FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – SH’LACH-L’KA:
Faith or no faith? It is entirely up to you – but you may be sure that YHWH is ALWAYS true to His Word.
“And Moshe sent them to spy out the land of Kena’an, and said to them, ‘Go up here into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like, and the people who dwell in it, whether strong or weak, whether few or many, and whether the land they dwell in is excellent or evil, whether the cities they inhabit are in camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are forests there or not. And you shall be strong, and shall bring some of the fruit of the land.’ Now the time was the season of the first-fruits of grapes. So, they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Tsin as far as Rechov, near the entrance of Chamath. And they went up through the South and came to Chevron. And Achiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anaq, were there. Now Chevron had been built seven years before Tso’an in Mitsrayim. And they came to the wadi Eshkol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes. And they bore it between two of them on a pole, also of the pomegranates and of the figs. That place was called the wadi Eshkol, because of the cluster which the men of Yisra’el cut down from there. And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moshe and Aharon and all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el in the Wilderness of Paran, at Qadesh. And they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they reported to him, and said, ‘We went to the land where you sent us. And truly, it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. BUT the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are walled, very great. And we saw the descendants of Anaq there too. The Amaleqites dwell in the land of the South, while the Chittites and the Yevusites and the Amorites dwell in the mountains. And the Kena’anites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Yarden.’ And Kalev silenced the people before Moshe, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are certainly able to overcome it.’ But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.’ And they gave the children of Yisra’el an evil report of the land which they had spied out, saying, ‘The land through which we have gone as spies is a land eating up its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. And we saw there the Nephilim, sons of Anaq, of the Nephilim. And we were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes...’”
YHWH didn’t ask whether or not the people of Yisrael should go up to war against the people of Kana’an. He simply told them to go spy out the land and bring back a report prior to doing that. The decision to go to war had already been made by Him, and He didn’t ask their counsel about it. They were to do so with complete faith in Him for their victory, as He had already promised.
As it was for them, so should it be with us – when YHWH has instructed you to do something, whether verbally or through His written Word, just do it. Don’t second-guess Him. Have faith.
“...And the men whom Moshe sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing an evil report of the land, even those men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before YHWH. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Yehoshua son of Nun, and Kalev son of Yephunneh remained alive.”
The plague here in this passage was, of course, tzara’at – leprosy, because the spies had brought back an evil report. As we have seen consistently in past Torah portions, the penalty for lashon hara (evil speech) and rechilut (gossip) is always the same.
Whether they might be true or false, consider your words.
Many of God's chosen ministers work long thankless hours or they work in unusual manners or circumstances. We are often tempted to take the former for granted and to shun the latter.
https://soilfromstone.blogspot.....com/2010/05/judge-m
There was an apocryphal work attributed to Eldad and Medad, who prophesied in Numbers 11:26. Only one line remains from the original, quoted in another apocryphal work called the Shepherd of Hermas: "The Lord is near unto them that turn to Him, as it is written in Eldad and Medad...". This one surviving bit is almost exactly the same as Psalm 145:18, "YHWH is near to all who call on him."
It would be really neat to know exactly what they prophesied, but most prophecies don't actually say anything new. They just rephrase or re-illustrate what God has already told us.
Just something on my mind:
After Bible reading and prayer tonight, when you lay your head on your pillow to sleep, take 5 minutes and imagine that your life is a movie. A film production, that many, many audiences are watching the show. And imagine that the audiences shout to you to stop that thing you are doing or about to do. What would that one thing be that is against your faith in Yeshua? Need to correct or to forgive before lala land close your eyes for the night?
And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
Numbers 11:27 ESV
Young man is na'ar. Throughout Torah, this term is used for those who bear burdens, run errands, and follow orders. They are faithful servants, but not decision makers. This young man did the right thing in reporting events to Moses rather than trying to intervene on his own initiative.
This entire parsha (ch 8-12) describes the highest and lowest authorities in the two major branches of government of ancient Israel: The Levites from high priest to lowest clan, and the executive branch from Moses to the lowest errand boy.
Luke 23 TS2009 v39 And one of the evil-doers who were hanged, was speaking evil of Him, saying, “If you are the Mashiach, save Yourself and us.” v40 But the other, responding, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear Elohim, since you are under the same judgment?
v41 And we, indeed, rightly so, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this One has done no wrong. v42 And he said to Yeshua, “Master, remember me when You come into Your reign.”
In Mattithyahu, the repentive thief did what 2 Corinthians 4:13 is teaching you how to apply the practice (Matt 12:37;15:11).
The thief on the cross did not have Torah. There was no Gospel written, so, he didn't have the Gospel.
He didn't receive the Holy Spirit. The thief had a repentive heart and the fear of the Elohim who caused these things to happen. He believed Yeshua was the King of the Yehuḏim and therefore (took action) he spoke, "Master, remember me, when you come into your reign."
The thief is a firsthand witness that these things happened, he witnessed the injustice [violence] done to Yeshua [Torah]. He felt the presence of YeHoVaH when he felt the earthquake, when darkness fell. He was nailed to a stake also, fully present and aware of everything that had taken place.
He had firsthand knowledge of the accusation, "Yeshua the Son of Elohim." He had knowledge of Yeshua coming back to rule over Yisra’ĕl.
The thief presented the sacrifice offering of praise to Elohim, the fruits of his lips in sincerity and truth (Matt. 12:32-37;Mk 7:20-23).
Hebrews 13🔎[v15] Through Him then, let us continually offer up a slaughter offering of praise to Elohim, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.🔍
That is called 'Korban' (קרבן) a 'sacrifice' or 'offering' presented to the Almighty. His heart was complete towards YeHoVaH. It was acceptable to Yeshua our High Priest in the order of Malkitseḏeq. Which He then presents to YeHoVaH.
The word's root, "karav" (קרב), means "to draw near" or "to come close," a ritual act intended to bring us closer to YeHoVaH.
What the thief did do, was a righteous deed (tzedakah) as defined by the Torah. He glorified the Father, through his belief in the appointed and anointed Yeshua HaMashiach. The thief didn't keep these matters in his heart, he openly professed his belief with his mouth, he spoke (that is an action).
Yeshua will return as King, He will enforce the Royal Law of the land.
The King️ lays down the rules️ for those who desire to enter the Kingdom of YeHoVaH (Deu.6:4-9; Deu. 17:15-20).
What did He lay down? His life.
What did the Living Word lay down, the Torah. The Torah lays down the rules. The redemption and reconciliation was possible by the sacrificed life, and works of Yeshua--
to return us to worship and serve YeHoVaH.
To save us and to destroy evil once and for all in the future. But Yeshua expects us at this present moment TO BE faithful.
The fear of YeHoVaH is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Set-apart One is understanding (Pro.9:10;Psa,111:10).
1 Timothy 5:1-20 Now the goal of this command is love from a clean heart, from a good conscience and a sincere belief, v6 which some, having missed the goal (chattah, sin-chet), turned aside to senseless talk, v7 wishing to be teachers of Torah, understanding neither what they say nor concerning what they strongly affirm. v8 And we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately, v9 knowing this: that Torah is not laid down for a righteous being, but for the lawless and unruly, for the wicked and for sinners, for the wrong-doers and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, v10 for those who whore, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else that is contrary to sound teaching, v11 according to the esteemed Good News [Gospel] of the blessed Elohim which was entrusted to me.
v20 Among these are Humenaios and Alexander, whom I delivered to HaSatan, in order to be taught not to blaspheme.
Qorintiyim Bĕt (2 Corinthians) 4:13 TS2009
[13] But having the same spirit of belief, according to what has been written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,...
YeHoVaH collects our tears (Psalm 56:8).
Hebrews 13
🔎[v15] Through Him then, let us continually offer up a slaughter offering of praise to Elohim, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.🔍
Yoḥanan (John) 21:1-14 TS2009
[1] After this Yeshua manifested Himself again to the taught ones at the Sea of Kinnereth, and He manifested this way: [2] Shim‛on Kĕpha, and T’oma called the Twin, and Nethan’ĕl of Qanah in Galil, the sons of Zaḇdai, and two others of His taught ones were together. [3] Shim‛on Kĕpha said to them, “I am going to fish.” They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and immediately entered into the boat. And that night they caught none at all. [4] But when it became early morning, Yeshua stood on the beach. However, the taught ones did not know that it was Yeshua. [5] Then Yeshua said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” [6] And He said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find.” So they threw, and they were no longer able to draw it in because of the large number of fish. [7] That taught one whom Yeshua loved then said to Kĕpha, “It is the Master!” 🔎Then Shim‛on Kĕpha, hearing that it was the Master, put on his outer garment – for he was stripped – and plunged into the sea.🔍 [8] And the other taught ones came in the little boat – for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits – dragging the net with fish. [9] So when they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. [10] Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” [11] Shim‛on Kĕpha went up and dragged the net to land, filled with one hundred and fifty-three big fishes. And though there were so many, the net was not broken. [12] Yeshua said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And not one of the taught ones had the courage to ask Him, “Who are You?,” knowing that it was the Master. [13] Yeshua came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. [14] This was now the third time Yeshua was manifested to His taught ones after He was raised from the dead.