Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, You have set us apart by Your commandments and have commanded us to actively study Your Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May You open our eyes to see marvellous truths from Your Torah. Thank You for calling us who were once gentiles excluded from the citizenship of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no expectation and without Elohim- but now through the blood of Messiah we have gained access into the covenants and have obtained citizenship into the commonwealth of Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah – Amein
“The
object of the whole Torah is that man should become a Torah himself.”
Ba’al Shem Tov, Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer,1700-1760
“Every
living soul is a letter of the Torah, wherefore all souls taken
together make up the Torah.”
Nathan of Nemirov, Disciple of the Bratzlaver, d. 1830
Joh 1:14 And the Word (Torah) became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favour and truth.
When Yahshua was on earth
He taught that every single word of this Torah portion will be fulfilled.
When Yahshua returns He will make sure that every single word of this Torah portion has been fulfilled.
Isa 55:11 so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth – it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for.
This is the only way that redemption will come to the earth – when His Words become flesh and when His Words become our Words.
Joh 12:49 “Because I
spoke not from Myself, but the Father who sent Me has given Me a command,[e]
what I should say and what I should speak. Footnote: eSee Joh_7:16.
Parashat Nasso’s theme is that of “lifting up” or lifting
up a group of people who are dedicated to hear, speak and guard every Word that
comes from the Father. We saw in last week’s parashah that this specific called
out group of people are more diverse than what we could have thought or
imagined.
The apostolic scriptures confirm the call to this kind
of priesthood.
1Pe 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a
people for a possession, (KJV says a peculiar people) that you should proclaim
the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light,
1Pe 2:10
who once were not a people, but now the people of Elohim; who had not
obtained compassion, but now obtained compassion. (this is conditional - ‘’if
we guard His Covenant – His Torah – Ex 19:5-6’’)
Exo 19:5 ‘And now,
if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be
My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine
– Exo 19:6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart
nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ěl.”
ה וְעַתָּה, אִם-שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ בְּקֹלִי, וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם, אֶת-בְּרִיתִי--וִהְיִיתֶם לִי סְגֻלָּה מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים, כִּי-לִי כָּל-הָאָרֶץ.
The world is about to find
out what happens when you mess with His treasured possession His ‘’am segulah’’
the nation of Israel and those grafted into Israel.
The world is also about to
find out that YHVH’s ‘’am segualah’’ are themselves the only path of redemption
that the world has before Messiah returns-John 4:22
Yahshua stated that only
a few would be faithful to his calling- Mat 22:14 “For many (Gk ‘’pollus’’ almost everybody) are
called, but few (Gk ‘’oligos’’ or ‘’puny or pathetic’’ in comparison) are
chosen.(Gk ‘’elektos’’ treasured)
Isa 42:19
“Who is blind but My servant, or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who
is blind as he who is at peace, and blind as servant of יהוה?
Isa 42:20 “You see much, but do not
observe; ears are open, but do not hear.”
Isa 42:21 It has delighted יהוה, for the sake of His righteousness, to
make the Torah great and esteemed.
Isa 42:22 But this is a people
robbed and plundered, all of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in
prison houses. They have become a prey, with no one to deliver – for plunder,
and no one to say, “Restore!” (“ha
shav” or return)
Isa 42:23 Who among you gives ear to
this, pays attention and hears for the time to come?
Isa 42:24 Who gave Yaʽaqoḇ (you and me) for plunder, and Yisra’ĕl to
the robbers? Was it not יהוה, He against whom we sinned?
For they would not walk in His ways, and they did not obey His Torah!
Isa 42:25 So He has poured on him
His burning displeasure and the strength of battle, and it set him on fire all
around, yet he did not understand. And it burned against him, yet he did not
take it to heart!
So, who is this remnant ‘’am segulah’’ that will usher in
the Messianic kingdom? It is the regathering of the tribes of Israel and their
companions under the blessing of a Levitical priesthood under the headship of
Messiah.
Act 15:15 “And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it has
been written:
Act 15:16 ‘After this I shall return and rebuild the Booth of Dawiḏ
which has fallen down. And I shall rebuild its ruins, and I shall set it up, (Levitical
priesthood and the 12 tribes of Israel)
Act 15:17 so that the remnant (Gk ‘’kataloipoi’’ residue ie only a
very few) of mankind shall seek יהוה, even all the nations on whom My Name has
been called, says יהוה who is
doing all this,’
Act 15:18 who has made this known from of old. Amo_9:11-12.
Jer 30:11 For I am with you,’ declares יהוה, ‘to save you. Though I make a complete
end of all nations[a] where I have scattered you, yet I do not make a complete
end of you. But I shall reprove you in judgment, and by no means leave you
unpunished.
His people have no excuse because YHVH does provide a way of escape for
Jacob/Yakov - Joe 2:32 “And it shall be that everyone who calls on
the Name of יהוה shall be
delivered.[b] For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim there shall be an escape[c]
as יהוה has said, and among the survivors whom יהוה calls.
This Torah portion provides a ‘’blue print’’ for
the way of ‘’escape’’ of an ‘’am segulah’’
כה תברכו – ‘’thus you shall bless’’(His ‘’am segulah’’ His treasured possession)
Num 6:22
And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 6:23 “Speak to Aharon and his
sons, saying, ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to them:
The Aaronic
blessing consists of three sections:
1.The first section is in vs 24.
|
כד יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ. {ס} |
Num 6:24 “יהוה bless you and guard you; (when we are most blessed we are most vulnerable)
The Hebrew word for “bless” comes from the Hebrew verb “barach.” This verb means to kneel. The image is created of YHVH “kneeling” down to reach mankind on their level of need. This reminds us of a parent kneeling down to the level of their child to connect and love them in their need.
Psa 18:35 …. And Your lowliness/gentleness
(ענוה - "to willingly lower
oneself to another's level,")
makes me great. (תרבני – increases me)
Pro 10:22 The blessing of יהוה makes one rich, And He adds no pain with it. (or painful toil)
2. The second section of the blessing is in vs
25.
Num 6:25 יהוה make His face
shine upon you, and show favour to you;
כה יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
Literary ‘’YHVH shall cause His Faces to be illuminated on you so as
to grant you amnesty’’
3.The third section of blessing in in vs 26.
כו יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
Num 6:26 יהוה lift up His
face upon(to) you, and give you peace.”
When you stood before a king and he would not look at you, you could be in
trouble. When a king lifted up his head and took notice of you, you knew he was
granting you favour.
When YHVH lifts up His Faces on you everything about your life comes into
focus and begins to make sense and so His shalom (acceptance) will be
established over your life.
Footnote: Verses
24 to 26 is YHVH’S Blessing THAT He commanded the priests to speak over all the
sons of Israel.
Num 6:27 “Thus
they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless
them.”
כז וְשָׂמוּ אֶת-שְׁמִי,
עַל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַאֲנִי, אֲבָרְכֵם.
The letter ‘’yud’’ used most in this blessing – 13 times – the smallest
letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The secret of spiritual power is smallness
and anonymity. (the most powerful prayer in the world is only 3 lines long)
The gifts of the tribal
leaders:
On the day when the Tabernacle was inaugurated, the tribal leaders wished to bring inauguration gifts. Collectively they brought six covered wagons and twelve oxen to assist in transporting the Tabernacle when the Israelites travelled. In addition, as representative of their respective tribes, they wished to offer individual gifts and offering. YHVH instructed Moses to accept these gifts, and that on each the following twelve days one of the leaders should bring his individual gifts. Although each leader brought identical gifts, the Torah describes each one individually.
What is the connection between the Aaronic blessing and the gifts of the tribal leaders?
The called-out priesthood brings spiritual blessing to the tribes of Israel so that the 12 tribes of Israel can bring material blessings to a called-out priesthood. This, so that YHVH’s ‘’am segulah’’ can bring ‘’light’’ and ‘’blessing’’ to the nations - Isa 49:6 and He says, “Shall it be a small matter for You to be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Ya‛aqoḇ, and to bring back the preserved ones of Yisra’ěl? And I shall give You as a light to the nations, to be My deliverance to the ends of the earth!”
Num 7:1 And it came to be, when Mosheh finished
setting up the Dwelling Place, that he anointed it and set it apart and all its
furnishings, as well as the altar and all its utensils. Thus he anointed them
and set them apart.
Num 7:2
And the leaders of Yisra’ĕl, heads of their fathers’ houses who were the
leaders of the tribes and over the ones registered, drew near,
Num 7:3
and they brought their offering before יהוה: six covered wagons and twelve cattle, a wagon for every two of
the leaders, and for each one a bull. And they brought them near before the
Dwelling Place.
Num 7:4 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Num 7:5 “Accept these from
them, and they shall be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting. And
you shall give them to the Lĕwites, each one according to his service.”
Num 7:6 And Mosheh took the wagons
and the cattle, and gave them to the Lĕwites.
Num 7:7 He gave two wagons and four
cattle to the sons of Gĕreshon, according to their service.
Num 7:8 And he gave four wagons and
eight cattle to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand
of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.
Num 7:9 But to the sons of Qehath he
gave none, because theirs was the service of the set-apart objects,
which they bore on their shoulders….. vs 88
The offerings each consist of one silver bowl, one
silver basin, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil; one gold ladle filled
with incense; one young bull, one ram and one sheep as an elevation offering;[a]
he-goat as a sin offering; and two cattle, five rams, five he-goats and five
sheep for a peace offering. This makes a total of 12 bowls, 12 basins, 12
ladles, 36 bulls, 72 rams, 72 sheep, and 72 he-goats. Each prince (tribal
leader) brings his offering on a different day.
These are repeated again for all the twelve tribes of Yisral – over 80 verses- Why?
1.
All of Israel ‘’came to the party’’ there were no
‘’slackers’’
2.
There was unity in the camp see Ps 133 – ‘’hinei ma
tov…..”כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְהוָה, אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה--
חַיִּים, עַד-הָעוֹלָם
Num 7:89
And when Mosheh went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him, he
heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the lid of atonement that was
on the ark of the Witness, from between the two keruḇim. Thus He spoke to him.
I personally believe that YHVH will establish His
Presence (Tabernacle) in the wilderness of the nations in the last three and a
half years of this age, (Eze 20:34 “And I
shall bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the lands where you
are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath
poured out. Eze 20:35 “And I shall bring you into the wilderness of
the peoples, and shall enter into judgment with you face to face
there. Eze 20:36 “As I entered into judgment with your fathers in
the wilderness of the land of Mitsrayim, so I shall enter into judgment with
you,” declares the Master יהוה.
Eze 20:37 “And I shall make you pass under
the rod, and shall bring you into the bond of the covenant,
Eze 20:38 and purge the rebels from among
you, and those who transgress against Me. From the land where they sojourn I
bring them out, but they shall not come into the land of Yisra’ěl. And you
shall know that I am יהוה. ) Also,
during this final three and half year period there will be a final outpouring
of His Spirit on all flesh - Joe 2:28 “And after
this it shall be that I pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams, your young men see visions.
Joe 2:29 “And also on the male servants and
on the female servants I shall pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joe 2:30 “And I shall give signs in the
heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke,
Joe 2:31 the sun is turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה.
Joe 2:32 “And it shall be that everyone who
calls on the Name of יהוה shall be
delivered.[b] For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim there shall be an escape[c]
as יהוה has said,
and among the survivors whom יהוה calls.
Our
Haftarah portion: (selected verses)
Jer 31:1
“At that time,” declares יהוה, “I shall
be the Elohim of all the clans of Yisra’ěl, and they shall be My people.”
Jer 31:2 Thus said יהוה, “A people escaped from the sword found favour in the
wilderness, Yisra’ěl, when it went to find rest.” Ezek 20:34,35
Jer 31:3 יהוה appeared
to me from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love,
therefore I shall draw you with loving-commitment.
Jer 31:4 “I am going to build you again.
And you shall be rebuilt, O maiden of Yisra’ěl! Again you shall take up your
tambourines, and go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
Jer 31:7 For thus said יהוה, “Sing with gladness for Ya‛aqoḇ, and shout among the chief of
the nations. Cry out, give praise, and say, ‘O יהוה, save
Your people, the remnant of Yisra’ěl!’ Jer 31:10 “Hear the word of יהוה, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He
who scattered Yisra’ěl gathers him, and shall guard him as a shepherd his
flock.’
Jer 31:11 “For יהוה shall
ransom Ya‛aqoḇ, and redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he. Jer
31:17 “And there is expectancy for your latter end,” declares יהוה, “and your children shall return to their own country. Jer
31:21 “Set up signposts,(Heb – prominent/isolated places of solitude)
make landmarks; (erect markers – a tree or a heap) set your heart toward the
highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O maiden of Yisra’ěl, turn back
to these cities of yours!
Jer 31:22 “Till when would you turn here
and there,(Heb ‘’chamak’’ or elusive) O backsliding daughter? For יהוה has created what is new on earth: a woman encompasses a
man!” Jer 31:31 “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make a renewed covenant with the house of
Yisra’ěl and with the house of Yehuḏah,[a] Footnote: a Heb_8:8-12, Heb_10:16-17.
Jer 31:32 not like the covenant I made with
their fathers in the day when I strengthened[b] their hand to bring them out of
the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant (Torah)which they broke, though I was a
husband to them,” declares יהוה.
Footnote: bCommonly understood as “take hold of.”
Jer 31:33 “For this is the covenant I shall
make with the house of Yisra’ěl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on
their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Jer 32:28 Therefore thus said יהוה, “See, I am giving this city into the hand of the Kasdim, into
the hand of Neḇuḵaḏretstsar sovereign of Baḇel, and he shall take it.
Jer 32:29 “And the Kasdim who fight against
this city shall come and set fire to this city and burn it, with the houses on
whose roofs they burned incense to Ba‛al and poured out drink offerings to
other mighty ones, to provoke Me. (Zech chps 12-14)
Jer 32:30 “For the children of Yisra’ěl and
the children of Yehuḏah have done only evil before Me, from their youth. For
the children of Yisra’ěl have only provoked Me with the work of their hands,”
declares יהוה.
Jer 32:31 “For this city has been a cause
for My displeasure and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this
day that I should remove it from before My face,
Jer 32:32 because of all the evil of the children of Yisra’ěl and the children of Yehuḏah, which they have done to provoke Me – they, their sovereigns, their heads, their priests, their prophets, and the men of Yehuḏah, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.
‘’Who were the Chaldeans according to the Bible? According to the Bible, the Chaldeans were a violent group that captured the Jews as a manifestation of the wrath of God. ‘’
Jer 32:42 “For thus said יהוה, ‘As I have brought all this great evil on this people, so I am bringing on them all the good that I am speaking to them.
Jer 33:3 Call unto Me, and I shall answer you,
and show you great and inaccessible matters, which you have not known.’
Jer 33:14 See, the days are coming,’ declares יהוה, ‘when I
shall establish the good word which I have promised to the house of Yisra’ěl
and to the house of Yehuḏah: Jer 33:17 “For thus said יהוה,
‘For Dawiḏ there is not to cease a man to sit on the throne of the house of
Yisra’ěl.
Jer 33:18 And for the priests, the Lěwites,
there is not to cease a man to offer ascending offerings before Me, to kindle
grain offerings, and to slaughter continually.’ ” Jer 33:22 As the
host of the heavens is not counted, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I
increase the descendants of Dawiḏ My servant and the Lěwites who attend upon
Me.’
Num 24:5 מַה-טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ,
יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל.
Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the
Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting
life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Amein.