Reflections
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 38
Balak (Balak)
“Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites”. Balak was the king of Moab. He was terrified of the Israelites. The Edomite king had refused to allow the Israelites to pass through their land, causing them to detour around it. (Numbers 20) The Amorite king, Sihon, had also refused to let the Israelites pass through his land, and the Amorites had been routed by the Israelites in a mighty battle. (Numbers 21) Moab was next in the Israelites line of travel. So Balak, got together with the elders of the Midianites (nomadic descendants of the son of Ketura, Abraham’s wife) and together they journeyed, with an appropriate fee, to South Eastern Syria near the River Euphrates to consult with Balaam. He was considered to have the ability to come and ‘curse’ the Israelites so that no harm would come to these Moabites. Note that the word used by Balak was “a’rar” (bitterly curse). Balak was convinced that Balaam had such power. “For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed” he said. Balaam obviously had gained that reputation. The story is worth reading in its entirety to get the sense of the mission Balak was proposing, and the reward he was prepared to pay to get it done. It is something of a surprise to many to find that Balaam’s response was always to consult the LORD to gain approval for his actions!
First up, the LORD told Balaam “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed”. And Balaam told the representatives of Balak exactly that. We might learn a lesson here. There are nations and people today (many of whom identify themselves as believers) who treat Israel with contempt (a curse). It is like “doing a Balak” over and over again. God has put His name and His blessing on Israel. He said so many times in His word. How blind we are sometimes! The second time Balak’s princes approached Balaam, with an increased offer for his help, Balaam again consulted with the LORD who said “If the men come to call you rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you - that you shall do”. But Balaam didn’t wait to be called, he went on his own the next morning, and that displeased God immensely. Another lesson right here. If we have learned nothing else in these ‘reflections’ we have learned that God’s language is precise. What He says, He means. And what He means, He says. Let us remind ourselves once again of His words to the prophet, Malachi 3:6. “I am the LORD, I do not change.” Men are sometimes foolish enough to speak presumptuously in His name. Without His authority to so do. Very unwise. Balaam acted presumptuously. God stopped him. So Balaam had that amazing conversation with the donkey, saw his error, and decided to turn back. Then God gave permission for him to proceed with a condition, “only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.’ Oh that self appointed prophets in our day would take heed to that statement. So much division might be avoided.
Balaam was faithful to the injunction of the LORD. He told Balak to prepare seven altars of sacrifice, with seven bulls and seven rams provided as offerings to the LORD. Then Balaam presented himself before the LORD again. And boldly spoke what God had told him. “How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?” We might conclude that Balak was not impressed! And said so. But he did not give up. He took Balaam to the heights of Mt Nebo from where they could look down on some of the huge number of Israelites in the plains below them. Another seven sacrificial altars were built. Same procedure. Again Balaam spoke. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make good? Behold I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” Dear friend, these words of Almighty God have not changed. Let them sink into your mind and heart. Selah. But still Balak wasn’t finished. (Tongue in cheek .. he would be president of the United Nations were he alive today!) Balaam spoke a third time. “The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened; the utterance of him who hears the words of God, and has the knowledge of the Most High … I see Him, but not now; I behold Him but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.”
This encounter took place BEFORE the Israelites had even entered the land of God’s promise. What an amazing prophetic announcement to the world. And not even an Israelite present to hear it. But those Moabites who did, were standing on a high mountain in Jordan, looking directly into the land, which today is Israel. “So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way.” Nice ending. Well not quite. What follows, in chapter 25 of our text, is an account of great moral failure on the part of the Israelites. For reasons that are not immediately obvious, Balaam has been associated with this. There are places in our Bible which identify what is called “the doctrine of Balaam” (Revelation 2:14), and his identification with sorcery is sufficient to suspect Balaam of encouraging the Moabites to engage in practises of idolatry and adultery with the Israelites. And by this means weakening, and thus through compromise, ‘cursing”, the Israelites. It is certain, from the point of view of the Moabite king Balak, that this was a tactic that might have the effect of preventing the war which terrified him. In the event, it proved very costly to the Israelites, because God visited a plague on them, in which 24,000 died. Furthermore, the Midianites also bore their share of the blame for that idolatry and adultery. Remember they were part of the first group who conspired with the Moabites to engage the services of Balaam.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 37
Chukat (Ordinance)
This is one of the most unusual sacrifices to understand. The sacrifice of the “Red Heifer”. It is also probably the most significant sacrifice. It has been ordained by command of God, and that is the only thing that matters, and the reason why it is so important. Most certainly for those Rabbis expectantly awaiting the construction of the next Jerusalem Temple. And yet the sacrifice does not take place in the tabernacle, and neither does it form part of any tabernacle or Temple service. Well, not directly. But it does have everything to do with the functioning and purity of the priests and those who wish to worship there. In fact, without this sacrifice, neither the tabernacle, nor the Temple which succeeded it, could function at all. It may even be said that the Temple is “Red Heifer dependant” in the broadest sense. The sages have determined that in all of history there have only ever been NINE such sacrifices, and those keen to get the Temple built and functioning again are scouring the world to find the TENTH Red Heifer.
But there are other significant procedural characteristics of this sacrifice which prophetically point to Yeshua Ha’ Mashiach. The first condition is that the animal chosen must be “without blemish” and one “on which a yoke has never come”. (The colour, “Red”, has been a major stumbling block in the search for such an animal in recent years, since animals designated “red” have also been found to have other colours mixed with hair on its coat. Hence not “without blemish”.) The heifer was then presented to Eleazar, Aaron’s oldest surviving son, shortly to become the High Priest in Aaron’s place, who would take the animal outside the camp and slaughter it there. Doesn’t that speak of our Messiah, who was taken “outside the camp” to be slaughtered on that cruel Roman cross. Then the slaughtered Red Cow was reduced completely to ashes. Every part of it consumed by the fire. Our beloved Saviour was also (metaphorically) reduced to ashes when He was put into that tomb. And it was the ashes of that slaughtered animal that God chose to be the only way in which anyone could be rendered clean again. Our Saviour’s death, similarly, since there is no longer a Temple for the worship of God, is deemed by God to be the only way anyone can present themselves, clean before Him, to approach Him in worship. The writer to the Hebrews told us “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God”. (Hebrews 9:13,14) The lesson for us is very clear. Just like the Israelites of old, God will not accept praise and worship from anyone who has not been rendered “clean”. And again we need to stress that this is a perpetual, regular, every time, situation. Only the perfect person remains perpetually “clean”. Have you ever met such a one? Every time one becomes “unclean”, one has to get “clean” again. Every time. Sin can only be ‘cleansed” by forgiveness through repentance and confession. I respectfully suggest that for most of us it is likely to be a daily matter to be dealt with.
But our Torah passage this week contains so much more for us to consider. The Israelites were close to Mount Sinai in the Wilderness of Zin. Kadesh was within that region and we look at some significant events which occurred there, we are told that was the place where Moses’ sister Miriam died and was buried. And it was there that the people had yet another complaint, again the shortage of water. It was not the first time. On the previous occasion, (see Exodus 17) God had instructed Moses to take his staff, the one which he had held out over the Red Sea on their flight from Egypt, and to strike the rock with it. Moses did that and water flowed copiously from that rock so that there was a plentiful supply for them all. On this occasion, Moses was told to speak to the rock in order to bring the water to the people. In his anger and frustration, Moses again struck the rock. Apart from the fact that that was not what he was told, there seems little to be angry about. But God sees it differently. It appears that Moses took the glory of that miracle to himself. Even unwittingly. And for that he would pay a significant price. The lesson. Do not take for yourself, actions or words that God has not told you. So often we hear “The Lord told me this or that”. It is a conversation stopper. More times than not they are presumptuous words. And God is displeased with such. Be careful, be very careful. Be honest, especially with yourself.
In the same chapter of our reading we have the refusal by the Edomites to allow the Israelites to pass peacefully through their land. The result. Edom is one of two places in the Scriptures which are destined to become desolate and uninhabitable. (Isaiah 34) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. (Hebrews 10:31).
Then God announced to Moses that his brother Aaron had finished his work and was about to die. It was God’s judgement that Aaron, and later Moses, would not enter the land of God’s promise on account of ‘rebellion against My word’ at Meribah. So it was that there, on Mount Hor, the mantle of the High Priesthood passed to Eleazar. Moses and Eleazar, now wearing the High Priestly garments, rejoined the congregation. They mourned for Aaron for 30 days.
Our ‘reflection’ ends this week with the first sign of the Israelites having to fight in battle against their enemies to conquer the land God promised to them. A scuffle with the king of Arad brought more complaints against Moses. God caused serpents to come among them. And later, victory over the Moabites. Read the account, and be blessed.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 36
Korach (Korah)
It is difficult to put a precise time on this rebellion, but it was not many weeks after the LORD had dealt with Miriam and Aaron over their dispute with Moses. Korah was a Levite, and he conspired with two others, Dathan and Abiram, who were Reubenites, to again challenge Moses’ authority. Were they brave? or foolish? Evidently they had ambition beyond their wisdom! The LORD had dealt decisively and quickly with Miriam and Aaron. Surely all the people would have known about it because Miriam was struck with a leprous condition and expelled from the camp for a week after her indiscretion. Never-the-less, the challenge was made. “You take too much upon yourselves, for the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them.” Now this was indeed true, but it was not about being holy (set apart), it was about leadership. These challengers wanted to have some part in the leadership of the people. And immediately we see a lesson for ourselves. It is God Himself who provides us with various ministry gifts. Every one of those gifts is important within a body of believers, but they are different for a purpose. The purpose is that the body has to be properly served according to God’s plan for growth in faith and understanding. That service for the LORD is distributed according to need. No-one is unnecessarily burdened thereby, but everyone is (or should be) involved.
Note here the wisdom of Moses. No argument, no justification, no fuss. With a simple rebuke “you take too much on yourselves you sons of Levi!” Their own words quoted back to them, Moses said that they would go before the LORD the next morning for Him to settle their dispute. But then Moses reminded them of the task the LORD had assigned to them. It was a most honourable and important task. “Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi with you?” And then another question “And what is Aaron, that you complain against him?” Aaron was after all the High Priest, and the Levites had been assigned to him as helpers.
Dathan and Abiram and their associates had more complaints, about having left Egypt and having to “do it tough” in their wilderness camp. Moses became very angry and instructed them all (there were 250 of them) to present themselves before the LORD complete with incense censers, at the entrance to the tabernacle, the next morning. Another lesson. When disputes arise, ask the LORD for the solution. In this case however, the LORD resolved the matter with a mighty display of awesome power. Please read it. The initial challenge resulted in the death of the 250 people who disputed Moses’ leadership, and another 14,700 lost their lives by challenging God’s response!! As we have commented previously “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
So God then chose to give the people another resounding endorsement of His choice of leadership. A miraculous event was about to occur in the presence of the leaders of each of twelve tribes. Each tribe was instructed to bring to the tabernacle of meeting a rod of wood, and on that rod was written the name of the tribe. But on the rod of the tribe of Levi, Aaron’s name was inscribed. The rods were placed in the Holy Place as instructed. God told Moses “And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.” The next day, Moses presented all those rods to the people, so that they could see for themselves, The rod which bore Aaron’s name, had not only ‘budded’ but also “had produced blossoms and ripe almonds” That same rod, together with some ‘manna’ and the stones of the commandments, were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant as a permanent reminder of what God had done for the people after they left Egypt. It would be an understatement to say the people were fearful of the LORD. “Surely we die, we perish, we all perish.” was their lament. But that was not God’s plan. What God wanted then, is no different to what He wants today. A people respectful and obedient to His commands and statutes. Faithful in service, using the gifts and talents He has provided for the good of the whole community of faith. This word, on which we ‘reflect’ week by week, shows us His nature and character, His love, mercy and grace, as He communes and relates with His people. But we, like them, also have the option to be disobedient, and many of us are. If we learn nothing else, learn this, that disobedience also comes with consequences.
Our portion ends this week with the promise of God to care for those who are engaged in His service. Specifically, in this case, for Aaron and the priests who serve with him. All the offerings of the people, except those consumed by the fire of the altar, was to be God’s gift of provision for them. “This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved from the fire; every offering of theirs, every grain offering and every sin offering and every trespass offering which they render to Me, shall be most holy (set apart) for you and your sons.” That is a precious promise of God to those He called to serve Him. That is the prosperity God promised His closest servants. It is difficult to comprehend how that simple promise of God’s boundless provision has evolved into the system which has developed today for those who similarly have charge of God’s elect. Or is it just another invention of man ?
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 35
Shelach (Continued)
We ended last week with the LORD having pardoned the people for Moses’ sake, but without repentance by the people themselves, they were told that they would not be allowed to enter the land of God’s promise. “And Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly.” But it was too late. The next morning they arose early and went to the top of the mountain. They could see the way to travel and decided that they would go there anyway. Moses again spoke to them. “Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. Do not go up. Lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD is not among you.” Is this not yet another important lesson for us. How often do we attempt things in our own strength? Sure it might sound like a good idea, but did we check if that is what God wants. Did we pray about it? Did we wait for God’s direction? The word records that in our text today they did indeed ‘go it alone’ and were soundly defeated as Moses had warned them.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses again. “When you have come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you ..”. Followed by another detailed set of instructions about how the various offerings made to the LORD were to be made. Burnt offerings, an offering of sacrifice, freewill offerings at the time of celebration of the “mo’edim” of the LORD, were all covered in detail. But then a statement which poses many questions today. It concerns those who were to bring the offerings. “All who are native born”, most people are perfectly comfortable with. But “And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD, just as you do, so shall he do.” comes as a bit of a shock. But it goes on. “One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you , an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before then LORD. One law (torah) and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.”
Now I confess to being brought to attention be reading those words. The statement is unequivocal, unambiguous, very plain, and easy to understand. At least that is how it seems to me. So why does it present such difficulty to so many of us? Well, first of all, the sacrificial system is no longer operative in our day so we couldn’t participate even if we wanted to. But the principle of participation, definitely in regard to the “mo’edim” is still with us. Some have argued that the statement only applies to those who choose to live ‘in the land’. And true enough the statement by the LORD at the beginning of chapter 15 says “When you have come into the land ..”. But the addition of “throughout your generations” later, suggests a permanency to the command too. We note that n0-where in the Scriptures has God ever annulled any of the commandments. It is a matter which I brought before the LORD with an open mind and an open Bible some years ago, and received from Him the answer to my question. If you are in any doubt, I commend you to do as I did.
The fact that the sacrificial system is no longer operational, a system which allowed the people to “draw near to God”, does not mean that we have no way of similarly ”drawing near to Him” today. The reasons for the need to “draw near” remain. They are many and various. Often unintentional sin might be the reason, as is described in our text. But we need to keep “short accounts” with God. That seems to me to be the prevailing message here. But the next matter addressed is much more serious. Described as “doing anything presumptuously”. And, as “despising the word of the LORD, and breaking His commandment”. How are we to interpret that today? It is easy to think that those things are not possible, but they are, and more frequently than one would imagine. In our text, the result was to be “completely cut off”. No more chances. How sad. An example is quoted of violating the Sabbath. Most today would consider that trivial. But not our God! It falls into the category of “despising the word of God”. So easy to fall into isn’t it?
But God is gracious. He provided them with the means of reminding them continually of His word. YES, continually. “Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments (it is called a Tzitzit today, which observant Jewish men, and some women, wear under their shirt) throughout their generations and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you do not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God.” Pretty simple eh! And in my personal experience very effective. I do not wear a Tzitzit. But the LORD provided me with a different memory jogger. Very effective, and it works all the time.
It is a truth that if you “train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). Many of the people who read this will have been brought up in a christian home. As was I. But as I look back, the emphasis was primarily about attending church on a Sunday. (and I do not argue about that) It was expected that one would receive christian teaching as a result. But churches vary considerably. Countless numbers of people have consequently fallen away. The foundation was not solid. And the Scripture quoted from Proverbs seems to apply only sometimes. Friends, the basis on which that Scripture remains true every time is when that teaching is soundly based on the infallible word of God. Taking heed to such Scriptures that we have just ‘reflected’ upon.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 34
Shelach (Send (men) for yourself)
The time had come when preparations were to be made for the Israelites to go in and possess the land of God’s promise to them. They were still in the Wilderness of Paran, just a few days trek from its southern border. So God instructed Moses to send trusted men with leadership qualities. One representative (excluding the Levites) of each of the twelve tribes, to assess its potential for their occupation. (note that Joseph was now represented by his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as tribes in their own right) The type of land. What it was capable of producing? Was it forested, hilly, flat? Was it rich land with good soil or poor, rocky, barren etc.? And the people there. Did they dwell in fortified cities or camps? Were they well fortified? How should the Israelites plan to move in? Plenty of things to be assessed as they set out on their spying trip. They were gone for 40 days, bringing back with them some samples of the fruit, and declaring that the land was indeed as God had promised, “flowing with milk and honey”.(Exodus 3:8).
If only they had left it at that!! It’s the “good news, bad news” story isn’t it? They had also seen that the cities were large and fortified (remember they had been living as slaves in Egypt, and for the past year had been in the desert). That the people there were big and strong. And they were well spread out in the whole of the land they had seen, and was made up of a number of different people groups. The result. “We cannot possibly hope to conquer the land. It’s not all that good anyway, and the people are giants! We are like grasshoppers in their sight.” What a depressing report. But Caleb, the one who represented the tribe of Judah, spoke up. “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the damage was done. The people were fearful. They wept and anguished over it all that night. Then the recriminations began. “If only we had died in Egypt! etc.” Then “let us choose another leader and go back to Egypt.” Moses and Aaron were distraught at the outbursts.
Joshua, (who had his name changed from Hoshea by Moses (Num 13:16)) the representative of the tribe of Ephraim on the spying trip, stood with Caleb. They tore their clothes in anguish. They could not believe what they were witnessing. And together they spoke up. “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a ‘land which flows with milk and honey’. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.” But fear them they did. And the people sought to stone them both. Then the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting. And all the people saw it.
What followed was another of those amazing conversations between the LORD and Moses. It is worthwhile reading it in its correct context. It is very difficult to imagine that Moses was actually telling God something He did not already know. I speculate here, but maybe God was ‘testing’ the wisdom of “His friend” Moses. In any event it is quite remarkable. And as it happens, God was merely delaying what He told Moses what He intended to do anyway, which was not to allow unfaithful and disobedient people from entering the promised land. He expressed His extreme displeasure “ How long will these people reject Me?” As we go through this conversation we should look for the lesson for ourselves, there is one. (it is easy to think we would not have acted as these people did, but most of us do, every day). He continued “And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?” Is that lesson beginning to register? Moses continued to argue that if God were to follow through with His anger with them and immediately ‘cut them off’’, then that would be seen by their enemies as them being abandoned by God. And furthermore, His promise to ‘bring them to the land flowing with milk and honey’ would be seen as an empty promise. Moses reminded God that “The LORD is long-suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.”
In His mercy and grace, the LORD said “I have pardoned, according to your word”. But regrettably there was more to it. The lesson for us gets clearer as the LORD continued “because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected (treated scornfully) Me see it”. At first glance, it would seem that God was giving with one hand and taking away with the other. But that is NOT the case. God pardoned (by not ‘cutting off’ immediately’) these people, for His faithful friend Moses’ sake. But seeing the heart of the people, and the deep seated scornful attitude which remained, God allowed them to continue their life to its natural end, but He could not allow them to enter the land. Repentance is an act of a personal nature. No-one can repent for someone else. And that is the lesson we need to understand.
The judgement of God on them was that for every day those spies were in the land, God would let them be “be shepherds in the wilderness’. A journey to the land of promise, that could have been done in about ten days, was now going to take 40 years. One down, thirty nine to go! But the people were not finished with their own plans even then. We’ll discover what they did next week.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 33
Beha’alotcha (continued)
Last week we ended with the Israelites making the first movement of their camp, and they were now in the Wilderness of Paran, to the west of where Eilat is today. Then the complaints began!
We need to keep in mind that there were a lot of people in that company. Six hundred thousand men of military age plus dependants. Close to two million altogether as well as their livestock. They would have been spread out over a sizeable area, and not all proceeding at the same pace. The LORD heard their various complaints, and was displeased. He sent fire around them and some who were at the fringes of the company got burned in the fire. “Moses, where are you? Help!” Can you hear their cries? Moses interceded on behalf of the people. The fire ceased. Does that give you a measure of the stature of this man? And the relationship he had with His God? It does me. But they were a mixed multitude we are told. All kinds of people. And they had different tastes and longings. The LORD was faithfully providing their daily provision of “manna” (a word which literally means ‘what is it?’) So they were not hungry, but they ‘craved’ a more varied diet, including meat and vegetables. The LORD’s anger “was greatly aroused” again. And Moses wasn’t all that happy either.
The exchange of words between the LORD and Moses is remarkable. “Why have You have laid the burden of all these people on me?” Moses asked the LORD. Then in paraphrase, the LORD said “I’ll give you help. Bring seventy men you know to have good standing with the people to the Tent of Meeting and I’ll talk to you there.” Which he did. The LORD continued “tell the people they’ll have their meat. Not for one or two days, but for a whole month. They will have meat until it comes out of their nostrils!” Moses’ response was classic. “Where am I going to get all that meat? Shall I kill all the livestock. Can I produce all the fish in the sea to feed them? There are two million of them!! Then the calm of our LORD. “Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.” What followed was another miracle. First, the LORD came down in the cloud, took the Spirit that was in Moses, and placed the same Spirit upon the seventy elders who were gathered there with him. And they prophesied (I take that to mean they took the message of the LORD to the people with the same authority that Moses had). But it was a one time experience for them. And it was for a particular act of ministry. A lesson right there. We are taught that “receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit’” is a “whole of life, one time” single experience gift. “Have you been ‘Spirit filled’? is the question often asked. It is true that we can live by, and in, the Spirit. That is what God expects of us. But it requires a way of life which is ‘God centred’ to maintain. Selah.
Joshua, Moses’ assistant became alarmed when he saw two of the elders prophesying in the camp. “Moses, my lord, forbid them!” Was his cry. Moses responded “Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” Soon the whole area of the camp was filled with quail, brought in by an East wind from the LORD. We are told that he who gathered least collected 10 Homers, enough to fill a small pick-up truck!! And the people GORGED themselves. It’s called gluttony. And for that many of them died! Beware of the sin of gluttony.
Then we learn of the sin of envy and jealousy within the camp. From none other than Moses’ siblings, Miriam and Aaron! The excuse was regarding Moses’ wife, an Ethiopian woman. Evidently not Zippora the Midianite. But the truth is revealed to us in the very next verse of our text. They said “Has the LORD indeed ONLY spoken through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” In my imagination I can see the scene as the LORD hears this. Close your eyes, picture the scene. “YOU THREE, to the tabernacle of meeting, NOW.!!” When they got there, the LORD stood in the door of the tabernacle, in a cloud. WOW!! Aaron and Miriam … step forward. The LORD speaks.
“Hear now My words; if there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak to him face to face, even plainly, not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
The cloud left them. The LORD departed. And in an instant leprosy covered Miriam. “white as snow” we are told. Unclean. Destined to be put outside the camp. Humiliated. Broken. Aaron was dumfounded. Horror stricken. Pouring out his confession of sin and foolishness to Moses. What a scene! Then Moses in his own anguish for his sister, called out to the LORD. “PLEASE heal her, O God, I pray!” (This is the first of only three places in the Scriptures that I can find anyone being ‘prayed for’ to be healed. In every other case of healing, it was the exercise of the GIFT of healing). The LORD in His mercy answered Moses by decreeing that she should be put out of the camp for seven days before being allowed back into the fellowship of the others. We have commented a few times previously “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”. What a way to learn such a lesson. Can we learn from it too? The whole congregation learned it, because they remained in that place for the whole time Miriam was ‘outside the camp’.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 32
Beha’alotcha (When you light)
After TWELVE consecutive days, on which representatives of each of the tribes of Israel had brought identical offerings for the dedication of the altar. Silver platters filled with fine grain mixed with oil as a grain offering. Gold pans filled with incense, one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering. One kid of the goats as a sin offering. And as the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. Complete equanimity among the tribes.
Then Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with the LORD. And the voice of the LORD came to him from above the Mercy Seat which was on top of the Ark. I am continually reminded as I ‘reflect’ on these Scriptures of the meticulous detail of the LORD’S instructions in His communication with Moses. The artisans who had made the lampstand which now stood on the south side of the Holy Place had followed the instructions to the letter. But it seems that the LORD was not satisfied with the way the light was projected towards the Altar of Incence and the Table of Showbread on the north side. It needed to be turned 90 deg to be parallel with the side of the chamber! And this provides another lesson for us, if we needed it, to indicate precision in God’s instructions. Nothing sloppy, ambiguous or optional about God’s commands and statutes.
Two weeks ago, we ‘reflected’ on the fact that God had determined, following the last plague which was visited on the Egyptians, that the firstborn males of the Israelites were “consecrated to Himself “(Exodus 13), and that there was a 273 discrepancy in numbers between the firstborn males of the whole camp of Israel (22,273) and the number of Levites (22,000) who were 1 month old and above. In our text today, when the altar was dedicated for purpose, we have the account of the manner in which those Levites, (whom God had accepted in substitution for the firstborn males), were consecrated and prepared for the task of service in their tabernacle duties. They were first “ceremonially cleansed”. They were ‘sprinkled’ with water of purification. They were bodily shaved. They presented a ‘sin offering’ to the LORD, and had the whole congregation lay hands on them, before the High Priest made a ‘wave offering’ of them to the LORD. Finally, another ‘sin offering’, a ‘burnt offering’ and a ‘wave offering’. Only then did the LORD declare to the whole congregation that “They are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel.” And He declared to the whole assembly “I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary.” FIVE times He mentioned the whole congregation of people in that declaration. But the LORD had one more stipulation. They began their tabernacle duties at 25 years of age and retired from them at 50 years of age. No exceptions.
Exactly one year after the Israelites had left Egypt, in the Wilderness of Sinai, the Tabernacle was set up and functioning. (please note here that the events of Leviticus 9 could not have occurred before the tabernacle was functioning, indicating further that Leviticus is not a “journey” book and cannot be chronologically earlier than Numbers) The LORD instructed Moses that it was time to remember the Passover event in Egypt. It has been an annual remembrance ever since, but provision is made here for anyone who is not able to keep that remembrance on the appointed day, it is permissible not remember it one month later.
Instruction is also given about the function of the cloud that appeared over the Tabernacle when it was first set up. It would be their guide about when to move. By night that cloud had the appearance of fire. “Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the Tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up they would journey.” Two silver trumpets were made in order to warn the assembly about meetings at the Tabernacle, and to announce the setting off times of the tribes encamped on each side of the Tabernacle when the cloud moved. Just over one month after that first Passover remembrance, the cloud was taken up, and the long journey commenced, six tribes ahead of the Tabernacle and six tribes behind it. Everything in order.
Moses’ brother in law, Hobab, who evidently had been with the Israelites in Egypt, and was still with them. was invited to journey with them to the place God had promised them. A most interesting ‘side issue’ that has remained in the record of these times for our enlightenment. This one “alien” family in with a couple of million Israelites. So what? I hear. It speaks to me about the inclusiveness that God extends to those who willingly join in acceptance of, and fellowship with, God’s chosen. Moses was able to give Hobab assurance that “Whatever good the LORD will do to us, we will do to you.” Additionally to solicit from Hobab the benefits of his desert experience. Another provision of God’s grace to His chosen people. I sincerely believe that even, or perhaps especially, today, God is calling gentile believers to join with His chosen, in faith, to benefit from, and contribute to, the welfare, experience, and knowledge of Himself. It is part of His unconditional promise to Abram. “I will bless those that bless you.” There were complaints and grievances on that long journey. Moses bore the burdens and concerns of the people and interceded on their behalf. A mighty and effective leader. And God promised later, that He would raise up another such leader for the people. And He did.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 31
Naso (Take a Census)
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Their descendants were assigned the important duties of transportation of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Last week’s ‘reflection’ ended with the 2,750 members of the Kohathite family assigned the task of carrying the contents of the Most Holy Place. They were not allowed inside the Most Holy Place whilst Aaron and his sons were carefully wrapping those items, and even then those items were not to be touched by the carriers, but were borne on the special poles designed for that purpose. They had been given special dispensation from Almighty God Himself to carry out that task, which in normal circumstances would result in their being “cut off”, a death sentence, for approaching those holy things. Look at the detail given to Aaron and his sons in just preparing the items to be transported. Aaron’s son Eleazar was tasked with supervision of that most important work of the Kohathites with regard to the Most Holy Place.
Our reading this week continues with the additional census of the families of Gershon and Merari, which together numbered a further 5,830 men between the ages of 30 and 50. People who could be expected to be reliable and experienced. The total number of men assigned to transport the Tabernacle and its furnishings was 8,580 men. Aaron’s son Ithamar was given the task of supervising the work of the Gershonites, and Merariites. An extremely good lesson in delegated authority.
Moses was then entrusted with the task of instructing the people regarding a number of other issues with which God knew they would be be confronted on their long journey to the land, and certainly after they arrived there to dwell. These instructions have never been revoked, but many of them are no longer observed in society today. However, everyone who experienced the Covid-19 plague, which China introduced to the world in 2020, would be quite familiar with the first instruction mentioned in our text. “Social distancing”. But of the extreme kind. Contagious and infectious conditions were to be removed to a place outside the camp to minimise the spread of those infections. It seems to have been most effective because we have no account of any such epidemic within the ranks of the Israelites during their long journey. We know from our earlier ‘reflections’ in Leviticus that there were means by which those who recovered were able to rejoin the camp on the evidence presented to their priest. It is similar, but different, to the clinical systems which operate today.
Then came a string of misdemeanours and their remedy! I note the wording at the commencement of this part of our text “When a man or a woman commits any sin …”. There seems to be no ambiguity does there? Otherwise the word “WHEN” would have been replaced with the word “IF”. God knows the ways of men (and women). “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:” said Jeremiah. “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways. According to the fruit of his doings.” That alone is well worth our pondering. But God is also gracious and loving, and in His instruction to Moses He included the path to forgiveness. And it was NOT “a once for all time” solution. In paraphrase here He said “The person who is the guilty party shall first confess the sin which he has committed. Then make restitution in full plus 20%. Then come to Me with the appropriate offering of sacrifice.” As I note the wording I perceive three important steps to getting right with God here. First to put things right with the one wronged. Second to make appropriate restitution. Third present yourself before a holy God for His forgiveness. EVERY TIME.
This Torah portion is well known for ONE important, oft quoted, section. We know it more commonly as “The Aaronic Blessing”. And a blessing it was, and is still today. In our churches now, it is very often used as a benediction or prayer. Each line being accompanied by the injunction and expectation that the Lord “MAY” do these things. But it is neither a benediction nor a prayer in the original. It is infinitely MORE than that. We remind ourselves of the circumstances in which these words were spoken. Firsly, they were spoken by their revered High Priest. A man they recognised as God’s representative in their midst. A man to whom they took their offerings of penitence. Trusted. At the same time, on a personal level, none of them knew where they were, other than it was a desert place. They did not know where they were going, except that it was a land promised to them by God hundreds of years earlier. And finally, they had no idea when they might arrive at their destination, wherever that might be!
And when Aaron was given these words to speak, he was also given the reason for speaking them. “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I WILL bless them.” The words were positive words of PROMISE. “I WILL bless them.” So that was the spirit in which they were spoken. As they made that long journey to the land of God’s promise, these words went before them.
The LORD will bless you and keep you:
The LORD will make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
The LORD will lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you His Shalom.
Consider those words carefully. Ask God what He requires of you that you too may count on them as His promise to you on your journey of faith, as they were to those Israelites on their journey to their land of God’s promise.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 30
Bamidar (In the Wilderness)
A brief word of explanation here. The history of the children of Israel, from God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 12, to their journey to and from Egypt, and the occupation of the land of God’s promise, is contained in just eleven Books in our Bible. Whilst the other 28 Books are instructional, and are written to the Israelites, they do not form part of their ‘journey’ to and in the land. Leviticus and Deuteronomy are not ‘journey’ Books, so the Book of Numbers takes up the story of their ‘journey’ where Exodus leaves off.
God instructed Moses to take a census of all the men from each tribe who were 20 years old and above. The census was obtained by each tribal head reciting the names of those in their extended families who were in that category. These were all men who were judged by God to be capable of “going to war” in defence of the whole gathering. The total number, from which the tribe of Levi was excused, was six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. Quite an army eh! But it also indicates that whilst the land was a “promise” of God to them, there would be struggles and hard work, even battles to be won, to get there. Is there a lesson here? Our journey of faith today carries with it God’s promise of eternal life. (the proverbial promised land) Yeshua told us in Matthew 10 and 24 and in Mark 13 that “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” There are many trials, temptations, and struggles before us as we journey along salvation’s road. And certainly that was true for the Israelites on their journey.
Then each of the tribes were instructed to set up their camp, under their own banner, some distance from the Tent of Meeting. Each tribe in its allotted place. Three tribes on each side so that the Tent of Meeting was right in the centre. Close by were the tribe of Levi, who were charged with responsibility of caring for, dismantling, carrying, and remounting the Tabernacle and its furniture. Instructions were given for the order in which the tribes would set off when the pillar of cloud moved to a new place. Six tribes in front, Levites carrying the Tabernacle in the centre, and six tribes to the rear. Very orderly. It is noted that the census did not include women, people under 20, or the Levites. It is reasonable therefore to conclude that the body of people involved must have been close to 2 million!!
Moses then instructed Aaron and his two remaining sons regarding their duties as priests before the LORD, and appointed the whole tribe of Levi as servants of Aaron and his sons to do the work of attending to the Tent of Meeting and its furniture. But it was made clear to Moses that God had made the tribe of Levi His own. They were effectively a ransom to God for all the firstborn of the Israelites who survived the Passover plague, the death of the firstborn, on the night the Israelites left Egypt. And now it was time to take a census of the Levites. God was keeping account. But this census included all males one month old and above. And as the census proceeded, each family of the Levites were allotted a camping place near the Tabernacle, and given instructions about their particular responsibilities for movement of specific parts of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Very detailed and orderly.
The census of Levites ordered by God, showed that 22,000 males above 1 month old were counted. These were accepted by God in part substitution for the firstborn males who were saved during the Passover plague in Egypt. They were consecrated to the LORD as a result, (Exodus 13:1,2) Then God told Moses to count the number of the whole assembly of Israelites who were firstborn males. There were 22,273 such, now consecrated to the LORD, who had not perished in the Passover plague in Egypt, Moses was commanded that a monetary amount of five shekels per person was to be given to Aaron as redemption money to make up for that 273 shortfall as compensation for not having the full number of consecrated persons to serve him in the work of the Tabernacle. The total sum (5 x 273) of 1,365 shekels was collected from the firstborn of the tribes and given to Aaron. There is a lesson here too. God gave what was His, all those consecrated to Himself, for the work in the Tabernacle. Many of us would have said “Oh! 22,000, that’s close enough.” Wouldn’t we? But God gives full measure every time. And it is quite reasonable to assume that that is what He expects of us too.
It is interesting that within Judaism still, as baby boys are circumcised on the eighth day according to God’s commandment, parents consider that these baby boys are rightfully God’s own. So they ceremonially give a five shekel coin to the Rabbi in order to ‘redeem’ that child back from God. And they are treasured as a result!
Now our reading this week concludes with another example of the meticulous way in which the Israelites were commanded to carry out their duties. The Kohath families, were assigned an important task. They were to carry the contents of the Most Holy Place as they moved from location to location following the pillar of cloud. Firstly, they were told to select only those between the ages of 30 and 50. People who could be expected to be reliable and experienced. Look at the detail given to Aaron and his sons in just preparing the items to be transported. Those assigned to this part of the transportation totalled 2,750 men. They were not allowed inside the Most Holy Place whilst Aaron and his sons were packing those items, and even then those items were not to be touched by them, but were carried on poles.
When we observe the care God takes with such instructions, we know that He wants us to take care too.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
TORAH REFLECTION
Torah Reflection 29
Behar/Behukotai (On the Mount/My statutes)
We come to the end of the commandments and judgements contained in this Book of Leviticus. Thus far they have been concerned with the daily activities and relationships within the camp of the Israelites as they prepare to journey through the wilderness towards the Land of God’s Promise to them. But now the LORD has a word for Moses about a time when that journey would come to an end and the Israelites would be dwelling in the land. They were not to know then that the journey would take another 39 years and that Moses would not actually be with them at that time.
Surprise, surprise! The first announcement regards the observance of the Sabbath! Not the weekly Sabbath this time, but a Sabbath rest for the land itself. The whole concept of land management, wherein they would be able to feed themselves and those who were the poor among them, is contained in these Torah commands (instructions for righteous living) of God. And they were quite different, even revolutionarily enlightening, compared to the practises of the nations around them at that time. (and we might note to land management practises the world over today) We already saw, in our passage last week, with the commandments of God regarding the observance of the “mo’edim” of the LORD, the directive about not harvesting the corners of the fields or gathering the gleaning from the harvest each year. These were left for the poor and the stranger among them to gather. But now God commands them, each seventh year, neither to plant crops nor to prune vineyards. But recognising that there would be produce which would grow of its own accord, none of that was to be harvested either. That was to be a part of God’s provision, without the need for anyone to work, for themselves, for the servants, for the poor, for the stranger, and for the field workers. God’s gift freely available to them for some food without any labour required to produce it. And it provided a year of rest from intensive working of the land itself. A year of recovery for the land. In Hebrew it is called a “shmitah” year.
BUT, there was another “Sabbath” to be observed too! This time it was to be a “Sabbath” of the “shmitah” years. After seven such “shmitah” years, on the “mo’ed” of Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, at the beginning of the fiftieth year, a trumpet of Jubilee was to be sounded throughout the land. It was to be a year consecrated to the LORD, and a year of proclamation of liberty to all the inhabitants of the land. No sowing or reaping of crops and vineyards (note that this Jubilee year would be the second year in a row with no harvest). Land and possessions were to be returned to the original owner in the Jubilee year. Selling price of ‘land use’ was regulated according to the number of productive years left until the next Jubilee. But the seller could also redeem the ‘land use’ by repurchasing it at a price determined by the same formula, according to the number of productive years remaining to the next Jubilee. No opportunity for extortion or ‘market forces’ in God’s economy. No interest or usury at all. “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.”
So how did they manage to survive? “So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgements, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety.” But what about those two years that the land is neither sown nor reaped? “Then I will command MY blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for THREE years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.” Plus, of course, what grows of its own accord. The lesson for us here is to note the options available to these people. In principle they are options available to us today, albeit in a different environment. God told them that if they did it His way, they would receive blessing. The blessing of protection and food. But, by inference, if they did it their own way, things would be more ‘difficult’. God expects, and requires, obedience from those who belong to Him. And there are consequences which accrue for disobedience. No surprises. Clearly spelled out for their attention. And OURS. God is a promise keeper, even promises we don’t like.
The list is long and graphic. But one which we observe to this very day, should be like a beacon demanding our attention. God promised to expel them from the land as a punishment if they wantonly disobeyed Him. It happened in 587 B.C.E., the Babylonian exile. And it happened again in 133 C.E after the Bar Kochba revolution, when the Romans expelled the Jews from the land. But those promises of expulsion came with yet another promise. It’s generational. First read in full, Leviticus 26. You’ll be surprised. “Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God; I am the LORD.”
The details of the return from Babylon is recorded in the Scriptures. The return from “all the countries to which they were dispersed” is happening before our very eyes today. It is prophecy, from this passage today, confirmed by many of the prophetic Scriptures later, which we are privileged to witness at first hand. If that does not speak to your heart about the faithfulness, the mercy, the grace, the wonder, of God, and the efficacy of the Scriptures, then I wonder what will.
Shabbat Shalom
RS