Barmidbar 8:1-12:16
(Please take the time to read the portion completely as this "reflection" is designed to be a life application of only a small part of the Torah portion and is not an in depth commentary, nor does it normally touch the scheduled corresponding Haftorah and Brit Chadashah readings)
Shalom Friends,
Num 11:1-6 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of YHVH; and when YHVH heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of YHVH burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. (2) The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to YHVH and the fire died out. (3) So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of YHVH burned among them. (4) The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? (5) "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, (6) but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."
Does this scenario sound familiar? It should. Right after B'ni Israel left Egypt and walked on dry ground through the red sea, they grumbled about food;
Exo 16:2-4 The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. (3) The sons of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by YHVH'S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (4) Then YHVH said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.
The very provision of YHVH was now despised by the "rabble" and they caused all of Israel to suffer. This passage is especially difficult for us to understand in light of the previous chapters' description of the cloud by day and fire by night that accompanied the encampment and gave them constant "personal" direction. When to move, when to stand still and even trumpets to signal the time of the orderly departure of all Israel. Wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of personalized direction today? I bet you think if we had that pillar of Yah's presence with us today we wouldn't have half the trouble we currently struggle with. Imagine of being sure that YHVH himself was in the midst of the camp, guiding and directing every step of the journey. Those who know me know that this sweet fruit that I have been describing has a hard pit in the center, and here it is.
The very presence of the angel of YHVH in the column of cloud and fire was NOT enough for Israel and it wouldn't be enough for us either!
He had provided manna every day and even a double portion so B'ni Israel could enjoy our Sabbath day of rest, but they, and I propose, we, found a reason to complain. We are sick to death of this manna stuff and we want meat! Well, YHVH heard them and gave them an answer. Let's look at another "plan B" that our loving Heavenly Father constantly has to give us.
Num 11:16-17 YHVH therefore said to Moses, "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. (17) "Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.
YHVH was about to impart some of the spirit that was placed in Moses and share it with the seventy leaders of Israel. Now many of you already see the comparison with Yeshuah and we know that the life of Moses was a prophetic picture of the future life of the Messiah, so let's look at:
Luk 10:1-2 Now after this YHVH appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. (2) And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech YHVH of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Yeshuah sent out people to help bear the burden of the work. He gave them authority ie. His spirit (1 Jn 4:13) and they went forth. This was a plan to stop the grumbling in the camp. That the leadership would have a "big picture" of what was happening and would help the Messiah, Oh I mean Moses. Moses states that he wishes;
Num 11:29 ...would that all YHVH'S people were prophets, that YHVH would put His Spirit upon them!"
1Co 14:5 Now I (Shaul) wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Why would Moses and Rav Shaul both say this thing? Because they wanted all Israel to walk in the spirit as a guard against grumbling and complaining to YHVH. The nation of Israel had such an abundant blessing being in the very presence of YHVH yet they were focused on the physical lack that they were experiencing. It wasn't that they didn't have food, they were tired of eating the same thing day after day. Over half of the worlds' population does not have the security to know that tomorrows' food, or today's for that matter, is there for the eating. And yet they, and we, grumble that we are tired of the same old thing. Day after day we get up and go through the same routine saying things like " I don't hear from God" " I don't know what He wants me to do" " when will God move in my life's circumstances?" Well, I'll tell you. I don't know. But I can assure you that just as He gave a clear sign to His people when it was time to move or stay put, He will give you a clear sign when He wants you to do something too.
We have just passed the feast of Shavuot and celebrated the giving of Torah and the Ruach. You MUST use them both. Israel was only using the Torah instructions to guide themselves in their understanding of YHVH, YHVH gave them His spirit to council them in the way.
I am sure that you have noted the numerous references over the months to the fact that the main stream Christian denominations do NOT follow the written instructions ie. Torah, that YHVH has provided us and so have "in the spirit" departed from the truth as they have no guide lines to follow. We in the Messianic, or Torah Keepers, or Sabbath keepers, or whatever you may call your movement, have gone the other way, walking in the Torah without the Spirit of YHVH, and as such are prone to condemn and complain about the length and color of tzit tzit, beards, dress and permissible practices on Sabbath. Rules without Love! As opposed to Love without Rules. Both lead to a wrong path. Yeshuah was our model and example of all that we need to live by. Just follow Him and do as He did and it will go well with you.
Joh 14:8-17 Philip *said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (9) Yeshuah *said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (10) "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. (11) "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. (12) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. (13) "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (15) "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (16) "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; (17) that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
Notice immediately after He tells us that if we love him we will keep His commands He states He will give us a Helper. Without that helper we cannot keep from grumbling about our own lack of comfort. May His Comforter guide you in all your life choices.
Shalom
Bill |
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