Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 22-24
June 26, 2010
Numbers 22:5-8, He sent messengers to Bil'am the son of B'or, at P'tor by the [Euphrates] River in his native land, to tell him, "Listen, a people has come out of Egypt, spread over all the land and settled down next to me. 6 Therefore, please come, and curse this people for me, because they are stronger than I am. Maybe I will be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is in fact blessed, and whomever you curse is in fact cursed." 7 The leaders of Mo'av and Midyan left, taking with them the payment for divining, came to Bil'am and spoke to him the words of Balak.
King Balak entreated Bil’am to curse Israel. He sent messengers to bribe him. When first approached, Bil’am sought G-d’s counsel and was told not to go. King Balak then persisted and sent more messengers with more money for Bil’am. Bil’am then sought the L-rd to see what else He had to say. Perhaps He would allow him to go after all and indeed He did allow him to go, but His anger flared up against Bil’am because he went.
Bil’am had his mind made up about going to curse Israel at the request of King Balak. So, upon Bil’am second request, G-d permitted him to go. But then His anger flared against Bil’am. Why would G-d tell Bil’am to go and then get angry with his going?
What am I called to do and then don’t do? What do I choose instead of obeying G-d’s perfect will for me? What else does G-d allow me to do even though He isn’t pleased with my decision? Even so, G-d can allow or permit our decision; our disobedience, but He can also redeem it. He can reestablish and restore what is lost! We can turn back to Him in humility and choose to be obedient.
Bil’am was blinded by his greed and covetousness. He didn’t listen to the L-rd. He persisted in his will to go and G-d would not allow him to curse His people. Remarkably, G-d used a donkey to accomplish His will; a talking donkey no less! G-d can use anything to work His way in this world and in our lives.
Numbers 22:12 God answered Bil'am, "You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed." The Hebrew word for curse here is ‘arar meaning to bind, made powerless and to immobilize. Whereas the word for blessed is barak which means to kneel; in humility upon kneeling the recipient is endued with power for success. When we are humbled under G-d’s power we are in a position to receive His blessing.
Conversely, when we are proud as will Bil’am He will resist us! Bil’am had his own agenda and was intent upon his own purpose. Even the donkey had more discernment than Bil’am!
Numbers 22:31 Then ADONAI opened Bil'am's eyes, so that he could see the angel of ADONAI standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and he bowed his head and fell on his face.
What does the L-rd want to open our eyes to see?
There are four revelations our open eyes should ponder this week. Firstly, the finished work of Messiah. The work is done and we are complete in Him. When we recognize this and know we are truly blessed we will experience an explosion in our hearts for Him. See Colossians 2:10. Secondly, our eyes need to be open to the Hebraic roots of our faith; the reality of our faith is Hebraic not Hellenistic. See Romans 11 and Ephesians 1:17. Thirdly, we need to see Israel’s place in G-d’s heart. G-d disciplines and restores; He will never relinquish His promises to Israel. He will never give up on them or us. Fourthly, our eyes need to be open to the ripe harvest fields. We are called to be fishers of men, to share our faith and be a shining light. All of us are called to be fishers of men as part of our discipleship. See Proverbs 11:30, Daniel 12:3, John 4, Matthew 9:36 and Psalm 126.
L-rd please give us hearts to obey you; that we would not want our own way or seek you to tell us what we want to hear as Bil’am. Help us be a vessel of blessing!
Further reading: Micah 6:3-6, 2Cor 10:3-5, Eph 1:3-7, Joshua 7, 1Sam 30:6, Joel 2:25, 2Peter 2:15, Jude 11, Rev 2:14, John 10:10, Deut 23:5, Jas 4:6, 1Tim 6:9-12, Rom 2, Matt 7:1-15, 1Cor 15:46, Isa 53:1,
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Red Heifer and the Copper Snake
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 19-21
June 19, 2010
Numbers 19:3-6 "This is the regulation from the Torah which ADONAI has commanded. Tell the people of Isra'el to bring you a young red female cow without fault or defect and which has never borne a yoke. 3 You are to give it to El'azar the cohen; it is to be brought outside the camp and slaughtered in front of him. 4 El'azar the cohen is to take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle this blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. 5 The heifer is to be burned to ashes before his eyes -its skin, meat, blood and dung is to be burned to ashes. 6 The cohen is to take cedar-wood, hyssop and scarlet yarn and throw them onto the heifer as it is burning up.”
Numbers 19:9 A man who is clean is to collect the ashes of the heifer and store them outside the camp in a clean place. They are to be kept for the community of the people of Isra'el to prepare water for purification from sin.
The Red Heifer’s blood and ashes mixed in water were used for cleansing from sin. These passages can be related to washing through the water and the word as noted in 1John 1:7, Hebrews 9:14, Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3 and Psalm 119:9. The Red Heifer is ‘parah adumah’ in Hebrew. There is speculation and folklore concerning the Red Heifer, but as related to Messiah, it represents the combination of our cleansing through the Word of G-d and through the Blood of Messiah.
After ADONAI had given the regulation for the Red Heifer, the people quarreled against Moshe because they had no water as they entered the Tzin Desert. Numbers 20 “Why did you bring ADONAI's community into this desert? To die there, we and our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt? To bring us to this terrible place without seed, figs, grapevines, pomegranates or even water to drink?"
Every day for nearly 40 years G-d had provided for their existence, but they had grown familiar and complained instead of being thankful. They could have cried out to G-d for water and provision. Ultimately, their behavior and Moshe’s response was disastrous. Moshe struck the rock instead of speaking to it as instructed by ADONAI and acted above the reproach of G-d toward the people. The consequence for Moshe was that he would not be admitted to enter the Promised Land. James 1:19-20 - “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Subsequently, when the people were led on a detour they complained and their tempers grew short in Numbers 21 and this time G-d sent poisonous snakes.
Numbers 21:5-8 The people spoke against God and against Moshe: "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? To die in the desert? There's no real food, there's no water, and we're sick of this miserable stuff we're eating!" 6 In response, ADONAI sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit the people, and many of Isra'el's people died. 7 The people came to Moshe and said, "We sinned by speaking against ADONAI and against you. Pray to ADONAI that he rid us of these snakes." Moshe prayed for the people, 8 and ADONAI answered Moshe: "Make a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten sees it, he will live."
Yeshua made reference to this event and related it to His atonement as recorded in John 3:14,15 “Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.”
The snakes were sent as a discipline to bring the people to repentance. When the bronze snake was lifted up on the pole, they were to gaze at it. What did they see? They saw their own sin on that pole lifted up and then they received the healing for their sin. Why did Yeshua relate the serpent to Himself? Did He not become sin for us? When we look up at our sin on that stake, do we not see our own redemption?
The people were dying from snake bites and the remedy was to look up in their dilemma to who could deliver them. People are perishing as we were without the L-rd.
Isaiah 45:22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God; there is no other.
Yeshua is pleased when through our own reconciliation with Him that we can bring others to reconciliation. Just like Moses lifted up the Bronze Serpent, we can also be the vehicle to lift up the Name of Yeshua to those who are perishing. Let that be our heart’s cry this week.
2 Corinthians 5:18 And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:5-10, Isaiah 52:7, Genesis 21, Exodus 17:6, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 18:1-3, Proverbs 14:17, 29, Ephesians 4:26, 1Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53, Hebrews 12:6, 2Kings 18:4, John 8:24, 51.
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 19-21
June 19, 2010
Numbers 19:3-6 "This is the regulation from the Torah which ADONAI has commanded. Tell the people of Isra'el to bring you a young red female cow without fault or defect and which has never borne a yoke. 3 You are to give it to El'azar the cohen; it is to be brought outside the camp and slaughtered in front of him. 4 El'azar the cohen is to take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle this blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. 5 The heifer is to be burned to ashes before his eyes -its skin, meat, blood and dung is to be burned to ashes. 6 The cohen is to take cedar-wood, hyssop and scarlet yarn and throw them onto the heifer as it is burning up.”
Numbers 19:9 A man who is clean is to collect the ashes of the heifer and store them outside the camp in a clean place. They are to be kept for the community of the people of Isra'el to prepare water for purification from sin.
The Red Heifer’s blood and ashes mixed in water were used for cleansing from sin. These passages can be related to washing through the water and the word as noted in 1John 1:7, Hebrews 9:14, Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3 and Psalm 119:9. The Red Heifer is ‘parah adumah’ in Hebrew. There is speculation and folklore concerning the Red Heifer, but as related to Messiah, it represents the combination of our cleansing through the Word of G-d and through the Blood of Messiah.
After ADONAI had given the regulation for the Red Heifer, the people quarreled against Moshe because they had no water as they entered the Tzin Desert. Numbers 20 “Why did you bring ADONAI's community into this desert? To die there, we and our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt? To bring us to this terrible place without seed, figs, grapevines, pomegranates or even water to drink?"
Every day for nearly 40 years G-d had provided for their existence, but they had grown familiar and complained instead of being thankful. They could have cried out to G-d for water and provision. Ultimately, their behavior and Moshe’s response was disastrous. Moshe struck the rock instead of speaking to it as instructed by ADONAI and acted above the reproach of G-d toward the people. The consequence for Moshe was that he would not be admitted to enter the Promised Land. James 1:19-20 - “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Subsequently, when the people were led on a detour they complained and their tempers grew short in Numbers 21 and this time G-d sent poisonous snakes.
Numbers 21:5-8 The people spoke against God and against Moshe: "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? To die in the desert? There's no real food, there's no water, and we're sick of this miserable stuff we're eating!" 6 In response, ADONAI sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit the people, and many of Isra'el's people died. 7 The people came to Moshe and said, "We sinned by speaking against ADONAI and against you. Pray to ADONAI that he rid us of these snakes." Moshe prayed for the people, 8 and ADONAI answered Moshe: "Make a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten sees it, he will live."
Yeshua made reference to this event and related it to His atonement as recorded in John 3:14,15 “Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.”
The snakes were sent as a discipline to bring the people to repentance. When the bronze snake was lifted up on the pole, they were to gaze at it. What did they see? They saw their own sin on that pole lifted up and then they received the healing for their sin. Why did Yeshua relate the serpent to Himself? Did He not become sin for us? When we look up at our sin on that stake, do we not see our own redemption?
The people were dying from snake bites and the remedy was to look up in their dilemma to who could deliver them. People are perishing as we were without the L-rd.
Isaiah 45:22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God; there is no other.
Yeshua is pleased when through our own reconciliation with Him that we can bring others to reconciliation. Just like Moses lifted up the Bronze Serpent, we can also be the vehicle to lift up the Name of Yeshua to those who are perishing. Let that be our heart’s cry this week.
2 Corinthians 5:18 And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:5-10, Isaiah 52:7, Genesis 21, Exodus 17:6, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 18:1-3, Proverbs 14:17, 29, Ephesians 4:26, 1Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53, Hebrews 12:6, 2Kings 18:4, John 8:24, 51.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Divine-Appointed vs. Self-Appointed Authority
Rabbi Ken Alpren
summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 16 - 17:8
June 12, 2010
Numbers 17:6-8 Moshe spoke to the people of Isra'el, and all their leaders gave him staffs, one for each leader, according to their ancestral tribes, twelve staffs. Aharon's staff was among their staffs. 7 Moshe put the staffs before ADONAI in the tent of the testimony. 8 The next day Moshe went into the tent of the testimony, and there he saw that Aharon's staff for the house of Levi had budded - it had sprouted not only buds but flowers and ripe almonds as well.
Moshe trusted G-d to reveal to all the people who He chose for divine-appointed authority. A staff from each tribe was brought to the Tent of Meeting; each staff symbolized authority and leadership for each tribe. Not only did the Aharon’s staff sprout [perach], and blossom with open flowers [tsuwts], it had ripe almonds [shaqed] on it. Shaqed is taken from the primary root Hebrew word shakad which means to wake, watch, awake, be alert.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your lives, as people who will have to render an account. So make it a task of joy for them, not one of groaning; for that is of no advantage to you.
Jeremiah 1:11,12 The word of ADONAI came to me, asking, "Yirmeyahu, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a branch from an almond tree. 12 Then ADONAI said to me, "You have seen well, because I am watching [shaked] to fulfill my word."
What was it that prompted Moshe to demonstrate so clearly to the Israelites his dependence upon G-d to choose leadership and that indeed it is G-dly leadership he desired? Earlier in the passage Moshe’s own authority and Aharon’s authority had been challenged by not only members of the Israelites but those in high esteem in the community. They were jealous and discontent with where they were in their journey to the land that flows with milk and honey and what their appointed authority and duties were. They wanted to be more prestigious and powerful. So they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Numbers 16:1-5 Now Korach the son of Yitz'har, the son of K'hat, the son of Levi, along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av, and On, the son of Pelet, descendants of Re'uven, took men and 2 rebelled against Moshe. Siding with them were 250 men of Isra'el, leaders of the community, key members of the council, men of reputation. 3 They assembled themselves against Moshe and Aharon and said to them, "You take too much on yourselves! After all, the entire community is holy, every one of them, and ADONAI is among them. So why do you lift yourselves up above ADONAI's assembly?" 4 When Moshe heard this he fell on his face. 5 Then he said to Korach and his whole group, "In the morning, ADONAI will show who are his and who is the holy person he will allow to approach him. Yes, he will bring whomever he chooses near to himself.
G-d passed judgement upon Korach, K’hat and Datan, their families and the 250 that supported them. The next day Korach, K’hat and Datan and their families perished when the earth beneath them spit and they went down alive into S’hol! And the 250 who supported them were burned alive while holding their censors in front of the Tent of Meeting.
If that wasn’t enough for the people to realize that G-d had indeed appointed Moshe and Aharon, the people continued to grumble and complain against Moshe and Aharon. The judgement of the L-rd continued with a plague. Moshe interceded and Aharon ran into the middle of the assembly with incense and made atonement for the people. He stood between the living and the dead and the plague was stopped. Otherwise, many more would have perished. G-d’s judgements during these events resulted in the death of approximately 15,000 people.
The intercession of just one person can make a difference. Many times recorded in the Word, G-d has acted upon the prayers of one person including Avraham, Moshe, David and Paul. As believers, we are His chosen people, set apart and holy and He hears our prayers. Just like Aharon stood between the living and the dead, we can as well because our authority to do so is G-d-Appointed.
2Corinthians 2:14-15, But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost.
We can join G-d in his work; not based upon human ingenuity. We can join with G-d in what He is doing! However, we must be careful not to get swept up in something of human origin. How can we discern His leading and be a part of what He is doing? Pray, go the the Word and get counsel from a divinely-appointed leader. Remember that joining Him in His work is a process demonstrated so beautifully in Aharon’s staff. The staff showed a process of budding, blossoming and producing fruit. Be patient in the process.
Further Reading: 2 Samuel 15:1-6, Galatians 1:1-2, Hebrews 13:7,17, Isaiah 2, Micah 4, Zechariah 14, Isaiah 40, Romans 14:4, Psalm 105:15, 1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Peter 2:9, Ezekiel 22:30, Jeremiah 5:1, Isaiah 59:16, Isaiah 63:5, Isaiah 53:12, Romans 9:10, Malachi 2:6, Jeremiah 1:11,12, Philippians 2:15,16, John 6:63, 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Samuel 15:25-26, Acts 19:11-20, Hebrews 12:2
summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 16 - 17:8
June 12, 2010
Numbers 17:6-8 Moshe spoke to the people of Isra'el, and all their leaders gave him staffs, one for each leader, according to their ancestral tribes, twelve staffs. Aharon's staff was among their staffs. 7 Moshe put the staffs before ADONAI in the tent of the testimony. 8 The next day Moshe went into the tent of the testimony, and there he saw that Aharon's staff for the house of Levi had budded - it had sprouted not only buds but flowers and ripe almonds as well.
Moshe trusted G-d to reveal to all the people who He chose for divine-appointed authority. A staff from each tribe was brought to the Tent of Meeting; each staff symbolized authority and leadership for each tribe. Not only did the Aharon’s staff sprout [perach], and blossom with open flowers [tsuwts], it had ripe almonds [shaqed] on it. Shaqed is taken from the primary root Hebrew word shakad which means to wake, watch, awake, be alert.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your lives, as people who will have to render an account. So make it a task of joy for them, not one of groaning; for that is of no advantage to you.
Jeremiah 1:11,12 The word of ADONAI came to me, asking, "Yirmeyahu, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a branch from an almond tree. 12 Then ADONAI said to me, "You have seen well, because I am watching [shaked] to fulfill my word."
What was it that prompted Moshe to demonstrate so clearly to the Israelites his dependence upon G-d to choose leadership and that indeed it is G-dly leadership he desired? Earlier in the passage Moshe’s own authority and Aharon’s authority had been challenged by not only members of the Israelites but those in high esteem in the community. They were jealous and discontent with where they were in their journey to the land that flows with milk and honey and what their appointed authority and duties were. They wanted to be more prestigious and powerful. So they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Numbers 16:1-5 Now Korach the son of Yitz'har, the son of K'hat, the son of Levi, along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av, and On, the son of Pelet, descendants of Re'uven, took men and 2 rebelled against Moshe. Siding with them were 250 men of Isra'el, leaders of the community, key members of the council, men of reputation. 3 They assembled themselves against Moshe and Aharon and said to them, "You take too much on yourselves! After all, the entire community is holy, every one of them, and ADONAI is among them. So why do you lift yourselves up above ADONAI's assembly?" 4 When Moshe heard this he fell on his face. 5 Then he said to Korach and his whole group, "In the morning, ADONAI will show who are his and who is the holy person he will allow to approach him. Yes, he will bring whomever he chooses near to himself.
G-d passed judgement upon Korach, K’hat and Datan, their families and the 250 that supported them. The next day Korach, K’hat and Datan and their families perished when the earth beneath them spit and they went down alive into S’hol! And the 250 who supported them were burned alive while holding their censors in front of the Tent of Meeting.
If that wasn’t enough for the people to realize that G-d had indeed appointed Moshe and Aharon, the people continued to grumble and complain against Moshe and Aharon. The judgement of the L-rd continued with a plague. Moshe interceded and Aharon ran into the middle of the assembly with incense and made atonement for the people. He stood between the living and the dead and the plague was stopped. Otherwise, many more would have perished. G-d’s judgements during these events resulted in the death of approximately 15,000 people.
The intercession of just one person can make a difference. Many times recorded in the Word, G-d has acted upon the prayers of one person including Avraham, Moshe, David and Paul. As believers, we are His chosen people, set apart and holy and He hears our prayers. Just like Aharon stood between the living and the dead, we can as well because our authority to do so is G-d-Appointed.
2Corinthians 2:14-15, But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost.
We can join G-d in his work; not based upon human ingenuity. We can join with G-d in what He is doing! However, we must be careful not to get swept up in something of human origin. How can we discern His leading and be a part of what He is doing? Pray, go the the Word and get counsel from a divinely-appointed leader. Remember that joining Him in His work is a process demonstrated so beautifully in Aharon’s staff. The staff showed a process of budding, blossoming and producing fruit. Be patient in the process.
Further Reading: 2 Samuel 15:1-6, Galatians 1:1-2, Hebrews 13:7,17, Isaiah 2, Micah 4, Zechariah 14, Isaiah 40, Romans 14:4, Psalm 105:15, 1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Peter 2:9, Ezekiel 22:30, Jeremiah 5:1, Isaiah 59:16, Isaiah 63:5, Isaiah 53:12, Romans 9:10, Malachi 2:6, Jeremiah 1:11,12, Philippians 2:15,16, John 6:63, 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Samuel 15:25-26, Acts 19:11-20, Hebrews 12:2
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Do I See Through a Lens or a Prism?
Sermon Notes from Number 13 & 14
6/5/10
by Rabbi Ken Alpren,
summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 14:8-9, “If ADONAI is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land and will give it to us - a land flowing with milk and honey. Just don’t rebel against ADONAI. And don’t be afraid of the people living in the land - we’ll eat them up! Their defense has been taken away from them, and ADONAI is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
The word “if” here is taken from the Hebrew “im” and means assuredly or a sure thing. Kalev and Y’hoshua knew that G-d was assuredly pleased with them and had given them the land. But the promise of the land was conditional; it was based upon the condition of choosing not to be in rebellion against Him.
Kalev and Y’hoshua had G-d vision; they based their perception of G-d and His promises on His word and their experience with Him. They had personally experienced deliverance from Egypt and been provided with manna and received water from the rock. Their vision was on Him and what He could do and promised to do rather than on the obstacle of going into a land where eyes without this perception said it was too hard and that they were as small as grasshoppers in the estimation of the current inhabitants.
What about the ten other spies? How did they see G-d and the situation?
Numbers 13:27-29, “We entered the land where you sent us, and indeed it does flow with milk and honey - here is the fruit! However, the people living in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the ‘Anakim there. Amalek lives in the area of the Negev; the Hitti, the Yvusi and the Emori live in the hills; and the Kena’ani live by the sea and alongside the Yarden.”
The Hebrew word translated to “however” in these verses is “ephas” meaning but or nevertheless. The remaining ten started out with what was positive about the land but negated their report by saying... nevertheless... and imparted fear into the hearts of the Israelites with the word of their report. They were looking through a prism of fear and the power of their words penetrated the hearts of the people.
Isaiah 51:12-13, “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you! Why are you afraid of a man, who must die; of a human being, who will wither like grass? You have forgotten ANONAI, your maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation s of the earth. Instead, you are in constant fear all day because of the oppressor’s rage, as he prepares to destroy! But where is the oppressor’s rage?”
Do we have G-d’s view of adequacy and sufficiency or do we have fear? Our fear may be from looking through the prism of hate, envy, lust or as with the spies - unbelief. Due to their unbelief an entire generation was condemned to death in the desert and their going into the promised land delayed by 39 years!
Do I want to be found looking at obstacles or trusting Him? He expects us to remember how He has brought us thus far and He expects us to trust Him! Does G-d and His Spirit not affect our situations? Am I so unique that He would neglect me? NO! Let’s choose this week to rest in His faithfulness to us! Let’s remember His word and his promises and be steady, sure and stable in His grace.
Further Scriptures for meditation: Daniel 3:17, Exodus 14:13-14, 2Kings 6:16, 2Chron 32:7,8, Proverbs 18:21, 1Sam 14:6, 1John 4:4, 2Peter 1:4, 2Chron 20:6, 15 and 1Sam 17:47
6/5/10
by Rabbi Ken Alpren,
summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 14:8-9, “If ADONAI is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land and will give it to us - a land flowing with milk and honey. Just don’t rebel against ADONAI. And don’t be afraid of the people living in the land - we’ll eat them up! Their defense has been taken away from them, and ADONAI is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
The word “if” here is taken from the Hebrew “im” and means assuredly or a sure thing. Kalev and Y’hoshua knew that G-d was assuredly pleased with them and had given them the land. But the promise of the land was conditional; it was based upon the condition of choosing not to be in rebellion against Him.
Kalev and Y’hoshua had G-d vision; they based their perception of G-d and His promises on His word and their experience with Him. They had personally experienced deliverance from Egypt and been provided with manna and received water from the rock. Their vision was on Him and what He could do and promised to do rather than on the obstacle of going into a land where eyes without this perception said it was too hard and that they were as small as grasshoppers in the estimation of the current inhabitants.
What about the ten other spies? How did they see G-d and the situation?
Numbers 13:27-29, “We entered the land where you sent us, and indeed it does flow with milk and honey - here is the fruit! However, the people living in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the ‘Anakim there. Amalek lives in the area of the Negev; the Hitti, the Yvusi and the Emori live in the hills; and the Kena’ani live by the sea and alongside the Yarden.”
The Hebrew word translated to “however” in these verses is “ephas” meaning but or nevertheless. The remaining ten started out with what was positive about the land but negated their report by saying... nevertheless... and imparted fear into the hearts of the Israelites with the word of their report. They were looking through a prism of fear and the power of their words penetrated the hearts of the people.
Isaiah 51:12-13, “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you! Why are you afraid of a man, who must die; of a human being, who will wither like grass? You have forgotten ANONAI, your maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation s of the earth. Instead, you are in constant fear all day because of the oppressor’s rage, as he prepares to destroy! But where is the oppressor’s rage?”
Do we have G-d’s view of adequacy and sufficiency or do we have fear? Our fear may be from looking through the prism of hate, envy, lust or as with the spies - unbelief. Due to their unbelief an entire generation was condemned to death in the desert and their going into the promised land delayed by 39 years!
Do I want to be found looking at obstacles or trusting Him? He expects us to remember how He has brought us thus far and He expects us to trust Him! Does G-d and His Spirit not affect our situations? Am I so unique that He would neglect me? NO! Let’s choose this week to rest in His faithfulness to us! Let’s remember His word and his promises and be steady, sure and stable in His grace.
Further Scriptures for meditation: Daniel 3:17, Exodus 14:13-14, 2Kings 6:16, 2Chron 32:7,8, Proverbs 18:21, 1Sam 14:6, 1John 4:4, 2Peter 1:4, 2Chron 20:6, 15 and 1Sam 17:47
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