Terry L. Newman,

Transcription

1 Terry L. Newman, Parashah 41 Pinchas (Phinehas) Pinchas (Phinehas) {Numbers 25:10 30:1} Haftorah: M'lakhim Alef (1 Kings 18:46 19:21) B rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Matthew 10:24, Matthew 22:15-46, Mark 3:31-35, John 1:12-13, Matthew 28:18-20 This week's portion is from Numbers 25: 10 30:1 (Bold, Underlining and Italics added for emphasize) {NKJV-New King James Version, CJB-Complete Jewish Bible, TEV-Today's English Version} Our Prayer today, for understanding of G-d's word with His promises and requirements for us: Psalm 86:11,6 (NKJV) " 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." This week s portion is named after the Grandson of the High Priest Aaron (deceased), the son of the current High Priest Eleazar (Aaron s son). That Grandson was Pinchas/Phinehas a member of the Priesthood and servant to G-d Almighty at the Tabernacle. G-d bestowed on Pinchas an eternal covenant of peace as reward for his zeal on behalf of G-d Almighty, His Tabernacle and His Torah. Through his actions, Pinchas turned away G-d s anger for yet another lapse on the part of Israel and made atonement for Israel. Numbers 25:10-13 (NKJV) 10 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 11 "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. 12 Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.' " Israel was set to enter the Promised Land, they had settled in an area known as Sheetim. Here Israel went astray, turning aside from true worship of G-d. They were, as shown in Chapter 25 of Numbers, taken in by the people, particularly the women of Mo av. Through lust and immorality, Israel abandoned ADONAI and attached themselves to the false god Ba al. G-d s anger blazed against them and he had the leaders of the tribes involved executed. As if that wasn t enough, as the assembly of Israel was at the tent of meeting, the Tabernacle of G-d, weeping and repenting for the actions of those who brought shame and dishonor to G-d. A man of Israel arrogantly and blatantly brought a Midianite woman and their immorality right into the assembly to the tent of meeting. Numbers 25:6 (NKJV) 6 And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 1

2 Pinchas burned with jealousy over the Lord, grabbed a spear went after and chased this man of Israel and his immoral, idolatrous liaison, the Midianite woman right into the inner part tent of meeting. There, Pinchas caught the two and put them to death for the transgressions against G-d, the covenant and the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Numbers 25:7-8 (NKJV) 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. Very significant was the fact this couple, were not run of the mill citizens of their respective nations. Numbers 25:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Now the name of the Israelite who was killed, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father's house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a father's house in Midian. When one avenue of attack against G-d s people doesn t work, then the great advisory, Satan will try something else. After the failure by Balak to secure victory over Israel by having Bil am pronounce curses on them, he turned to a different tactic. The Midianites intended to conquer Israel from within. They plotted to open the floodgates of intermarriage, assimilation and eventually destroy the Torah through erasing the boundaries between the Holy and the profane. Through the seemingly innocence of celebration, the people of Israel ate and bowed down to their gods. Much of what was used was lust of the flesh through the women of Midian, who were accustomed to immorality, even to their temple prostitution. The women were beautiful, alluring and ever so accommodating thus resulting in the downfall into idolatry of many of the men of Israel. This sort of temptation and falling into sin is nothing new, even the angels fell into immorality long before this as accounted in Genesis 6:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 2

3 G-d Almighty again spoke with Moses, ordering him to have Israel treat Midian as enemies and to attack them. G-d s anger blazed not alone against Israel for the transgressions, but against the enemy of Israel who sought to destroy her through trickery. Numbers 25:16-18 (CJB) 16 Adonai said to Moshe, 17 Treat the Midyanim as enemies and attack them; 18 because they are treating you as enemies by the trickery they used to deceive you in the P or incident and in the affair of their sister Kozbi, the daughter of the leader from Midyan, the woman who was killed on the day of the plague in the P or incident. This was done as God had commanded and led to the next battle before taking the Promised Land, the destruction of Jericho. However before the final days were done prior to the entry and taking of the Promised Land, G-d next gave Moses the command to take another census. Many had perished with the plagues of G-d s anger and now that reconciliation had taken place again, G-d was setting the inheritance for the different tribes of Israel, when they took the Promised Land. He was setting the land each tribe was to inherit and the further laws of inheritance for the future. Numbers 26:52-56 (CJB) 52 (iii) Adonai said to Moshe, 53 The land is to be parceled out among these as a possession to be inherited, according to the number of names. 54 To those families with more persons you are to give a greater inheritance, and to those with fewer you are to give a smaller inheritance each family s inheritance is to be given according to the number counted in it. 55 However, the land is to be awarded by lot. They will inherit according to the names of the tribes of their ancestors, 56 but the inheritance is to be parceled out by lot between the families with more and those with fewer. Israel is almost there! Next, we find what appears to be the last recorded conversation that Moses had with G-d. Moses time to rest with his forefathers has come; the time for Israel to enter the Promised Land has come. Numbers 27:12-13 (NKJV) 12 Now the LORD said to Moses: "Go up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13 And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered. 3

4 Knowing that his time had come and there was no apparent replacement for him, Moses in his compassion and love for Israel asked for G-d to appoint a new leader who would take the lead and get Israel into the Promised Land. Numbers 27:15-23 (NKJV) 15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying: 16 "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd." 18 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him--all the congregation." 22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. 4

5 We had seen this prior as to how Moses brother Aaron, the High Priest, was privileged to see of his son Eleazar take his place as the High Priest of ADONAI, following in his footsteps. Yet Moses' children have not nor were mentioned in any manner for succeeding him as leader over Israel. Rather it was Joshua, a disciple of Moses. Moses brother Aaron was the epitome of a parent s role as his son inherited his position with G-d s command and blessing. However Moses is a great example of a teacher, even being known through the ages as Moshe our teacher. Joshua was elevated and given the position of rule and lead over Israel, however, he did not replace Moses. How can this be? Moses role as mediator for Israel was not passed on to Joshua. Moses had direct communication and dialog with G-d Almighty, but not so with Joshua. Joshua did have G-d's guidance. As a matter of fact, until Yeshua, there was never another mediator like Moses in the history of Israel. Looking back at Numbers 27:15-17, it actually appears Moses was looking for and asking for the Messiah. Haftorah - Prophets M lakhim Alef (1Kings 18:46 19:21) The prophet Elijah is the main protagonist of this week's Haftorah. According to tradition, Elijah shared the same soul as Pinchas, the hero of this week's Torah portion. They also both zealously fought on G-d's behalf, while disregarding the dangers involved. We find in this portion that it is a time of time change also. It is also a time when Israel and its leader have been seduced into abandoning G-d and his covenant, taking up idolatry and false worship, including much immorality. Very similar events here. Following the showdown with the Baal prophets at Mount Carmel, which led to the execution of the Baal priests, the evil Queen Jezebel issued a death sentence for Elijah. 1 Kings 19:1-3 (NKJV) 1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. Elijah fled to the Judean desert and asked G-d to take his life. While he slept, an angel awoke him and provided him with food and drink. 1 Kings 19:4-8 (NKJV) 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. Just as G-d did with Israel before going into the Promised Land, he has a changing of the guard so to speak. Elijah is instructed to anoint and appoint according to G-d s will, Hazael as king over Syria and Jehu as King over Israel. Then Elijah is given the person chosen to be his replacement. Elisha will be the new prophet for the nation of Israel. 5

6 1 Kings 19:9-16 (NKJV) 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." 11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." 15 Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. G-d also set s in place his judgment of Israel and those who have abandoned and turned their back on the covenant and G-d. Hazael and Jehu will bring judgment to those who have turned away by the sword. If any escape their swords then it will be Elisha s task to finish the judgment. 1 Kings 19:17-18 (NKJV) 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." As Moses had his disciple to succeed him in leading Israel, in the future G-d continues to take care of, bring judgment resulting in cleansing and repentance and the continuation of teaching by the master to their disciple(s). G-d always has a plan and a remnant faithful to him. We are never left alone by G-d, there is always faithful around us, whether we know it and whether we can see them, they are there. More than that we have Yeshua with us even to the end of the age. B'rit Hadashah New Testament Matthew 10:24, Matthew 22:15-46, Mark 3:31-35, John 1:12-13, Matthew 28:18-20 Time to review and summarize this week s teaching and study NEITHER MOSES NOR YESHUA WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER BOTH LEFT DISCIPLES TO FURTHER AND CONTINUE THEIR TEACHING AND MINISTRY!! Moses left knowledge and instruction for his disciple Joshua to teach. A disciple never becomes greater than his master. 6

7 Matthew 10:24 (NKJV) 24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Moses was the original teacher of the Torah, which G-d gave, but he was still a servant of G-d Almighty: Deuteronomy 34:5 (NKJV) 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. Who was and is the greater Moses, the greater, the greatest Teacher of the Torah? None other than Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ the Messiah! He was many times addressed as teacher when it came to questions about the Torah. The religious leaders were amazed at his knowledge and understanding of the Torah. They also tried in vain to trip up the greatest Torah teacher of all with questions about the Torah: Matthew 22:15-46 (NKJV) 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. 23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" '? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore. Yeshua was the greatest Teacher and had His disciples and Apostles. Moses did not pass on an inheritance to his earthly immediate family, he passed on the knowledge and teaching of the Torah, G-d s requirements and instructions to his bigger family of which he was not only a teacher figure, but also a father figure; his family being the children of Israel! Yeshua, the greater Moses took this even farther in practice as He considered all who do the will of the FATHER, ADONAI, HA SHEM, G-d Almighty as his family: Mark 3:31-35 (NKJV) 31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My 7

8 brothers?" 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Not only did Yeshua consider these not just his disciples, his family, his brothers, sisters and mother, through that designation he gave them the right and privilege to be children of the Father, G-d Almighty: John 1:12-13 (NKJV) 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Not only does knowing and believing in Yeshua give us the right to become children of G-d, there is a responsibility that accompanies that right: Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Closing: While we are in the last days of the end times we need to be busy, teaching and disciplining. We need to be at the task given to us to prepare ourselves and others to be ready for the Return of Messiah. It doesn t appear this world can go on much longer, but we know all is in G-d s timing and not even the Son knows the hour. We can know we are very close as many prophecies are coming to fruition and so to speak, the world is going to Hell in a hand basket. We personally may or may not see the return of Yeshua in our lifetime. However by G-d s word, we know the return is imminent (imminent according to G-d s time table). We are now in the same position as Israel was in their day, poised to enter the Promised Land. We can see G-d s Kingdom and the return of His only Begotten Son on the Horizon. We need to be busy with the commission we have to 9 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; By doing so perhaps we can hasten the return of our Savior and King, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ the Messiah, for he said 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) In order to do this, you have to be in the word, G-d s word, for the word to be in you. If you do this, then you will be able to follow thru on our commission in Matthew 28 and be apart of preaching or teaching the Gospel of G-d s Kingdom so the end will come. Meaning the return of Yeshua HaMashiach with G-d s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, cleansing the earth of evil, sickness and death. Shabbat Shalom, G-d Bless and Keep you! Terry L. Newman,