MESSIAH IS COMING!
The Jewish people are eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messiah and although they missed him the first time round there is a story told by the late Israeli author and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel that questions the hearts of an increasing number of Jewish people throughout the world. He said this:
“My good (Christian) friends, what is the difference between you and me? We believe as religious Jews in the coming of the Messiah. You believe that the Messiah came, went back, and that you are waiting for Him for the second coming. We Jews believe He hasn’t come yet, but He will come. In other words, we are waiting, you for the second coming, we for the first coming. Let’s wait together. “
After a pause, he said, “And when He will come, we will ask Him, have you been here before?” Elie Wiesel added, “I hope I will be behind Him and I will whisper in His ear, ‘Please do not answer.’”
More and more Jewish people today are being confronted with the Jewish Messiah and faced with the dilemma that maybe when they truly focus upon the biblical evidence then just maybe, they may have missed it the first time round? This is not a comfortable thought and so more than a few respond to the question, “Please don’t answer.” And yet with the existential threat of the Jewish people’s annihilation looming large, and anti-Semitism world-wide increasing at an alarming rate, the question won’t go away as Yeshua is slowly but surely wooing His people to Himself.
Our God is a God of miracles who can do anything. He could even, as the Talmud puts it, ‘fit an elephant through the eye of a needle.’ How would He do it? Would He make the elephant smaller or would He expand the eye of the needle? Neither. The elephant would remain big, the eye of the needle small and He would fit the elephant through the eye of the needle. Illogical? True, but logic is just another of His creations. He who created logic is permitted to disregard it.
There are a lot of ‘elephants’ in the hearts of the Jewish people. We are a stubborn and stiff-necked people, but God is able to squeeze us through the eye of a needle against this impossibility and we have full confidence in His ability to do so!
Allow me to add something here and state clearly that any person or nation who stands against the Jewish people will suffer the full consequences of Divine judgement. Believe me, it is not a pleasant thing to be sat upon by an elephant! Listen to what Scripture says in Zech.12:2-3
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples when they besiege Jerusalem as well as Judah. 3 Moreover, in that day I will make Jerusalem a massive stone for all the people. All who try to lift it will be cut to pieces.” What we saw yesterday at 3:00am with Israel’s pre-emptive strike against Iran demonstrated this from Zechariah in action. It is no mistake that our parasha for this week, “Beha-alotecha” (‘when you rise up’) links in with the blessing that is sung at every service in every synagogue around the world): “And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, ‘Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.’” (Num.10:35)
Paul wrote in 1Cor.14:8 “… if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” Paul takes this concept directly from Parashat B’ha-alotecha, when the Israelites were commanded to sound the shofar when an enemy approached in a war: “When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.” (Num.10:9)
Parasha B’ha-alotecha (When You Set Up)
Num.8:1–12:16; Zech. 2:14–4:7; Lk.17:11–18:14
This week’s Scripture portion is named B’ha-alotecha referring to the Menorah (lamp-stand) with instructions to setting it up in the Holy Place. As the priests approached it they would kindle (set up) the lights to ensure they were kept burning continuously symbolising God’s Word which is a “…lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” (Ps.119:105) through Yeshua, our Light and our salvation (Ps.27) The wick was made from the garments of the priests, that again holds for us profound symbolisation a life that burns brightly for His glory!
The Menorah is made mention in Rev.2-3 with the ‘Seven churches of Asia.’ Yeshua stood in the centre of the seven candlesticks, in the midst of His people showing that He is always present with His church even at its lowest points. A candlestick (the Church) is not the light itself but the bearer of the light. The true light is Yeshua who is the light of the world (Jn.8:12) “2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were made through Him, and apart from Him nothing was made that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” (Jn.1:2-5)
The messages to the 7 churches does not portray a pretty picture. 5 of the 7 congregations were strongly rebuked, not because of their imperfections but because of their conscious rebellion against the Holy Spirit – only 7 were commended. The 7 churches reflect the history of the Church that has been saturated with ungodliness. And yet there has always been a remnant who have remained faithful with a high price attached that sometimes included torture and martydom. Satan tries his hardest to destroy true believers in order to derail God’s eternal purposes, but he has always and will always fail because God’s plans can never be derailed. And this is no more true also than with God’s ancient covenant people.
In Judaism, the menorah represents the Jewish people called to be ‘a light to the nations’ (Isa.42:6) but it will always remain a smoking wick until it is rekindled by the One who is THE Light in Isa.61:1-3; “The Ruach of Adonai Elohim is on me,[ because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
Yeshua is the true light as prophesied: “Arise, shine, for your light has come! The glory of Adonai has risen on you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness the peoples. But Adonai will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to the brilliance of your rising.” (Isa.60:1-5)
The menorah was positioned so as to cast the light in front of it rather than behind because He is a God who reveals the way forward as a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” (Ps.119:105) and illuminates the path we take. “In Him there is no change nor shadow of turning.” (James) It was the only source of light in the Holy Court of the Tabernacle even as Yeshua is our only source of spiritual light who will guide us unto all truth through His Holy Spirit.
In Num.8:4, the Israelites were instructed to form the Menorah from one piece of hammered gold from its shaft to its flowers, standing 5 feet high and weighing 7 kilos. Gold represents purity highlighting the character of God whose holiness consumes everything that’s impure. It is a fearful thing to stand in the presence of the Living God! But it also demonstrates how God works within every true believer who is being changed from glory to glory as we allow Him to fashion us into His likeness – “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)
The Tower of Babel and the pyramids of Egypt symbolise a ‘top-down’ society that was broad at the base and narrow at the top. However, the Jewish symbol of the menorah isdifferent: broad at the top, narrow at the base because in God’s Kingdom, the leader serves the people, not vice versa. Yeshua made this clear throughout His earthly ministry:“The greatest among you shall be the servant of all.”
God reserves a special blessing for those who actively pursue holiness. Yeshua said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” To “see” God in the biblical sense is to know Him intimately, a blessing infinitely higher than the best the world can ever offer. God has equipped us with everything we need to walk in intimacy with Him. Buried within the heart of every person lies a deep longing to experience the abundance that comes from walking in God’s pathways. Yet few discover it and many others lose their direction at some stage along the way. How can this be? The secret is contained in the fact that His grace is always sufficient for His strength is made perfect within our own innate weakness. And it’s with this knowledge that we place our full dependence on Him consistently however imperfectly, and that’s good enough for God!
Sadly, the Israelites motivation to walk according to God’s commands in faith and holiness began to wane as they prepared to embark upon the next stage of their journey leading to Canaan. Throughout the camp people started to complain about their lack of creature comforts, and even craved for food to replace the manna which God had provided: “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 This was now the second occasion that the Israelites openly grieved about leaving Egypt. (Ex.16:3) It was one of those very prominent “ouch” moments. “And (God) gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” (Ps.116:15) Ps.78:24-35 states that the Israelites ate “angels food! Even as the angels baked bread for Elijah when he fled for his life from Jezebel (1Kings 19:6) —yes, angels can cook food! They make their own food in Heaven even as they made food for Israel throughout their 40-years in the wilderness!
Disappointment comes in different shapes and sizes but for Moses, the Israelites rebellion came as a severe blow and the last straw on a camel’s back.
One may wonder how following all the many miraculous demonstrations of God leading from the Exodus to the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai – the construction of the Tabernacle where His Shekinah Glory resided – and with the miraculous provision of the manna (Num.11:6) – the quails meat, clothing and footwear that did not need replacing throughout their wilderness wanderings – how could the Israelites have responded with such faithlessness?
It was in his moment of despair that Moses cried out to God: “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?… I cannot carry all these people by myself; 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
Moses had reached the lowest point in his life. He felt isolated, misunderstood and rejected no different to other people of faith in the Bible such as Elijah (1Kings19:4), or Jeremiah (Jer. 20:7-18) who cried out to God, “Accursed be the day that I was born! Let not the day be blessed when my mother bore me!” and Jonah (Jon.4:3) who prayed to GOD, “Please, take my life, for I would rather die than live.”
For every believer and especially for those who wear the mantle of leadership, we must know that there will be times when we will be misunderstood, criticised, opposed, accused, maybe even rejected. And for Moses things became overwhelming to the point where He couldn’t take it any longer and cried out to God“…15 If this is how You are treating me, kill me now! If I have found favour in Your eyes, kill me please—don’t let me see my own misery!” Moses took things very personally the same as we can do when we face tight situations and blame God for everything. We all have our limits but God knows the smallest details of our lives and provides for us in His time and infinite compassion. At the lowest point God Himself intervened in Moses’ life personally as a friend. He didn’t use a representative. But first, He needed to bring Moses to the end of himself and hit rock bottom. (“In HIs time, He makes all things beautiful in His time! Lord, please show me every day As You’re teaching me Your way That You do just what You say in Your time.”)
God taught Moses to dismiss every betrayal and offence in the knowledge that He never takes us through any situation that He has not first equipped us to deal with. From that point on, Moses was a changed person, calm and unruffled even when slandered (Lashon Ha’ra) to his face by his own sister Miriam. And rather than stand by when God in righteous judgment caused her hand to become leprous, (i.e., “serves you right!”) He rather interceded for her healing – forgiveness in action! What would we have done had we been in Moses’ place?
Lashon Hara is perhaps the most overlooked sin in the church yet it creates the greatest collateral damage over and above almost everything else. Why do some people who call themselves believers slander others? “Lashon ha’ra” comes from a root word for perfume. Some perfumes representing our conversations have a good scent and others not. Spreading slander will always create a bad scent and as our sages warned, “it only takes one person to contaminate a whole city.” Lashon Ha’ra usually contain elements of truth hidden in-between the lies but even even when it contains full truth it will still cause untold destruction.
In traditional Judaism we are cautioned not to confuse lashon hara with motzei shem ra (pure slander), which is speaking derisive things which are not true. 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? Slanderous speech is like an arrow: once the words are released they cannot be recalled, the harm they do cannot be stopped or predicted.
Slander is so serious that the Talmud (Bab. Erchin 15b) states “…that for three transgressions one forfeits his portion in the life hereafter: murder, adultery, and idol worship, but lashon hara is equivalent to all three combined.” The late Shlomo Carlebach said: “You can tell people so much evil about a person that they will literally kill his spirit and crush his soul. The sages state that when you talk evil about another person, you are a pagan in the sight of God.”
Spiritual tzara’ot (leprosy) emanates from slanderous speech. Yet, in all of this, why is slandering others so enticing? Why do some believers speak evil about others?”
But one more thing… Judaism teaches us that a person who listens to gossip is worse than the person who tells it, because no harm could be done by gossip unless one listens to it.
Shlomo Carlebach recalled a story about a famous rabbi who claimed that the person who taught him the most about God was a prostitute. People would stand in line to put a little money on his table as they lined up for hours in a queue simply to ask him for a blessing. That woman also came and put her money on the table. He thought to himself,
‘What chutzpa! She has nerve putting money that she makes that way on my table.’
So, the moment she put the money on the table he tipped it up and said,
‘I don’t want this dirty money on my table.’ She replied,
‘God didn’t tell you how I made the money. Why do you?’
The rebbe responded in shocked amazement:
‘Nobody else ever taught me the way she did.’”
What was it that shocked the Rebbe? Maybe he made a connection here with Rehab the prostitute who is included in the heroes of faith hall of fame in Heb.11 from whom King David and Yeshua were direct descendants? ‘Nobody else ever taught me the way she did’” because despite her background she let nothing deprive her of God’s restoration no matter what the disadvantages appeared to be. And in that sense the Rebbe recognised that she was no more than a mirror of himself…a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness so that when he saw a flaw in another person it was actually his own flaw he was seeing. This was something the Rebbe clearly understood and it transformed his life irrevocably
God has a million ways of telling everybody all about our weaknesses and shortcomings, but He keeps it all secret. He covers and protects us even as Yeshua covered for Judas Iscariot throughout His entire 3 years of public ministry knowing that this same person upon whom He poured out His love would end up betraying Him for a mere 30 pieces of silver.
God is in the business of restoration not demolition. He delights to bring healing to those who are wounded, deliverance to the afflicted and redemption to those who have lost their way. To the despairing, He brings hope; and He clothes the destitute with garments of joy, bringing peace to the troubled soul and rest to the weary! God is indeed the glory and the lifter of our souls (Ps.3:3) who raises us from the ashes and places us upon a solid rock just as He did with Moses.
Another word connected to the Hebrew (B’har) ’alotecha’ (when you rise) is the word ‘Aliyah’ meaning, ‘ascend’ referring to people who emigrate to Israel. It is a kind of promotion! We talk about “going south” or “north”, but no matter where a Jew is in the world, the spiritual compass is always pointing upwards because it ascends towards Jerusalem and is a reminder of the future New Jerusalem (Isa.2:3-4). In the Millennium age Jerusalem will be reinstated as God’s capital city that will be the centre focus of the world. In Isa.2:3-4 we catch a glimpse of this where, “In the last days the mountain of Yahweh’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains (spiritually) and raised above the hills. All the nations will stream to it. Then many people will come and say, “Let’s go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them.” The teachings will go out from Zion. The word of God will go out from Jerusalem.”
Even Israel’s former enemies will make annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Zech.14:16-19 states in those times that: “16 …all the survivors from all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot, and to celebrate Sukkot. 17 Furthermore, if any of the nations on earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot, they will have no rain.”
I want to end with sharing something from our Torah portion which speaks about the nature of a true, godly leader. The highest quality in a person above other things biblically is humility best defined as not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. It is knowing who we are in Yeshua and placing Him in the centre of our lives instead of ourselves. Child centred education is where one put’s Yeshua in the centre of a child instead of the child.
In our Torah portion we notice that the leaders were to serve the people. Moses became known as the ‘eved Hashem,’ God’s servant. Only one other person, Joshua, his successor, earned this title until we come to Isa.42 concerning the Messiah who is also referred to in this way: “Here is my servant, (my eved) whom I support, my chosen one, in whom I take pleasure!” (He who wishes to be greatest among you…”)
Rabbi Yochanan said, “Wherever you find the greatness of the Holy One, there you find His humility.” Greatness is humility, for God and for those who seek to walk in His ways. It is also the greatest single source of strength, for if we do not place ourselves in the centre, we cannot be injured by those who criticise or demean us. They are shooting at a target that no longer exists.”
God delights in the person who places Him in the centre of their thoughts and actions. The Greek word for “first” (protos) means “foremost,” “best,” “paramount,” “supreme” and “number one.” Yeshua desires our exclusive love that places Him first above all else. First love is just the beginning of the journey, not the destination; the aperitif, not the main course; an initial introduction not the fullness..
First love is like the initial baby steps that sets our course. Without it, we cannot run the race but remain crawling on the floor in our spiritual diapers. Wise people pursue it single-mindedly and nurture it wholeheartedly. For, it is stronger than death, more powerful than the fiercest storm, profound yet simply apprehended, transformational beyond imagination and glorious beyond comparison. It cannot be fully articulated but it can be fully embraced for those who submit themselves to His perfect will. God’s love has no rival; it never has nor ever will. But the world provides many counterfeits that vie for our attention in subtle guises of deception and counterfeit expressions all in the name of ‘love.’
Who dares follow in the footsteps of the Master?
