Matot-Massei - Day #4

Matot-Massei  

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Numbers 32:20-33:49

32:20 Moses said to them: “If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before Hashem to the war, 21 and every one of your armed men will pass over the Jordan before Hashem until he has driven out his enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before Hashem; then afterward you shall return, and be clear of obligation to Hashem and to Israel. Then this land shall be your possession before Hashem.

23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Hashem; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.”

25 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock shall be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before Hashem to battle, as my lord says.”

28 So Moses commanded concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ households of the tribes of the children of Israel. 29 Moses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who is armed to battle before Hashem, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession; 30 but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”

31 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, “As Hashem has said to your servants, so will we do. 32We will pass over armed before Hashem into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.”

33 Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan; the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land. 34 The children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran: fortified cities and folds for sheep. 37 The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, and Baal Meon (their names being changed), and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities which they built. 39 The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were therein. 40 Moses gave Gilead to Machir, the son of Manasseh, and he lived therein. 41 Jair, the son of Manasseh, went and took its villages, and called them Havvoth Jair. 42 Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

33:1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of Hashem. These are their journeys according to their starting points. 3 They traveled from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom Hashem had struck among them. Hashem also executed judgments on their gods. 5 The children of Israel traveled from Rameses and encamped in Succoth. 6 They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 7 They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. 8 They traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. 9 They traveled from Marah and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there. 10 They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. 11 They traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14 They traveled from Alush and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 They traveled from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah. 17 They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah and encamped in Hazeroth. 18 They traveled from Hazeroth and encamped in Rithmah. 19 They traveled from Rithmah and encamped in Rimmon Perez. 20 They traveled from Rimmon Perez and encamped in Libnah. 21 They traveled from Libnah and encamped in Rissah. 22 They traveled from Rissah and encamped in Kehelathah. 23 They traveled from Kehelathah and encamped in Mount Shepher. 24 They traveled from Mount Shepher and encamped in Haradah. 25 They traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth. 26 They traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath. 27 They traveled from Tahath and encamped in Terah. 28 They traveled from Terah and encamped in Mithkah. 29 They traveled from Mithkah and encamped in Hashmonah. 30 They traveled from Hashmonah and encamped in Moseroth. 31 They traveled from Moseroth and encamped in Bene Jaakan. 32 They traveled from Bene Jaakan and encamped in Hor Haggidgad. 33 They traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah. 34 They traveled from Jotbathah and encamped in Abronah. 35 They traveled from Abronah and encamped in Ezion Geber. 36 They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 37 They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 

38 Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of Hashem and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. 39 Aaron was 123 years old when he died at Mount Hor. 40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41 They traveled from Mount Hor and encamped in Zalmonah. 42 They traveled from Zalmonah and encamped in Punon. 43 They traveled from Punon and encamped in Oboth. 44 They traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab. 45 They traveled from Iyim and encamped in Dibon Gad. 46 They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim. 47 They traveled from Almon Diblathaim and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 They traveled from the mountains of Abarim and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 49 They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.

Today’s Meditation:

Here is a summary of the Israelites' travels. A journey that would normally have taken a few weeks turned into forty years. Along the way, there were struggles and joys, miracles and punishments. Kind of like our lives. It is such a wonderful lesson to learn. If we follow Hashem and obey Him, our journey to success will be short. If we don’t follow and sin, our journey will be long. The miracle is that either way, He will be with us. Isn’t that something amazing to ponder?

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 23, we read, “If you will not do so, you have sinned against Hashem, and be sure your sin will find you out.” Isn’t this so true? We can’t hide anything from Hashem, including sin. We may think we have gotten away with something, but then “our sin finds us out”. Usually, when that happens, it is not a good thing. Haven’t you noticed, though, that the closer you get to Hashem, the more obvious temptations become. You will get a huge check in your spirit when you are about to do the wrong thing. My challenge to you today is to watch out for those “checks” and pay attention. Do not do what you were planning; it may come back to bite you. And the worst part is that it will separate you from Hashem. We don’t want that, do we?

Pinchas - Day #4

Pinchas פִּינְחָס - Phinehas  

Torah Portion: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Numbers 27:6–23

27:6 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as Hashem commanded Moses.’”

12 Hashem said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

15 Moses spoke to Hashem, saying, 16 “Let Hashem, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of Hashem may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”

18 Hashem said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, 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 commission him in their sight. 20 You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Hashem. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

22 Moses did as Hashem commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as Hashem spoke by Moses.

Today’s Meditation:

I recently discussed with an acquaintance about how we really do have the Spirit of Hashem residing in us. But, not in a way that I was thinking before or had been taught previously. He told me that the Spirit of Hashem is breathed into us at our birth. Which is what Scripture says. In Genesis 2:7, Hashem breathes “Life” into us. That is His Spirit. In verse 16 in today’s reading, we read, “Let Hashem, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh”. We are made up of Spirit, His Spirit. That is how we breathe and live daily. When we die and go to Olam Haba, His Spirit is removed from us, where I assume we are made spiritual beings of our own spirit, until the resurrection of our physical bodies. It is incredible to think that we are alive today because the Spirit of Hashem exists in us and gives us life. It makes you view things very differently. Ponder on this today and see if you agree.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 18, we read that Hashem chose Joshua as Israel’s next leader: “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit.” As Moses knows he is about to leave the earth, he is concerned about who will lead the people. It makes sense that Hashem will choose someone who has been taught and mentored by Moses. Remember, we have read about Joshua’s dedication and service to Hashem, so much so that he did not want to leave the door of the Tabernacle (Exodus 33:11). If you are leaving a position/job, do you contemplate if the person who is replacing you is close to Hashem? Even if you are in a secular job, isn’t it important to know that the person who will have your position is qualified and dedicated? Sometimes when we leave employment, we don’t care who follows, but I challenge you today to make sure that it does matter. And if you aren’t changing jobs, maybe this applies to another area of your life. Maybe give it some thought and prayer.

Chukat-Balak - Day #4

Chukat-Balak Statute/Balak — חֻקַּת־בָּלָק  

Torah Portion: Numbers 19:1-25:9

Numbers 21:21-22:12 

21:21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn away into field or vineyard. We will not drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have passed your border.”

23 Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz. He fought against Israel. 24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was fortified. 25 Israel took all these cities. Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon. 27 Therefore, those who speak in proverbs say,

“Come to Heshbon.

    Let the city of Sihon be built and established;

28 for a fire has gone out of Heshbon,

    a flame from the city of Sihon.

It has devoured Ar of Moab,

    The lords of the high places of the Arnon.

29 Woe to you, Moab!

    You are undone, people of Chemosh!

He has given his sons as fugitives,

    and his daughters into captivity,

    to Sihon, king of the Amorites.

30 We have shot at them.

    Heshbon has perished even to Dibon.

We have laid waste even to Nophah,

    Which reaches to Medeba.”

31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer. They took its villages, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og, the king of Bashan, went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

34 Hashem said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”

35 So they struck him, with his sons and all his people, until there were no survivors; and they possessed his land.

22:1 The children of Israel traveled and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 Balak, the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”

Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me. 6 Please come now, therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hands. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.

8 He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Hashem shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 Elohim came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

10 Balaam said to Elohim, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me, 11 ‘Behold, the people that have come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”

12 Elohim said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we read about how the battles continue as the Israelites wander through the wilderness. But one thing that they know for sure is that Hashem will go with them. Verse 34 says, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land.”  Hashem is literally telling them not to fear, that He has delivered them and they will have victory. We must remember this as we go through battles in our lives. If we are living a righteous life or at least trying to, we can trust that Hashem will go before us and clear the way to victory.

Today’s Challenge:

Interesting in verse 21 that Moses is sending messengers to the enemy to try to work things out before attacking. Sometimes, people who do not believe in Torah think that Hashem just ruthlessly attacks and kills people. Often, we see that it is simply not true. There are people who try to establish an agreement. And when we don’t see that, it may just not have been written down. My point is that we must do the same in our lives. Go to the person(s) you are having a disagreement with and try to work it out before having a battle. Go with peace and solutions. Pray ahead of time. See how many battles can be avoided. Do this at home too with your spouse and kids. If we start this today, we will begin to mend our broken world. It starts with us. That is today’s challenge.

Korach - Day #4

Korach קֹרַח - Korach  

Torah Portion: Numbers 16:1-18:32

Numbers 16:44-50

16:44 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces.

46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, lay incense on it, carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from Hashem! The plague has begun.”

47 Aaron did as Moses said and ran into the middle of the assembly. The plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed. 49 Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, in addition to those who died about the matter of Korah. 50 Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stopped.

Today’s Meditation:

Curious that Moses tells Aaron to take the incense as an atonement for the people. Oftentimes, we believe only animals and blood can bring atonement. But in this story, we learn that incense is Hashem’s choice for an offering. 

This is why it is essential to study the Torah and seek to understand what Hashem is trying to teach us. Today, it is clear that He is teaching His people not to rebel. But in His mercy and grace, He has provided a way of redemption.

Today’s Challenge:

Do we ever learn? First, Korach and his household are swallowed up into the ground, and then the 250 leaders with censers are consumed. You would think people would get on their knees and beg Hashem for forgiveness. And maybe some did. But others began to complain, the very next day. What were they thinking? Hashem is not happy with this and unleashes a massive plague. Moses intercedes with Hashem, Aaron runs between the living and the dead, and the plague is halted. Here is the lesson. If we disobey Hashem, don’t try to make excuses or think that it is okay. It is not. Beg for forgiveness, repent, and be holy. Or another punishment may follow. Hashem loves us either way, but will not let us go unpunished, or He will find a way so we learn.

Shelach - Day #4

Shelach שְׁלַח-לְךָ - Send For Yourself  

Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41

Numbers 14:26–15:7 

14:26 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, who complain against me. 28 Tell them, ‘As I live, says Hashem, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you. 29 Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all who were counted of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me, 30 surely you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But I will bring in your little ones that you said should be captured or killed, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your prostitution, until your dead bodies are consumed in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you will know my alienation.’ 35 I, Hashem, have spoken. I will surely do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.”

36 The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil report against the land, 37 even those men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Hashem. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.

39 Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose up early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Behold, we are here, and will go up to the place which Hashem has promised; for we have sinned.”

41 Moses said, “Why now do you disobey the commandment of Hashem, since it shall not prosper? 42 Don’t go up, for Hashem isn’t among you; that way you won’t be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, and you will fall by the sword because you turned back from following Hashem; therefore Hashem will not be with you.”

44 But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain. Nevertheless, the ark of Hashem’s covenant and Moses didn’t depart out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites who lived in that mountain, and struck them and beat them down even to Hormah.

15:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you, 3 and will make an offering by fire to Hashem—a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a free will offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to Hashem, of the herd, or of the flock— 4 then he who offers his offering shall offer to Hashem a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of oil. 5 You shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.

6 “‘For a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil; 7 and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 14:42, we read “Hashem isn’t among you”. And they continued to conquer the land. They meet up with the enemy and are defeated. Even the ark of the testimony does not go with them. They probably panicked about their sin of doubt and wanted to make things right in their own flesh. Have you ever done that? When you do something really wrong, instead of repenting and asking Hashem to help you repair the damage, you try to fix it on your own, and it ends in disaster. You want Hashem “to be among you” in your life, especially for big decisions. And if you do sin in a horrible way or even a little way, don’t try to make it up to Hashem in your own way. Ask Him first what you should do.

Today’s Challenge:

In this Torah study, we learn that complaining actually caused ten men to lose their lives. And caused many more to be punished for entering the land. So, this tells us that Hashem does not like complaining. And at the time of writing this, I can honestly tell you that’s what I have been doing in my head all day long today. We are in the middle of trying to sell our house, and things are going very differently from what we expected. I am asking Hashem what we are doing wrong and trying to listen to Him to hear His answer. But in the meantime, I am super complaining that our house hasn't sold (unlike everyone else's). Then I repent and tell Hashem I am sorry for not having the faith needed to pull us through. Still, I am sure He is not happy about all of this. All I can say is, “I am so sorry, Hashem, please forgive me for complaining. Please show us, very clearly, how to sell our house. Help us to be patient and to have faith that You are in the middle of this.” I hope you can learn from my mistakes today. This is my challenge to you. (Update: Our house was sold shortly after I originally wrote this. Hashem was in the middle of it all. I am very grateful.)

Beha'alotcha - Day #4

Beha’alotcha בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ - In Your Uplifting  

Torah Portion: Numbers 8:1-12:16

Numbers 9:15–10:10

9:15 On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony. In the evening, it was over the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire, until morning. 16 So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. 18 At the commandment of Hashem, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of Hashem they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle, they remained encamped. 19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept Hashem’s command, and didn’t travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then, according to the commandment of Hashem, they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Hashem, they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled; or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At the commandment of Hashem, they encamped, and at the commandment of Hashem, they traveled. They kept Hashem’s command, at the commandment of Hashem by Moses.

10:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 4 If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward. 6 When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

8 “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Hashem your Elohim, and you will be saved from your enemies.

10 “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your Elohim. I am Hashem, your Elohim.”

Today’s Meditation: 

What a clear message for the directions of His people. When the cloud moves, the people move. They only have to watch for it. When the cloud remained, the people stayed. Wouldn’t that be so wonderful for the decisions you are making in your life? Can you imagine yourself thinking about buying a new house in a new city? You look at the Tabernacle to see if the cloud is lifting. It is. So, you're moving to your new city. Maybe we could get to know Hashem so well that we could spiritually see His cloud moving. In other words, we would learn through prayer, worship, and listening where He was leading us and what He was leading us to do.

Today’s Challenge:

In chapter 10, we learn about the alerts of the trumpets. When the priests would blow them, you would know whether you were journeying or going to war. It was a sense of trusting authority and being in community for major direction on issues. Maybe you don’t have a community where authority can give you direction or warning. Perhaps it is time to pray to Hashem and ask for one. One that honors and worships the one true Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One that follows Torah. One that has trusted leadership. Pray and ask Hashem to lead you to this community. It will help you to be rooted and grounded. And knowing that sometimes leadership can and will make mistakes, but praying for them at all times.

Nasso - Day #4

Nasso נָשֹׂא - Elevate!  

Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89

Numbers 5:11–6:27

5:11 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him, 13 and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and this is kept concealed, and she is defiled, there is no witness against her, and she isn’t taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she is defiled; or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she isn’t defiled; 15 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring her offering for her: one tenth of an ephah of barley meal. He shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense on it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to memory. 16 The priest shall bring her near, and set her before Hashem. 17 The priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and the priest shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. 18 The priest shall set the woman before Hashem, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal offering of jealousy. The priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse. 

19 The priest shall cause her to take an oath and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband’s authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse. 20 But if you have gone astray, being under your husband’s authority, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband—” 21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, “May Hashem make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Hashem allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell; 22 and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away.” The woman shall say, “Amen, Amen.”

23 “‘The priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall wipe them into the water of bitterness. 24 He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse; and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter. 25 The priest shall take the meal offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal offering before Hashem, and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest shall take a handful of the meal offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away; and the woman will be a curse among her people. 28 If the woman isn’t defiled, but is clean, then she shall be free, and shall conceive offspring.

29 “‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled, 30 or when the spirit of jealousy comes on a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before Hashem, and the priest shall execute on her all this law. 31 The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.’”

6:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to Hashem, 3 he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. 4 All the days of his separation, he shall eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins.

5 “‘All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come on his head, until the days are fulfilled in which he separates himself to Hashem. He shall be holy. He shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long. 

6 “‘All the days that he separates himself to Hashem, he shall not go near a dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to Adonai is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation, he is holy to Hashem.

9 “‘If any man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles the head of his separation, then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day, he shall shave it. 10 On the eighth day, he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead, and shall make his head holy that same day. 12 He shall separate to Hashem the days of his separation, and shall bring a male lamb a year old for a trespass offering; but the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled.

13 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite: when the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall be brought to the door of the Tent of Meeting, 14 and he shall offer his offering to Hashem: one male lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without defect for a sin offering, one ram without defect for peace offerings, 15 a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil with their meal offering and their drink offerings. 16 The priest shall present them before Hashem, and shall offer his sin offering and his burnt offering. 17 He shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to Hashem, with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its meal offering and its drink offering. 18 The Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tent of Meeting, take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings. 19 The priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved the head of his separation; 20 and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Hashem. They are holy for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows and of his offering to Hashem for his separation, in addition to that which he is able to afford. According to his vow, which he vows, so he must do after the law of his separation.’”

22 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them,

24 ‘Hashem bless you, and keep you.

25  Hashem make His face to shine on you,

    and be gracious to you.

26 Hashem lift up His face toward you,

    and give you peace.’

27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem wants unity, trust, and honesty in a marriage. And if this is challenged, He provides a way to solve any issues regarding faithfulness. It sounds rather harsh, but the offense in itself is harsh. Doubt in a marriage can be very troublesome. It is better to get things out in the open and resolved. If you are married, make sure you have communicated everything you worry about to your spouse. Talk about things and bring them to the fore. Have an honest and truthful relationship with your partner. This honors Hashem.

Today’s Challenge:

In chapter 6, we learn about the Nazarite vow, which applies to both men and women. Apparently, it is a time to separate yourself from the things of the world and get closer to Hashem, even to become “holy”. Again, Hashem goes into great detail about this. Holiness is essential to Hashem. So, my challenge for you today is to look at your life and think about how you could set yourself apart from the world and separate yourself from it for Hashem. You could even pray about taking a Nazarite vow and follow these instructions. You may want to conduct a study on it to ensure you are following it appropriately. Think of the blessings that would follow as you grow closer to Hashem.