Thought for the week

Numbers 9:15-16: “Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.” 

 

The ‘parsha’ (‘Torah’ portion) this week, ‘Parsha Beha’alotcha’ (when you step up), found in Numbers 8:1 – 12:16, is the 36th weekly ‘Torah’ portion in the annual Jewish cycle of ‘Torah’ reading. The corresponding ‘Haftorah’ (reading of the prophets) is found in Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7.

 

‘Parsha Beha’alotcha’ opens with G-d’s instruction to Moses to tell Aaron to mount the seven lamps so as to give light to the front of the ‘menorah’ in the Tabernacle. Moses then gathered all the people in front of the Sanctuary, where the tribe of Levi was initiated into the Temple service as assistants to the ‘Kohanim’ (priests). 

G-d told Moses that Levites aged 25 to 50 were to work in the service of the Tent of Meeting. After the age of 50, they were to retire and could stand guard, but could not perform any labour.

 

At the beginning of the second year following the Exodus from Egypt, G-d told Moses to have the Israelites celebrate ‘Pesach’ (Passover) at its set time. However, some men were unclean because they had had contact with a corpse and could not offer the Passover sacrifice on the set day.

G-d told Moses that whenever the Israelites were defiled by a corpse or on a long journey on Passover, they were to offer the Passover offering on the 14th day of the second month — a month after Passover — thereby instituting the law of ‘Pesach Sheini’, the “Second Passover”.

 

‘Parsha Beha'alotcha’ tells us that, starting the day that the Tabernacle was set up, a cloud covered the Tabernacle by day, and a fire rested on it by night. Whenever the cloud lifted from the Tent, the Israelites would follow it until the cloud settled, and there the Israelites would make camp and stay as long as the cloud lingered. At the commandment of G-d they remained encamped, and at the commandment of G-d they journeyed.

 

G-d then told Moses to have two silver trumpets made to summon the community, and to set it in motion. For eleven months and twenty days, the people of Israel camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. There they received the ‘Torah’, and there they worshipped the golden calf, repented of their sin, and obtained G-d’s forgiveness.

Also, there they constructed the ‘Mishkan’ (Sanctuary) and dedicated it as the “Tent of Meeting” and Divine dwelling in their midst.

Then came the Divine command to move on. On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle and the Israelites set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai to the wilderness of Paran.

 

Soon after leaving Mt. Sinai and journeying to the Wilderness of Paran, the people began a series of bitter complaints. The mixed multitude, who were ‘asafsuf’ (riffraff) in the midst of the Children of Israel, together with the Israelites, complained that they were dissatisfied with the manna, their daily miraculous portion of heavenly bread. Even the long-suffering Moses could tolerate it no longer. 

As Moses began to despair, G-d commanded him to select seventy elders to form the ‘Sanhedrin’, the court which would assist him in leading the nation.

 

G-d then told Moses to tell the people to purify themselves, for the next day they would eat meat. Moses questioned how enough flocks, herds, or fish could be found to feed 600,000 people and G-d answered: “Has the LORD’S arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.” (Numbers 11:23). 

A wind went out from G-d, and brought quails from the sea and let them fall by the camp. For two days, the people gathered the quails. Those who had complained about the lack of food died during this supernatural event as G-d brought a plague on them.

Because the people complained, they incurred the wrath of G-d, and a fire raged at the edge of the camp. The people cried out to Moses, who prayed for the fire to be quenched; but soon they were complaining again. 

 

The people then journeyed from Kivrot-Hatta’avah to Hazeirot, and camped at Hazeirot.

Moses' sister, Miriam, spoke negatively about her brother's marriage to a ‘Kushite’ (Ethiopian) woman, and Moses’ brother, Aaron, also complained against Moses.   G-d spoke to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, and He summoned them to the Sanctuary. There He appeared in a pillar of cloud and spoke only to Aaron and Miriam. When the cloud departed, Miriam was snow-white with leprosy. Moses beseeched the L-rd to heal her, and G-d ordered that Miriam be secluded outside of the camp for seven days, after which she would be healed.

 

‘Parsha Beha'alotcha’ concludes with the people journeying from Hazierot, and camping in the wilderness of Paran.

 

‘Haftorah Beha’alotcha’, found in Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7, contains a vision of the golden Temple Menorah, whose daily kindling is discussed in the opening of this week's ‘parsha’. This prophecy was communicated by the prophet, Zechariah, shortly before the building of the Second Temple.

 

The ‘haftorah’ opens with a vivid depiction of the joy that will prevail when G-d will return to Jerusalem. The prophet then describes a scene in the Heavenly Court: Satan was seeking to incriminate Joshua, the first High Priest to serve in the Second Temple, because of his “soiled garments” (sins). G-d Himself defended the High Priest.

G-d then proceeded to outline the rewards awaiting Joshua if he and his descendants followed G-d’s ways. The ultimate reward is: “For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH”, an allusion to the ‘Moshiach’, Yeshua, the Branch of David.

Zechariah then describes a vision of a golden seven-branched ‘Menorah’.

 

‘Haftorah Beha’alotcha’ ends with an angel interpreting the meaning of this vision, saying that this was the word of the L-rd to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6) - Meaning that Zerubbabel's descendent, Joshua, will have no difficulty in his task; it will be as simple as lighting a ‘menorah’.

 

I would now like to focus on two specific events found in ‘parsha Beha'alotcha’.

 

The first event concerns the complaining of the children of Israel - Numbers 11:4-6: “Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”” 

 

The Children of Israel remembered the food that they had eaten in Egypt, but they forgot the slavery. They complained against the goodness of the L-rd who provided Manna for them every day and who brought them out of slavery into freedom. They were unappreciative of the faithfulness, goodness and favour of the L-rd and they were unappreciative of His protection and the miracles He performed for them. In a word, they despised G-d.

Because of this, G-d punished them with a great plague – Numbers 11:33: “But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.” 

 

The second event was when Miriam spoke slander against Moses and became leprous. 

 

There is a great lesson to be learnt from these two events. 

I have heard it said that the children of Israel continuously rebelled against G-d, turned to idols and rejected G-d’s Son, Yeshua; therefore G-d rejected them.

However, is it any different among Christians today? 

Being in ministry, I often hear professing Christians blaming G-d because some adversity has befallen them. Just like the Children of Israel, these people quickly forget all the good G-d has done for them and they, too, become unappreciative of G-d, despising Him.

Here’s a question: If G-d supposedly rejected the Children of Israel (the Jewish people), what’s to stop G-d rejecting complaining, unappreciative Christians? 

 

Thankfully, G-d is not a covenant breaking G-d; He has not rejected the Jewish people and, because of His grace, He won’t reject followers of Yeshua either.

However, unless you repent of your complaining; unless you repent of despising Almighty G-d, you will receive a harsh judgement on Judgement Day – Luke 13:25-28: “…and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. 

 

Regarding the event when Miriam spoke slander against Moses; why was she so harshly punished? Because she spoke against G-d’s servant; she spoke against G-d’s anointed…In effect, it was as if Miriam had spoken against G-d Himself.

The ‘Torah’ tells us that Miriam was punished for the sin of ‘lashon ha’ra’, an evil tongue.

 

And how many times have I heard Christians speaking against men and women of G-d, many times slandering them. Let me give you a warning: STOP IT! Stop it now and quickly repent. 

Speaking against G-d’s anointed sows discord among the Body of Christ. Allow me to show you what the word of G-d says about this: Proverbs 6:16-19: “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” 

Speaking against G-d’s anointed is an abomination to Him.

 

I would like to issue one more warning: To anyone speaking against and slandering the Jewish people and the State of Israel, STOP IT! 

G-d chose the Jewish people as His people; He chose to give His land, Israel, and His city, Jerusalem, to the Jewish people – whether you like it or not. He is G-d and he doesn’t need your permission.

In effect, speaking against and slandering the Jewish people and the State of Israel is tantamount to speaking against and slandering G-d Himself.

Allow me to show you what will happen to those who go against the Jewish people and Israel – Joel 3:2: “I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel” 

Just in case you need further convincing, let’s look at Zechariah 2:8: “For thus says the LORD of hosts: “for he who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye.””

The “apple of His eye” refers to Israel, the people and the land.

 

Maybe you realise that you are guilty of one (or both) of the above. The solution is very simple, confess this as sin and repent of it; then don’t do it again.

 

So in a nutshell, what is the lesson we learn from ‘Parsha Beha'alotcha’? Don’t speak slander against G-d’s anointed; don’t speak slander against the Jewish people and Israel; don’t despise G-d, and be appreciative of all He does for you.

 

Now the thing that you have to be most appreciative of is the gift of salvation, which includes the forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven. 

 

Yeshua allowed Himself to be sacrificed on the Cross for mankind so that mankind could receive the forgiveness of sin, and have the guarantee of eternal life in heaven. 

Only by accepting Yeshua and G-d’s gift of salvation can your sins be forgiven you and eternal life in heaven be granted to you. The alternative is eternal life in Hades and G-d’s judgment…and you don’t want this, whether you are Jewish or Gentile.

 

G-d is extending an invitation to you to accept Yeshua as your L-rd and Saviour which will bring about your ultimate redemption, guaranteeing you eternal life in heaven. 

Will you accept G-d’s invitation? Will you commit your life to Yeshua, who lovingly and faithfully endured the cross for you and for me, accepting Him as your L-rd and Saviour? This is the only way to salvation, as only through Yeshua can one’s sins be forgiven and one’s soul be atoned for – or saved.

 

To accept G-d’s gift of the forgiveness of sin, salvation and everlasting life in heaven, all you need to do is confess your sins, repent of them and ask Yeshua to come into your life as your L-rd and Saviour. 

And you can do this by praying the Prayer of Salvation found at the end of this article.

 

We love you. 

 

Shalom.

 

Scripture of the week: Zechariah 2:10-13: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD. Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

 

 

SALVATION PRAYER

 

Thank you Yeshua for Your love for me.

Thank you for giving up Your life on the cross for me and for taking my sins upon Yourself.

I confess that I have sinned.

I repent of my sins and I turn from everything I know to be wrong.

I invite You to come into my life as my Messiah, my Saviour.

By Your grace I will serve You all the remaining years of my life.