Parasha Beha’alotecha True Contentment; Journeying According to the Word

Parasha Beha’alotecha True Contentment; Journeying According to the Word

Zechariah 3;4..”Remove the filthy garments from upon him!” Then he said, “See I have removed your iniquity from upon you, and dressed you with clean attire.” 5 Then he said, “Let them put a pure turban on his head.” So they put a pure turban on his head and they dressed him in [clean] garments, while the angel of HASHEM [remained] standing. 6 The angel of HASHEM then warned Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus said HASHEM, Master of Legions: If you go in My ways, and if you will safeguard My watch, and you also administer My Temple, and you will also guard My courtyards, then I will grant you strides among these [angels] who stand here.

–This is yet another RICH Torah sedra (parasha or Portion). Beha’alotecha= When you set up.
We examine more wilderness- desert challenges. Amid the Presence of the Lord, the Glory which travels with them, there is defiance and provocation. These desert challenges are something the people of God will have to rise to, to clarify what they will have to do to walk out with national and personal character the responsibility they now have. They are challenged to ‘go through with’ all they have learned about thus far. So to the text is very timely and relevant for us. The people of God are awakened to realize the difference between punishment, and the consequences we bring upon ourselves. When we really take a look at all the things that happen with the Children of Israel in the wilderness and in our own desert experiences we realize that challenges present themselves as a result of NOT STAYING FOCUSED ON THE GOAL. To precipitate a spiritual revolution which will show the whole world that there can be a people completely devoted to God.

Zechariah 3;9 “For behold, the [foundation] stone that I have placed before Joshua- seven eyes toward one stone; behold I am engraving its adornment- the word of HASHEM, Master of Legions- and I will remove the iniquity of that land on one day.10 On that day- the word of HASHEM, Master of Legions- each man will invite his fellow beneath the vine and beneath the fig tree.”

Bamidbar 8;1 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 2″Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” 3 Aaron did so; toward the face of the Menorah he kindled its lamps, as HASHEM had commanded Moses. 4 This is the workmanship of the Menorah, hammered-out gold, from its base to its flower, it is hammered out; according to the vision that HASHEM showed Moses, so did he make the Menorah.

 

-When we learned about the Menorah in previous portions, we understood it to be the silent service…not glorified by many onlookers yet exceedingly crucial. The very first thing done within the Holy Place. Without the light of the menorah the Kohanim could not perform their duties within the Tent. The wicks of the outer candles are to face, or bow, to the center candle which would remain lit. This center, servant or helper candle can represent Messiah. There is so much symbolism in the Menorah it is a teaching in itself, let us understand it to represent a light separate from the natural light of the luminaries God has created, Yeshua, the Torah and Israel are likened to the ‘light’ in scripture. There is a beautiful interpretation which suggests God’s intention for the lesson of the Menorah: God ‘says’ “Just as I am giving you light that is enlightenment through the Torah teachings to help you live a good life- So I expect you to light a flame for others, for they are also My creations.” If there is one prayer I could express to relate my heart for this blog, it would be that God be glorified and Yeshua be exalted, that even one reader would come to know that they have a divine mission, that this mission is unique to them, that they can serve the Lord with their lives and they can dedicate their time to helping others learn about Him and that each one of us is designed for and capable of bringing light into the world! The Menorah has seven branches, there are seven ‘spirits’ of God. Proverbs and Isaiah refer directly to these branches with the attributes of the spirits (wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear), all facing the LORD in the center. In revelation the one called Faithful and True has eyes of fire, the flames on the menorah are eyes, insight, revelation from the given and eternal word we have been gifted.

Proverbs 6;23 For a commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light; and reproving discipline is the way of life…

Proverbs 9;10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of HASHEM, and the [beginning of] understanding is the knowledge of the sacred. 11 For through me your days will be increased, and they will increase years of life for you.

Isaiah 11;1 A staff will emerge from the stump of Jesse and a shoot will sprout from his roots. 2 The spirit of HASHEM will rest upon him- a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of HASHEM. 3 He will be imbued with a spirit of fear for HASHEM; and will not need to judge by what his eyes see nor decide by what his ears hear.

Revelation 19;11 Next I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse. Sitting on it was the one called Faithful and True, and it is in righteousness that he passes judgment and goes to battle. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many royal crowns. And he had a name written which no one knew but himself. 13 He was wearing a robe that had been soaked in blood, and the name by which he is called is, “THE WORD OF GOD.”

Genesis 41;14 So Pharaoh sent and summoned Joseph, and they rushed him from the dungeon . He shaved and changed his clothes, and he came to Pharaoh.

Bamidbar 8;5 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 6″Take the Levites from among the Children of Israel and purify them. 7 So shall you do to them to purify them: Sprinkle upon them water for purification, and let them pass a razor over their entire flesh, and let them immerse their garments, and they shall become pure.

–This passing of the razor over the whole body, and immersion is a ritual of preparing to enter the King’s court. As we can see in the Genesis text there are often similar rituals used by surrounding nations, is this to say that HASHEM borrowed from these cultures? Certainly not. Our King did however wish to relate to mankind at this time in a way in which they could relate to and comprehend. I often hear the word ‘context’ thrown around, referring to a verse in front of or behind the sited scripture, perhaps the entire chapter or even the whole book. The true message of context is taking the entire bible as a whole, and not just that…studying the geography, languages, people’s cultures, etc. I know you might say, “I don’t have time for all of that..” The great blessing is that it has already been done for you. For true context and for excellent teachings of Scripture from the Ancient Near East perspective visit: http://www.wisdomintorah.com

Revelation 3;2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains, before it dies too! For I have found what you are doing to be incomplete in the sight of my God. 3 So remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and turn from your sin! For if you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief, and you don’t know what moment I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless, you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; and they will walk with me, clothed in white, because they are worthy.5 He who wins the victory will, like them, be dressed in white clothing; and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life; in fact, I will acknowledge him individually before my Father and before his angels.

Bamidbar 8;8 They shall take a young bull and its meal-offering, fine flour mixed with oil, and a second bull shall you take as a sin-offering. 9 You shall bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting, and you shall gather together the entire assembly of the Children of Israel. 10 You shall bring the Levites before HASHEM, and the Children of Israel shall lean their hands upon the Levites. 11 Aaron shall wave the Levites as a wave-service before HASHEM from the Children of Israel, and they shall remain to perform the service of HASHEM.

–These are amazing images! First off to imagine that in the Day to Come any of us might be clothed in white like the Levites, like the priests and be able to serve our King forever is awe inspiring! The Revelation description is so similar in my mind to God’s continual reminder that the Levites are “Mine” and set apart, “worthy”. Remember they are the ones unafraid of the sword ( we also recall they are the Torah teachers and that the Word is likened to the sword) who will go forth toward victory in HASHEM’s Name. Just as each person is acknowledged individually before the Father, we recall the accounting of each and every Levite before HASHEM. Then we see, just as with the offerings, the entire congregation assembled to lay their hands on the Levites. What an intense moment. The transfer of life for life, and these men are to live before HASHEM, working according to His design on behalf of the people who too invest their lives in their leaders abilities and established divine assignment.

Bamidbar 8;24 “This shall apply to the Levites: From twenty-five years of age and up, he shall join the legion of the service of the Tent of Meeting. 25 From fifty years of age, he shall withdraw from the legion of work and no longer work. 26 He shall minister with his brethren in the Tent of Meeting to safeguard the charge, but work shall be not perform. So shall you do to the Levites concerning their charge.”

–Sharath= minister to; contribute to; attend as menial worshipper.
What is a minister? A ministry? What does it mean to ‘minister to’ someone?
In the Exodus text Joshua is referred to as the “minister of Moses” and in this translation it says servant.
Exodus 24;13 Moses stood up with Joshua his servant; and Moses ascended to the Mountain of God.
We know Joshua followed Moses closely, in that he learned from him, imitated him and actually physically went with him. He was faithful and he was seen as worthy to ‘succeed’ the greatest prophet, whom God spoke to face to face as a friend.
In Deuteronomy, Aaron and his sons are determined as prior to be those whom will
Amad=stand; endure; remain and SERVE.
Deuteronomy 18;5 For him has HASHEM chosen from among all your tribes, to stand and to minister in the Name of HASHEM, him and his sons, all the days.
To minister is to serve, the heart of service for one another is something beloved of the Lord and allows us to exemplify His righteous model as seen in the Word to everyone we meet. The Bamidbar (Numbers) text shows that a person may become unable to perform the ‘heavy lifting’ required to minister before HASHEM in this world, stating that at the age of fifty one must retire. Yet, this man is to remain with his peers and to continue to minister among his brethren. There is not an expiration date on usefulness, nor is there a time limit…if you desire to serve the Lord, serve your fellow and minister by becoming like Yeshua…searching out ways to bless others. Seek to bless and the reward is in that service!

Genesis 50;24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely remember you and bring you up out of this land to the land that He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph adjured the children of Israel saying, “When God will indeed remember you, then you must bring my bones up out of here.”

–It is said that these men who stood before Moshe and Aaron could have been those who were in charge of ‘caring for’ the bones of Joseph which were to be buried in the Land. What a wonderful charge this was for them, whomever they were, a responsibility that surely wasn’t taken lightly. This charge though would render a person contaminated. They would have to make arrangements so that they somehow would be able to participate in the pesach-offerings and this is the question they pose to their leaders. The lesson we can learn? Second chances. These men actively sought to find a way to participate in God’s program, had they just brushed it off…many would have lost the great benefit of the Second Pesach for years to come. So too this speaks of second chances. It is never too late to get back on track and do what is right. God understands our shortcomings, imperfections and flaws and He desires and allows us to pick ourselves back up. Second chances may never come unless you actively seek them out. Repairing relationships, restoring closeness, rejuvenating convictions! What else can we learn in these short powerful verses? The model of a good leader, he seeks first the counsel of the Lord. Moshe doesn’t quickly answer or even seek a solution from his own insight…he goes FIRST to God.

Bamidbar 9;6 There were men who had been contaminated by a human corpse and could not make the pesach-offering on that day; so they approached Moses and Aaron on that day. 7 Those men said to him, “We are contaminated through a human corpse; why should we be diminished by not offering HASHEM’s offering in its appointed time among the Children of Israel?” 8 Moses said to them, “Stand by and I will hear what HASHEM will command you.”

II Chronicles 30:1-3 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem.

–The Feasts of the Lord are His special Moadim (Appointed Times). They are not the Jewish Festivals nor do they consist merely of man made tradition. Additionally if we are to walk the way our savior walked, we would be walking toward Jerusalem on the three Pilgrimage feasts (or observing them in our ‘dwelling places’ in the Diaspora) and keeping the weekly Sabbath as he designed and as he honored.
Leviticus 23;2 Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: HASHEM’s appointed festivals that you are to designate as holy convocations- these are My appointed festivals. 2 For six days labor may be done, and the seventh day is a day of complete rest, a holy convocation, you shall not do work; it is a Sabbath for HASHEM in all your dwelling places. 4 These are the appointed festivals of HASHEM, the holy convocations, which you shall designate in their appropriate time.
If you were on a distant road and could not make it to the Mishkan or Temple in time, this is one purpose for the observance allowed on the same day, just one month hence. To me this speaks to all of us, it is never too late to begin to adhere to God’s plan for you, no matter how long we may have lingered or how far we might have strayed. There is one law and always will be for the native branches, and those that have been grafted in. Take hold of the beautiful gift these Feasts of the Lord have to offer, they all speak of he who was, who is and who is to come!!

Bamidbar 9; 9 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 10″Speak to the Children of Israel, saying: If any man will become contaminated through a human corpse or [will be] on a distant road, whether you or your generations, he shall make the pesach-offering for HASHEM, 11 in the second month, on the fourteenth day, in the afternoon, shall they make it; with matzos and bitter herbs shall they eat it. 12 They shall not leave over from it until morning nor shall they break a bone of it; like all the decrees of the pesach- offering shall they make it. 13 But a man who is pure and was not on the road and had refrained from making the pesach-offering, that soul shall be cut off from its people, for he had not offered HASHEM’s offering in its appointed time; that man will bear his sin. 14 When a convert shall dwell with you, and he shall make the pesach-offering to HASHEM according to the decree of the pesach-offering and its law, so shall he do; one decree shall be for you, for the proselyte and the native of the Land.”

–The beauty of the idea that one can approach the Lord with a heartfelt request, with the intention and desire to perform His will and act in accordance with His guidelines for worship and study, prayer and observance…and be answered is an amazing thing to think about. It was because of God’s understanding and compassion for the human circumstances that this second Pesach was decreed, by God. There is little research done among many church goers as the prevalence of anti-Semitism among the early church fathers and as this opportunity arises here let us take a look at just one of many examples with the Spirit leading us. Please read what the impression of this blessed decree made by God was turned into by Constantine and let us ask ourselves a very relevant question: What other ideas from Scripture may have become distorted by man for their own purposes? Have we done a diligent job in seeking out how these distortions may be effecting the current doctrinal systems to which we may be adhering?

–Council of Nicea 325 AD/CE: From the letter of the Emperor (Constantine) to all
those not present at the council. (Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib III 18-20)

“When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day; It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of festivals,to follow the customs (the calculation) of the Jews who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter; We ought not therefore to have anything in common with the Jew, for the Savior has shown us another way; our worship following a more legitimate and more convenient course (the order of the days of the week: And consequently in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jew.For it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Savior, have no longer been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question, for in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements they frequently celebrate two Passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly in error.
How, then, could we follow these Jews who are most certainly blinded by error? For to celebrate a Passover twice in one year, is totally inadmissible. But even if this were not so it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communication with such wicked people (the Jews). You should consider not only that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have nothing in common with the Jews.”

–According to the Word of HASHEM would they journey.
There is not a more poignant text I can think of in Scripture. This is in essence what life is all about. If we were to live our lives according to this template seen in the Wilderness, everything would fall into place. Act according to His word, think according to His word, speak according to His word, react and interact according to His word, make investments and travel according to His word. The Lord wants to make it very evident for us that His people, those that are Called…live, according to His word. The cloud is the daily reminder for the people that His providence is over them, and SIX TIMES in 3 verses is the same statement made (Num.9;18;20 &23) “According to the Word of HASHEM they would journey.” As I have mentioned before, in the Targum- Aramaic translation, Memra replaces Word, memra means Word or Wisdom of the Lord and is identified as the expressed image of the invisible God, Yeshua, in the form of fire and cloud! As I studied with my daughter this Sabbath it became highly evident from the intensity of purpose and repetition in the text that the Lord seemed to be drawing our attention to the ideas of complete reliance, obedience, perseverance and dedication. Not for an hour, day, week, month or year…but for a lifetime. So may it be my King…that all Your children hearken and look to the Cloud and Fire which will guide us at all times, every step of the way.

Bamidbar 9;15 On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle that was a tent for the Testimony, and in the evening there would be upon the Tabernacle like a fiery appearance until morning. 16 So it would always be: The cloud would cover it, and an appearance of fire at night. 17 And whenever the cloud was lifted from atop the Tent, afterward the Children of Israel would journey, and in the place where the cloud would rest, there the Children of Israel would encamp. 18 According to the word of HASHEM would the Children of Israel journey, and according to the word of HASHEM would they encamp.
21 And sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning, and the cloud would be lifted in the morning and they would journey; or for a day and a night, and the cloud would be lifted and they would journey. 22 Or for two days, or a month, or a year, when the cloud would linger over the Tabernacle, resting upon it, the Children of Israel would encamp and would not journey., but when it was lifted they would journey. 23 According to the word of HASHEM would they journey; the charge of HASHEM would they safeguard, according to the word of HASHEM through Moses.

–The Silver Trumpets
These trumpets are specially made, crafted in a similar manner as the menorah, beaten into shape. Their functions: Summoning the Assembly; Summoning the Leaders; Identifying The Start of a Journey and Indicating which tribe will Move and when; Invading Enemies and Battle.
The list goes on: Appointed Feast Days; Day’s of Gladness; Rosh Chodesh; and over the Burnt and Feast Peace-offerings. Why are these verses so beautiful? This is a very literal and functional section that teaches us about the divine order and plan of HASHEM. It is amazing to me that as we become accustomed to studying Torah each cycle and learning new things each year…it is as if our hearts are becoming fine tuned to each and every sound as the Lord speaks through His eternal word beckoning, calling, inviting us to grasp this tree of life! Through the sound of our response to our King, our answer to His bidding, we are remembered before Him. Amazing! The Lord is preparing us for the days to come, may we hear the sound near the end and in repentance and growing trust respond to our coming King before His arrival.

Bamidbar 10;1 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Make for yourselves two silver trumpets- make them hammered out, and they shall be yours for the summoning of the assembly and to cause the camps to journey. 3 When they sound a long blast with them, the entire assembly shall assemble to you, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 4 If they sound a long blast with one, the leaders shall assemble to you, the heads of Israel’s thousands. 5 When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps resting to the south shall journey. 6 When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps resting to the south shall journey; short blasts shall they sound for their journeys. 7 When you gather together the congregation, you shall sound a long blast, but not a short blast. 8 The sons of Aaron, the Kohanim, shall sound the trumpets, and it shall be for you an eternal decree for your generations. 9 When you wage war in your Land against an enemy who oppresses you, you shall sound short blasts of the trumpets, and you shall be recalled before HASHEM, your God, and you shall be saved from your foes. 10 On the day of your gladness, and on your festivals, and on your new moons, you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt-offerings and over your feast-peace offerings; and they shall be a remembrance for you before your God; I am HASHEM your God.”

Ezekiel 33;2 “..When I bring the sword [of war] upon a land, the people of the land take one man from among them and set him as a sentinel for themselves. 3 If, the he sees the sword coming upon the land, he blows the shofar and warms the people, 4 and the listener hears the sound of the shofar but does not take heed and the sword comes and take him, his blood will be upon his head. 5 He heard the sound of the shofar but did not take heed, so his blood will be upon him; had he taken heed, he would have saved his soul. 6 But if the sentinel saw the sword coming and he did not blow the shofar and the people were not warned, and the sword came and took a soul from among them- he was taken for his own iniquity, but I will seek his blood from the sentinel’s hand.”

–There is an amazing hope that fills my being when I think about the Day when Yeshua will return and be exalted, he will call to his people from the four corners of the earth, we will camp under his banner and we will all be gathered in at the Sound of His Shofar. This is why we pray each day with this hope firm and forefront when we come across challenge: “Sound the Great Shofar for our freedom. raise the banner, and gather our exiles. Gather us together from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You HASHEM, Who gathers in the dispersed of His people Israel.”

Isaiah 11;10 It shall be on that day that the descendant of Jesse who stands as a banner for the peoples, nations will seek him, and his resting place will be glorious.
12 He will raise a banner for the nations and assemble the castaways of Israel; and He will gather in the dispersed ones of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Psalm 89;16 Praises to the people who know the shofar’s cry; HASHEM, by the illumination of Your countenance they walk. 17 In Your Name they rejoice, all day long, and through Your righteousness they are exalted. 18 For You are the splendor of their power, and through Your favor our pride will be exalted. 19 For to HASHEM belongs our shield, and to the Holy One of Israel our king.

I Corinthians 14;7 Even with lifeless musical instruments, such as a flute or a harp, how will anyone recognize the melody if one note can’t be distinguished from another? 8 And if the bugle gives and unclear sound, who will be ready for battle?

–Reading the English text of your bible is wonderful, any reading you do is great. I don’t need to go into how many versions and translations of the bible text there are, or which has been completely trimmed and altered to suit the dogma of the day in which it was written. I will simply say this, if you do not learn the Hebrew or at the very least do some research as the bible code of God written in the Holy Language…you will miss out and miss out big. There are instances in the Tanach ( Torah-Prophets and Writings) wherein the Hebrew text is written in a certain design (for example the text at the Song of the Sea is written to resemble two walls of water with the people passing through), or there will be enlarged letters or small letters. The text in our Torah portion is one of these instances and it is very unique. Surrounding Numbers 10;35-36 there are two upside down and backwards nun’s. As if they were parenthesis. Every Hebrew letter has a number order, with a numerical value, each has a meaning and when spelled out another meaning. The Letter Nun means Life, perpetuity. I can not tell you exactly what these Nun’s can mean, but the fact that they are upside down and backwards would hint at the opposite of their meaning in the “correct” inscription. Life vs. Death. Something to think about, something to explore. For wonderful, comprehensive teachings on the wondrous Hebrew language this is a great place to start:
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/hiddentreasures/letterindex.html

Bamidbar 10;33 They journeyed from the Mountain of HASHEM a three-day distance, and the Ark of the covenant of HASHEM journeyed before them a three-day distance to search out for them a resting place. 34 The cloud of HASHEM was over them by day when they journeyed from the camp. 35 When the Ark would journey, Moses said, “Arise, HASHEM, and let Your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from before You.” 36 And when it rested, he would say, “Reside tranquilly, O, HASHEM, among the myriad thousands of Israel.”

–After being camped at Sinai for a year, the people are making their first journey at the bidding of HASHEM in formation with the sounding of the silver trumpets. The Ark is before them and onward they go. After three short days they camp according to the resting of the cloud. At this point the complaints start. They are not specific but it is clear enough that whatever they were regarding…the fury of HASHEM was provoked.

Bamidbar 11;1 The people took to seeking complaints; it was evil in the ears of HASHEM, and HASHEM heard and His wrath flared, and a fire of HASHEM burned against them, and it consumed at the edge of the camp. 2 The people cried out to Moses; Moses prayed to HASHEM, and the fire died down. 3 He named that place Taberah [ Conflagration], for the fire of HASHEM had burned against them.

–While the incident above could not be blamed on anyone specific, as we read on we find that the rabble or
Acpcuph=mixed multitude (those who came up with the Hebrews from Egypt) are the ones who are cultivating or Shuwb=slide back this craving or Ta’avah= lusting; longing; desire. This is more than just food, this is a human condition. They yearn or Avah= covet; desire; lust; long; wish…for meat?

Bamidbar 11;4 The rabble that was among them cultivated a craving, and the Children of Israel also wept once more, and said, ‘Who will feed us meat? 5 We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge; the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now, our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but this manna!”
10 Moses heard the people weeping in their family groups, each one at the entrance of his tent. and the wrath of HASHEM flared greatly; and in the eyes of Moses it was bad.

–Weeping, whining, complaining, murmuring, grumbling. These complaints undermined a commitment to holiness, to closeness with God. The manna speaks of the straight and narrow path, the provision of the Lord and suddenly there is a critical spirit, and blasphemy. The manna was sent with a question: To see whether My people will walk in My Torah or not. And now they are rejecting it as useless, outdated, and undesirable. They need something NEW. The text even uses the same word as bemoan (bakah) as if in mourning. This grumbling is a sign of unbelief. All these expressions are a sign of weak faith. God asks His people to believe, to be genuinely content with His provision, and to confess that He is all that we need. To rest in the deliverance of the Father with childlike faith. Contentment in God is the sure fruit of genuine faith. Contentment flows from a heart that has learned to trust God. Combat any murmuring or complaining in your life or those around you with a the heart of constant thanksgiving!

Philippians 4;10 In union with the Lord I greatly rejoice that now, after this long time, you have let your concern for me express itself again. Of course, you were concerned for me all along, but you had no opportunity to express it. 11 Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough- in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me power.

Bamidbar 11;11 Moses said to HASHEM, “Why have You done evil to Your servant; why have I not found favor in Your eyes, that You place the burden of this entire people on me? 12 Did I conceive this entire people or did I give birth to it, that You say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling, to the Land that You swore to its forefathers? 13 Where shall I get meat that we may eat? 4 I alone cannot carry this entire nation, for it is too heavy for me! 15 And if this is how You deal with me, then kill me now, if I have found favor in Your eyes, let me not see my evil!”

–To me this text is incredible, Moshe pleads with God, even to kill him if the people can not be illuminated to become changed. It is not as it is simply read, a cry of woe and despair. The Godly Leader Moshe goes first to HASHEM with a genuine heart of concern for the people. These problems they were creating are seen as a spiritual lack, rather than an attack on him personally. Yet he holds himself personally accountable as if to express his own perceived failure as a leader, unable to help facilitate this heart change, by asking that the Lord kill him that he might not see HIS own evil, or transgression. Amazing example of the humility of Moshe.

Exodus 7;26 HASHEM said to Moses, “Come to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘So said HASHEM: Send out My people that they may serve Me. 27 But if you refuse to send out, behold, I shall strike your entire boundary with frogs. 28 The River shall swarm with frogs, and they shall ascend and come into your palace and your bedroom and your bed, and into the house of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. 29 And into you and your people and all your servants will the frogs ascend.
8;2 Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog-infestation ascended and covered the land of Egypt.
10 They piled them up into heaps and heaps, and the land stank.

Bamidbar 11;18 “To the people you shall say, ‘Prepare yourselves for tomorrow and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the ears of HASHEM, saying: Who will feed us meat? for it was better in Egypt! So HASHEM will give you meat and you will eat. 19 Not for one day shall you eat, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days. 20 Until an entire month of days, until it comes out of your nose, and becomes nauseating to you, because you have rejected HASHEM Who is in your midst, and you have wept before Him, saying: Why did we leave Egypt?”
…31 A wind went forth from HASHEM and blew quail from the sea and spread them over the camp, a day’s journey this way and a day’s journey that way, all around the camp, and two cubits above the face of earth.
33 The meat was still between their teeth, not yet chewed, when the wrath of HASHEM flared against the people, and HASHEM struck a very mighty blow against the people. 34 He named the place Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been craving.

–It is amazing to me that the texts of Exodus and Bamidbar are about a plague. They both have the same connotation of specificity as to the effect this will have on the peoples involved, they both end in piles and piles flesh, and death. Going back to the concept of punishment versus the consequences we bring on ourselves. This is what God had warned about repeatedly saying in:
Exodus 15;26 If you hearken diligently to the voice of HASHEM, your God, and do what is just in His eyes, give ear to His commandments and observe all His decrees, then any of the diseases that I placed in Egypt, I will not bring upon you, for I am HASHEM your healer.
Deuteronomy 28; 58 But if you will not be careful to perform all the words of this Torah that are written in this Book, to fear this honored and awesome Name: HASHEM, your God, 59 then HASHEM will make extraordinary your blows and the blows of your offspring- great and faithful blows, and evil and faithful illnesses. 60 He will bring back upon you all the sufferings of Egypt, of which you were terrified, and they will cleave to you.

–Back to the text of numbers regarding Moshe’s call to God to relieve his anguish over the lack of change in the people and the burden he feels. God acts with understanding, compassion, and a plan.

Bamidbar 11;16 HASHEM said to Moses, “Gather to Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and its officers; take them to the Tent of Meeting and stand them there with you. 17 I will descend and speak with you there, and I will increase some of the spirit that is upon you and place it upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, and you shall not bear alone.”

Ezekiel 40;25 Therefore, thus said the Lord HASHEM/ELOHIM: Now I will bring back the captivity of Jacob and show mercy to the entire House of Israel and be zealous for My holy Name. 26 They will bear their shame and their betrayal that they committed against Me when they dwelt securely upon their soil, and none will make [them] afraid, 27 when I return from them the peoples and gather them in from the land of their enemies and I become sanctified through them in the eyes of many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am HASHEM, their God, for I have exiled them to the nations, and I will bring them to their land, and will not leave any of them there. 29 Then I will not hide My countenance from them again, for I will pour our My spirit upon the House of Israel- the word of HASHEM/ ELOHIM.

–Moshe responds as a servant, as one who lives to bring glory to God, not himself. He wants all the people to walk with the power of the Spirit, for this Spirit Presence would be that which would change their hearts! This close fellowship is not designed for an elite few, it is available for all those who seek it!

Bamidbar 11;25 HASHEM descended in a cloud and spoke to him, and He increased some of the spirit that was upon him and gave it to the seventy men, the elders; when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but did not do so again. 26 Two men remained behind in the camp, the name of one was Eldad and the name of the second was Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they had been among the recorded ones, but they had not gone out of the Tent, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 The youth ran and told Moses, and he said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Moses since his youth, spoke up and said, “My lord Moses, incarcerate them!” 29 Moses said to him, “Are you being zealous for my sake? Would that the entire people of HASHEM would be prophets, if HASHEM would but place His spirit upon them!”

Bamidbar 12;1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses regarding the Cushite woman he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Was it only to Moses that HASHEM spoke? Did he not speak to us, as well?” And HASHEM heard. 3 Now the man Moses was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth! 4 HASHEM said suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three, go out to the Tent of Meeting.” And the three of them went out. 5 HASHEM descended in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent, and He summoned Aaron and Miriam; the two of them went out. 6 He said, “Hear now My words. If there shall be prophets among you, in a vision shall I, HASHEM, make Myself known to him; in a dream shall I speak with him. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; in My entire house he is the trusted one. 8 Mouth to mouth do I speak to him, in a clear vision and not in riddles, at the image of HASHEM does he gaze. Why did you not fear to speak against My servant Moses?”

–This is a clear picture of a Father, our Father, calling his kids, “Front and center”. There is an issue that MUST be addressed and He will ensure that those who have ears to hear connect these parallel exhortations. HASHEM calls Moshe the trusted of HIS house, Moshe is the scribe and reporter, the orator and supervisor of that which was given from the Divine and heavenly realm, even more so…from the very Heart of our maker, the Torah. He is the custodian in whose hands the foundations of all instruction from God, the firm and lasting base of all Scripture El Elyon, the Most High God was entrusted. Why then is there no fear to speak against Moses, why then is there no foreboding to cast the Torah aside? The master is very clear, if you do not trust in the Torah, how will you be able to understand and believe in Him?

John 5;35 “He was a lamp burning and shining, and for a while you were willing to bask in his light. 36 But I have a testimony greater than Yochanan’s. For the things the Father has given me to do, the very things I am doing now, testify on my own behalf that the Father has sent me. 37 In addition , the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice or seen his shape; 38 moreover, his word does not stay in you, because you do not trust the one he sent. 39 You keep examining the Tanakh because you think that in it you have eternal life. Those very scriptures bear witness to me, 40 but you wont come to me in order to have life!
45 But don’t think that it is I who will be your accuser before the Father. Do you know who will accuse you? Moshe, the very one you have counted on! 46 For if you really believed Moshe, you would believe me; because it was about me that he wrote. 47 But if you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

–The Proverbs passage is a window into the extent of HASHEM’s anger and wrath against Miriam, for stirring up strife among brothers, it is the abomination of His soul!

Proverbs 6;12 The lawless (Torahless) man is a man of iniquity: He goes forth with distortion of the mouth; 13 he winks with his eyes, shuffles with his feet, points his fingers; 14 duplicity in his heart, he plots evil all the time; he stirs up strife. 15 Therefore, his undoing will come suddenly; he will be broken in an instant, without healing. 16 HASHEM hates these six, but the seventh is the abomination of His soul: 17 haughty eyes, a false tongue, and hands spilling innocent blood, 18 a heart plotting iniquitous thoughts, feet hastening to run to evil, 19 a false witness spouting lies; and one who stirs up strife among brothers.

Bamidbar 12;9 The wrath of HASHEM flared up against them and He left. 10 The cloud had departed from atop the Tent, and behold! Miriam was afflicted with tzaraas, like snow! Aaron turned to Miriam and behold! she was afflicted with tzaraas. 11 Aaron said to Moses, “I beg you, my lord, do not cast a sin upon us, for we have been foolish and we have sinned. 12 Let her not be like a corpse, like one who leaves his mother’s womb with half his flesh having been consumed!” 13 Moses cried out to HASHEM, saying, “Please, God, heal her now.” 14 HASHEM said to Moses, “Were her father to spit in her face, would she not be humiliated for seven days? Let her be quarantined outside the camp for seven says, and then she may be brought in.” 15 So Miriam was quarantined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in. 16 Then the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and they encamped in the Wilderness of Paran.

–The text says Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moshe, it seems strange that the subject starts out with some question about the woman Moshe married (or as the sages say, the lack of attention Moshe was paying his wife). Why then does the subject switch so swiftly to ‘Who does Daddy love more’? The Lord is quick to strongly defend His humble servant and we see that it is only Miriam that is afflicted. The tzaraas affliction was said to come as an indication of Lashan harra- the evil tongue (which consists of gossip, idle chatter, slander, etc.) which is clearly what Miriam must have been instigating, and although Aaron is mentioned he is not punished. It could be because he is Kohen Gadol and needs to ‘save face’ but this seems unlikely with a just God executing His righteous judgment. Aaron must have been in some way innocent in the eyes of the Lord, yet He is still part of the ‘verbal’ warning. Aaron pleads with Moshe, Moshe prays to God, God responds quickly but this time he makes Miriam an example. Yes in the desert everyone plays a part, we are all equally challenged, all be it in different ways, and there is no special protection or specialized treatment, even for a prophetess of HASHEM. She murmurs, the people murmur, the Lord has had His fill.

Proverbs 10;11 The mouth of the righteous one is a source of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals their [intended] violence. 12 Hatred arouses strife, but love covers all offenses.

Romans 16;17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put snares alongside the teaching in which you have been trained- keep away from them. 18 For men like these are not serving the Lord the Messiah but their own belly; by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the innocent concerning evil. 20 And God, the source of shalom, will soon crush the Adversary under your feet.

— How quickly things can change, from a firm foothold…swift deviation from the heart of the Plan. The message this week seems clear, hearken to the sound of the Godly leadership we have as we await our coming King, always be looking for the Cloud and Fire of the Lord, every step of our every day to guide us through our journeying. Find the treasure of true contentment in the Lord’s provision and combat grumbling with the heart of thanksgiving!

Baruch attah ADONAI, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe.
You have blessed us with Your Torah of truth,
You have blessed us with the entire counsel of Your living word.
You alone have planted among us life eternal.
Blessed are You Almighty King!
In Yeshua’s name, amein.

–My King I pray that You will do deep heart working within each of Your children. We can not hide or mask our true intentions from the One Who formed us in the womb. I pray for clarity and purity of motivation in our service to You and in how we treat others. May we hearken and realize it is Your own You have dealings with, Your own You wish to refine. There is much work to be done and it seems overwhelming at times, a vast desert before us…please guide us and lead us, sustain us and we will rest in You. Thank You my King for life and for all the wonders You have set around us. May you be magnified by all creation and may the mouth of every soul praise Your holy Name, in Yeshua’s name I ask these things. Amein.

Zechariah 3;1 Then He showed me Joshua, the Kohen Gadol, standing before the angel of HASHEM, and the Satan was standing on his right to accuse hi,. 2 [The angel of] HASHEM said to the Satan, “May HASHEM denounce you, O Satan! May HASHEM, Who chooses Jerusalem, denounce you! Indeed, this [man] is like a firebrand saved from a fire!”

Revelation 12;10 “Now have come God’s victory, power and kingship, and the authority of his Messiah; because the Accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out! 11 They defeated him because of the Lamb’s blood and because of the message of their witness.”

Resources:
-The Complete Jewish Bible-David H. Stern
-The Stone Edition Tanach- artscroll
-Interlinear Scripture Analyzer
-Onkelos On the Torah- Understanding the Bible text
http://www.torahresource.com
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us
http://www.wisdomintorah.com
http://www.chabad.org
http://www.templeinstitute.org

Part 1 of video learning:

Part 2 of Video: