Reflections
Torah Reflections
Torah Reflection 43
Ekev (Because)
We did not comment on an important statement which appeared in the reading last week. Speaking of the children of Israel. “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers ..” Many people, even some who identify as christians today, have been unable to come to terms with that unambiguous statement of Scripture. As a result, a root of bitterness has developed and grown. And that, my dear friends, for those people, has become a stumbling block to spiritual growth. That constant attempt to justify personal prejudice against the clear will of God is debilitating. He requires that we accept that He alone is God. All the world is His, not just Israel. There is promise of blessing to those who bless whom God has blessed. Israel is special to Him. Get over it.
And for those who are ‘special’ to Him, that is followed up in the reading this week with “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.” The list of the blessings and care which God intended to shower upon this people is quite staggering. Fertility, fruitfulness of the land, food provision, health, wellbeing and multiplication of livestock are all included in the national blessing of this new nation of people. But over and again, Moses repeated the persistent message that obedience to the LORD’s commandments is a necessary pre-requisite for such blessing. This nation of Israel, living in their own land, was to be an example of the blessing which God provides for those who are His. A living testimony to the nations which surrounded them.
But as these words were being uttered, the people were still on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses was using the recall of God’s provision on their journey thus far to emphasise His ability to do what He said He would do. The land was still occupied by the Canaanites. Heathen idol worshippers. Those high places of worship had no role to play in the life of the Israelites. Their job was to occupy the land and remove all evidence of the culture of the people they were to replace. Can we see the parallels and the lessons for ourselves as we read this recital of God’s conditions to the Israelites? The imagery is of the journey we ourselves are embarked upon as we travel to our promised land. It is not too difficult to see the parallels, both in God’s requirement of us, or the blessings which are promised. Remember that He said. “I am the LORD, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6)
There is the oft quoted promise of God, in the circumstance of their hunger and longing for variety of foods during their journey. “Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” For them it was a practical matter of satisfying hunger. God had promised to bring them to a good land, which they could not see. To live their lives in freedom, where previously, for generations, they had lived in slavery. That was their hope. It was all that kept them going. There was light at the end of that proverbial tunnel. So too for us in type. We live in the blessed expectation of eternal life with our God. That is the “word which proceeds out of the mouth of God”. That is His promise to us. But there is a road of obedience to Him to be followed to get to that place.
As Moses continued, he described the land the LORD had prepared for the Israelites. It was a good land. “A land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year”. This was in comparison to the only other land they knew, Egypt, which had to be irrigated by hand from the river. But again Moses was careful to emphasise the need for them to be obedient to the commands of God. “To love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Over and over again the same reminder. It must have been such a lovely productive land in those days. But because we know the way events unfolded, we see that after they were expelled from the land, due to their failure to keep covenant with God, the land became quite barren. So much so that in 1869, Mark Twain, in his book “Innocents Abroad” described it as ‘uninhabitable’! It had been drought ridden for 1800 years. Meaningful rain did not appear again until 20 years later as God prepared the land for the fulfilment of His prophecy of the return of the Jews from every corner of the globe.
We may do no better to conclude our ‘reflection’ this week than to sum up the whole of God’s requirement of these people, and in which I find no conflict with His requirement of us today if we are to receive His blessing. “And now, Israel, what does the LORD require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes, which I command you for your good?” Why? “For the LORD your God is God of gods and LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.”
Do we need any other reason to offer Him our praise and our worship?
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections
Torah Reflection 42
Va’etchanan (And I implored)
A sad start to our ‘reflection’ today as Moses continued his account of the journey out of Egypt. He recalled for the people his pleading with the LORD to be allowed to go into the land with the people he had led for the past several years. The LORD”s answer was “Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.” Door closed. Memories of the letter to the church in Philadelphia. “These things says He who is holy, He who is true. (quoting Isaiah 22:22) He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”. When God closes the door, it remains closed. Then God instructed Moses to go to the top of Mount Pisgah and look all around, in every direction, and there to command Joshua about the task ahead of him, as he was about to take charge of the people, as Moses’ successor, to lead them into the promised land.
Immediately after this the tone changed. Moses concentrated on ensuring that the people understood exactly what they had covenanted with God to do. (Exodus 24:7) This was not the first time they had heard these things, and it would not be the last. But the very first statement was, and is, vital both for them and for us. “You shall not add to the word I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” If only “the church”, in all its hundreds of forms, could grasp the import of that command of God. Moses continued “Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say; Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’’ It is quite evident that in the development of church practice, there continues to be a wide diversity of interpretation and understanding. That is quite detrimental to the view of the world to “the church”. Adding to and taking away from the word, as best fits the particular emphasis of the leadership, is common. The multiplication of different groups each claiming to have “the truth” only serves to emphasise the error. It would surely make Moses ‘blush’. Please take time to ponder this in your heart, asking God to reveal the relevance of these statements of Moses to you today. It could well be that the division of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Apostolic Scriptures by the descriptors “OLD” and “NEW” has much to answer for! Just read John 1:1,11, and 14 to gain some perspective.
Of all the commandments the LORD gave Moses, of which he again reminds the people, and which he here describes as the covenant they are expected to keep (Exodus 24:7), he initially singles out the “Ten Commandments”. Yes, there are TEN of them, even though most Christians recognise only nine. (The remembrance and observance of the Sabbath being considered optional for christian believers). Idolatry in its many forms, but specifically the making of carved images as objects of worship is forbidden. “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” said Moses. And that too is a commandment largely ignored by large sections of the christian church. But all is not lost. God knows the heart of man. He was aware way back then of the frailty and propensity of man to deviate from His ways. From those very practices Moses declared “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God) He will not forsake you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.” That is a highly qualified statement (highlighted) What a mighty God we serve. And we have this word, His word, as our guide and instruction to know what He expects, and what is right in His eyes. But it would be remiss of me to not also quote the psalmist David, with specific reference to the comments in then first paragraph of this ‘reflection’ about God closing doors. “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us. Nor will He keep His anger forever.” (Psalm 103:8,9)
There is always so much teaching in these Scriptures. But perhaps the part which has been of greatest value to the Jewish community, in particular. is what has become known as “The Shema” in Chapter 6 : 4-9. The injunction is to “teach these words diligently to your children and to talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Can there be a more comfortable and safe place to learn the word of God? But no-one can teach what one does not know. It is such a sadness for christian believers that the chords of connection between these basic roots of our faith were so comprehensively broken at the Council of Nicaea about 1700 years ago. They can be restored.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sachs, former chief Rabbi in UK, has written “Shema Yisrael does not mean “Hear, O Israel”. It means something like “Listen, Concentrate. Give the word of God your most focussed attention. Strive to understand. Engage all your faculties, intellectual and emotional. Make His will your own. For what He commands you to do is not irrational or arbitrary but for your welfare, the welfare of your people, and ultimately for the benefit of humanity.”
God does and will bless those who diligently seek Him. He has made Himself known in His word. Selah.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections
Torah Reflection 41
Devarim (Words)
As we begin to ‘reflect’ on this book of “words”, we remind ourselves of where we have come in the historic timeline. Our Bibles record that Abraham lived approx. 4,000 years ago. The events recorded in Numbers, on which we have just ‘reflected’, take us to roughly 3,300 years ago. And at this point Moses, in the knowledge that his life was soon to end, determined to make sure that the Israelites were reminded of all that God had accomplished for them since they left the slavery of Egypt a mere 40 years earlier. What Leviticus is to the priesthood, Deuteronomy is to the people. Both books are instructional. And neither involves any ‘journeying’. Numbers 33 contains the summary of the wilderness wandering of the Israelites.
When they left Egypt, and began their journey, the LORD had taken time to explain to Moses, on the mountain, what He expected of this people called by His name, as He led them to the land He had promised to Abram hundreds of years earlier. And now, by walking up into the hills on the eastern side of the Jordan River, it was possible for them to gaze back over their encampment below, directly into the land God had promised them. They had been within a few days walk of that land when Moses was on the mountain hearing from God, but their failure to trust God at that time was why that few day’s journey had stretched out to 40 years. We remind ourselves that when Moses had conveyed to them what the LORD required of them, they had willingly agreed to “all that the LORD has said and to be obedient” (Exodus 24:7) and thus had made a covenant with Him. A salutary lesson for us if we too have ourselves made a covenant with God. He expects that we keep that covenant. Because He does.
And now, in the twilight of his life, Moses provided a ‘modern history lesson’ for them. Starting with the selection of trusted men from each tribe to act in impartial judgement over them, and eventually the selection of men to spy out the land God had promised them. But in spite of the promise of God to go before them and to give them victory over the Canaanites, they trusted the report of those men who saw defeat ahead, rather than that of Joshua and Caleb, who trusted God that victory was assured if they went in immediately. It was their lack of trust in God’s word, which amounted to rebellion against Him, which caused God to be angry with them and deny them entry to the land (those above 20 years of age at that time) and cause them to die during the next 39 years of their journey. Moses was not “pulling any punches” here because he knew that there were many challenges still to be faced by them, and their absolute trust in God was paramount for their success in conquering the land. We might conclude that it is the same for us in our walk of faith. Our tendency is to expect understanding, with our mind, what God is saying, rather than to believe, with our heart, that He is faithful in all His ways. And where He leads, He will protect, guide, and keep. The issue for us is to know when we hear from God, and not be following our own ambition. A different ‘spirit’.
Moses reminded them of what happened when they (the ones who voted against Joshua and Caleb) tried to ‘go it alone’, in their own strength, against his counsel. They were soundly defeated by the Amorites. He even told them that he too was now forbidden to enter the land on their account. Then Moses recalled other encounters with the Edomites, and the Moabites. The Lord had told Moses that their lands were not to be taken because the LORD had given those lands respectively to the descendants of Esau and Lot (who was also given the land of the Ammonites) as an inheritance. And during this whole trek, God had provided them with food and water, even their shoes did not wear out! Our text also tells us that it took 38 years of the journey for all the ‘over twenty year olds’ to die. The ones now left had not incurred the wrath of God for the disobedience at Horeb, and would be the ones to shortly enter the land.
Moses encouraged the people that as a result of their recent battles, the LORD had put great fear into the various kingdoms through which they had, and would, pass. They had already acquired substantial wealth by way of gold, silver, cattle, sheep, donkeys and even people to work for them. More would follow as they moved to accomplish that which God had in store for them. Their task was to remain faithful to the covenant they had made with God. Yes there was more to be done. Yes there were battles to be fought. Yes there were difficulties to be overcome. BUT, victory was assured “You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you”, Moses told them.
Read the account for yourself. It is an encapsulation of significant events in which the Israelites had been involved, with various outcomes, from which we can all learn valuable lessons. And if we don’t learn those lessons, then it is just another interesting, but unusual, story! From all that Moses has written, the overwhelming lesson for me is to observe the amazing relationship Moses had with his God. He was not perfect, but he was faithful, obedient, committed, humble, and reliant on God. It is probably overly ambitious to expect such a relationship with God for oneself. But the elements within that relationship are available aspirations for all. These accounts of God’s leading the people to the land He promised them are written for our knowledge and understanding of God Himself. How He relates, and what He expects. “I am the LORD, I do not change”. (Malachi 3:6)
The blessing is ours if we are willing to commit ourselves to the reading, study, and understanding of His word.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections
Torah Reflection 40
Mattot/Massei (Tribes/Journeys)
Our ‘reflection’ opens today with details about some laws and practices which concern the relationships, in respect of contract and vow authority, between men and women (daughters and wives). Also, the importance of words used in making those promises (vows). The late David Pawson, who wrote several books, said that the book which brought him the most adverse comment was the one entitled “Leadership is Male”. He might have, but didn’t, use this passage of Scripture as the foundation for that book title. Here, the passage is used to illustrate the onerous task of care and protection which God has charged to the account of men. And there is a valuable lesson for us today in this regard. Regrettably, we may all know people, men, who have substantially abused this Godly role of care and protection, turning it instead into an issue of possessive obsession of control. This passage of Scripture does not rule out, or forbid, reasoned discussion between the woman and the man on any substantive issue in the proposed ‘vow’ in advance. We also note that the relationships relate to a man and an unmarried daughter, or a wife, living in the same home. The role of the man is intended to be exercised in love. And that for the benefit and protection of the woman, not for her imprisonment.
The LORD then restated His instruction about harassing the Midianites. We earlier noted that these Midianites had a distant blood relationship with the Israelites through Abraham. They were once a nomadic group, who could “pop up” almost anywhere, but they had also built cities to live in under kings. In so doing they also acquired great wealth. They were traders who travelled widely. They evidently were quite familiar with the Moabites and lived among them. If they became widely dispersed in Canaan too, and we know from the story of Joseph that they travelled through the land of Canaan, then they would become an obstacle to the Israelites in conquering that land. So Moses put together an army of twelve thousand men to war against the Midianites. I am not sure how long the battles raged, but all the Midianite males were put to the sword, including the five kings of their cities. In addition, we are told that the infamous Balaam also was killed with them. The whole story is contained in chapter 31 of our text. The end result was that the Israelites were much richer. gold, silver, bronze, tin, lead, and wood, as well as leather and woven garments. Additionally they acquired 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys, as well as 32,000 young women who were unmarried. All this booty was equitably divided between the tribes. Half to the men who participated in the fight, and half to the remainder of the people. Then from each half, tribute was given to the High Priest, as a heave offering to the LORD, and a similar tribute to the Levites. Everyone thereby participated in the spoils of victory. And finally, the “icing on the cake” for the Israelites. The commanders of the fighting men came to Moses to report that they had not lost a single person in the fight. So they brought an offering of thanks and praise to God for His protection. A dress rehearsal. What an amazing illustration of God being among the people as they made the final preparation to go into the land. I can only find a simple lesson here. Moses. Obedient. Faithful. Speaking only that which God told him to speak. God give us grace to learn what you require of us, as Moses did.
The land on the Eastern side of the Jordan River was fertile and attractive to the heads of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, who, we are told had “a great multitude of livestock”. They decided that they would like to settle there, and came to an arrangement with Moses and Joshua which allowed them to so do. Their fighting men would accompany the other tribes when they eventually entered Canaan, to conquer it, but would then return to their families in their chosen place, which today is part of Jordan. Later they were joined by the half tribe of Manasseh in what is today part Jordan and part Syria. The whole journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan is recorded in Numbers 33. It is quite informative. The land God promised the Israelites, for occupation by the remaining 9 1/2 tribes is described in Numbers 34. Most modern Bible editions include a map supplement which allows the interested reader to follow the details visually. But there are some ‘reflections’ to be made about God’s instructions which were not observed by the Israelites and which have repercussions for them to this very day. It also provides us today with a solemn lesson if we wish to learn it.
The vast majority of believers are acquainted with the phrase “be sure your sin will find you out”. Most think it to be a quotation from “somewhere” in the Apostolic Scriptures. It is in fact a promise of God, made to the Israelites in the very circumstance of driving out the enemy before them as they seek to conquer and occupy the land of God’s promise to them. (Numbers 32:20-22). Then in verse 23 Moses told the people “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out”. There is no question that God is well aware of the sin of man. But man is not always aware of, or does not appreciate, the often immediate, consequences of such sin.
“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.” (Numbers 33:55,56.) Our knowledge of the Scriptures tells that that is exactly what happened. The irritant, the thorns, the harassment, and later the expulsion from the land. Just as God said it would be.
How blessed are we that God gives us such warnings?
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections
Torah Reflection 39
Pinchas (Phineas)
Balaam was hired by the Moabite king Balak to curse the Israelites. Under God’s control and direction, he was unable to so do. It is widely considered that he then offered counsel and advice to the Midianites and Moabites about the way in which their conduct with the Israelites could minimise the possibility of war between them. Idolatry and moral decadence, to put it politely. God’s anger was aroused, and Moses was instructed to hang those men of Israel who had so offended and compromised themselves with the women of Moab and Midian. Now Phineas, grandson of Aaron, was himself so angered that he took a javelin and personally killed Zimri, son of a family leader of the Simeonite tribe, together with Cozbi, a daughter of family head of the Midianites. At that the killing ceased, but by then, 24,000 men of Israel were dead.
As a result of the actions of Phineas, showing great zeal for righteousness as in “zeal with My zeal” said God to Moses, “I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel”. (I am reminded here of that great “faith” chapter, Hebrews 11, where we read “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” I wonder if the writer to the Hebrews, in addition to the giants of ‘faith’ mentioned, might also have had Phineas in mind when he wrote that!). But God also had a word for the Midianites. They were descendants of the half brother of Isaac, same father, different mother. Moses was told to “Harass the Midianites and attack them; for they harassed you with their schemes by which they seduced you .. “ And as we will see again next week, Moses was faithful to God’s command of harassment of the Midianites thereafter. As we mentioned in our opening paragraph, Balaam was strongly suspected of being part of those schemes. I see an important lesson for us today right here. God had expressed His anger at the idolatry and other matters which were destroying the status of the Israelites in the eyes the people of Moab and Midian. They became almost indistinguishable from those around them. It might be called “assimilation”. As believers we are called to be ‘in the world’ but not ‘of the world’ aren’t we? And that is for “My holy name’s sake”. It is not for reward or acclamation (read Hebrews 11:6 in its entirety), but as a testimony to who we are in Him. Just like the Israelites of those days, we carry the mantle, the mark, the name, of Him who saved us. It’s not what we say that impresses the people we come in contact with. It’s what we DO, how we behave. And God sees everything.
Then Moses was instructed to take another census of the men who were 20 years old and above. Almost 40 years had passed since the last major census and there had been many people die in that time. There now were 601,730 fighting men remaining. Those under twenty year olds who were there at the start were now almost sixty year olds. And they were the oldest of them, apart from Joshua and Caleb, (Numbers 14:38 and 26:64,65) because Moses too, would not complete the journey into the land of God’s promise, which was now very close. But Moses had one more very important task. The fair division of the land. God instructed him in the principles of the division, but the precise location was to be decided by casting lots. Only the Levites were excluded from land allotment. They were excluded also from the census of the fighting men. And there were 23,000 of them from one month old and above. As these matters were being discussed, five daughters of Zelophedad, a descendant of Manasseh, approached Moses with the fact that they had no brothers, and under the existing arrangement they would be dispossessed of any land inheritance. Moses enquired of the LORD, and the women were very pleased to be assured they would get their land within their tribal allotment!
There is yet more work for Moses to accomplish by way of teaching, but the LORD wanted to show the one He described as “His friend” the land which He had promised the people so many years ago. From the plains of Moab, God told Moses to go to the heights of the Abarim Mountain range, to the east of the Dead Sea. Its highest peak today is about 850 m above the Dead Sea, and Mount Nebo is at the northern end of that range. It provided a good view westward across the landscape of Canaan. It is not difficult to imagine a day with no pollution giving extensive views over the land. And it was here that God told Moses that he would shortly be following his sister Miriam and his brother Aaron in death. I am always sad when I read that about Moses. Such a faithful servant of the LORD. But then I consider the crown of glory which surely awaits such a man. Another lesson. The writer to the Hebrews said “It is appointed to men to die once, but after this the judgement.” (Hebrews 9:27). Both parts of that statement are true. The death and the judgement. It was true for Moses, and it is true for us. The great lesson for us to understand is that God Himself is the Judge. He is gracious, merciful, and just. But He cannot look on unforgiven sin. (Revelation 21:27)
After that Moses spoke to the LORD about leadership succession. The LORD appointed Joshua, with the instruction that He would communicate through Eleazar the High Priest and the mysterious (to us) Urim. And finally, Moses was told to reinforce among the people the instructions relating to the “mo’edim’ of the LORD. The Sabbath, the beginning of months, Passover, Unleavened bread, Firstfruits (Feast of Weeks), Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Feast of Tabernacles. All are included. They must be important to God.
“So Moses told the children of Israel everything, just as the LORD commanded Moses”. What a faithful servant of God.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections
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 Reflections
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 Reflections
Torah Reflections 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 Reflections
Torah Reflections 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 no-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 Reflections
Torah Reflections 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