SERIES F --- WILDERNESS WANDERINGS --- LESSON 12
THE JOURNEY RECORDED
THE JOURNEY FROM EGYPT
From Numbers 33
Many years had passed since the people of Israel had left Egypt triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians. In fact, the Egyptians urged them to leave as they buried their firstborn sons, whom Adonai had cut down, sending judgment upon the Egyptian gods. Moses recorded the itinerary of his people, place by place, as they moved through the wilderness, for Adonai had Instructed him to do this. The people of Israel left Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month {about April 1} on the morning after the Passover. Their first camp was at Succoth; then they moved to Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. From there they went to Pi-hahiroth, which is east of Baal-Zephon, where they camped at the foot of Mount Migdol. After leaving Mount Migdol, the people of Israel went through the Red Sea and travelled for three days in the Wilderness of Etham, finally setting up camp at Marah. From Marah they came to Elim, where they found twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They camped at Elim for quite some time; then they moved on to camp by the Red Sea. After that they moved into the Wilderness of Sin. From the Wilderness of Sin, the people moved on to Dophkah, then to Alush and next to Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. From this point the following were the stages on the people’s itinerary:
1 -- Wilderness of Sinai
2 -- Kibroth-hattaavah
3 -- Hazeroth
4 -- Rithmah
5 -- Rimmon-parez
6 – Libnah
7 – Rissah
8 – Kehelathah
9 – Makheloth
10 – Tahath
11 – Tarah
12 – Mithcah
13 – Hashmonah
14 – Moseroth
15 -- Bene-jaakan
16 -- Hor-hagidgad
17 – Jotbathah
18 – Abronah
19 --Ezion-geber
20 -- Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin
21 -- Mount Hor, at the edge of Edom.
While the people of Israel were at Mount Hor, Adonai ordered Aaron the priest to go into the top of the mountain where he died. His death occurred in the fortieth year after the people of Israel left Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month {about July 15}. Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died. About this time the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb in the land of Canaan, learned that the people of Israel were approaching. After the incident with him, the people moved on from Mount Hor, following this itinerary:
1 – Zalmonah
2 – Punon
3 – Oboth
4 -- Ije-abarim, in the border of Moab
5 -- Dibon-gad
6 -- Almon-diblatiiaini
7 -- The Abarim Mountains, in the plains of Moab.
While they were camped in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River across from Jericho, Adonai spoke to Moses, giving him these Instructions: [When you cross the Jordan River into Canaan, drive out all of the people who now live there. Destroy their idols, their images of stone or metal and also their high places. Possess the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you. Each tribe will receive an inheritance of land according to its size, larger tribes receiving larger portions of land and smaller tribes receiving smaller portions. If you do not drive out the people who now live there, those you allow to remain will become like sand in your eyes and thorns in your sides, a constant irritation to you in the land where you settle. Then, as time passes, I will destroy you even as I had arranged for you to destroy them.]
COMMENTARY
THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS
The land over which Israel now moved was rich and well watered. The tribes of Reuben and Gad, which had great flocks, asked Moses for this land as their heritage. The land would be theirs, but they must pledge themselves to cross the Jordan and fight with their brothers to win the Promised Land. It had been a long journey from Egypt to the plains across the Jordan River, but a careful record had been kept of all that had happened. The itinerary had been set by YHVH. The record had been kept by His people, a record of His plans and their obedience or disobedience. Moses kept a diary of the Exodus that listed all the stops along the way to the Promised Land. The locations of a few are known today, but others are lost in history. It is believed by some that the route the Israelites took to Kadesh-barnea ran through the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, others believe it was the central part, still others the southern; any one of these routes remains a possibility. The diary begins with the Israelites leaving the Egyptian city of Rameses. After crossing the Sea of Reeds, they walked for three days before they reached the oasis of Marah. Marah was no ideal camping ground; it was infamous in ancient times for its bitter undrinkable water. In fact, its name means {bitter.} Exactly where Marah was located remains a mystery. The next stop Elim was a lush oasis with twelve springs of water. But a few stops later, the Israelites found themselves at Alush, located in a very dry area. The lack of water at the stop after that, Rephidim, was then a particularly cruel disappointment. It was here that Moses struck a rock to produce water. The tribes moved on and set up camp at the foot of Mount Sinai. There are six different mountains that could be Mount Sinai. Tradition favours the one in the south of the Sinai desert. Moses’ itinerary goes on to record twenty more stops between Mount Sinai and Kadesh-barnea. They are all located in the {great and terrible wilderness} mentioned in Deuteronomy 1:19. When the Israelites reached Kadesh-barnea, they attempted to invade Canaan and failed. That generation spent their lives in the wilderness, either at Kadesh-barnea or at another Kadesh farther southeast. Forty years later, a new generation of Israelites made a fresh start. They wound their way north and east through Edom and Moab to the land of the Amorites and the mountains of Abarim on the eastern side of the Jordan River. It was there that Moses climbed Mount Nebo, viewed the lush land of Canaan from the mountain’s heights and died; forbidden ever to enter the Promised Land. The tribes then turned westward to the plains of Moab across the river from Jericho. This marked the last camping ground of the people of YHVH before they crossed the river and entered the Promised Land.
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Thought for Today: Shabbat January 28:
May you put high priority on rest, Torah Study and replenishment this Shabbat. May you get nourishment for your soul while sitting at the Feet of YHVH Elohiym today. May you be refreshed to do your work with great excellence in this new coming week. May you after this Shabbat, take on a challenge that stretches your faith and increases your dependence on YHVH. May this Shabbat rest be especially satisfying and your rest be especially sweet. Life is great in that way. Be blessed!
SERIES F --- WILDERNESS WANDERINGS --- LESSON 11
EAST OF JORDAN
SETTLEMENTS IN GILEAD
From Numbers 32
As time passed the people of Israel arrived in the land of Jazar and Gilead. The people of Reuben and Gad, who had large numbers of sheep, saw how good the land was for their flocks. They approached Moses and Eleazar the priest and the other leaders of the tribes with a request. [As you know,] they said, [we are shepherds and this land is excellent for sheep. Adonai has permitted us to capture this land, with Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo and Beon. With your permission we would like to have this land for our inheritance instead of land on the other side of the Jordan River.] But Moses spoke harshly to the people of Reuben and Gad. [Do you expect the other people to go over and fight while you sit here?] he demanded. [Don’t you realize this will discourage the others from going into the land Adonai promised them? Your fathers did the same thing at Kadesh-barnea when I sent them to spy on the land. When they returned from the Valley of Eshcol, they discouraged the people from entering the Promised Land. Adonai was angry with them and swore that all of them twenty years of age and older would not enter the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for they had refused to do what He Commanded, Only Caleb and Joshua would enter the land, for they had obeyed Adonai completely, encouraging the people to conquer the land. Because Adonai was angry with our people, He made us wander in the wilderness for forty years until all the people of that generation died. Now here you come as a brood of sinners to provoke even more Adonai’s anger against us. If you turn from Him, He again will force our people to remain in the wilderness and that will bring disaster to our nation.] [No, that’s not what we want,] the people of Reuben and Gad protested. [We only want to build sheepfolds for our flocks and walled cities for our families so they can remain here safely while we who are of military age cross the Jordan River and help our people conquer the land on the other side. We promise that we will not return home until the land has been conquered and the people of Israel have received their inheritance. Then we will return here, for we do not want to share the inheritance on that side of the Jordan River.] [If you do what you say,] Moses answered [and arm your warriors and send them across the Jordan River and keep them there until the land is conquered and Adonai has driven out the enemies, then you may return and possess this land. You will have done your duty and this land east of the Jordan River shall be your inheritance. But if you do not do as you have promised, you will have sinned against Adonai and your sin will come upon you to harm you. Go, build cities for your families and sheepfolds for your flocks; then do what you have promised.] [We will do all that you say,] the people of Gad and Reuben answered. [Those of us set apart for military service will cross the Jordan River to fight for the land. But we will leave our women and children here with our flocks in the cities that we build in Gilead.] Then Moses instructed Eleazar, Joshua and the leaders of the tribes concerning this matter. [If the men set apart for military service in these two tribes cross the Jordan River to fight Adonai’s battles, then you must give them Gilead when the land is conquered,] Moses said. [If they refuse to fight with the other tribes, then they may not possess Gilead but will have to take their inheritance west of the Jordan River.] Once again, the tribes of Reuben and Gad pledged to do what was required of them. [We will do all that Adonai has Commanded,] They promised [and will go with the other tribes into Canaan. However, we will possess our inheritance here in Gilead, east of the Jordan River.] Moses assigned the territory east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Gad, Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s son. This included the land that had once been part of the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites; and the kingdom of OG, king of Bashan, including all the towns and surrounding territories. The people of Gad built the following cities: Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth, Shophan, Jaazer, Jogbehah, Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran. These were all fortified cities with sheepfolds. The people of Reuben built the following cities: Heshbon, Elealeh, Kirjathaim, Nebo, Baal-meon and Shibmah. Later they changed some of the names, for they were conquered cities that they rebuilt. The clan of Machir, which was part of the tribe of Manasseh, conquered the Amorites who lived in Gilead and inhabited the land. Moses gave them permission to live there. Another clan in the tribe of Manasseh, the people of Jair, took many of the towns in Gilead. They changed the name of the territory where they lived to Havoth-jair. Still another group captured Kenath and its surrounding villages and named it Nobah, after their leader.
COMMENTARY
LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WEAPONS
The ancient Egyptian soldier wore very little by way of armour. The average foot soldier wore only a simple kilt-like skirt, sometimes with bands across his shoulders and chest. Sandals were permitted, but most soldiers fought barefoot. A bull-hide shield, stiffened by a crossbar in the back by which it was held, provided only slight protection for the foot soldier. Some fighting units wore a feather in their hair to identify them, but only the pharaoh wore a sort of war helmet; the {chepresh,} a blue crown. When a foot soldier fought at close range, he used a long-bladed sword about twenty inches in length. A dagger or knife thrust into the waistband of his kilt must have been very useful during hand-to-hand combat. There were three basic kinds of knives:
1 -- a simple straight-bladed one that resembled a modern kitchen knife;
2 -- curved knives; and
3 -- longer curved knives with fairly wide blades called scimitars {SIM-e-tars}.
For fighting at greater distances, the soldier threw spears and javelins. Battle axes came in several varieties. Some were semi-circular blades in wooden handles, held in place by leather lashings. Other axes had long, narrow blades with a straight or rounded razor-sharp edge. A third type looked somewhat like a modern carpenter’s axe. The earliest Egyptian soldiers also fought with boomerangs and clubs. They used maces too, a heavy club with a spiked rounded end. Other soldiers fought as slingers. The stones that flew from their slings were effective and deadly. When the battle was on level ground, chariots were used, often with knives attached to their spinning wheels; the charioteers were considered an elite group. Those with good eyesight became archers. They carried their arrows just behind their shoulder in a leather quiver that hung from a strap across their chests. The weapons were simple and the fatalities high, but the army played a major role in the growth of Egypt’s power and fame.
If you wish to avoid the mark of the beast, wear the mark of YHVH, which is to keep Torah.
"And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. "Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.
(Exo 13:9-10)
SPIRITUAL GIFTS – PART 2
What Is The Nature And Use Of Spiritual Gifts?
YHVH Gives Us Spiritual Gifts So We Can Work Together To Serve Him And Each Other!
[Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Moshiach’s Body. We are all parts of His One Body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all One Body in Moshiach, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others]. -- Romans 12:4-5. Paul uses the concept of the human body to teach how believers should live and work together. Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so believers are to work together under the Command and Authority of Yeshua Moshiach -- see 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:1-16.
YHVH Gives Us Gifts So We Can Build Up His Church.
To use them effectively, we must
1 -- realize that all gifts and abilities come from YHVH;
2 -- understand that not everyone has the same gifts;
3 -- know who we are and what we do best;
4 -- dedicate our gifts to YHVH’s service and not to our personal success; and
5 -- be willing to utilize our gifts wholeheartedly, not holding back anything from YHVH’s service.
Our Gifts, Though Different, Are All Useful.
Our gifts differ in nature, power, and effectiveness according to YHVH’s Wisdom and Graciousness, not according to our faith. [Measuring your value by how much faith YHVH has given you] -- 12:3, means that YHVH will give the Spiritual power necessary and appropriate to carry out each responsibility. We cannot, by our own effort or willpower, drum up more faith and thus be more effective teachers or servants. These are YHVH’s Gifts to His Church, and He gives Faith and Power as He wills. Our role is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve others with what Moshiach has given us.
Believers Using Their Gifts To Serve YHVH And Each Other, Create An Exciting Fellowship.
Look at the list of Gifts in Scripture and imagine the kinds of people who would have each Gift. Prophets are often bold and articulate. Servers {those in ministry} are faithful and loyal. Teachers are clear thinkers. Preachers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous and trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers. Those who comfort others are caring people who are happy to give their time to others. It would be difficult for one person to embody all these gifts. An assertive prophet would not usually make a good counsellor, and a generous giver might fail as a leader. When you identify your own Gifts [and this list is far from complete], ask how you can use them to build up YHVH’s family. At the same time, realize that your Gifts cannot do the work of the Church all alone. Be thankful for people whose Gifts are completely different from yours. Let your strengths balance their weaknesses, and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies. Together you can build Moshiach’s church.
Spiritual Gifts Have A Single Source And A Special Purpose.
[Now there are different kinds of Spiritual Gifts, but it is the same Ruach Kodesh Who is the Source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Adonai Elohiym we are serving. There are different ways YHVH works in our lives, but it is the same YHVH who does the work through all of us. -- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. The Spiritual Gifts given to each person by Ruach HaKodesh are special abilities that are to be used to minister to the needs of the Body of believers. This chapter is not an exhaustive list of Spiritual Gifts -- see Romans 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4:10-11 for more examples. There are many gifts. Some people have more than one Gift, and one Gift is not superior to another. All Spiritual Gifts come from Ruach HaKodesh, and their purpose is to build up Moshiach’s Body, the Church.
Spiritual Gifts Have At Times Been Divisive Because Of Pride And Jealousy.
Instead of building up and unifying the Corinthian church, the issue of Spiritual Gifts was splitting it. Spiritual Gifts had become symbols of Spiritual Power, causing rivalries. Some people thought they were more {spiritual} than others because of their gifts. This was a terrible misuse of Spiritual Gifts because their purpose is always to help the Church function more effectively, not to divide it. We can be divisive if we insist on using our Gift our own way without being sensitive to others. We must never use Gifts as a means of manipulating others or serving our own self-interest.
Spiritual Gifts Ought To Be Humbly Used In Service Of Others.
The greater Gifts are those that are more beneficial to the Body of Moshiach. Paul has already made it clear that one Gift is not superior to another, but he urges the believers to discover how they can serve Moshiach’s Body with the Gifts YHVH has given them. Your Spiritual Gifts are not for your own self-advancement. They were given to you for serving YHVH and enhancing the Spiritual Growth of the Body of believers.
Spiritual Maturity Neither Denies Nor Overemphasizes Spiritual Gifts.
[Do not stifle Ruach HaKodesh. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.] -- 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22. By warning us not to {stifle Ruach HaKodesh,} Paul means that we should not ignore or toss aside the Gifts Ruach HaKodesh gives. Here, he mentions prophecy -- 5:20; in -- 1 Corinthians 14:39, he mentions tongues. Some Spiritual Gifts may be controversial, and they may cause division in a church. Rather than trying to solve the problems, some believers just smother the Gifts. This impoverishes the church. We should not stifle Ruach HaKodesh’s Work in anyone’s life but encourage the full expression of these Gifts to benefit the Whole Body of Moshiach.
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