Why is it important to fulfill a promise?

Mattot 42-1

Tribes

Numbers 30:1-16 (Heb. 2-17)

Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, "This is what the LORD has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

(Num. 30:1-2 ESV)

Why is it important to fulfill a promise?

Here the Torah mentions the heads of the tribes in the context of fulfilling promises. This teaches us that the leaders have a much greater responsibility to fulfill promises than the rest of the people, since he represents HaShem before the people. If a leader does not fulfill his promises, the people will get the wrong impression of the Eternal who has appointed him as His representative. It also means that society must be founded on truthfulness and that this is especially significant among the leaders.

A political leader who makes promises during his election campaign and then, once he is elected, does not fulfill his promises, is dishonoring HaShem’s name. Not fulfilling a promise is more serious than it may seem. It has to do with HaShem’s honor.

This principle applies to parents also. When parents promise their children something it is very important that they fulfill that promise so that the children will come to know HaShem’s faithfulness through their parents example. The impression that parents present to their children will be projected on the Eternal. Children believe that HaShem is like their parents. Therefore it is very important that parents fulfill their promises to their children and that they do not go back on their word. If, at any time, it becomes necessary to go back on a word that was given to one’s children, one must ask for forgiveness so the children understand that such behavior is not right. Then they will not believe that HaShem breaks his promises.

This text also means that one has a responsibility to fulfill one’s word before authorities, and that authorities, at certain occasions, have the right to annul promises of the people.

Be very careful to fulfill what you have promised. In that way you will be like HaShem and honor him

Shavua tov,

How can we see the redemption programme in the feasts?

Pinchas 41-6

Snake mouth

Numbers 28:16 – 29:11

'On the fourteenth day of the first month the LORD's Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work... On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

(Num. 28:16-18, 25 NIV)

How can we see the redemption programme in the feasts?

The redemption programme in the Messiah is marked in all the Eternal's feasts. This portion of the Torah first speaks of the continuing sacrifice, day by day. That speaks of Yeshua's death who was hung at nine in the morning when the morning lamb was sacrificed in the temple and died at three in the afternoon when the afternoon lamb was offered. Yeshua's death atones for the sins of Israel and the world in the heavenly realms morning and afternoon continually.

Then it speaks about the additional Shabbat sacrifice that also brings to mind Yeshua who had to die so that Israel can have peace in Shabbat and the world have peace in the seventh millennium after Adam's creation.

Then it speaks about the new moon that reminds us of the first Adam's creation, the birth of the second Adam and his return in glory on a new moon.

Then, it follows with the annual feasts that also speak of the redemption programme in Yeshua. On the first month, the redemption's month, Elokim's Lamb came to be hung on the 14^th afternoon, according to the prophetic shadow of the Passover.

The seven days of the unleavened breads feast speak of seven thousand years of history in which all can benefit from his sacrifice and get forgiveness of sins in heaven, thanks to the death of the truly Righteous one who atones for the sins of all generations and all peoples. Thanks to his sacrifice there is forgiveness for all, from the first Adam to the last man born.

The first day convocation of the seven days of unleavened breads feast speaks of the first redemption; the convocation of the seventh day speaks of the redemption that will come on the seventh millennium since the creation.

The feast of the weeks speaks of the completion of the first part of the messianic redemption and the beginning of the High Priest Malki Tzedek ministry in the heavenly tabernacle.

The first day of the seventh month is the day of the Messiah's return in glory with the first resurrection of the death and the beginning of the judgement.

The tenth day of the seventh month is the end of the judgement when everyone will be rewarded according to his deeds and justice will be established in the whole world under the Davidic kingdom.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the celebration of the feast of the tabernacles begins. This feast corresponds to the wedding of the Lamb that will last a thousand years. On the eighth day, the feast of the tabernacles will end and the new Yerushalaim will be settled on the new earth together with a worldwide everlasting justice. Then, the Eternal will be One and His name One forever.

Blessed be the Eternal for having revealed some of His redemption plan to us!

Yoshua, son of whom?

Pinchas 41-4

Snake mouth

Numbers 27:6-23

So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.

(Num. 27:18 NIV)

Yoshua, son of whom?

Moshe was the first redeemer who, with the Eternal's help, got the people out of Egypt's bondage. But he couldn't finish the task of taking the people into the promised land. His successor, Yehoshua had to finish the work that Moshe started.

What Moshe couldn't do, Yehoshua did. The name Yeshua is an abbreviation of Yehoshua. For the final redemption Moshe is not enough, Yeshua is also needed. The one who follow only Moshe will get to the tomb; but the follower of Moshe and Yeshua, who continued Moshe's work, will pass from this world to the coming world with everlasting life.

Yehoshua was the son of Nun – נון. Nun means to sprout, to spring, to propagate, to remain, to continue. His father's name is also the name of the letter nun – נ. The meaning of the letter nun is 'fish' and its number 50, which is the number of redemption. There were 50 days between the departure from Egypt and the giving of the Torah in Sinai when the first part of the first redemption was completed. The number 50 also speaks of the year of jubilee which is the great celebration of the final redemption. The numerical value, that is, the addition of the numerical values of each letter, of the Hebrew word ha-geulah – הגאולה, the redemption – is exactly 50.

The letter nun is considered to be the letter of the Messiah. One of the names of the Messiah is Yinon – which comes from the letter nun and means "he will reign". This name comes from Psalm 72:17 where it's written: "May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.” (NIV) The Hebrew text literally reads: לפני שמש ינון שמו – lifnei shemesh yinon shemoh – before the sun his name will remain (existed), or; before (time and position) the sun his name is Yinon.

Nun is the 14^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each Hebrew letter has a numeric value and when a word is written, numbers are also written. The three Hebrew letters of the name David – דוד – add up 14 (dalet, vav and dalet, 4+6+4=14, cf. Matt. 1:17). In that way there is a relationship between Yehoshua son of Nun and David. The Messiah son of David is the future redeemer and eternal king of Israel and his name is Yehoshua/Yeshua.

The name Nun – נון – has two nuns, one at the beginning and one at the end. The first redemption is represented by the first nun and the final redemption is represented by the last nun. Between the nuns there is a vav that has a numeric value of 6 and represents man, who was created the sixth day, and the main purpose of both redemptions. The final nun is written slightly different and it continues lower than the line which shows us that the final redemption will reach underground to cause the resurrection of the dead.

Yehoshua bin Nun was the one who finished the task during the first redemption. His name hides the secret of the second Redeemer who will carry out the final and complete redemption of the people of Israel and the whole world.

Blessed are those who wait for him!

Ketriel

Why did Moshe consult the Eternal?

Pinchas 41-3

Snake mouth

Numbers 26:52 – 27:5

So Moses brought their case before the LORD

(Num. 27:5 NIV)

Why did Moshe consult the Eternal?

The four daughters of Tzelofchad didn't have brothers who could claim the inheritance of the promised land that belonged to their father, according to the first census. That's why they brought their case to Moshe and the other chiefs of the congregation requesting their right to the lot of the property that would belong to their father.

Instead of dictating a sentence right away, Moshe went to consult the Eternal about the issue. Rabbis discuss if he didn't know the answer or if he had forgotten the halachah or if he simply brought the case before the Eternal to avoid embarrassing the inferior judges who couldn't answer the sisters’ request.

In any case the fact of consulting the Eternal was a sign of humbleness.

The one who is proud wants to give an answer even if incorrect, only to be seen as wise. The one who is shy and doesn't know what to answer, answers anything just to avoid acknowledging his ignorance. The humble one acknowledges that he doesn't know, or if he knows, he doesn't mind asking once more and be seen as ignorant because he doesn't seek the approval of the others, nor is moved by the embarrassment of not knowing something, or for the desire of showing how much he knows, but by a deep love for the truth and care for the others.

Yehoshua committed the grave mistake of not consulting the Eternal before making an important decision (Jos. 9). If he had followed Moshe's example of humbleness what happened with the Giveonites (Gibeonites) wouldn't have happened at all.

Dear disciple of Yeshua: Learn to consult the Eternal before making decisions, even if they are trivial. Be humble and present everything before your Heavenly Father, asking for correct hints and inspiration; and the necessary wisdom and intelligence to make correct decisions and do things well.

“...because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

What is the secret to the Jewish people's preservation?

Pinchas 41-2

Snake mouth

Numbers 26:5-51

The sons of Asher according to their families were: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.

(Num. 26:44 NKJV)

What is the secret to the Jewish people's preservation?

In this week's parashah – פרשה, section – the word mishpachah – משפחה, family, clan – appears more than 80 times. The people of Israel are the people of families. Family is the basis of its preservation. All cultures and peoples that have introduced corruption in their families have disappeared throughout history. Family preservation and faithfulness within the covenant of marriage is one of the most fundamental elements of the sacred people. If the family is disintegrated the people will disappear.

The Hebrew text introduces a repetition after the main names of each family; first the name and then the letters hey –ה – at the beginning and yud –י – at the end of each name are introduced. The letter hey is the definite article and the yud at the end transforms the name into an adjective. The letters yud and hey are the first two letters of the Name of the Eternal. Sometimes, these two letters appear alone as an abbreviation of the sacred Name. We find an example in the word halleluiah, which is composed of the two words hallelu – which means "praise" (plural imperative) and yah which are those two first letters of the Name.

By putting His name around each of Israel's families, the Eternal wanted to show that each one of them belonged to Him. But not only that, His name appears before and after each family name, allowing us to understand that He kept each family in or within His name. He was before and after them and placed His own seal upon them.

This is also a sign, as the Midrash says, that the Egyptians didn't rape the women when they were slaves but that each family had kept their purity to be able to be counted as children of each father in the sacred people's.

The letter yud represents the masculine side and the hey the feminine side. Both letters at the beginning and end of each family name shows the union between mother and father for the formation of that family. The fact that the hey – the feminine – is placed at the beginning of the family names can be interpreted, according to the Talmud, as the mothers being placed first to highlight their merit of being faithful and keeping family purity in Egypt.

In Psalm 122:4b it's written: “...the tribes of Jah...” where the two first letters of the sacred Name (יה) appear. The tribes of Israel were dedicated to the Eternal by families and that's why His name has been put as ornament around the name of each family.

The name Jimna – ימנה – that appears in this verse already has the two letters of the Eternal at the beginning and the end since birth. That's why the Torah doesn't add both letters in the family name, only the hey at the beginning –הימנה – to honour their mother's faithfulness.

The Eternal encamps around the person and family who surrendered to Him as it is written in Psalm 34:7: "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” (NKJV) In Psalm 139:5 it's written: “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.” (NKJV) In John 17:12 it's written: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (NKJV)

Blessed be the Eternal who has placed His name around our family!

Why such radicalism?

Pinchas 41-1

Snake's mouth

Numbers 25:10 -26:4

"Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them, because they treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the affair of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of Peor."

(Num. 25:17-18 NIV)

Why such radicalism?

The Midianites had committed a graver sin than the Moavites' because they lived far away and had no logical reason to get involved in the issue. The fact that the Moavites tried to damage the people of Israel is understandable because of their fear of them (22:3). That's why the Eternal didn't command the sons of Israel to attack the Moavites. But the Midianites attacked the people of Israel for no reason whatsoever. That's why this vengeance from the Eternal came through His people.

We don't know how many sons of Israel fornicated with the daughters of Moav and Midian. We do know that 24000 died by the Eternal's plague but it doesn't mean that all of them sinned directly. Not only the fact of sinning against the Eternal brings judgement upon His people, but also the others' silence and inaction. Inaction in the view of our brothers' sin is one of the most harmful things for the people. If we don't reprimand those who insist on sinning we'll be considered as their accomplices and judgement will also come to us for our silence. We must be very severe with those who defend their own sin, but merciful with those who repent.

We can't take the sin of fornication lightly. It's forbidden to have sexual relationships outside of the covenant of marriage. The one who commits those sins has no inheritance in the kingdom to come. If we allow people who live in fornication in our community we will also be judged for our inaction in the presence of sin.

In 1 Corinthians 10:8 it's written that 23000 fell in one day due to their fornication. Paul doesn't mention idolatry in his warning, only fornication. Obviously, fornication was more widely spread that idolatry.

The people of Israel lived in a very high moral standard. Family purity was very important and acts of fornication or adultery weren't seen among the people. This is not done in Israel (Gen. 34:7). The Israelites' minds and consciousnesses were programmed to reject fornication. That's why when a chief comes and introduces a foreign idolatrous woman to take her in the sight of everyone in his tent and fornicate with her, it is considered as extremely grave. That is not done in Israel or among the chosen ones from the nations.

If one gets used to fornication and doesn't consider it a grave sin it's because his mind and consciousness have been perverted by the spirit of this evil world. How can you allow your daughter to sleep with her boyfriend before marriage? And if in any moment you think that it is fine to live together without being married you need to repent for having accepted something that the Eternal rejects. It is forbidden to have sexual intercourse without a previous covenant of marriage between man and woman!

If we don't consider good, righteous and correct what Pinchas did when he drove the spear into Zimri and Cozbi, then our minds haven't been renewed by the Torah and we think the opposite of what the Eternal thinks. What Pinchas did was good in the Eternal's eyes and he was greatly rewarded for having executed the idolatrous formicaries out of heaven's zeal.

Why such radicalism? To save the people from destruction. A little bit of yeast ruins the whole batter and those sins must be cut off for good so that the righteous ones don't disappear from this world.

We are talking here about how to deal with the sinner that insists on his rebellion. It's a totally different issue when someone falls due to weakness and then repents and hates sin. The Eternal is very merciful with the weak ones and He forgives those who repent. Even if we fall many times and repent again and again, He forgives us.

If we fall in the sin of fornication, however, normally it is because we don't understand the severity of this sin. If you knew you will be infected with AIDS when fornicating, would you still do it? We see that fear of the consequences prevent sin. If there is no fear, the sinner keeps falling once and again in sin, just because he thinks it's not that grave. But fornication is grave!

Severe judgement comes upon those who never really repent of their fornication as it's written in Colossians 3:5-5: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” (NIV) In Ephesians 5:3-7 it's written: “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” (NIV revised) In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 it's written: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and by the Spirit of our God.” (NIV revised)

Blessed be the Eternal for His righteousness and mercy!

Why is there public death penalty for certain sins?

So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them. The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel." So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."

(Num. 25:3-5 NIV)

Why is there public death penalty for certain sins?

The people's idolatry ignited the Eternal's wrath against them such that He unleashed a plague to exterminate them. Maimonides stresses the fact that all the instances in which the Torah mentions that the Eternal's wrath burns against His people it was because of idolatry.

The Eternal ordered Moshe to act radically in order to placate His wrath. It's interesting to see that on the one hand the Eternal's anger burns against His people and on the other, He instructs Moshe on how to drive His anger away. This teaches us that the Eternal acts in strict justice together with vast mercy. The people didn't deserve to be saved from this plague, but through the Eternal's mercy there was a way. However, this way was very radical. It was to execute the sinners in public not only to take away the Eternal's anger but also to teach the people the severity of this sin so they would fear and never commit it again.

What did the Eternal command Moshe rabbenu to do? There are two ways of understanding this text. The first one is presented by Rashi and it teaches that Moshe had to summon the courts to judge and dictate death sentence to all those who surrendered to that idolatrous fornication.

The other explanation is that HaShem ordered the execution of all the people's chiefs that worshipped the Baal of Peor in front of everyone so that all of them could see the severity of their sin. Leaders who surrender to sin must be the first ones to be judged, not the people. If a leader commits a sin in public, he must be judged in public so that the people learn to fear the consequences of sin and to fear the Eternal.

In any case, those fornication and idolatry sins brought severe consequences upon the people and 4% of the counted population died, that is, one of each 25 people.

That's why there are two strong admonitions in the Messianic Scriptures instructing to flee from these two very grave sins. In 1 Corinthians 6:18a it's written: "Flee fornication.” (KJV) And in 1 Corinthians 10:14 it's written: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”(NKJV)

May the Eternal, who is good, instil fear in our hearts so that we don't sin against Him becoming a bad example for the sacred people.

Shabbat shalom,

How much are we willing to pay to get a word from heaven in the right time?

And Balaam said to Balak, Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams here for me. And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on the altar.

(Num. 23:29-30 MKJV)

How much are we willing to pay to get a word from heaven in the right time?

Even though it is possible that Bil’am was trying to bribe HaShem, we can still see a principle here about the price of partaking in the true prophetic revelation. How much is prophesy worth? How many innocent animals had to die so that the prophetic word would be revealed to the prophet? This was a prophecy that would only have a few verses in the Torah! The prophetic word is very valuable.

This teaches us that prophecy comes by a combination of the divine will and man’s sacrifice. Bil’am knew very well that it was necessary to bring a large offering in order to become a channel of the prophetic word. Are we willing to offer as much as fourteen animals in order to have the prophetic word among us? Do we want prophecy? How much are we willing to give for it? Are you willing to fast, sacrifice hours in prayer and hours of your night sleep in order to become a prophetic channel for the Eternal? How much is prophecy worth? This text teaches us that even though the elements are there, I am referring to the natural gift and the supernatural ability to prophesy, prophecy will not come unless there is sacrifice from man’s side. Are we willing to pay the price?

When you are going to make an important decision in your life, you need a prophecy, a word from heaven. Are you willing to do your part in order for the word to come to you? Not that we can force the Eternal to speak to us and give us prophetic words. The purpose of our sacrifice is not to appease the Eternal, but that to humble ourselves and prepare ourselves to receive signals from heaven.

The supernatural manifestation is a result of the sacrifice among the people. Why were there such great miracles in connection with the exodus from Egypt? It was because four hundred years of prayers and cries for deliverance had gone by.

Why did the Spirit come with powerful manifestations in Acts chapter two? It was because the assembly had been in prayer and fasting for ten days preparing for Shavuot. The greater the sacrifice, the more power will be revealed in the prophetic word.

Let us seek the truth that comes from heaven with all our hearts and let us be willing to pay the price not only to get the truths but also walk in them.

Kol tuv,

Can God be a man or a son of man?

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

(Num. 23:19a NIV)

Can God be a man or a son of man?

This is one of the clearest texts that assert the absolute truth about the Eternal, the Almighty, not being a man or a son of man.

Here are three more witnesses in the Scriptures that confirm the same: In 1 Samuel 15:29 it's written: "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind." (NIV) In Job 9:32 it's written: “He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.” (NIV) In Hosea 11:9 it's written: “I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man — the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.” (NIV)

The Scriptures can't lie or fail and the Eternal can't contradict Himself or change His mind. The belief that God made Himself a man is caused by confusing and not understanding that the Hebrew term elohim – אלהים – is not only used for the Eternal but also for His messengers, men and angels.

Studying the Scriptures from translations has raised many confusions and misunderstandings. One of the most severs ones is to believe that the Eternal has come in the flesh, has died and resurrected.

The Torah asserts time after time that the Almighty is not a man, therefore, He can't be born, die, or resurrect. To think this of the Eternal is to have a very limited concept of the Most High.

The fact that He can reveal Himself through a man is something else. We are not dealing with that now, only with the fact that He is not, nor can be, nor can become a man or a son of man, nor be the Son of Man.

Blessings,

Is there any relationship between a people gathered together and water?

From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together and I will give them water."

(Num. 21:16 NIV)

Is there any relationship between a people gathered together and water?

The Torah shows in various occasions that one of the conditions for the water to flow in a supernatural way was that the people were gathered together. In this instance, the Eternal says again that the people should be brought together in order to receive water. Had the people not come together, there wouldn't have been any water.

There is a secret here. When the chosen people gather, the Eternal gives water. Beside the Eternal's throne there is a river flowing. That water is also fire. The waters are the force of life of the words and the spirit of the Torah that constantly flow from the Eternal's throne. In the Scriptures, water symbolises the Word and the Spirit of the Almighty.

The Torah shows that when there's a meeting of the chosen people it's much easier for the water to flow than when one is alone. This shows us that we should gather as chosen people and as the chosen ones from among the nations so that the heavenly water can flow allowing us to quench our spiritual thirst.

Are you spiritually thirsty? Get together with the chosen ones and expect to receive water from heaven. Don't stay at home. Don't abandon the congregation of the sons of the Most High. Gather with them regularly and the Eternal shall give you water.

Kol tuv,

Why do some men may receive more honour than others?

I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the LORD as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the LORD will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.

(Num. 18:12-13 NIV)

Why do some men may receive more honour than others?

All men and women have the same worth and value; the immense value of being a human. Even foetuses that haven't been fully formed in the womb yet, have an extremely great value; the immense value of being a human.

However, some men have been chosen to represent the Eternal before the people in a special manner. They are set apart and are in a higher level of authority and responsibility than the rest of the people. This doesn't mean that their worth as human beings is higher than the others'. It's only the position and the task they have which has a higher value.

The priests and specially the high priest have the right to receive the offerings that the people bring to the Eternal, because they represent the Eternal on earth. The one who honours the priest thinking that he is a superior human being is not doing right. We are all the same before the Eternal. But the one who honours the priest because of the position and responsibility he has, is honouring the Eternal.

Every human being must be honoured because he was created in the image and likeness of the Eternal. However, those chosen by the Eternal to be His representatives must be double honoured, as human beings and as ministers of the Eternal. The one who honours the minister for being the minister of the Eternal is honouring the Eternal. The one who gives presents or goods to the ministers for being ministers of the Eternal, are giving those goods to the Eternal; He sees their hearts and will reward them for those offerings.

We are not exalting any man over the rest of the people; we are lifting up the Eternal who gave certain men those powers to be over others.

May the Eternal help us see the difference between these two things.

Ketriel

How is it known when someone has being chosen?

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.

(Num. 17:5 NIV)

How is it known when someone has being chosen?

The miracle of Levi's staff showed who was chosen to enter in the Eternal's presence as a representative to all the people. What was the miracle? In manifestation of life in something already dead. Each one of the chiefs' staffs was made of wood. Wood is something dead. Now, the dead wood from the tribe of Levi received new life. The power of resurrection was the sign that shows who has the right to be high priest on earth.

The same happened with the heavenly high priest. Resurrection life is the heavenly evidence of who has been chosen to approach the Eternal in the heavenly tabernacle. Yeshua is not dead; he has been raised from among the dead and lives forever. His life speaks for itself. He is the chosen one to be the Messiah, first as the heavenly Priest and then as the King Messiah on earth. That day is close.

Look for and submit yourself to leaders that show the signs of the resurrection life. They have access to the Eternal.

Whose offering will be welcomed?

Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not accept their offering."

(Num. 16:15a NIV)

Whose offering will be welcomed?

Korach and his followers' conflict had to do with authority. Who is the boss? The Hebrew text, on verse 3 says that they rose over – al, על – Moshe and over – al, על – Aharon. They had an attitude of rebellion and self exaltation. Instead of submitting to those the Eternal assigned, they lifted up themselves and, in their own minds they placed themselves over the leaders, questioning their motives and blaming them for not fulfilling their promises when it was themselves who brought an unfavourable sentence from the heavenly court. It wasn't Moshe who failed; it was them due to their lack of trust in the Eternal.

When Moshe Rabbenu got upset about what they said, he didn't threaten them back, nor spoke a word against them. He was able to control his character in the middle of his anger and in that critical moment he turned to the Eternal. It was the best he could have done.

He asked the Eternal not to accept their offering, which they were going to bring the next day, to make evident that they weren't chosen as priests and that the path to power is not the result of pushing others around. If Korach and his followers would have been accepted as priests instead or with Moshe and Aharon, it would have been a disaster for the people. This kind of leadership full of envy, rivalry, criticism, lies; rebellion and self exaltation would have taken the entire people to their ruin. In other words, Moshe was asking: "Deliver us from such a leadership!!"

Moshe asked the Eternal not to accept their offering because their attitude wasn't correct. The one who approaches the Eternal can't do it with an arrogant spirit but with fear and tremor. If the Eternal would have accepted the rebels' offering, he would have approved their rebellion. One can't mock the Eternal. If one approaches Him, he has to be willing to submit to His rules and not tell Him what to do. Moshe's prayer was in agreement with the Eternal's justice. He can't accept the fools' offering.

In Ecclesiastes 5:1 it's written: “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.” (NKJV) If one approaches the Eternal only to offer sacrifice but without the intention of listening in the sense of obeying, he is a fool.

In Psalm 66:18 it's written: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” (NKJV)

Dear disciple of the Messiah: Be careful not to rise above the Eternal's assigned leaders. You don't have to agree with everything they say and do, but that doesn't give you the right to rise above them. Do as Moshe did, when you see injustice, speak to the Eternal and pray that He does justice. Don't take justice in your own hands. Don't speak against the leaders you consider to be in error, nor speak against those who rise above your leadership. Speak to the Eternal and let Him judge. He sets and takes away leadership positions.

Don't try to take advantage of the Eternal by presenting offerings to Him. That's dangerous. If you practice fornication, lie, or keep the tithe for yourself, don't ask for healing for your body, or blessings in your economy. Don't bring offerings in order to be accepted or rewarded. Settle your accounts with Him and submit to His orders. By doing this, you will have the approval of the Eternal and also of the men who know Him. That one who exalts himself will be humiliated and the one who humbles himself will be lifted up.

Blessings,

What are the tassels for?

Numbers 15:27-41

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.'

(Num. 15:38-41 NIV)

What are the tassels for?

The tassels that Jewish men wear on their four cornered garments are a reminder of the commitment they have with the Eternal and His commandments. When the eyes want to go astray after impurity, the tassels are there as a reminder that the Jew is sacred and that helps him avoid sin. The tassels are also a reminder of the departure from Egypt which means that the sons of Israel are not slaves anymore, not even of their eyes' desires; so, they are able to overcome their bad instincts with the help of the Eternal. The desire to be pure has to do with the certainty that the Eternal is my Elokim and that I live for him, I am sacred.

Jews who live in real sanctity, not a fictitious one, will be the future teachers of the gentiles that will look for them eagerly when they see that the Almighty is with them in every aspect, also supernaturally. The moment in history will come, not far from now, when ten men from the nations will take hold of the hem of a Jew's garment – where the four tassels are – and will ask for help to walk with him, as it's written in Zechariah 8:23: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'” (NIVUK)

What will these men want? To walk with the Jew. But, why? Because they've heard that Elokim is with the Jews. They don't want to try walking apart from the Jews anymore, following their own interpretations of the Scriptures, away from the Hebrew origins and the oral instruction. By holding the tassels they are acknowledging that the Torah was given to the Jew and the Jew has the authority to teach Torah to the nations.

They are also acknowledging that the Eternal is with the Jews who fulfill the commandments and wear the tzitzit – ציצת – tassels. The Jew received the written and oral Torah, that's why he is the only one able to teach the non-Jew how it should be fulfilled correctly so he can also walk with Elokim.

To walk with a Jew who walks with the Almighty is a practical issue. It has to do with specific commandments and a disciplined conduct in all aspects of life. This doesn't mean that the non-Jew will have to fulfill all the commandments of the Torah, but that he is willing to be taught by the Jew about the commandments for him and how to obey them.

Heaven-fearing based discipline is one of the conditions for the supernatural to be present constantly. The Jew who knows how to fulfill the commandments correctly knows his Elokim (G-d) and He is with him. That divine presence is attractive and it is the one that will eventually be able to help people from the nations to walk properly.

Shabbat shalom,