This week we finish the Book of Numbers with the section called Massei, meaning Journeys. The readings are Numbers 33:1-36:13, Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4,4:1-2, and Matthew 24:1-25:46. Massei begins with a systematic listing of the children of Israel’s journeys (”stages”) in the wilderness. There are 42 specific places listed, beginning with Sukkot, which was still in Egypt. The sages of Israel have always been intrigued with this listing since GOD commanded Moses to record them. Of what value are they to us who study the Torah? These are NOT known locations found on a map, but instead they are campsites to which Israel wandered for forty years. Each location name describes an EVENT as opposed to the name of a place. This portion provides instructions for apportioning the Promised Land. In particular, the Land of Israel was to have 42 cities with six cities of refuge (three on either side of the Jordan river). Following those matters, the Numbers reading addresses the issue of the “man-slayer” and the “blood avenger”. Finally, the Book of Numbers concludes with issues of inheritance. Bill Bullock of The Rabbis son wrote the following – as you study this weeks readings, we encourage you to consider your OWN journey – of where youve BEEN, but also to access where are you GOING? Are you following after GOD, where HE is leading? Or are you on your own path? Be sure to also look at the prophetic aspect – both for your own life (what is it that GOD has purposed for you) – and for the entire BODY of Messiah – what is it that GOD is busy with for this time? Where are we headed worldwide? Are you falling in step with what GOD is doing? From The Rabbis son: Are you keeping a record of the wilderness stations of your life? Are you keeping them in proper perspective? Do you have a testimony of the provision, protection, and blessing of the Holy One at each stage of your journey? Remember as you call to the forefront of your mind all the massei – i.e. experiences, good and bad, of the seasons of your life – that the Holy One has brought you through the challenges of all the past seasons of your life in order that you may stand where you, as you are, today. And consider the fact that if the Holy One has indeed brought you and led you thus far, He will be FAITHFUL to take you into the inheritance He has laid out for you. Just SHMA [hear and obey] the Voice. Just FOLLOW the Cloud. And please do not let yourself get too comfortable or content at any of the stations in the desert. We still have many places to go, people to see, and challenges to overcome – as the Holy One somehow manages to advance His Kingdom Agenda through us along the way. In the opening aliyah from parsha Massei the travelogue that Moshe [Moses] wrote at the Holy One’s directive is presented for all to read. For those of us who study Torah, Moshe’s [Moses] diary is going to be more than a touching, nostalgic trip back down memory lane. What we will be studying in the opening chapter of Massei are the “journeys”, the “travels”, the times of striking tents”, and/or the “points/places of departure” which made up our ancestors’ prototypical return to the land of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]. Oops, I used the term prototypical again, didn’t I? Prototypical means not merely historical, but prophetic of something yet to come. Prototypical means a real event of times past based upon the choreography of which an even more glorious future event is Divinely-programmed to occur at a book-end date at the far end of the Holy One’s prophetic timetable. For those with ears to SHMA [hear and obey], you see, what our ancestors did four thousand years ago established the pattern the Holy One has foreordained that we – or our children – will follow in the end of days. Read all about in the Rabbis sons study for Monday of the week of parsha Massei. The link to this study is: regionschristiancenter.org/uploads/bill/pdfs/42-43-Matttot.Massei/43Sheni74.pdf
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:15:12 +0000
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