"Tribes - Journeys"
Num 30:2-32:42; Num 33:1-36:13; Jer 1:1-2:3; Jer 2:4-29; Philippians 3:12-16; James 4:1-12
5767
This week's Parsha begins with Numbers 30:2 which tells us how much value G-D places on our commitments to Him. When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. There is a difference between a vow and an oath. Vows are things we pledge not to do and oaths are things we pledge -to- do. When we pledge something to G-D, G-D expects us to keep our word. Our words of commitment are powerful; they make a statement about our relationship with G-D. If we don't keep our commitments to G-D then we have to wonder if we really believe what we say we do. Remember that as believers we have committed to make Yeshua or Adonai or L-RD. By making this commitment we have not only made an oath to keep the commandments but also made a vow to not commit sin. I know this seems like a very large commitment we have made and it is. However, G-D has also made a commitment to us. He has committed to give us the strength and power to keep our commitments to Him.5766
The name of this weeks second Parsha is Masee which is the Hebrew word for Journeys. As we read this weeks Parshot we will finish the book of Numbers. Parsha Masee is a retelling of the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt. I was reading through the text and it made me think about the telling of my journey as I follow the L-RD day to day. If I were to write a book about my travels as a Messianic believer how close would it be to the history of the Israelites travels. How many times did I listen to the voice of HaShem the first time He spoke to me? How many times have I listen to the voice of G-D speak so clearly into my life and not only heard it but said I would follow His words only to fail? How many times did I go through trials and troubles not because it was G-D perfect will but, because it was the only way G-D could get my attention and bring me back to His plan for my life? How many times has G-D provided deliverance for me only to hear me whine because things didn�t go as I would have planned them? Would I be listed as a hero of faith with Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Pinchas or would I be listed along with Korach and the 10 spies? When people read my book would they look at me and wonder how I could stand so strong and faithful as G-D divided the waters of my Red Seas or will they wonder how I could see so many miracles and still not act in faith. I ask these questions because each one of us is writing a book. The scriptures tell us we are epistles read by all men 2 Corinthians 3:2. What will your book say? Will it encourage or discourage? This is something we should all think about because people reading our books will learn about our Messiah. What would you book teach about Him?
5765 - Masei
This week’s Parsha begins with a listing of the travels of the Israelites and the different places at which they stopped over the 40 years in the wilderness. An in-depth study of these stops and the blessings or difficulties will teach any believer a lot about their own walk with G-D. The end of chapter 33 tells of the blessings and curses that would come with either doing away with or not doing away with the pagan gods that they would come upon as they entered the land of promise. Many times we think about entering into the promises of G-D as entering a place of perfection, a place where we are surrounded by G-D’s blessings, and all the good things He promises. This is true; however, while we are surrounded by the wonderful things that G-D has promised us as believers, we also have to deal with those things that were and are around us before our eyes our opened to see what G-D is doing. If we choose to drive out and destroy the things of the flesh as we enter the promises of G-D we will continue to be blessed beyond measure. If, however, we try to blend the things of G-D with the things of this world we will struggle our whole lives with looking directly at the blessings of G-D, but being unable to fully receive them and dwell in them. The words G-D spoke to Moshe should also speak to us and should encourage us to look around and see if there are any idols or high places in our lives that we have not removed yet, and if there are we should immediately ask G-D to remove them from our hearts and lives.
5765 - Mattot
This weeks Parsha begins with teachings about making vows and the obligations and laws concerning them. As we study this section of scriptures I think it is good to consider that as believers when we professed our faith in Yeshua as our Messiah, we made a vow to G-D to walk in His ways. When we proclaimed Yeshua as our ADONAI (L-RD), we committed to truly make Him L-RD of our lives. This vow is not something we should take lightly because we can be sure that G-D does not take it lightly. In this world where vows and oaths have become almost meaningless we need to understand that when it comes to us as children of the Most High G-D our word truly must be our bond.