We have reached the end of Deuteronomy and Sukkot is upon us. Soon it will be Simchat Torah and the Torah reading cycle will begin again.
I have been very busy these past few weeks with the High Holidays, and admit I simply do not have the time to adequately address all four of these remaining parashot for the year as I would like. My hope is to revisit these in early autumn of next year to give a much more thorough look at these passages.
In the meantime, if you have questions about these passages or would like to study further, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Meanwhile, let me leave you with a few thoughts:
Nitzavim
Nitzavim begins by addressing the profound reality of the entirety of Israel standing before ADONAI their God. They are to cross over into the covenant (Deuteronomy 29:11).
V’Yelech
The necessity to make the faith their own – to genuinely embrace the faith was so very critical because as we learn in V’Yelech, Moshe has reached 120 years old! (Deuteronomy 30:2)
Did you know Moses was a songwriter? He taught the children of Israel a song just before his death. It is actually the final song in Torah. Moshe knew many in Israel would fall away and sin, acting “corruptly,” and the song reflects that view:
Honestly, one would expect a more cheerful ending, but . . . speaking of honesty – Moses was honest. He knew how quickly people can choose to betray and go astray. He lived 120 years, so he had seen the lamentable truth that many would not continue in faith.
Ha’Azinu
This song of Moses is a bit enigmatic. Our natural tendency as believers and followers of Messiah is to “look on the bright side.” Find something positive and hopeful. But this song really never gets there and translators debate the true meaning, especially of the final verses.
The LORD so faithfully kept His promises to Moses that He showed him the Promised Land from afar. Moshe died in Moab, but no one knows where (Deuteronomy 34:6). Yehoshua (Joshua) took over as leader from there. Never again in Israel was there another prophet quite like Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10) but One-Greater-than-Moses would arise and change history for ever: Yeshua haMashiach.
I am thankful that you have studied these passages of Scripture with us. I pray you had a wonderful Yom Teruah, and a prayerful Yom Kippur. As we draw near to Sukkot, may your celebrations be full of joy as commanded, and full of peace as well. Shalom!
The book of Deuteronomy is known as “D’varim” in Hebrew, which simply means, “Words.”
D’varim is comprised of 34 chapters, so yes, there are many words!
Our English term, “Deuteronomy” comes from the Greek term in the Septuagint, “deuteronomion,” which means “Second Law.” This is a misnomer; however. The Tree of Life Bible Introduction to Deuteronomy recognizes this and aptly states, “There is no second Torah.” It is a “second telling” of that which has already been told, the law and story of Israel, a recap for the next generation of Israelites.
Just as it was then, it remains important to continue to tell the story – HIStory: the marvelous true story of the LORD’s unfolding plan of salvation.
Do you know that wonderful hymn? It is a great song to remind us of the beauty of the Word of God.
For the full lyrics and even Spanish translation, check out this page on Hymnary. Here’s a recording you might enjoy listening to today:
From stuttering to speech-giving
In D’varim (Deuteronomy), Moshe (Moses) has matured in his ministry role.
We must smile for a moment. Moshe the reluctant stutterer is now providing full speeches! D’varim records three of his speeches addressing the growing nation of Israel.
Moshe overcame his fear of using words!
This is a lesson for us: if we fear public speaking or get nervous sharing the Good News of salvation with strangers, we can overcome those fears and anxieties. Moshe knew that he needed to provide pastoral instruction to the Israelites, just as we are called to live out the Great Commission.
Sometimes we overcome our fears because there is a need. If we place the need above our personal preferences and pray that the LORD by the power of His Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) helps us, we can overcome and be used mightily for the salvation of souls.
Moshe did this and served as a spokesman for God. Then, One-Greater-Than-Moses came: Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua was also a spokesman for God, but there is a key difference: Yeshua IS God!
HIS Word is so valuable, we must share the Good News that Yeshua has come!
May He help us share the wonderful words of life.
D’var HaShem (Lit.: “The Word of the Name”): The Word of God
I point this out so that you can see a link between Deuteronomy and the Gospels. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) quoted from Deuteronomy frequently! When He was tempted in the desert(Matthew 4:1-11) He used the words of Deuteronomy to fend off the devil. Why Deuteronomy? It is a very practical book and contains the Sh’ma(Deuteronomy 6:4-9): the prayer that would become central to Jewish religious practice.
The Words, the D’varim, could be used as armor. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) shows us that if we know the Bible, if we memorize Scripture, we can combat the fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) of hasatan (satan) – and win!
There is power in those words because they are D’varim HaShem. They are the Words given by God. Divine words that all came together in the person of the Holy Word, the Word Incarnate – D’var HaShem, our LORD and Savior Yeshua (Jesus).
The Prophet Greater than Moses
Moses is so very revered by the Jewish tradition that to say anyone could be greater signifies a great deal. Many Jewish people today do not believe in Messiah because they do not realize that the One Greater-than-Moses has come. Great efforts have been taken to avoid using passages of Scripture such as Isaiah 53 in synagogue services so that Jewish people will not contemplate that the passage is talking about Yeshua of Nazareth. This is tragic! If you are able to befriend a Jewish person, you must share with them the d’varim of Isaiah 53 so they can see how this Scripture has been fulfilled in Messiah.
So share the wonderful words of life with someone today, that you may be an instrument, a spokesperson for the kingdom of God!
Just as the unbelieving Jewish people need to know Messiah, the believing Christians in our world need to know their connection to Israel. How much more deeply can we know our Savior if we understand the Messianic prophecies and His connection to the Jewish nation! May you be blessed today by His Word! Join us in praying for the nation of Israel, that unbelieving Jewish people would come to know their Messiah. We are praying also for Christian believers to learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith! Please leave a comment below and share with your friends!
My dad is an attorney so I knew legal phrases like “for all intents and purposes” and strange terms like “eminent domain” from an early age. I may not have known exactly what went into an affidavit or deposition, but I had the idea . . . ad nauseam. 😉
In the second grade, I dressed up like a patent attorney for career day (do they really dress that differently than the rest of us?). By high school, I couldn’t decide whether I would become a judge or the U.S. Ambassador to France. (Objection? Only one is appointed at a time? N’importe quoi! I didn’t care about those details . . . )
I was aware that the “normal kids” at school got an allowance. I was voted “Most Unique” female of my senior class, so “normal” wasn’t really what I was after. My sister and I used to write up chore contracts. We felt we were missing out on the “normal life”, but we actually got some good training! To this day, I can draft some pretty tough contracts.
I joined the high school mock trial team and was talented at prosecution, but could sense that my talents could take me down a very callous, dangerous road.
So perhaps in the interest of making sure my own soul would be saved, I decided to study . . . theology.
So much for lucrative. Sorry, dad. I know that fine man still wishes I were a lawyer!
I tell you this story because the Scripture passage we are studying today has much to do with that legal phrase: “for all intents and purposes.” You’ll see why as we go along.
Tribes and Journeys
If you follow the weekly parashat readings, it will help you to know (if you don’t already) that the terms “Matot” and “Mas’ei” refer to tribes and journeys, respectively. These Torah portions continue the accounts of the tribes, their journeys to the Promised Land, and their inheritance as the 40 year wilderness wandering comes to an end.
We should pause here a moment.
How could the spiritual condition of the people be described here?
With so much grumbling in the wilderness, what was their heart-condition?
Did this generation feel they had a “purpose?”
Did they understand the blessing of their inheritance?
We are informed in Numbers 31:1-2 that Moses would soon die. The Hebrew idiom is translated“you will be gathered to your people.” This was a more pleasant sounding way to describe death. Remember, the ancient Israelites did not yet have the hope of resurrection as we do today because Messiah had not yet come. Being “gathered to one’s people” referred to the very literal sense of being buried in the family cemetery but also referred to the person being spiritually gathered with other spirits in She’ol.
Since we have reached the end of the book of Numbers, it is fitting that the different accounts and histories come to a conclusion here. Balaam reaches his end as well, as he was killed by sword in Numbers 31:8.
Not all of the passages are sad, as these parashot end with the victory of Tzelophehad’s daughters.
But we must be honest. Numbers 30-36 are chapters filled with some difficult things. It covers oaths and annulation of vows, particularly those made by young women, and then there’s this:
The Midianite Women
Moshe (Moses) was angrywith the army officers when they were attacking Midian.
Why?
Because they had spared the women.
Hold on.
Moses wanted all the Midianite women dead?!
Hadn’t Moses spent many years in exile among the Midianites?
Doesn’t he have any female friends or acquaintances there?
Does he condone femicide?!
Why so much violence!?
Sadly, over time, the Midianites had allied with the Moabites and became enemies of Israel.
Moshe reasons that the Midianite women had followed some of Balaam’s bad advice and caused the children of Israel to be unfaithful in the matter of Peor (Numbers 31:16).
He concedes that the virgin women should live, but every boy and all the other women should be killed. (Numbers 31:18)
From there, Moses commands purification and Eleazar explains the purification rules to the army. They plundered property, virgins, and gold.
It is hard for me to wrap my head around the righteousness of all that.
I look at what’s happening with the war in Ukraine and it is really hard to grasp. I do not believe that God wanted Russia to invade Ukraine. I do believe the attack lines up with Biblical prophecy; however, and these things must take place.
We can talk about good intentions or divine purposes, but violence and bloodshed are things that will just never make sense to me. For all intents and purposes, I am perplexed, baffled . . . I really am a pacifist at heart.
What to do when things don’t make sense
When something doesn’t make sense, it’s time to trust. Trust in the LORD. And just like you wouldn’t sign legal documents without understanding that legal jargon, make sure you find a way to gain understanding.
Do you need an interpreter?
Do you need a dictionary?
When it comes to the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will help you interpret and gain clarification.
Trust that the LORD will make things plain for you and put people into your life who can assist you in understanding those things which you find difficult.
Don’t be ashamed if you need to use a dictionary or a Bible dictionary when you study the Word. On the contrary, you ought to use these valuable tools! Otherwise, even Scripture itself can seem overwhelming.
Speaking of being overwhelmed . . . when you feel overwhelmed in life, the way to find peace is by trusting in the LORD.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the world’s problems?
For me, when I watch the news and see images of the war itself or the consequences of war (such as famine and mass migration) I know that it is all out of my hands. I can’t do much anything about it except pray. And that requires trust. I have to trust that the LORD hears my prayer and will intervene on behalf of those who trust in His Name.
See, God has a plan and whether or not it makes sense to us, He will see it through. Likewise, He had a plan for Israel and still does. With the Midianites turning against Israel, logically there would be a consequence – whether it was war or otherwise. The borders of Israel were being formed and action had to be taken to ensure that the land would be prepared for the Israelites.
מִגְרָשׁ Migrash in Biblical Zoning & City Planning
This is not to be confused with the more commonly known term, midrash, which refers to Biblical interpretation and commentary.
“Migrash” refers to green, open space. It is often translated as “pastureland” or “suburb.”
Did you know that Scriptural zoning regulations require open space around cities and special open spaces within the city?
I find this to be intriguing because way back in the desert wilderness, divine instruction was given for future city planning to ensure green spaces – even in and most especially in Israel.
To this day, Israel is an agricultural marvel, a miracle really, but those of us who believe what the Bible says cannot be completely surprised. After all, we are talking about the land of milk and honey, the place where water can come out of rocks and manna appears on the ground. There is water in this desert and even luscious greenery.
Have you heard the new song, Honey in the Rock? I love the Brooke Fraser Ligertwood version, but YouTube wouldn’t let me embed the video. Oh well. You can easily find it by searching Google. Here is a sweet sister singing that same song in a church:
What is the intentbehind this green space? What is the purpose of these “suburbs?”
Certainly the green space provides a place for the animals and also allows for urbanization to be tempered by parks and places of solace. The land is to be cared for – there should be concern for the environment and all inhabitants.
Ultimately, the green spaces help the land to be purified:
We are not to defile the land because the LORD dwells with us – on Holy Ground, in that Holy Land!
כַּוָּנָה Kavanah: The Intention of the Heart
The word Kavanah comes from the Hebrew root כון kun which refers to “being firm.” Strong’s Hebrew Concordance helps us to understand that the term carries with it the connotations of something being “set up and established” or “fixed/securely determined.”
Kavanah is central to Jewish thought, taking this idea of firmness and applying it to one’s intention. It refers to the sincereness of the heart. Kavanah: what is the direction of your heart?
Maybe you have heard the old saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Truly, good intentions can’t save you, but good intentions can improve your spiritual life.
Incidental vs. Intentional
Do you just incidentally “happen” to worship because you know you should?
Or do you with total intentionality worship because you have a depth of sincerity in your heart?
The Jewish tradition would say that the person who “incidentally” participates in worship is not participating at all. Without kavanah, without intentionality, worship is not worship at all.
We cannot be ambivalent.
What is the attitude with which you approach worship?
What is your spiritual intention?
What is the direction of your heart toward God?
Are your eyes fixed on Jesus (Yeshua)?
Are you a person who is securely determined to walk in faith?
As the tribes began to settle in the land, their intentions would become clear. Would they choose to continue to obey the God of Israel? Would they select land based on selfish ambition or based on care for their neighbor? Would they seek God with their whole heart or drift away to follow pagan deities?
Whenever faith becomes an afterthought it becomes an incidental.
Ever been to a pricy hotel?
Those incidentals will cost you.
One extra fee might not seem like much, but if you keep helping yourself to those miniature-sized snacks in that miniature convenience fridge, you will not have such a miniature bill at the end of your stay.
You’ve got to watch out for the incidentals.
You’ve got to read that fine print.
I’d rather get out a magnifying glass than not understand the covenant . . .
Oh Magnify the LORD! Set your intentions on Him! Seek Him with total sincerity!
In this way, your life, your family, your land, and even your city will be blessed.
Because truly, where there is focus, there is vision! Some people strive for many years to “find their purpose.” Some of that is ok. But, ultimately, as a believer, your purpose is to live for Him and He will outline His calling in your life. He will be your sense of direction and your purpose, if you allow Him.
Adhering to a purpose-filled lifestyle that puts God and His Eternal Word first will enable you to benefit from all of the blessings He has for you. I encourage you to focus on Him so you see clearly the path He has set for you, set your sights on heaven as you walk with Him, and walk in the ways of our Messiah Yeshua (Lord Jesus) today!
It is finished: How the Completion of the Tabernacle relates to Calvary’s Victory
This passage starts out where we left off discussing the Tabernacle’s skilled artisans, Betzalel and Oholiab. They were the wise-hearted, skilled artisans who were responsible for the craftsmanship associated with the building of the Tabernacle.
Moses finished that work. It was necessary and surely it was arduous, but it was done. The tabernacle was built to foreshadow the unfolding of the story of salvation.
When the work was finished, then the glory of the LORD could come and fill that place.
The glory of the LORD filling the Tabernacle would have been absolutely amazing. Can you imagine being there!? But as awe-inspiring as that was, the salvation story was still being written.
You see, One greater-than-Moses would come: Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Christ). He would finish a greater work. He would complete the story of salvation. A story which is HIStory – the truest, greatest story ever told.
Yeshua, Himself the Temple of the Holy Spirit, imparts to us His Spirit. He died and rose again, and breathed upon the disciples so that they could receive the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh). Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Just as the Glory of God came to fill the Tabernacle, He is willing to come upon you and to fill you with His Spirit. If you have not yet received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, please let us know and we will pray for you!
We end our reading of Shemot/Exodus as the Tabernacle is completed and gloriously filled with the Presence of the Most High. The book of Exodus is a book about freedom. The Greatest Freedom you can ever experience is the freedom from sin and death.
Will you trust Yeshua (Jesus) as your Savior today? He alone can free you from all bondage and give you eternal life.
As you can see, the Bible is full of amazing connections that demonstrate the continuity between the time of Moses and the time of Yeshua! Maybe you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments and please consider subscribing to our newsletter! Are you placing your trust in Messiah Yeshua for the first time? Are you renewing your commitment to Him? Let us know how we can pray with and for you! Shalom!
Exodus (Shemot) 2 introduces us to Amram עַמְרָם and Yokheved יוֹכֶבֶד (commonly rendered Jochebed in English).
It is important to note that their names are not revealed in Exodus 2. We don’t find out their names until a genealogy reports their names in Exodus 6:20.
Amram & Yokheved, of the tribe of Levi
What is revealed in Exodus 2 is this special couple’s status alone. They are of the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe. Scripture tells us a daughter of Levi is married to a son of Levi and they have a son.
Amram’s name in Hebrew means “Exalted Nation.” Yokheved’s name means “YHWH is Glory.” Their son would be a deliverer through whom the holy nation would indeed be exalted and the LORD’s Glory made known.
If we do not spend time in study of the Scriptures, we would not realize the richness hidden there. These two Levites in Exodus 2 appear nameless and nondescript, yet look how instrumental they were in Adonai’s plan!
As mentioned above, Yokheved had a son. Scripture describes the baby boy as “delightful!” The situation in Egypt was horrifically oppressive at that time, so due to the danger, Yokheved hid her son. She managed to hide the child for 3 months.
Yokheved was a wonderful mother. She did what she could to protect her baby and trusted in the LORD G-D of Israel as she placed the basket upon the Nile’s waters. And protect him, He did, for this would be no ordinary child: floating in that basket was Moses (Moshe), the one who would lead Israel out of Egypt.
The LORD uses the simplest of vessels – from a basket to a manger – to demonstrate to the world that His power is made perfect in raising up the lowly.
The LORD uses the simplest of vessels – from a basket to a manger – to demonstrate to the world that His power is made perfect in raising up the lowly.
Truly, all that our Heavenly Father has done is marvelous, and always exceedingly above any expectation or level of understanding. He created you, and He did so with a purpose.
What is hidden within you?
What is it that you are hiding within you? Has the LORD placed a burden or a talent or a calling deep within you? If you pray and prepare, the time will come when your gift will no longer be able to be hidden!
“A man’s gift makes room for him, and leads him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16
Though Moshe stuttered, the anointing upon his life made room for him even in the presence of the highest authority in the land, and Pharaoh had to cave in and let the people of Israel go. It was a temporary deliverance, but many years later, the Greater Deliverer would come.
And though there was no room in the Bethlehem inn, the Anointed One’s presence alone caused room to be made in the hearts of those who would seek and follow Him. When Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Christ) came to this world, born in that lowly and humble setting, few understood He was the One who would reign eternally.
Revelation requires an element of hiddenness
Revelation is a key component of Scripture. In order for something to be revealed, it would have to first be hidden. It is a Scriptural principle, and Yeshua taught us:
There is a time and season for all things, and many of those things that were previously unknown or hidden to us have now come to light. Will you faithfully follow the One who has been revealed as Messiah of Israel, the Lamb who was slain, the Savior of all those who would believe, the King of all kings? Will you allow Him to use you, to shield you and to lift you up to impact the nations with the Good News of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)?
How will you, like Yokheved, trust in the process and witness the LORD’s greatness revealed?
Moshe was of Levitical lineage, which was crucial to the unfolding of Biblical prophecies. If you have come to believe in Messiah Yeshua and have trusted Him with your salvation, you are of royal lineage, too.
May the LORD use you mightily and bless you on your journey!
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Could Tzelophehad’s inheritance be given to daughters?
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!
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!
Boundaries and Breakthroughs: Parashat Yitro
The boundary set at Mount Sinai
Shemot/Exodus 19 describes the awe-inspiring events at Mount Sinai leading up to the giving of the renowned Ten Words, or better known as the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20.
This sounds harsh to our modern sensibilities, but this was not just any spectator event. The LORD God – YHWH Himself came down onto Mount Sinai, accompanied by thunderings, lightning, a thick cloud and smoke, fire, and an earthquake.
This was the real deal: real special effects far more emotive than any movie you’ve seen. The bottom line: The people could not handle this.
They needed an intermediary and Moshe (Moses) was the one chosen for the job.
The Almighty Creator came down onto Mount Sinai and called Moses up to meet with Him.
There is an interesting term: “break through.” יֶהֶרְס֤וּ (transliteration: yehersu). The Hebrew root here is “haras” הָרַס, but what is interesting is that here in verse 21 and then again in verse 24, this verb appears as the intransitive verb (yehersu,) the only two occurrences in the Hebrew Scriptures. Perhaps it is a greater play on words in the English language than even in Hebrew, as what follows should surely grab the reader’s attention:
Many well-meaning devotional books and prayer leaders encourage believers to “pray for a breakthrough” or even “demand” that a spiritual door be opened unto them. These ideas are based off of Scripture, but can contribute to a proud, almost defiant attitude when not balanced with true rootedness in Scriptural teaching. Could this be the very attitude cautioned against in Exodus 19? A self-righteous posture can cause people to cross the line, risking quite the chastisement. The Lord God is Holy and His people must be made holy, brought near only by the blood of the Lamb.
Indeed, megachurch pastors and TV preachers have coined some phrases that have become extremely popular in Christian circles, but they are not all entirely Biblical:
3 popular Christian phrases that are not entirely Biblical
“The Prosperity Gospel.”
The “Prosperity Gospel” refers to the teaching and focus on the idea that if a person prays hard enough and gives enough of their money (tithe plus offerings) they will automatically be prospered with wealth. It is rooted in a very American mentality of material entitlement.
A righteous person will prosper by faith, but not in the materially-obsessed manner propagated by self-aggrandizing tv “evangelists” who egregiously spend millions of their victims’ dollars on private jets.
Might this be an example of how twisting truth breaks through what is right? How many famous people ultimately end up in shame?
2. “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
Sometimes well-meaning people of faith will use this phrase to attempt to comfort someone in the face of tragedy. The Bible says you won’t be tempted by more than you can handle(1 Cor.10:13), but that is slightly different.
When I have served as a hospital and hospice chaplain, I have found it helpful at times to explain to fearful or grieving people that sometimes God actually does give you more than you can handle. You want to know why? Because then you have to depend on Him and “lean not upon your own understanding.”
The congregation at Mount Sinai didn’t lean upon their own understanding. They obeyed the word of God given through Moses and lived to tell about it.
3. “You need a spiritual breakthrough.”
This one truly seems harmless enough. In fact, it is partly true. Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days and there was a “spiritual breakthrough:”
But notice, Daniel’s prayer influenced an outcome in the heavenly realms. In other words, he prayed a breakthrough prayer that benefitted heaven, rather than himself. His was a selfless prayer. The problem is, people get all excited and look to “make a breakthrough,” usually for their own plans or dreams. False preachers profit off of this emotionalism and encourage people to pray for their breakthrough, using quasi-Biblical allusions such as the widow persisting with the unjust judge in Luke 18 or Jacob’s insistence in Genesis 32 that he would not stop wrestling until he received a blessing.
Kingdom of kohanim, Holy Nation
The people were instructed not to come near, but they still had a role. They needed to be clean and part of creating a consecrated boundary around the mountain.
Earlier in the chapter, ADONAI reveals to Moses that He intends for the people to be His own treasure from among all people! He also reveals that He wants them to be a kingdom of priests (kohanim) and a holy nation.
The people responded positively when Moses shared this news.
They were later given ten specific boundaries – those commands that would shape their identity, the first one recognizing first and foremost that this God, the God of this people, the God of Israel, ADONAI, YHWH, He alone is God.
Yeshua the High Priest
Moshe was a great leader. The Lord used him for so many mighty works, but there came someone even greater than Moses, the One who was and is and is to come, Yeshua ben Elohim:
Yeshua’s death exemplified the reality that holiness and sin can’t mix when He took upon Himself the sin of the world. He took it all upon Himself so that He Himself could consecrate us, and we could now approach the throne of God without fear.
Never forget the majesty and awe that accompanies the holiness of our God. We must not approach Him casually! Yes, Yeshua is our Friend and our Brother, but He is also the Almighty God and King Forever, the Victorious One who conquered sin and death so that we might be saved from the wrath of God and come to His Holy Mountain.
May our response be like those awaiting Him at the base of the mountain: “Everything that ADONAI has spoken, we will do.”
