Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Torah Portion Shelach June 20, 2020


Standing at the entrance


In this week’s Torah portion, we travel with Israel to the very entrance of the Promised Land, but they rebel and lose the opportunity to enter.

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.  (2)  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would Elohim we had died in this wilderness!  (3)  And why has Yehovah brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?  (4)  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt. (Num 14:1-4)

So much happens before and after this point of rebellion that is applicable to us, but I want to focus on these few verses and their message to us.

 Why did the children of Israel weep that night?


It would be one thing if they wept because they reached the Land, and thought they might fail to conquer it because of giants and walled cities. I don’t see that sentiment here. The congregation turns away from Elohim, again. Look what they say, “Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.

The rabbis say that though the text here in the KJV reads “captain”, the underlying intention was to make another god, like the golden calf, to lead them back to Egypt. Either way, they are turning their backs to Elohim. The Hebrew word behind return is shoov the root word of repentance, teshuva. While teshuva is turning from sin and error to Elohim, here the kahal, congregation, plans to turn from Elohim, and back to Egypt with its idolatry, slavery, and sin.

 It is a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but also against Elohim.


Followers of Yeshua have had it easy in America for generations. Just as the children of Israel. Need water, here it is. Need food, have some manna, all you have to do is collect it, it will be there every morning. Don’t worry about which way to go, Elohim will guide you with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Need a spiritual uplift, go to church; the pastor, the worship team, and your fellow worshippers will give you a boost. Need direction, no problem, there are plenty of traditions of men to follow that lay out a clear, though ungodly, path. Need spiritual nourishment, don’t worry about the Bible, go to church and get spoon-fed man’s doctrine.

New Challenges


Today we face new challenges in America. The last word I heard is that the church building may be closed until Labor Day in September. The world is calling good evil, and evil good. We are targeted as part of the problem. What now? Do we respond as Israel did and want to hightail it back to Egypt, or do we take this challenging time as an opportunity to rely more completely on our Elohim?

I say we draw closer to Elohim, seek His direction more earnestly, and follow what He directs us to do. I pray each of you agree it is time to come out of Babylon and enter into ever deeper fellowship with our Father in Heaven.

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