TRS Numbers 8:1–12:16/weekend 06-05-04

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Here is the Torah Reading Schedule for this week:

Beha’alotcha : “When you set up”<br> : Numbers 8:1–12:16

May the following be our prayer...

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy ."
- Psalms 119:18

Also, please share with us what Adonai has shown you.

Shalom chaverim (friends),

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Here is an excerpt from Club (FFOZ) Volume Five...

“For now we see in a mirror dimly.” (1 Corinthians 13:12). The Rabbis said, “All the other prophets saw their prophetic visions through a tarnished mirror, as it is said, ‘I gave numerous visions, and through the prophets I gave parables.’ But Moses saw his prophetic vision through a polished mirror, as it is said, ‘He beholds the form of YHVH.’” (Leviticus Rabbah 1:14 quoting Hosea 12:10 and Numbers 12:8)

Commentary:
The Greatness of Moses

(An excerpt from Club Volume Five)

"With him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of YHVH. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?" (Numbers 12:8)

What made Moses so unique? Moses heard the voice of God directly and clearly, even audibly. Moses did not receive prophecy in oracles or visions. He simply heard the voice of G'd speaking, and what he heard he passed on to Israel. G'd spoke to all other prophets before and after Moses with more conventional methods of prophetic revelation: dreams, visions, oracles and signs. By its very nature, conventional prophecy is obscure and subject to ambiguity. Not so with Moses. Moses was unlike all other prophets because when G'd spoke to him, He spoke directly to him—conversationally, without riddles or mysteries. Because of this unique level of revelation, when Moses spoke as a prophet, his voice was the equivalent of the voice of G'd.

With Moses, there were no visions. Nor riddles. No dark sayings. No dreams to be interpreted and figured out. Instead, amazingly, G'd spoke directly to him. He heard the audible voice of G'd.

This is why is the foundation for all the rest of the Scriptures. If any book of Scripture—or any prophecy of any prophet—did not agree with , (i.e. the words of G'd through His servant Moses), then there would be a serious problem. That particular writing could not be canonized or considered Scripture. This has implications for how we understand the New Testament (Apostolic Scriptures). If we take verses from an epistle Paul wrote to a specific congregation and then use those few verses to nullify the , we have things backwards and upside down! Sha'ul (Paul) would be shocked. Sha'ul (Paul) does not trump Moses; he quotes him, and relies on for proof-texts.

Yeshua, however, was ‘the prophet like Moses’ and even surpassed him in that He heard directly from G'd. He perceived His vision clearly. He saw face to face and spoke mouth to mouth.

And, He was in complete agreement because the words given to Moses are His words (John 1:1-14, Matthew 5:16-19).

Shavuah Tov (Have A Good Week),

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Unfortunatley, not too many people are interested in discussing the reading ;D ...So, I will comment on a few of the passages...

"For they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel, instead of those that open every womb. The first-born of all the sons of Israel, I have taken them to Me.
For all the first-born of the sons of Israel are Mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck every first-born in the land of Egypt I set them apart for Myself.
And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the sons of Israel." Numbers 8:16-18

Here we again see that the Levites are to take the place of the firstborn of the sons of Israel in regards to the priesthood which indicates that previously the priesthood, and the service belonged to the firstborn of the families of Israel. Why do you think that this was transferred to the Levites? Any thoughts??

"This is that which pertains to the Levites. From twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And from the age of fifty years they shall stop waiting upon the service, and shall serve no more.
But they shall minister with their brothers in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge; only he shall not serve at a service. So you shall do to the Levites as to their duties." - Numbers 8:24-26

The reason I find this passage interesting is because of the age that one was to minister as a priest in the service of the tabernacle. The age given here is twenty-five until the age of fifty. Is this a conradiction to what we see four chapters earlier?...

"from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years, all that enter into the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation." - Numbers 4:3

This first reference says thirty years old, and in chapter eight it says twenty-five years old. Is this really a contradiction, or do we need to do a little more homework (as is usually the case when people think there is a contradiction)?

Some say that there simply was a change four chapters later. Some say that there was a five year training period to explain the time difference. But, when we read the scripture in context we can see that the age difference is specific to certian families within the Levitical priesthood. What does the verse following Numbers 4:3 say?...

"This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, the most holy place." - Numbers 4:4

There it is! This age was specific to the sons of Kohath within the Levitical Priesthood. Actually, there were two other Levitical families as well that this age pertained to (Numbers 4:22-23, and Numbers 4:29-30). All others appear to start at the age of twenty-five. I believe this is a classic example of reading scripture out of context which can lead people to wrong conclusions. But, I could be wrong...this is why it is good to discuss these things, and sharpen each other.

Shalom,

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

"And there were certain men who were defiled by the dead body of a man, so that they could not prepare the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day.
And those men said to him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back that we may not offer an offering of YHVH in its appointed time among the sons of Israel?
And Moses said to them, You wait, and I will hear what YHVH will command about you.
And YHVH spoke to Moses saying,
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your generations shall be unclean because of a dead body, or in a journey afar off, he shall still keep the Passover to YHVH.
They shall keep it the fourteenth day of the second month at evening, eating it with unleavened cakes and bitter herbs." - Numbers 9:6-11

Amongst all the controversy of when the day Passover really begins in Judaism, it is interesting to see the above passage. We see that because of two reasons it was permissable to miss celebrating Pesach on the 14th of Nisan. This seems to be the only feast that this exception is made. The two reasons to miss the first appointed time would be because of ritual uncleanliness (touching a dead body), or because of a long journey. In this case the feast may be celebrated a month later in Jerusalem. I believe this passage not only show the importance of celebrating Pesach regardless of the circumstances, but that there is some breathing room in regards to the day it is celebrated. But, I also believe this is specific to Passover, as the rest of the moedim have specific times prescribed by YHVH. What I also find interesting is that you would not have a full fifty days in between the time you celebrated Pesach and the time of Shavuot (Pentecost). Regardless, the day of Pentecost would have to be observed according to the first appointed time of Pesach.

"And if a stranger shall live among you, and prepares the Passover to Jehovah, he shall do according to the ordinance of the Passover, and according to its ordinance. You shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger and for him that was born in the land."
- Numbers 9:14

We see again in this passage that there is one for both Jew, and Gentile (contrary to what the majority of "The Church" teaches).

"And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was upon the tabernacle, looking like fire, until the morning. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the sons of Israel pulled up stakes. And in the place where the cloud stayed, there the sons of Israel pitched their tents. And so when the cloud stayed from evening to the morning, and the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they pulled up stakes. Whether by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they pulled up stakes." - Numbers 9:15-21

In this passage we see the importance of waiting upon Adonai. This tabernacle of ours should only move upon the leading of YHVH. For without Him we can do nothing.

Shalom,

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

In the following passage we see the instructions for the use of the Shofar/Trumpet used in conjuction with the appointed times of Adonai...

"Make two trumpets of silver for yourself. You shall make them of beaten work. And they shall be used for the calling of the assembly and for causing the camps to go forward. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall gather themselves to you at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And if they blow with one, then the rulers who are heads of the thousands of Israel shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall pull up stakes.
When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall pull up stakes. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
But when the congregation is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.
And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets. And they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations.
And if you go to war in your land against the enemy who fights against you, then you shall blow with the trumpets. And you shall be remembered before YHVH your G'd, and you shall be saved from your enemies.
Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. And they shall be to you for a memorial before YHVH. I am YHVH your G'd."
- Numbers 10:2-10

The shofar is used today in Messianic congregations for a call to assembly, to recognize the appointed times, and in spiritual warfare. No doubt the shofar can, and is misused with many individuals (especially in connections with spiritual applications). Some claim that the use of the shofar is satanic. But, just as many other biblical ritual items are copied by HaSatan, and used for his purpose...so is the case with the shofar. It is indeed the use of the item (in this case) that determines if it is of G'd.

Shalom,

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Do we ever find ourselves complaining in the ear of G'd?...

And the people were evil, as those complaining in the ears of YHVH. And YHVH heard, and His anger was kindled. And the fire of YHVH burned among them and devoured in the outermost parts of the camp.
And the people cried to Moses. And when Moses prayed to YHVH, the fire was put out." - Numbers 11:1-2

Some people in the body of Messiah reject organized leadership within the congregation. But, in this chapter we see the need for leadership within the congregation, and for those whom are in the congregation to be subject to that leadership (if of course they are not leading the congregation in sin)...

"And YHVH said to Moses, Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and the officers over them. And bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation so that they may stand there with you.
And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take of the spirit on you, and will put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you do not bear it yourself alone."
- Numbers 11:16-17

"And YHVH said to Moses, Has YHVH's hand become short? You shall see now whether or not My word shall come to pass to you." - Numbers 11:23

We need to remember the above passage when ever we feel like complaining, or become worried about G-d's provision in our lives. What we really should be doing is judging ourselves to see whether we are really in the will of the Adonai. If we are we just need to trust that He knows what He is doing, and that He will sustain us in times of testing.

B'Shem Yeshua,

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Chapter 12 demonstrates the need to be cautious when one wishes to bring an accusation, or upsurp authority from the leader that G'd has placed over the congregation. We also see that this is especially true for a woman whom wishes to do so (as we see in the following passage)...

"And the anger of YHVH was kindled against them, and He moved. And the cloud moved from the tabernacle. And behold! Miriam became leprous, as snow. And Aaron looked on Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my l'rd, I beg you, do not lay upon us the sin in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned.
Let her not be like one dead, of whom the flesh is half gone when he comes out of his mother's womb.
And Moses cried to Jehovah saying, Heal her now, O G'd, I beseech You.
And YHVH said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received.
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days. And the people did not pull up stakes until Miriam was brought in." - Numbers 12:9-15

Any thoughts?

Reuel