Parashat Shemini (V’yikra/Leviticus 9-11) 5782 B”H

Updated: 3/24/22

We have reached a more controversial portion of Leviticus. We have looked at the five offerings of Leviticus and how they relate to the Good News, how Leviticus might be made a more central part of children’s ministry, and today, we have arrived at the controversial Leviticus 11.

This is one of those posts where I know some people will love it and some people will not read to the end.

Please, bear with me. Let me make my case, and then you can decide for yourself.

Leviticus 11 gives us a definition for “food”

Leviticus 11 identifies that which God considered acceptable for His people to eat as well as that which was prohibited.

It is easy to identify what is acceptable. Foods that are common to us today like chicken, beef, and fish with fins and scales.

It sounds really weird to us today, but it was also acceptable to eat crickets, locusts, and grasshoppers. Yikes.

These particular creatures were not considered food for human consumption:

Camels, rabbits, pigs, shellfish, vultures, ravens, owls, hawks, storks, herons, bats, weasels, rats, lizards, geckos, skinks, chameleons.

I wouldn’t want to eat a chameleon or a bat. You either? See, the list makes sense.

But what about the pigs and shellfish?

As you can see, pork and shrimp are lumped in with the animals considered abominable for the people of Israel to eat.

Harsh, right? Abominable! The word is meant to get our attention. To stir things up. To cause a controversy even.

The foods in Leviticus 11 are usually referred to as kosher vs. non-kosher. Those who follow strict Orthodox law describe this as the laws of kashrut.

It is easier (and totally Biblical) to simply think of them as clean vs. unclean.

In Leviticus 11:44-47, the LORD summarizes His reasons for giving these dietary laws:

“For I am ADONAI your God. Therefore, sanctify yourselves, and be holy, for I am holy.

You are not to defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth. For I am ADONAI who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God.

Therefore, you shall be holy, for I am holy.

This is the Torah of the animal, the bird, every living creature that moves in the waters, and every creature that creeps on the earth, 

to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.” Leviticus 11:44-47, (emphases added)

The LORD God says twice: be holy, for I am holy.

He doesn’t want His people to be defiled.

Why? He wants there to be a distinction.

Distinction between the unclean and the clean, distinction between that which is holy and that which is not, distinction between those who belong to Him and those who . . . don’t.

For consistency, a very similar passage is found in Deuteronomy:

You are not to eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,  the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. Among the animals, you may eat any animal that splits the hoof—the hoof completely split in two—and chews the cud. Yet of those that chew the cud or have a split hoof, you are not to eat the camel, the hare, and the rabbit—because they chew the cud but do not split the hoof, they are unclean to you. 

The pig, because it splits the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you—you are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses. Of all that are in the waters, these you may eat: whatever has fins and scales you may eat, but whatever does not have fins and scales you are not to eat—it is unclean to you. 

You may eat all clean birds, but these are the ones you are not to eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the red kite, the black kite, and any bird of prey of that kind, every raven of any kind, the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, a hawk of any kind, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the pelican, the Egyptian vulture, the cormorant, the stork, a heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 

All winged insects are unclean to you—they are not to be eaten. You may eat any clean bird. You are not to eat anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the outsider within your gates so that he may eat it or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people to ADONAI your God. . . .” D’varim/Deuteronomy14:3-20

But I know, most believers point to Acts 10 to say what we find in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 are not at all relevant to us today.

So let’s take a careful look at Acts 10:9-16

“The next day, as the soldiers were traveling and approaching the city, Peter went up to the rooftop to pray, at about the sixth hour. Now he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance.  He saw the heavens opened, and something like a great sheet coming down, lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all sorts of four-footed animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For never have I eaten anything unholy or unclean.”

Again a voice came to him, a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not consider unholy.” 

This happened three times, and the sheet was immediately taken up to heaven.” (Acts 10:9-16).

This text, along with

“It’s not what goes into the mouth that makes the man unholy; but what comes out of the mouth, this makes the man unholy.” Matthew 15:11

are often used as prooftexts to claim that God Himself declared all animals clean for eating.

Are we getting more controversial yet?

Hold on, it gets better:

Have you ever considered that Peter’s vision had little to do with food?

Peter was hungry and God used his hunger for a teachable moment.

In the vision, Peter saw some unclean animals presented to him on the sheet.

The revelation here is that Peter is not to call PEOPLE unholy or unclean.

He is not to judge the Gentiles as unclean – as unworthy to follow Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). Peter is to preach to Jew and Gentile alike.

See, God didn’t change His mind about what constitutes food and what doesn’t. The vision was about preaching to all nations.

“[Peter] said to them, “You yourselves know that it is not permitted for a Jewish man to associate with a non-Jew or to visit him. Yet God has shown me that I should call no one unholy or unclean.” Acts 10:28

What pleases God?

We know what pleases God because He revealed to us plainly what animals are abominable for human consumption.

Let’s put this in today’s language. He revealed what animals are GROSS to eat.

Shrimp are bottom feeders. They are the garbage trucks of the ocean. Some go so far as to call shrimp the cockroaches of the sea! Pigs are dirty critters, too, you know, but also function as vacuum cleaners. You wouldn’t eat a vulture, would you? They clean up the roads nicely, but according to the Word, God really doesn’t want us eating them.

This really isn’t about being “under the law” or not – we are no longer under the curse of the law. But the law reveals to us that which has pleased our Father. Only Yeshua (Jesus) could fulfill it in its entirety, but as we live into our sanctification, it is fair to say we should strive to do all that which pleases God. Not for our salvation, but as fruit of our salvation.

Our lifestyle should reflect godliness!

Many preach that Christian believers should now eat whatever they want because we have been freed from the law and are now under grace. I can appreciate the intent, but in my view celebrating being freed from the curse of the law is much different than declaring independence from God’s wise and Holy Instructions. We can’t possibly keep every aspect of the law, that’s why Yeshua (Jesus) came, but it does give us, at the very least, an outline for holy living.

What pleased God?

“Yet it pleased ADONAI to bruise Him. He caused Him to suffer. If He makes His soul a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the will of ADONAI will succeed by His hand.” Isaiah 53:10

For me, this is a hard passage. It pleased God to bruise His Son. We have to ask the question, “why?” I believe it is because at the point this Scripture was fulfilled, Yeshua (Jesus) had taken our sin upon Him and sin is such an affront to a Holy God that it actually pleased Him to see it dealt with. And what is sin? Lawlessness.

The Bible says so – in the New Testament.

“Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness—indeed, sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4

So we need something to go by, a standard. God’s instructions give us that standard and Yeshua (Jesus) died for it.

So what about pork bacon? Pork barbecues? Shrimp scampi?

Well, let me tell you a story. A true one.

When I was in grad school, I used to attend a small Pentecostal church just a few miles from the university. I loved that church. I loved the people, I loved the music, I loved the ministry! The believers at this church loved the LORD and really did a good job of including newcomers and students (like me) and sharing the Gospel with love. It didn’t feel cliquish like so many small churches, and it was a wonderful place for any young believer to grow in their faith.

Like most evangelical churches, the pastor and leaders emphasized such spiritual practices as fasting and prayer and encouraged everyone to read the Bible for themselves. If you didn’t bring a Bible with you, an usher would have given you one.

The preaching seemed balanced and examples of Biblical praise and worship were cited from both Testaments.

These folks knew the Scriptures, and knew them well.

But I wasn’t entirely prepared for the fact that these believers had a slightly different understanding of the Christian’s relationship to the Hebrew Scriptures than I did. After accepting Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) during my undergrad years in Chicago, I have since held to what gets labeled as a “Messianic” (albeit thoroughly Pentecostal!) theological perspective.

I never struggled with the fact that my Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) was a Jewish Rabbi! When I moved out of my college bubble, I discovered most believers were not really interested in the Jewishness of Jesus, much less studying Torah’s relationship to the New Testament. Yeshua (Jesus) followed and fulfilled Torah so it seemed strange to me that everyone seemed to want to delete the first half of the Bible.

And I will never forget the day when many of us from the church went out for lunch at a little restaurant.

I guess I shouldn’t have been at all surprised when the pastor and the church leaders all ordered pork bbq plates. But I’m certain I unwittingly raised an eyebrow!

There were some cultural factors at play.

North Carolina is famous for pork barbecue, and I know from experience finding a place that serves turkey or chicken bbq is not easy. But this was actually a seafood restaurant. There were Biblically cleaner foods on the menu than swine flesh.

When the food arrived, one of the church elders actually said, “Thank you Jesus, for allowing us now to eat this pork!” I didn’t know to laugh or cry!

I realized that day in the restaurant that there was disconnect in traditional Christian practice from what is actually written in the Bible.

These same Christians who routinely practiced fasting and prayer were ok with the dietary restriction of fasting (another concept introduced in the Old, rather than New, Testament), but they were anti-dietary restriction regarding consumable foods.

Ultimately, aren’t we all guilty of picking and choosing at times, to strictly adhere to the things we like and to less fervently notice those things we don’t like?!

But, I simply posit this today: why not adhere to the LORD’s dietary instructions? For the most part, the only foods being argued about among Christians in America are pork chops, pork bacon, pork ham, and shrimp.

“‘Everything is permitted for me’”—but not everything is helpful.” (1 Cor.6:12)

Paul (Rabbi Sh’aul) invites believers in 1 Corinthians 6:12 to ask themselves an important question. Just because something is lawful to you, is it beneficial?

Something may or may not be permitted, but is it helpful?

Is it healthful?

“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Matthew 15:11

A certain meal may not defile spiritually, but is it truly of benefit to me physically, especially when consumed with frequency?

The United States has a Judeo-Christian heritage. It seems to me that believers in the United States used to have a more holistic and pure understanding of the Scriptures. As a nation, we collectively know that certain animals should not be consumed!

No one is upset that restaurants don’t serve owls and bats.

But today, we have become divided by denominationalism and agendas.

And pork is cheap (and some would argue, delicious).

This has led to a selective and collective cultural amnesia.

We have forgotten where we came from.

It is no secret that our country has strayed farther and farther from God’s Word and ways.

Have you ever noticed the amount of fast food advertisements that obsess about pork bacon?

It is a symptom of a much larger problem.

Doctrines have been misaligned over the years to assimilate into our culture. I’m picking on the pigs today, but this applies to so many other Biblical issues, not just dietary choices.

What happened to Christians being in the world, but not of it?

Even if it is unintentional, most believers pick and choose when it comes to obeying the Word of God. We really ought to work hard not to over or under emphasize verses of Scripture to suit our personal desires.

The blame has to start at the top because so many Christians have simply been taught this way for their whole lives.

We have to guard our testimony because it can get a little tarnished by stuff like this.

What does Leviticus 11 have to do with our testimony?

The Gospel is intended to be preached to all, but specifically to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

“For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts—to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

If we do not take passages like Leviticus 11 seriously, it is difficult to share our testimony in communities that may look different from our own.

Reaching Jews and Muslims with the Good News

Christian outreach efforts in Jewish communities often fall flat.

Why?

Why won’t Jewish people accept the Good News?

A lot of it has to do with controversial passages such as Leviticus 11.

A Jewish person is simply not going to attend the local church pork barbecue event.

The pig is considered the most repulsive of all the unclean animals to most Jews! Can you see how it would seem very strange to a potential convert to see Christians eating unclean meats and praying a blessing over it in the name the same God of Israel?

How about the Muslim community? I have known many a Muslim who have very openly said to me that they are surprised Christians in our country eat “forbidden” meats. Like Jews, Muslims do not eat just anything.

Whether we eat or drink, we are to do so to the glory of God (1 Cor.10:31). We are free, yes. But let’s align our lifestyles to the Scriptures! Sometimes, for the sake of another, we must refrain from certain things. Even Paul had Timothy circumcised – not for the sake of salvation, but for the sake of the Jews in the region they were going to testify in of the goodness of Gospel Truth.

The enemy loves when we as Christians sabotage the message. Why not seek to avoid the appearance of evil? (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The King James Version translates that as “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thess.5:22, KJV). Maturity in our faith will require sacrifice and choosing to abstain from that which many would interpret as evil. It may indeed become a very strong testimony.

By no means am I telling you you “must” do these things in order to be a “good Christian.”

Instead, I would simply like you to reflect and pray on this topic.

For whatever you do, whether you eat or drink,

Always keep in line with Scripture, and study the Word for yourself!

Allow the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to guide your decisions and interpretations.

Is that controversial enough?! 🙂

What do you think? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below! Shalom!

Then [Yeshua/Jesus] continued telling them, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes along with famines and epidemics in various places, and there will be terrors along with great signs from heaven. Luke 21:10-11, emphasis added

Do you have quarantine fatigue? Tired of wearing a mask in the middle of the hot summer? You’re not alone.

None of us want to hear more about Covid-19, yet this pestilence doesn’t seem to be ending. We know we are in the last days, so we should not be surprised by these occurrences. Our Messiah cautioned us that there would be outbreaks of sickness. The pandemic is not over, and we must exercise wisdom and caution.

As though that isn’t enough to worry about, some of us struggle with anxiety issues. You might not get Covid, but you might be living in fear that you will. May you find shalom in the words of Scripture.

I recently had to have an unexpected surgery. Believe me, I was anxious! Anything to do with needles gets me quite riled up. But the LORD is faithful! He gave me a Word just days prior from Isaiah 58:8-10, and the promise contained within provided me the peace I so desperately needed.

“Then your light will break out like the dawn,

and your recovery will spring up quickly;

and your Righteousness will go before you;

the Glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

you will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.'”

Isaiah 58:8-10, Tree of life version

I would like to share some other Scripture passages that I believe will help you in whatever situation you find yourself in. Rely on His strength, and I assure you, He will comfort you and free you from fear!

To begin, Psalm 27 is a wonderful Psalm to help overcome fear. The first verse is very well known:

ADONAI is my light and my salvation:
    whom should I fear?
ADONAI is the stronghold of my life:
    whom should I dread?

Psalm 27:1, TLV

What is needed in times of trouble is confidence. Being confident in the LORD means you have the ability to trust that the One in whom you have placed your trust for your salvation is able in the here and now to help you. Psalm 27 address this as well:

Though an army camp besieges me, my heart will not fear.

Though war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident.

Psam 27:3, TLV

Use the Psalms as a springboard for prayer.

The Almighty and Eternal One has helped you before. He will help you again.

You have been my help.

Do not abandon me or forsake me,

O God my salvation.

Psalm 27:9cd, TLV

I love how Psalm 27 ends, particularly as translated by the New King James Version.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD:
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:13-14, NKJV, emphasis added

Psalm 30 is another wonderful Psalm of encouragement.

ADONAI my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

Psalm 30:2

Do not ALLOW your heart to be troubled

 I feel that the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) illuminated me to an important spiritual reality, the day I was set for surgery. He reminded me of Yeshua’s words in John 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.” There’s an imperative in there – do not LET. Do not ALLOW. Do not PERMIT.

But that means you and I, we have a choice here. Our emotions can really mess with us, but we are to take control over that by keeping our mind renewed and set on spiritual things. Scripture tells us to take our thoughts captive:

. . . We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah . . .

2 Cor.10:5

When I started to really think about that, I found myself better able to control my fear. That’s the key, isn’t it? Controlling your fear, so fear doesn’t control you. I kept telling my heart it was not allowed to fear. I have not been given the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind (2 Tim.1:7). He has given us authority, so we need to use trust Him and use it (Luke 10:19). Yeshua repeats this instruction in verse 27 of the same chapter:

“Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give to you; but not as the world gives! Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27

Faithfulness + Faith = Confidence that you will be delivered from your fears

Do you have a track record of being faithful to the LORD and His mission? Overcoming anxiety truly becomes a matter of faith. If you have diligently sought the LORD prior to undergoing a test or trial, it will naturally be easier for you to rely on Him during the storm and you will be able to confidently confess that He has delivered you from all your fears.

Magnify ADONAI with me

and let us exalt His Name together.

I sought ADONAI, and He answered me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

They who looked to Him were radiant,

and their faces will never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and ADONAI heard,

and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:4-7

Psalm 34 really highlights the way that the LORD reciprocates His love toward those who love and trust in Him.

The righteous cry out and ADONAI hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.
ADONAI is close to the brokenhearted,
and saves those crushed in spirit.
Many are the distresses of the righteous,
but ADONAI delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones—
not one of them is broken.
Evil kills the wicked—
those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.
ADONAI redeems the soul of His servants
—no one who takes refuge in Him will be held guilty.

Psalm 34:18-23, TLV (v.17-22 in most other English translations such as NKJV)

As does Psalm 55:22 (v.23, TLV):

Cast your burden on ADONAI, and He will sustain you.
He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:23, TLV (Psalm 55:22, customary)

Remember who it is He says you are

As a believer, if you have determined to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and follow Messiah Yeshua, you are part of a Holy Nation, the Royal Priesthood of believers. You have been saved, sanctified, set apart, and His promises go right along with that.

“Then it will happen, as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them, that ADONAI your God will keep with you the covenant kindness that He swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. From all peoples, you will be blessed—there will not be male or female barren among you or your livestock. ADONAI will remove all sickness from you, and He will not inflict on you any of the terrible diseases of Egypt that you knew, but will inflict them on all who hate you.”

Deuteronomy 7:12-15, TLV

So remember, the LORD loves you, and He will honor your faithfulness.

Since you were precious in My sight,

You have been honored,

And I have loved you . . . .

Isaiah 43:4, NKJV

Have you been encouraged today? What are some of YOUR favorite Bible passages to get you through a tough time? Comment below! Shalom, mishpocha

I am blessed to be participating in an “I Read with Audra” blog tour for Rabbi Jason Sobel’s new book: Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today. You may be interested to know that the foreword was written by Kathie Lee Gifford, who actually co-authored a previous book with Sobel titled, The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi. Most of the Scripture references in Mysteries of the Messiah come from the Tree of Life Version of the Bible (TLV), which I find to be an excellent Bible translation and use frequently here on the Adonai Shalom blog.

Book Review

Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel is absolutely on-topic, as more and more Christians are becoming aware of the importance of enriching their understanding of the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith. Accordingly, Rabbi Sobel’s book is addressed to Christian believers of all denominations. He commends the study of the New Testament, but encourages believers to take a deeper interest in the Old Testament (Hebrew) Scriptures as well, in order to build a more robust theology.

A Primer for Messianic Theology

As a Messianic Rabbi, Sobel does not diminish the Gospel. He uses illustrations from Hebrew to help traditionally-taught Christians encounter deeper meanings behind the words in Scripture that often go overlooked or misunderstood.

Mysteries of the Messiah is a necessary work for “such a time as this” as Sobel rightly assesses the current spiritual climate: believers are awakening to the true fullness of the Gospel, embracing the continuity of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the New Testament (Brit Hadashah). Importantly, Sobel understands that for many American Christians, delving into the riches of the Tanakh is a novel enterprise. Mysteries of the Messiah offers a primer for believers to explore Messianic prophecies and Biblical holy days, written in a gentle, conversational tone.

Biblical numerology

First, the book itself begins with an accessible introduction into Biblical numerology. Sobel’s time spent under the tutelage of Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s ministry in New Jersey becomes evident right from the start as he seeks to uncover hidden meanings and messages using numbers and calculations based on the Hebrew values of the aleph-bet letters. Many of Sobel’s insights are compelling and will enrich the thoughtful reader, but the reader may occasionally differ with his interpretive conclusions.

Messiah’s Identity

One thing that will not be disputed by any Messianic Jewish or Christian believer who reads Mysteries of the Messiah is Rabbi Sobel’s passionate insistence that Jesus of Nazareth, Yeshua ha-Notzri, was and is the promised Messiah of Israel. In the first chapter, Sobel identifies five specific areas that he believes reveal important clues about Messiah’s identity and shares his own testimony of receiving Messiah Yeshua as his own Savior. Readers interested in Messianic Jewish apologetics may particularly appreciate this early section of the book.

Great for readers who enjoy Bible Studies

The middle chapters will appeal to any readers who enjoy Bible Studies. Sobel invites readers to explore the extensive ways Messiah is revealed in the Scriptures from creation to beyond Pentecost (Shavu’ot) using the numerology he introduced in the earlier chapters. No knowledge of Hebrew or Greek is required for the reader to be able to gain an appreciation of linguistic nuances in the Bible thanks to Sobel’s easy-to-read writing style. Sobel presents Jewish concepts such as tikkun olam (repairing the world) in a very understandable and relatable way. Moreover, he writes with a pastor’s heart, encouraging believers in their faith. He shares his hope and prayer for Jews and Gentiles alike to unite in Messiah Jesus:

“When Jew and Gentile unite in Jesus, we become an unstoppable force for salvation, transformation, and revival.”

Sobel, Jason. Mysteries of Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today. Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2021.

Conclusion

Finally, Mysteries of Messiah concludes with an impressive revelation contained within the beloved Isaiah 9:6 passage related to Messiah’s lineage as the Son of David. I found it to be an enjoyable and refreshing read, one that may spark the reader to desire to delve deeply into the richness of Scripture’s mysteries and the Jewishness of Jesus even after finishing the book.

Excerpt

RAFFLECOPTER BOOK GIVEAWAY

A book giveaway is going on now! Enter here to win! Update 2/22. This giveaway ended July 30, 2021.

About the Author: Mysteries of the Messiah by Jason Sobel

Title: Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today
Author: Rabbi Jason Sobel
Publisher: W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson
Release Date: March 23, 2021
Genre: Religion/Christian Living/Spiritual Growth, Messianic Interest

ISBN: 978-0-7852-4005-1

Did you enjoy this book review? Have YOU read the book? Leave a comment about what YOU thought about it!

Thank you to the publisher, W Publishing Group of Thomas Nelson, for the review copy. I have provided an honest review.

*Giveaway link provided as a service to readers. Giveaway is not sponsored by Adonai Shalom blog. Readers may enter giveaway at their own personal discretion. Rules for giveaways and contests differ in each state/region, please adhere to local laws related to giveaways.

PURCHASE LINKS:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook | Books-A-Million

Pastora Jennifer Mieliulis Fuentes, M.Div., Duke University

Links to other participating blogs**:

**Adonai Shalom is in no way affiliated with these blogs and perspectives shared by other blog authors are their own; doctrinal positions may differ.

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Parashat Pinchas (B’midbar/Numbers 25:10 – 29) 5781 B”H (Updated 7/19/22 5782)

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.

Read about Korah, the (wicked) Social Influencer of their day HERE

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.

They posed this question to Moshe and Eleazar, and the leaders: “Why should our father’s name diminish from his family just because he had no son? Give to us property among our father’s brothers.” (Numbers 27:4)

A verdict from on high

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!

Korah: the Rebellious Social Influencer

Parashat Balak (B’midbar/Numbers 22-25) 5781 B”H (Updated 7/15/22 5782, 10/23/23 5784)

A king and a prophet-for-profit (Balak and Balaam)

Numbers 22-25 contains the complex account of King Balak of Moab and Balaam, a pagan prophet-for-hire.

King Balak was terrified of what would come to his kingdom once the Israelites arrived.

Israel had just decimated the Amorites, so this king had reason to be concerned.

Balak’s fear rubbed off on his people. Numbers 22:3 says “Moab was filled with dread because of B’nei Y’Israel [the children of Israel].” The Moabites knew Israel was strong, both in number and in power.

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 error of Balaam described by Jude (Judah) and Peter

Once a pagan, always a pagan, in the case of Balaam. This is not a redemption story.

The lost man, in this case, Balaam, despite encountering the living presence of the Almighty, doesn’t end up found in the sense of being saved.

He was found guilty.

Peddling prophecies.

Desirous of personal financial gain.

Peter writes that Balaam “loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

"They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet."  2 Peter 2:15-16, emphases added

G.K.Beale and D.A. Carson’s Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament describe Balaam’s sin:

“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.

"Woe to them!  For they went the way of Cain; they were consumed for pay in Balaam's error; and in Korah's rebellion they have been destroyed.  These people are hidden rocky reefs at your love feasts - shamelessly feasting with you, tending only to themselves.  They are waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in ate autumn, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, foaming up there own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever."  Judah (Jude) 1:11-13, emphasis added

The gloom of utter darkness.

Well, that sounds horrible.

And it is!

And it is real!

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.

He rightly states in Numbers 23:8, “How can I curse one whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce one whom ADONAI has not denounced?”

King Balak becomes desperate, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you’ve actually blessed them!” Numbers 23:11

Balaam continues, “There is no sorcery effective against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel! Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘See what God has done!'” Numbers 23:23

King Balak urges Balaam to just stop already! Balak says, “Do not curse them or bless them at all!” (Numbers 23:25).

Both of these pagan men are starting to understand: Israel is untouchable because Israel belongs to God!

Balaam gives an oracle about the beauty of the Israelites’ tents and the victories that God’s people will continue to enjoy.

In the fourth oracle particularly, Balaam prophesies of the coming of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.

"I see Him, yet not in this location.  For a star will come from Jacob, a scepter will arise from Israel . . . '"  (Numbers 24:17)

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.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Update 10/23/23:

This morning I received a wonderful question on our Facebook page inbox regarding Numbers 23:21.

“He has not observed iniquity in Jacob,
Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel.
The LORD his God is with him,
And the shout of a King is among them.” (NKJV)

This is a rare case in which I actually prefer the NIV translation here:

“No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
    no misery observed in Israel.
The LORD their God is with them;
    the shout of the King is among them.“ (NIV)

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!

The Empowerment of followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)

Acts 2 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture:

When the day of Shavu'ot [Pentecost] had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh [Holy Spirit] and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach [Spirit] enabled them to speak out. Acts 2:1-4, TLV

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.

Don’t be afraid in the waiting, nor discouraged.

Make sure you seek Him.

Who was empowered on Pentecost/Shavu’ot?

Acts 2:3 says, “There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”

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.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary [Miryam] the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.  Acts 1:14

There were at least 120 men there (Acts 1:15), women and probably even children.

RELATED: 6 Stone Jars, 120 Gallons of Wine, and a Wedding in Cana

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.

We who are filled with the Holy Spirit today cannot now imagine what life would be like without Him, without His glorious presence. One of the most distressing(!!!) Psalms to me is Psalm 51:11.  “Cast me not away from Thy presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Just the thought makes me shudder!

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.

Acts 1:9 “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched He was taken up…”

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!

Parashat Chukat (B’midbar/Numbers 19-21) 5781 B”H (Updated 7/15/22 5782)

We continue our study through Numbers today.

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.

The puzzling role of the red heifer that is described in Numbers 19 is a source of much debate surrounding the Third Temple and the fulfillment of end times prophecy. PBS Frontline has an interesting article in its Apocalypse series describing some of the issues around the red heifer in modern context titled, “Forcing the End: Why do a Pentecostal cattle breeder from Mississippi and an Orthodox Rabbi from Jerusalem believe that a red heifer can bring change?” Perhaps you will find it interesting reading, along with an article humorously titled, “In Quest of the Holy Cow” from Israel my Glory.

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.

LINK: Holy cow! Prophecy fulfilled after red heifer is born at Temple of Israel

A stutterer told to talk . . . to a rock

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!

May you have a restful and blessed Shabbat with your family!

“So there remains a Shabbat rest for the people of God. 

For the one who has entered God’s rest

has also ceased from his own work,

just as God did from His.”

Hebrews 4:9-10

Parashat Korach/Korah (B’midbar/Numbers 16-18) 5781 B”H (Updated July 14, 2022/5782)

Grumbling and rebellion along for the journey

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:

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up! Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”  Numbers (B'midbar)16:12-14

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.

Hebrews 3:19 “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

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! 🙂

Here’s a link to a news article on it:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/giant-sinkhole-swallows-cars-in-jerusalem-hospital-parking-lot/

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!

Parashats Beha’alotecha & Shlach (Numbers 8-15) B”H 5781, updated 7/8/22 5782

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.

Contrast its claim with a verse from Proverbs:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

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.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  Luke 6:45 

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).

Miryam ended up with leprosy.

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.

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.

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.

According to the Bible, “. . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

All.

The murderers.

The abusers.

The Sabbath firewood-gatherers.

We are all guilty and we all need salvation.

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.

“Yeshua knelt down and started writing in the dirt with His finger. When they kept asking Him, He stood up and said, ‘The sinless one among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’” John 8:6b-7

You and I have failed.

We have fallen short.

We have broken His Law.

We have violated Sabbath.

We have sinned against the Most Holy God.

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!