woman’s sin, the LORD pointed out the sinfulness of all those who accused her.
Whoever had no sin, whoever was completely sinless, this person could go right ahead and cast the first stone.
The only One who could condemn her (the LORD Himself) chose instead to forgive her.
But forgiveness is available to us, if we will repent of our sin and allow Him to restore and deliver us.
Shabbat is intended to be a divine appointment
The LORD has commanded us to keep His Sabbath, and to keep it Holy because it is a set-apart time for us to pause, rest, reflect, and enter into communion with our Father. It is intended to be a blessing, not a burden; but in today’s fast-paced world, it can be a challenge to keep Shabbat.
It has been said that if we truly understood how glorious it is to meet with ADONAI on Shabbat, we would never dare to disrespect that time. We would never miss that Sabbath sacred appointment and we would choose to strive for purity of thought, word, and deed, that we would never be defiled and unable to come before His throne.
Our lives depend upon us being in communication and right relationship with our Savior, the One who washes us and declares us clean.
The man being stoned to death for dishonoring the Sabbath is an illustration for us.
Underneath that pile of stones laid a man who had no understanding of his need for a relationship with his Maker.
Bruised and buried, that man represents all of those who do not yet understand that Messiah has come – that Messiah was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities so that we might live and never die. Firewood man was completely clueless about how his transgression would end in disaster.
May you be inspired by the grace and mercy of the LORD to seek a greater communion with the Eternal One, the LORD of the Sabbath. May you guard your lips for this protects your life, (Proverbs 13:3), follow the Way of the LORD and keep His commands, and may you be blessed to be a blessing!
I hope this teaching has inspired you, challenged you, or otherwise blessed you! Leave a comment below and please consider joining the Adonai Shalom email list today!
