Today we have a double portion - Matot & Masei. Matot means tribes and Masei means journeys of so together we have Journeys of the Tribes!

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1 Matot- Masei Tribes and Stages Scripture Readings Torah Numbers 30:2-36:13 Haftarah Psalm 37, Yechezk el (Ezekiel) 47:7-23 Apostolic Writings Mattiyahu 5:5, Luke 18:9-30, Revelation 21:4-15 then Today we have a double portion - Matot & Masei. Matot means tribes and Masei means journeys of so together we have Journeys of the Tribes! Experientially speaking, I must say, this Torah cycle just seemed to flying-by as none other before, as these two Torah Portions will close-out the Book of B midbar (Numbers). Within these last two portions there certainly is a lot going on. And, whether this was your first time through the Book of B midbar or your eleventh time, you may have been surprised by some new discoveries that our L_rd may have revealed to you. I know I was! Just when you think you have it down something new comes out of nowhere!! Going back to my first comment, there was so much going-on during this portion, I noted a few here. Things like: 1)Instruction with regards to making a vow; 2) Yisra el going to battle against the Midyanim; 3) the acquisition, for your own personal use, of persons through plunder and a tithe of the same to be given to HaShem; 4) the only place in scripture where the doctrine of Ba laam is revealed, in which Ba laam offers to Balak, instruction - by use of Moabite women to send a seductive spirit into the Israelites camp to lure her away from her one true G_d and to camp with false gods through the temptation of the Israelites into sexual and spiritual sin; also 5) the G_d of Yisra el grants the daughters of Yisra el property rights, which was an important message by the L_rd for these women and for all women - as well as for the tribe they represented And <<Bam>> there it is it is from this topic of inheritance of our text which ties into both Parashot and from where I have been lead to share today. Specifically 6) The inheritance of the land!! Psalm 39:11 But the meek will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant shalom. Mattiyahu 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Luke 18:25-27 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of G_d. And the talmidim that heard this said, who then can be saved? And Y shua responded, Things which are impossible for men, are possible with G_d. Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 1

2 Revelation 21:7-8,24- (paraphrasing) - He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his G_d, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it. As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end yet none of it is possible without G-d!! One of the key characteristics of those who will inherit the earth is meekness! Meekness is so important that Y shua not only mentions it in His the Sermon on the Mount, but He displays it throughout His short life here on Earth. The meek are among those so favored that they will share in Y shua's inheritance of the earth. Y shua may not have been the first to point towards the importance of meekness; however, He was the first to include it into an ideal list of the characteristics of the perfect man!! Y shua s list is unique in various ways, but especially in that it constitutes the make-up of the individuals who will inherit and occupy the Kingdom of G_d. He promised that the meek would inherit the earth. Unfortunately, in this world today, meekness isn't an attractive quality, and developing it requires going against some tremendous pressures not only from others, but the tougher part tremendous pressure against our own flesh! However, if we were to study and consider all the elements in Y shua s recipe of the perfected man, that is, those elements He brought forth at the sermon on the mount, it all boils down to those two headliners again submission and obedience!! Listen to Adonai s directive from our text today B midbar 33:51-54 (again - paraphrasing) - Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying, speak to Yisra el; say to them, When you pass over the Yarden, then you are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land - for I have given YOU the land to possess however, if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land, then those which you let remain shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell. In addition, it shall come to pass, that I shall do to you, as I thought to do to them. Ouch!!! Clearly a concern over non submissiveness and lack of obedience! Keeping that thought in mind, let s move forward... What I d like to do first is to take a closer look at Psalm 37, and from there, breakdown the Triple A s that are embedded within this particular song of Melech David s. Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 2

3 For those of you who don t know what the Triple A s are, it means the Affirmations, the Admonitions and the Avoidances similar to the communication of a traffic light - Go Slow and YO!! Then after that, I d like to take a closer look at how our Savior, Master and King teaches and demonstrates for us, by example, as to how one is to inherit the land through submission and obedience. Because, when we do learn how to submit ourselves to G_d, as well as to others (and that s the toughest one for our fleshy-pride to deal with) like Y shua, we will help to change the world for the better both this one as well as the olam haba! So, listen or follow along as I read Psalm 37 and feel free to bring forth your thoughts or comments (Please note categorized chart on Page 8) Don't be upset by evildoers or envious of those who do wrong, 2 for soon they will wither like grass and fade like the green in the fields. 3 Trust in ADONAI, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. 4 Then you will delight yourself in ADONAI, and he will give you your heart's desire. 5 Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before ADONAI; wait patiently till he comes. Don't be upset by those whose way succeeds because of their wicked plans. 8 Stop being angry, put aside rage, and don't be upset - it leads to evil. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those hoping in ADONAI will inherit the land. 10 Soon the wicked will be no more; you will look for his place, and he won't be there. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. 12 The wicked plots against the righteous and grinds his teeth at him; 13 but Adonai laughs at the wicked, knowing his day will come. 14 The wicked have unsheathed their swords, they have strung their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slaughter those whose way is upright. 15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16 Better the little that the righteous has than the wealth of all the wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but ADONAI upholds the righteous. 18 ADONAI knows what the wholehearted suffer, but their inheritance lasts forever. 19 They will not be distressed when times are hard; when famine comes, they will have plenty. 20 For the wicked will perish; ADONAI's enemies will be like sheep fat, ending up as smoke, finished. 21 The wicked borrows and doesn't repay, but the righteous is generous and gives. 22 For those blessed by [ADONAI] will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be cut off. 23 ADONAI directs a person's steps, and he delights in his way. 24 He may stumble, but he won't fall headlong, for ADONAI holds him by the hand. 25 I have been young; now I am old; yet not once have I seen the righteous abandoned or his descendants begging for bread. 26 All day long he is generous and lends, and his descendants are blessed. 27 If you turn from evil and do good, you will live safely forever. 28 For ADONAI loves justice and will not abandon his faithful; they are preserved forever. But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. 29 The righteous will inherit the land and live in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous articulates wisdom, his tongue speaks justice. 31 The Torah of his G_d is in his heart; his footsteps do not falter. 32 The wicked keeps his eye on the righteous, seeking a chance to kill him. 33 But ADONAI will not leave him in his power or let him be condemned when judged. 34 Put your hope in ADONAI, keep to his way, and Adonai will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. 35 I have seen a wicked man wielding great power, flourishing like a shade tree in its native soil. 36 But I passed by again, and he was no longer there; I looked for him, but he could not be found. 37 Observe the pure person, consider the upright; for the peaceful person will have posterity. 38 But transgressors will all be destroyed; the posterity of the wicked will be cut off. 39 ADONAI is the one who saves the righteous; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40 ADONAI helps them and rescues them, rescues them from the wicked and saves them; because they take refuge in him. Baruch HaShem, no?!! Baruch HaShem, yes!! Now, as it pertains to our inheritance as we will see, it is through submission, obedience and meekness that scriptures have shown that we will inherit the earth. Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 3

4 Meekness is best defined as, submissiveness, resignation, submission, compliance, modesty, patience, softness, gentleness, timidity, forbearance, peacefulness, mildness and lowliness. It is best described as Absolute Power under Perfect Control!! Now, looking at Y shua s life Hebrews 2: 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor Y shua chose the ultimate downwardly mobile life by leaving heaven to live and serve in our fallen, undeserving world. More than anyone, He deserved to be rich, famous, and powerful, and yet He chose to be a picture of perfect meekness. Like Y shua, we too must become readily movable. Ask El Elyon to help you overcome pride and become more humble so you can follow Y shua s example. Be alert for opportunities to reach out to the poor & needy, to the lost and broken people. Be willing to help those people who can't advance your status or power or repay you in any material way. Decide to use whatever personal power you have to help others rather than to exalt yourself. 1 Corinthians 15:28 Now when everything has been subjected to the Son, then he will subject himself to G_d, who subjected everything to him; so that G_d may be everything in everyone. 1st Kefa 2:13-14 For the sake of the Lord, submit yourselves to every human authority - whether to the emperor as being supreme, or to governors as being sent by him to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do what is good. Living according to your own agenda will end up enslaving you to sin, but learning how to submit to HaShem and others, who He brings into your life, will free you to grow into a stronger person and to experience Y shua s shalom. Be willing to submit to anyone whom G_d is leading you to submit to within the means of Torah of course and not just smart or wealthy people, but also those such as the developmentally disabled or the poor or the widow, etc. Like Y shua, learn to submit to G_d and to other people. Ask Adon Nissi to help you dethrone your selfishness and desire to control, so you'll be better able to follow wherever He leads you. Pray for the strength you need to submit to others whom G_d wants you to respect, even when you may disagree with them. Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 4

5 Mark 12:41-44 Then Y shua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. He called his talmidim to him and said to them, "Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on. Let go of the money and possessions that Abba wants you to surrender. When HaShem wants you to use your wealth and finances to help others, don t let fear, hoarding and procrastination reveal that you don t trust enough in G_d. Like Y shua, give to G_d what belongs to G_d! Ask El Shaddai to help you overcome your fear and insatiability so you can become a generous giver, just as Y shua was and is generous with you. Pray for the faith you need to fully depend on Him each day to provide for all of your needs. Yochanon 8:12 Y shua spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life. Stop comparing yourself to others. The paths that our Father in Heaven will ask you to follow are, more often than not, not the same paths that He will ask others to follow. You shouldn t try to compare yourself to someone who does a task for the L_rd, but who, in your eyes, may seem less qualified than you. Nor should you feel as if you're entitled to indulge in a certain privilege just because someone else has the privilege of doing them. Stop measuring yourself against other people's lives and listen for the ways that G_d is uniquely speaking to you. Get rid of a sense of entitlement. Like Y shua, be ready to do the Father s will for your own life! Stop identity theft! Pray to YHWH for the love you need to set aside your rights and privileges so you can serve others however He leads you to serve them. Pray against following selfish ambitions; aim your ambition toward doing your best to answer HaShem s call for you faithfully and serve other people well. Remember, scripture say that those who truly love G_d will follow Him by serving others sacrificially. Okay, I think we ve covered enough. These are just some of the main points that Y shua focused on in His time here on earth the others, I leave to you to go find I m sure that there are plenty more I ran out of time and space, and also, I didn t want to bore too much longer than I may have. Basically, the concept is again the same in order for us to inherit the land promised to our ancestors, we must tune our focus towards our Savior - our lives are to replicate His we are to walk in the same manner as our Master did. Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 5

6 Yochanon 12:47b I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. Mishpocha, judgment comes later now is not the time to judge or to be judgmental now is the time of harvest. For the harvest is rich but the workers are few! Bottom-line: Choose submission and obedience over independence - and walk it out in meekness. HaShem designed people to follow His authority, in a community format and to exercise compassion over one another. People were never meant to rule themselves. If you try to run your own life without answering to any authority, you'll only end up in bondage to sin that sin is called pride! In His Word, Abba said, if you don t do that which I am telling you to do, then that which I thought to do to them, I shall do to you. We ve heard it before, people who call themselves Believers follow scripture as though they re at a buffet-style dinner - I ll take this for my walk, and that for my walk, but you can keep that and, oh no, I don t like that sorry G_d, not good enough for me on that one either oh, but that one, that one is okay blah blah blah! Hypocrites!! Worse yet are our many brothers and sisters in the Hebraic-Apostolic body, a.k.a. Messianics, who have taken their focus off the One who brought them enlightenment in the first place - and instead, they ve turned their focus towards concerns that shouldn t concern them!!! Yochanon 21:21-22 On seeing him, Kefa said to Y shua, "L_rd, what about him?" Y shua said to him, "Mind your own business, for if I want him to stay on until I come, what is that to you? No, you, follow me! JKV 2010 DOH!! Man, I hope I never do anything to cause Y shua to say that to me!!! As Messianics, sometimes we focus too often and too hard on keeping Torah rather than focusing on the One whom kept Torah for us - Y shua! If we focus on Him, all else will, without a doubt, eventually, fall into place. Wasn t it He who said, Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Dr. Luke 10:19-20 While we have the power and authority to take down the enemy, we have become lame in many areas of our salvation. We are trying so hard to get it right that we completely forget to rejoice in our salvation. That, and G_d forbid, we should submit to the Ruach! If Abba has put a person in a place of authority, who are we to come against them? We can choose to submit and obey G_d, and work respectfully with other people in positions of authority or not But I know this, when you do, you'll be free to experience the best life has to offer. Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 6

7 An important note here to keep in mind - Y shua taught us how people can be forgiven, even if they have sinned against Torah And not that anyone ever should, but without a doubt, it will happen and it will happen to all of us! Be careful! That being said.if you re in a marriage that s a little rocky; don't leave your marriage if you and your spouse disagree; stay and work out the issues. This one is for me!.don't leave your employer when you're asked to do something that you don't want to do at work; do your duty and learn from the experience. Have strange friends do ya.don't stop listening to friends who bring up topics that make you uncomfortable; talk with them and consider how you can grow as a result. Submission makes you a good leader therefore, lead as a follower. And always keep in mind when you're leading other people that you're a follower first. First and foremost - always look to follow Y shua faithfully, so you can lead faithfully when He calls you to do so. Leading with meekness involves, above all else, love! It s not always easy. Don t coerce others into following you but inspire them to voluntarily join you in service to Adonai. Also, stop with the childish stuff there are more important things that need tending to within the Kingdom of G_d one finger pointing at others, allows three fingers to point back at you. Now is not the time. More importantly, it s not up to you, it s up to Him all of it it s up to Him there is nothing that you can do that G_d didn t know about and perhaps even prepare the way for first! Yeshi yahu 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags! If not for Y shua there go we! Mishpocha, mind your own business; that is, heed the avoidances, follow the admonitions, confirm the affirmations and in all this, FOCUS on Y shua. For He is your business - It will bless you abundantly, and it will also bless the L_rd from within your soul abundantly as well! While on this journey of the tribes, try to remember the beautiful words of our Rabbi - Things which are impossible for men / are possible with G_d. Hence, none of it is possible without G_d!! Ameyn? Ameyn!! Baruch HaShem and Shabbat Shalom!!! Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 7

8 Attributes of Psalm 37 The Affirmations The Admonitions And the Avoidances DELIGHT YOURSELF IN ADONAI, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU YOUR HEART'S DESIRE TRUST IN ADONAI, AND DO GOOD; SETTLE IN THE LAND, AND FEED ON FAITHFULNESS EVILDOERS WILL BE CUT OFF COMMIT YOUR WAY TO ADONAI; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT HE WILL MAKE YOUR VINDICATION SHINE FORTH LIKE LIGHT, THE JUSTICE OF YOUR CAUSE LIKE THE NOONDAY SUN BE STILL BEFORE ADONAI WAIT PATIENTLY TILL HE COMES THOSE HOPING IN ADONAI WILL INHERIT THE LAND THE MEEK WILL INHERIT THE LAND AND DELIGHT THEMSELVES IN ABUNDANT PEACE ADONAI UPHOLDS THE RIGHTEOUS ADONAI DIRECTS A PERSON'S STEPS, AND HE DELIGHTS IN HIS WAY ALL DAY LONG HE IS GENEROUS AND LENDS, AND HIS DESCENDANTS ARE BLESSED ADONAI LOVES JUSTICE AND WILL NOT ABANDON HIS FAITHFUL THE RIGHTEOUS WILL INHERIT THE LAND AND LIVE IN IT FOREVER ADONAI WILL RAISE YOU UP TO INHERIT THE LAND THE PEACEFUL PERSON WILL HAVE POSTERITY ADONAI IS THE ONE WHO SAVES THE RIGHTEOUS HE IS THEIR STRONGHOLD IN TIME OF TROUBLE ADONAI HELPS THEM AND RESCUES THEM ADONAI SAVES THEM DON'T BE UPSET BY EVILDOERS OR ENVIOUS OF THOSE WHO DO WRONG DON'T BE UPSET BY THOSE WHOSE WAY SUCCEEDS BECAUSE OF THEIR WICKED PLANS STOP BEING ANGRY, PUT ASIDE RAGE, AND DON'T BE UPSET - IT LEADS TO EVIL BETTER THE LITTLE THAT THE RIGHTEOUS HAS THAN THE WEALTH OF ALL THE WICKED THE WICKED BORROWS AND DOESN'T REPAY THE RIGHTEOUS IS GENEROUS AND GIVES IF YOU TURN FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD, YOU WILL LIVE SAFELY FOREVER THE MOUTH OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARTICULATES WISDOM, HIS TONGUE SPEAKS JUSTICE THE TORAH OF HIS G_D IS IN HIS HEART; HIS FOOTSTEPS DO NOT FALTER PUT YOUR HOPE IN ADONAI KEEP TO HIS WAY OBSERVE THE PURE PERSON CONSIDER THE UPRIGHT TAKE REFUGE IN HIM THE WICKED PLOT AGAINST THE RIGHTEOUS THE WICKED HAVE UNSHEATHED THEIR SWORDS, THEY HAVE STRUNG THEIR BOWS TO BRING DOWN THE POOR AND NEEDY, TO SLAUGHTER THOSE WHOSE WAY IS UPRIGHT THE ARMS OF THE WICKED WILL BE BROKEN THE WICKED KEEPS HIS EYE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, SEEKING A CHANCE TO KILL HIM TRANSGRESSORS WILL ALL BE DESTROYED THE POSTERITY OF THE WICKED WILL BE CUT OFF Beit B rachot Messianic Fellowship - Tamuz 28, 5770 (10 July 2010) 8