B’ha-alotecha Num 8:1–12:16; Zech 2:14–4:7; Lk.17:11–18:14
By Raphael ben Levi
After a lengthy stay in the Sinai desert, the Israelites prepared for the next stage that would lead to the Promised land. The focus was no longer travelling from but travelling to – out of Egypt, the land of slavery, to a new land overflowing with milk and honey. Isn’t that what God desires to do in our own lives?
In this second phase of their journey everything seemed like an anti-climax – a time of testing because the pathway leading to our eternal destination is all part of essential preparation as God seeks to have His perfect way in our lives. Not so with the Israelites who murmured and complained at every trial they faced lamenting their lack of creature comforts and craving for other subsistence food of Egypt in place of the manna, angels food, which God had provided them with: “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost – also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” Num.11:4-6
Their fickle behaviour grinned on Moses that finally he came to the end of his tether as he cried out in despair to the Lord words that we would normally fail to associate with such a great and strong leader as he: “Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? What have I done to displease You that You put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give birth to them?… the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how You are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me – if I have found favour in Your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” Num.11:11-15
This was the lowest point in Moses’ life – isolated, lonely, misunderstood and rejected who became known as the “lonely man of faith.” And yet, it was this very sense of isolation and despair that propelled him into a deeper relationship with God. “Whom do I have in heaven but You….” Ps.73:25
Many believers today, especially among leaders are experiencing this same type of acute loneliness and isolation perhaps not so different to what Moses felt. He was tired and emotionally drained and this was now just one disappointment too many. Moses cried out to God in despair: “…15 If this is how You are treating me, kill me now! If I have found favor in Your eyes, kill me please—don’t let me see my own misery!” How did God respond?
“16 …Bring me 70 of the elders of Israel whom you know to be elders of the people and their leaders. Take them to the Tent of Meeting, so they may stand with you there. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and, I will take some of the Ruach that is on you and will place it on them. They will carry with you the burden of the people, so you will not be carrying it alone.” (Ch.11)
It was such a simple and obvious solution to a complex problem that Jethro his father-in-law had already suggested to Moses at an earlier time yet with an important difference. What God was giving Moses went beyond sharing the burden of leadership to supply him with human companionship and support.
“…Bring me 70 of the elders of Israel whom you know to be elders of the people and their leaders. Take them to the Tent of Meeting, so they may stand with you there.”
God always operates out of the magnificence of His infinite mercy, compassion and generosity. When we choose to accept this, we better understand that although we are not promised an easy life in our walk with God, He does promise us one of abundance and fulfilment beyond imagination as He transforms us from glory to glory by His Spirit. Here is a true story that illustrates this point when things in our lives make no sense:
The soldier crouched shin-deep in the mud of the jungle on a sensitive military mission with his platoon in Vietnam. The slightest noise could reveal his position to an enemy ambush and therefore required complete radio silence.
He slithered inch by inch in the mud. Suddenly, he heard a flickering sound and froze in his tracks as he came face to face with a large nine-foot cobra with its fangs exposed braced to attack.
He instantly froze – Jungle survival school taught him that this was the only way to survive an encounter with an irate cobra. The snake continued with his head cocked ready to strike and seemed to lock itself in a hypnotic pose maintaining direct eye contact with the soldier.
One hour passed agonisingly slowly, then another. The snake held him hostage as every muscle in the soldier’s body screamed out in pain and anguish. It seemed a hopeless situation, impossible to endure yet somehow, he did…….
Then, without any warning, after hours of unimaginable pain and torment, the snake uncocked its head and slithered away to the thick of the jungle noiselessly, as suddenly as it had appeared.
The soldier’s head dropped as he released himself from his numbed ‘frozen’ position, his body eaten up by insects and leeches. He shuddered, then completely broke down as the full impact of his encounter began to sink in. He had survived…barely.
After a few moments, the soldier sought to reunite with his platoon several hundred metres away but when he finally arrived, he received the shock of his life: each one of them had been slaughtered in a counter-ambush.
A new understanding of his recent encounter with the snake began to sink in. The cobra who had threatened his life and caused him such torment and anguish of body and soul had in fact been the source of his redemption.
Whenever we may be experiencing a ‘cobra’ in our lives God may be just using that emissary to ultimately preserve our lives! Even though we may think that we are paying a price that seems too high, we should never underestimate our God who is always in full control!
So with Moses, God brought him to his knees in despair only because His end plan was to bring him into a renewed and deeper intimacy with Himself and Moses became known as the humblest person who walked the earth – an ‘eved Hashem,’ God’s servant. Only one other person, Joshua, his successor, earned this title, that is until we come to the prophecy in Isai.42 regarding the promised Messiah described as, “…my servant, (eved) whom I support, my chosen one, in whom I take pleasure!”
Rabbi Yochanan said, “Wherever you find the greatness of the Holy One, there you will find His humility.” Scripture states in 1Pet.5:6, “ …humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time.”
In God’s sight greatness is defined within godly humility, which is our greatest single source of strength. We cannot be injured by those who criticise or demean us because they will be shooting at a target that no longer exists.
If ever one accepts the call to leadership, one must be willing to be misunderstood, criticised, opposed, accused and even rejected. And as one of the greatest of all biblical leaders Moses had to learn to reject all betrayal, even when it originated from his immediate family. Instead, he chose to intercede on behalf of those who slandered him and rather than seeking revenge he blessed them.
A second focus I would like to reflect on was the setting up the Menorah (lamp stand) in the Tabernacle. The priests would ‘ascend’ to the Menorah and kindle (set up) the lights to keep them burning 24/7, symbolising God’s continuous care for us who is a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” (Ps.119:105)
In Rev.2-3 we read about the ‘Seven congregations of Asia.’ Each one was represented by the Menorah. Each one holds an historical profile and also a personal application for us. Only two were commended but what is interesting is that all 7 were surprised at their evaluation. 70 times throughout this book it uses the phrase, “I looked and beheld” referring to what John saw, because there are many people who see yet remain spiritually blind and hear but do not hear. There are over 800 references to the phrase, “I looked and beheld” in the OT
In Judaism, the Menorah is a symbol of the Jewish people who are called to be “a light to the nations” (Is 42:6). Currently, the light of the Jewish people remains unlit because it can only be rekindled through Yeshua but we know through Scripture how the story will end!. He is the true light as prophesied in Scripture: (Is.60:1-5) “Arise, shine, for your light has come! The glory of Adonai has risen on you…Nations will come to your light, kings to the brilliance of your rising.”
In 2 Cor11:14 the Bible states that Satan can present himself as an angel of light with great subtlety and effectiveness to deceive many. He presents sin as something most desirable and appealing, and false teaching as enlightening and life-changing but all of Satan’s ways contain a sting that ends in eternal death and damnation.
Some more things about the Menorah: The 7 branches cast their light forwards representing the only light in the Holy Place and the wicks on both sides were directed to the central stem which concentrated the light in the middle instead of being spread out. It is interesting how the Tower of Babel and the pyramids of Egypt symbolising the carnal world, represented a ‘top-down’ society that was broad at the base and narrow at the top. However, the Jewish symbol of the menorah is the very opposite: broad at the top, narrow at the base – the true greatness of a leader who serves the people, not vice versa.
The Torah reveals that the Menorah was made from one piece of hammered gold (Num.8:4) weighing 45 kg and worth $3 million. Both the gold and fire represented by the Menorah reveal God’s absolute purity. It reminds us that we become holy through being fashioned into His likeness – by being hammered. “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. ” (Mal 3:3)
God reserves a special blessing for those who walk in holiness: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” To “see” God in the biblical sense is to know Him intimately.
The Levites who served God in the Tabernacle purified themselves before serving in the tabernacle. Num 8:5–7 Every detail connected to them: body, soul, spirit, even down to their clothing, was fully consecrated. This is the measure of holiness that God also demands from every true believer: “…You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Messiah Yeshua” 1Pet. 2:5. [Rev.1:6 and 5:12]
God’s manifest glory shone in the Israelite camp and covered the Tabernacle during the day as a pillar of cloud and as a pillar of fire during the night (9:15). The Shekinah led the Israelites through the desert and they travelled according to when it moved from the camp. (9:18-23). There was never a time when the Israelites failed to follow the leading of the Shekinah despite all their failings. And many were their failings and betrayals.
For example, Aaron and Miriam slandered Moses for marrying a Cushite woman, and demanded greater recognition than they already possessed — the sin of pride. For speaking lashon hara (slander, gossip) and for their sin of pride, God temporarily struck Miriam with leprosy. Aaron recognised their sin and pleaded for mercy: “O God, please heal her — please.” (“El na rafa’na la”). Why was Miriam struck down with leprosy but not Aaron? Although we do not know, most likely the accusations against Moses originated with Miriam and Aaron just went along with it, as he did with the sin of the golden calf hinting at the weak character of Aaron.
Lashon hara is a type of spiritual leprosy. A godly person refuses to gossip and only speaks good of others or maintains his peace. In traditional Judaism we are cautioned not to confuse lashon hara with motzei shem ra (pure slander), which is speaking evil of others that is untrue.
As the rabbis teach, if speaking that which is true (but is negative, divisive, and/or derisive) is one of the worst of all sins, then how much so the fabrication of a complete lie against another person(s)? (Social media)
Speech has been compared to an arrow: once the words are released they cannot be recalled, the harm they do cannot be stopped, and the harm they do cannot always be predicted, for words like arrows often go astray. Spreading gossip will always create a bad scent and it only takes one person to contaminate a whole city. The prime ingredients are lies and half-truths, but even when it contains truth it still causes untold destruction. The Talmud (Bab. Erchin 15b) states that for three transgressions one forfeits his portion in the life hereafter: murder, adultery, and idol worship, (Acts15) but lashon hara is equivalent to all three combined. Spiritual tzara’ot (leprosy) emanates from slanderous speech as we see illustrated with Miriam and Aaron and to listen to slander is worse than to speak it because if one refused to listen, the slander would fall on barren soil.
God has a million ways of telling everybody about every single one of our weaknesses or negative traits which every single person has, but rather covers and protects us rather than making them public. He even covered for Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him at His last supper.
In summary, when one understands how much God loves us, our lives will overflow with joy and gratitude as we are consumed by His goodness, and we will be at peace and walk together in unity.
God’s love, made accessible only through Messiah Yeshua, never runs dry. Those who are wise pursue it single-mindedly and nurture it wholeheartedly. It’s stronger than death, more powerful than the fiercest storm, profound yet simply apprehended, transformational beyond imagination and glorious beyond comparison.
The Greek word for “first” (protos) means “foremost,” “best,” and “number one.” Yeshua desires our exclusive love that places Him first above all else. He will expand our boundaries and forge within us an everlasting appreciation of His unsearchable riches. But why the need for suffering?
The sages teach that eternal life can only be acquired through much hardship (Talmud, Brachot 5). This might initially appear intimidating, but as it has been said, “Like a Jaffa orange, the juice is well worth the squeeze!”
The lessons of the past should play a part in our vision for the future that we cherish in the present. I believe that God has some truly amazing things ahead for us right now in the present as we press forward with patience, perseverance and confidence, walking in trust and obedience to His Word.
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