Isa 56:1 Thus said יהוה, “Guard
right-ruling, and do righteousness, for near is My deliverance to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Isa 56:2 “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it,guarding the Sabbath lest he profane it, and guarding his
hand from doing any evil.
Isa 56:6
“Also the sons of the foreigner who join Themselves to יהוה, to serve Him,
and to love the Name of יהוה, to be His
servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast to My covenant – Isa 56:7 them I shall bring to My set-apart mountain, and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their slaughterings are accepted on My altar, for My
house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
Gal 3:24 Therefore the Torah became our trainer(pedagogos) unto Messiah, in order
to be declared right by belief. Gal 3:25 And after belief has
come, we are no longer under a trainer.
The “pedagogos” was a
Greek term used for a boy who brought a student to
school to be taught by the teacher.
If we are not brought
to the Torah to be taught an understanding of the
foundation of Messiah and the righteousness which
YHVH provides through our complete identification with
Messiah; then we will always remain spiritually
immature and ignorant of YHVH and His ways. Many in the church
have been allowed a partial glimpse of Messiah without the Torah,
through the mercy of YHVH. However this ignorance
will no longer be overlooked in the last days. See Acts 17:30 and Rom 10:4
This week’s Torah portion is laid out in a very
systematic way:
1. Offerings made when
one enters the land – vs 1-12
2. Responsibilities and
duties regarding Converts – 13-16
3. Separation of the
bread or challah offering as a permanent practice –
17-21
4. Delineation between
intentional and unintentional transgressions, both corporately and
individually and the manner in which restitution may be made, or the penalty
of “karat”
being cut off and when the death penalty is applied – 22 -31.
5.An example of a
specific case of how the death penalty is applied for
intentional sin – 32-36.
6. Mitzvah or
commandment of Tzit – tzit or fringes is to be kept – 37-41
1.
Offerings made when one enters the land – vs 1-12
Num 15:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 15:2 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you have come into the land of
your dwellings(moshavim), which I am giving you,
Num 15:3 and you
make an offering by fire to יהוה, a burnt offering or a slaughtering, to accomplish a vow or as
a voluntary offering or in your appointed times, to make a sweet fragrance to יהוה, from the herd
or the flock,
Before you can make an offering you need to build an
altar – So one of the first things the Israelites do when they
enter into the land is build altars to make offerings.
Now the Israelites could not just build altars where and
how they felt like it.
Deu 12:11 “And it shall be, that unto the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell there, there you are to bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes, and the contributions of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to יהוה.
Altars were often built when YHVH confirmed His covenant and made His presence known to His people. However if an Israelite stayed too far from Yerushalayim or the place designated by YHVH for an offering, they could then build altars within their gates.
Deu 12:21 “When the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to put His Name is too far from you, then you
shall slaughter from your herd and from your flock which יהוה has given you, as I have commanded you, and you shall eat within your gates as much as your being desires.
Israelites had a rich heritage of building altars,
pitching tents and digging wells.
Gen 26:24 And יהוה appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the Elohim of your father Aḇraham.
Do not fear, for I am with you, and shall bless you and increase your seed for My servant Aḇraham’s
sake.” Gen 26:25 And he built an altar there, and called on the Name of יהוה, and he pitched his tent there, and the servants of Yitsḥaq dug
a well there.
The second writings describe true believers as stones
from which altars are built.
1Pe 2:4 Drawing near to Him, a living Stone(lithos) – rejected indeed by
men, but chosen by Elohim and precious
1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones,(lithos) are being
built up, a spiritual house, a
set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings
acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.
Note in the above verse that believers are compared to the living stones of an altar as well – a life so yielded
to YHVH that spiritual offerings could be made,
Peter goes on to describe that these stones(Gk – lithos)
would be like stumbling stones and rocks of offense.
1Pe 2:8 and “A stone(lithos) of stumbling and a rock
that makes for falling,”
(stumbling or an occasion for apostacy)1 who stumble because
they are disobedient2 to the Word, to which they also were
appointed. Footnotes: 1Isa. 8:14. 2See John 3:36, Heb. 3:18.
Examine the prophetic words that inspired Peter to write the above
quoted words.
Isa 8:14 “And He shall be for a set-apart place, but a
stone of stumbling and a
rock that makes for falling to both the houses of Yisra’ĕl, as
a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. Isa 8:15 “And many among them shall stumble and fall, and
be broken and snared and taken.”
Isa 8:16 Bind up the witness, seal the Torah among my taught ones. Isa
8:17 And I shall wait on יהוה, who hides His face from the house of Yaʽaqoḇ. And
I shall look for Him.
Yisrael, Messiah, offerings, altars the Torah are all connected, if we fail to see their connectedness we fail to enter into the righteousness ordained for us by YHVH.
Joh 3:36 “He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does
not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim
remains on him.” (You cannot believe without obeying)
Heb 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest,
but to those who did not obey?
These kinds of living stones cannot be fashioned by man – no tool was allowed to fashion them. They were not to look alike like men and woman fashioned to be the same by manmade religion.
Exo 20:25 ‘And if you make Me an altar of stone, do not build it of cut stone,
for if you use your chisel (cherev)on it, you have profaned it.
“Hebrew חרב(cherev)
which most literaly means 'sword'.
Rashi here explains that a sword is designed to shorten life, while an altar is designed to lengthen life by
being used to achieve atonement. It makes sense, therefore, that
one should not be used in the formation of the other.”
Pagans built altars out
of bricks – manmade religion creates these bricks to
force as many as they can to conform to their
idolatrous understanding of YHVH and His Word.
Let us examine the kinds
of offering presented on these altars:
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ג וַעֲשִׂיתֶם
אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה, עֹלָה אוֹ-זֶבַח, לְפַלֵּא-נֶדֶר אוֹ בִנְדָבָה, אוֹ
בְּמֹעֲדֵיכֶם--לַעֲשׂוֹת רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ, לַיהוָה, מִן-הַבָּקָר, אוֹ
מִן-הַצֹּאן.
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3 and will make an offering by fire unto YHVH, a burnt-offering(ascent offering), or
a slaughter offering, in fulfilment of a vow – “neder” beyond your ability (“pala”),
or as a freewill-offering, or in your appointed seasons, to make a tranquilizing
(“nichoach”) fragrance (“reiach”)unto YHVH, of the herd, or of the flock;
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- First of all the
offerings were to be burned by fire.
The very nature of true spirituality is the willingness to be totally
consumed for the honour and esteem of YHVH and His Truth.
Rom 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through
the compassion of Elohim,
to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart,
well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. Rom
12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you
prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of
Elohim
- The
“olah” was an ascent offering – This seems to always be the first kind
of slaughter offering mentioned in the Torah and the other offerings flow
from this burnt offering. While the burnt offering was been totally
consumed on the flames the worshipper bringing the offering must have had
an opportunity to deeply reflect on the presence and greatness of YHVH.
This must have made him aware of his desire to be closer to YHVH but also
the great distance that still needed to be overcome between himself and
his Creator. This realization could give rise to the next kind of offering
– the vow offering.
- The
vow offering – appears at least 6 times in the Torah and is referred
to as the “lephale neder” or “the promise you make to YHVH that you do not
have the ability to keep.” The very
nature of this promise or vow that we make is that when we make it we
confidently assume that He has promised us that He will enable and empower us to keep it. So for example we
vow to YHVH that we will be right before Him because in Yahshua this will
happen. We will not always make excuses for our disobedience because we
are confident that as we find our true identity and restoration in Messiah
we will be enabled to keep all His commandments and walk in a perfect
manner before Him.
We are not saved by our perfect obedience – we have been saved by the favour or grace
of YHVH through the blood of Messiah, to be enabled to walk perfectly before
Him.
Jud 1:24 Now to Him being able to keep you without
stumbling, and to set you before His esteem without blemish, with unspeakable
joy..
YHVH has promised us this so when we make a “lepahle
neder” to Him – We also promise YHVH that we believe He will make our “lepahle
neder” or vow to be perfect before Him, good.
This does not mean that YHVH just turns His eye away from
our sin – He enables us in Messiah never to sin again. By the end of the
Millenium we will be so infused with Messianic life and fragrance that we will
be incapable of sinning before YHVH and one another. On the “Eighth Day” we
will once again enter into the perfect state of original creation.
Churchman have tried to deceive us by believing this
state actually exists in the present time and have built an entire theological
doctrine of bondage around this idea. This state does exist in the present time
for YHVH but it is becoming a progressive reality for us.
- A slaughter offering that was made
as a free will offering – “nidavah”. This kind of offering was more a kind
of offering that we could make that was not beyond our ability to make. To
promise to be righteous before YHVH is an offering beyond our ability.
However a promise or vow to be obedient to the commandments and to be kind
and generous to others and to serve YHVH faithfully is not beyond our
ability.
Deu 30:11 “For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too
hard for you, nor is it far off. Deu 30:12 “It is not in the
heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and
bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ Deu
30:13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the
sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it,
so that we do it?’ Deu 30:14 “For the Word is very
near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it. Deu 30:15 “See, I have set before you today life and
good, and death and evil, Deu 30:16 in
that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim,
to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His
right-rulings. And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land
which you go to possess.
- Offerings were also made at the Appointed Times – Moedim. See Lev/Vayikra 23. Once again these were not
optional offerings, they were commanded to all generations. Sadly while
there is no temple and we are not in the land of Yisrael – we will not be
able to do the offerings. However we can and must still keep the Appointed
Times without the offerings (the Feasts (Chaggim) of YHVH).
Lev 23:2 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘The appointed times of יהוה,
which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these…..
– a law forever in all
your dwellings throughout your generations.
Specific offerings were given for each Appointment – Moed.
See Numbers/B’Midbar 28.
Num 28:2 “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you
shall say to them, ‘Take heed to bring My offering, My food for My offerings
made by fire as a sweet fragrance to Me, at their appointed time (moed).’
Num 15:4 then he
who brings near his offering to יהוה shall bring near a grain offering of
one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of
oil,
Num 15:5 and
one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering you prepare with the burnt
offering or the slaughtering, for each lamb.
Num 15:6 ‘Or for a
ram you prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour
mixed with one-third of a hin of oil,
Num 15:7 and as a
drink offering you bring one-third of a hin of wine as a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 15:8 ‘And when
you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering, or as a slaughtering to
accomplish a vow, or as a peace offering to יהוה,
Num 15:9 then
shall be brought with the young bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an
ĕphah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil,
Num 15:10 and
bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a
sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 15:11 ‘This is
what is done for each young bull, for each ram, or for each lamb or young goat.
Num 15:12
‘According to the number that you prepare, so you do for each one
according to their number.
Listen to the heart of Paul:
Php 2:17 In fact, even if I am being poured out as a
drink offering on the
offering and service of your belief, I am glad and rejoice with you
all.
2Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out, and the
time of my departure has
arrived.
2. Responsibilities
and duties regarding Converts – 13-16
Num 15:13
‘Let all who are native do so with them, in bringing near an offering
made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 15:14
‘And when a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you
throughout your generations, and would make an offering made by fire, a sweet
fragrance to יהוה, as you do, so he does.
Num 15:15 ‘One law
is for you of the assembly and for the stranger who sojourns with you – a law
forever throughout your generations. As you are, so is the stranger before יהוה.
Num 15:16 ‘One
Torah and one right-ruling is for you and for the stranger who sojourns with
you.’ ”
3. Separation of the bread or challah offering as a permanent
practice – 17-21
Num 15:17 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 15:18 “Speak
to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you come into the land to
which I bring you,
Num 15:19 then it
shall be, when you eat of the bread of the land, that you present a
contribution to יהוה.
Num 15:20 ‘Present
a cake of the first of your dough as a contribution – as a contribution of the
threshing-floor you present it.
This first cake is called a “challa” in Hebrew and means
a pierced bread. The Hebrew word “chalal” means to pierce and is also found in Yeshayahu 53:5 ” he was pierced (chalal) for our transgressions and crushed for our depravities” This makes us continually mindful of our Messiah who is the only one who can lead us and establish us in the Kingdom of YHVH.
Num 15:21 ‘Of the
first of your dough you are to give to יהוה a contribution
throughout your generations.
4. Delineation
between intentional and unintentional transgressions, both corporately and
individually and the manner in which restitution may be made, or the penalty of
“karat” being cut off, or the death penalty is applied – 22 -31.
Num 15:22 ‘And
when you sin by mistake, and do not do all these commands which יהוה has spoken to
Mosheh,
Num 15:23 all that
יהוה has commanded
you by the hand of Mosheh, from the day יהוה gave command
and onward throughout your generations,
Num 15:27 ‘And if a being sins by mistake, then he
shall bring a female goat a year old as a sin offering.
Num 15:28 ‘And the priest shall make atonement for the
being who strays by mistake, when he sins by mistake before יהוה, to make
atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
Num 15:29 ‘For him
who does whatever by mistake there is one Torah, both for him who is
native among the children of Yisra’ĕl and for the stranger who sojourns in
their midst.
Num 15:30 ‘But the
being who does whatever defiantly,(“beyad rama”- with a high hand)
whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה, and that
being shall be cut off from among his people. (Heb 10:28)
Num 15:31 ‘Because
he has despised the word of יהוה, and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be cut
off, his crookedness is upon him.’ ”
“Beyad rama” or sinning intentionally implies sinning without remorse or repentance. To continue with
something you know is wrong with no willingness to turn from the transgression as well as a determination to
continue in that transgression. There is no forgiveness
from such rebellion except deep repentance if YHVH so chooses to grant such repentance. Remember repentance is a gift.
“Beyad rama” reminds us of the uplifted arm with a clenched fist which has become the international symbol
of defiance and resistance to real or perceived injustice.
The
greatest freedom fighter of all time bears the scars of a nail pierced hand.
5.
An example of a specific case of how the death penalty is
applied for intentional sin – 32-36.
Num 15:32 And
while the children of Yisra’ĕl were in the wilderness, they found a man
gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
Num 15:33 And
those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Mosheh and to Aharon, and
to all the congregation.
Num 15:34 And they
put him in under guard, because it had not been declared what should be done to
him.
Num 15:35 And יהוה said to
Mosheh, “The man shall certainly be put to death, all the congregation stoning
him with stones outside the camp.”
Num 15:36 And all the
congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, as יהוה commanded
Mosheh, and he died.
Continual rebellion against the commandments including the Sabbath proves that a person has chosen to remain outside the covenant YHVH
and has no right to be part of the covenant community of YHVH.
Maybe one of the worst forms of defiance and rebellion is lifting up your hands to worship
YHVH every Sunday year after year believing that YHVH is impressed or even
accepts
such worship.
Open and continual rebellion and defiance against YHVH and His Torah defiles more and more people every day – YHVH will soon severely judge such rebellion.
6. Mitzvah or
commandment of Tzit – tzit or fringes is to be kept – 37-41
Num 15:37 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Num 15:38 “Speak
to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them to make tzitziyot1
on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a
blue cord in the tzitzit1 of the corners. Footnote: 1See
Explanatory notes - “Tzitzit” - plural Tzitziyot.
Num 15:39 “And it
shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of יהוה and shall do
them, and not search after your
own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring,
Num 15:40 so that
you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be
set-apart unto your Elohim.
Num 15:41 “I am יהוה your Elohim,
who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am יהוה your Elohim.”
When looking at the
fringes we remember all the commandments and refrain from following the
temptations of the heart. (See our article on Tzitzit (Tzitziyot-plural) under
the “Pages” on the right hand side of this BLOG)