Parashat Beha’Alotecha:
Numbers 8:1 – 12:16
Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7
John’s Gospel 19:31-37
Hebrews 3:1-6
There are several remarkable passages to reflect on:
Numbers 8:1-3
These 3 verses describes the positioning of the 7 lamps in the Tabernacle and points to Revelation
1:13. The 7 lamps are to illuminate the area in-front of the menorah, because this place is where the
Light of the world stands: Yeshua Ha’Mashiach aka Jesus Christ.
Numbers 8:7
The ceremonial cleaning of the Levites by sprinkling for service in the Tabernacle probably is the
origin of baby “baptism” (dedication) practised in many Protestant churches.
Numbers 8:11, 13, 21
Presenting the Levites as a “Wave Offering” reminds us of the Feasts of First Fruits, Shavuot (Grain
Harvest) and Sukkoth (Summer Fruits Harvest). This dedicated the Levites for Tabernacle and (years
later) Temple service. Just like these agriculture-based Festivals, the dedication points to the time
when our GOD and Saviour will return for the fruits of His Harvest. I encourage you to search out
the prophecies locked-up in these Festivals as I am convinced that the LORD of the Harvest will
sometime very soon return for HIS bride, and again 7 years later for HIS harvest.
Numbers 9:6-14
This passage describes the origin of the 2nd Month Passover. Anybody, be he/she an Israelite or a
gentile believer who had a valid reason for not celebrating the Passover is given a 2nd chance.
Passover is the Feast of Salvation (“Yeshua”) i.e. freedom from the slavery of sin. Our GOD is a Giver
of 2nd chances. We do live in the fullness of time, which also implies that sometime soon there will
be no more “2nd chances”. Please note the dire warning at the end of v. 13: “…That man will bear
his sin.”
Numbers 9:15 – 10:36
GOD Himself guided Israel through the Cloud. GOD gave instructions for the making and use of 2
silver trumpets as signals for assembly and relocation and military manoeuvres, before we note an
interesting interlope:
Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab the Midianite wants to return home, but Moses begs him to stay,
saying that Hobab will be like eyes for Israel. What does it mean?
Firstly, it doesn’t mean that Moses lacked faith in where GOD would lead them, not at all. Moses’
trust in GOD was unwavering and beyond question. Whilst Moses had 40 years of wilderness
experience before he returned to Egypt and a good working knowledge of the land, he re cognised
that Hobab was a “child of the soil”, Hobab knew how to read nature, like a super-tracker he
instinctively read weather changes and knew where water and pasture was likely to be found.
Hobab was a gifted field-guide and a valuable resource to the nation.
Numbers 11:1-34
In this passage we get to know Moses-the-man, the remarkable leader who took on too much
burden to bear, the man who reached his breaking point. GOD steps in by pouring HIS Holy Spirit
into the 70 elders to share the burden.
The reason that the gentle leader had a burn-out, labelled Israel for many Bible readers to be
complaining, moaning, dissatisfied and complaining some more. (And possibly set the tendency to
bemoan and complain as a “national characteristic” of Israel). Take note how even Godly leaders
can be broken down to the point where (Numbers 11:11-15) Moses cried out to Adonai to rather
“…kill me now!…” repeated as “…kill me please!…”
How is this possible?
Firstly, it is because Moses cared and cared deeply for HIS people* – Israel belonged and still
belongs to GOD, and through his servitude to GOD as well as his ethnicity, Israel was also Moses’
people. If Moses did not care, if Moses did not love the people of Israel, their nagging complaints
would have left him cold. Love made him vulnerable. The complainers and be-moaners exploited
his compassion. They didn’t love GOD and they saw Moses as a legitimate target for their
complaints. Like never-ending water-action eroding river beds, eventually Moses also caved-in. His
love for them made him vulnerable to their cold-hearted acid and insistent emotional erosion of his
heart.
Secondly, the never-ending complaints were not immediately answered by GOD. The passage teach
us that GOD anointed the 70 elders to assist Moses, and that HE also provided quails as a daily meat
supplement in the wake of Moses’ break-down. Why did HE wait so long? Was HE late in delivering
an outcome? No, GOD is always exactly on time! Just like Peter’s faith was ultimately strengthened
by his denial of Yeshua, Moses’ trust in GOD grew stronger from the outcome. He grew in
knowledge that in-the-end GOD will always come through for HIS people. It gave Moses the
strength and conviction in the following passage, to intercede for his sister, Miriam after she also
turned on him in an emotional moment. When Miriam launched her outburst, Moses was strong
enough and Spirit-filled to the point that he composed and sung one of the most dauntinglybeautiful
songs of healing ever – Numbers 12:13 “El Na Refa Na La” – you can listen to it here:
https://youtu.be/3CISaQO5sdQ (Note to Roger: I’ll Whatsapp a video clip which Cerina took of the
PBSG singing this song and if you approve, please post that on Mekudeshet.co.za and rather use a
link to that video instead of the YouTube link given)
Thirdly, Moses’ crises came about to teach us to keep our Pastors and leaders in our prayers, to ask
GOD to bless them and keep them, to be present with them and to provide a safe haven for them, to
provide for their spiritual and emotional sustenance and to give them inner peace.
Fourthly, we all should learn how destructive incessant complaining is and do a little self-inspection
to realise to what extend we are also guilty of this form of diminishing the people who are ordained
to lead us. Our problems should be tabled with possible solutions to build-up our guardians.
Recognition of things well done will motivate our leaders to deliver the best possible outcomes in
every situation. One honest, heart-felt compliment cancels hundreds of criticisms.
Lastly, Pastors and congregational leaders must develop and implement a mechanism through which
they will distress. This is different for different people but could include a fitness / exercise
programme, having a “safe-harbour” friend or family member to offload and talk to, and taking
regular short- or longer holiday breaks.
‘* Take note that not all the people were descendants of Abraham as the “mixed multitude”
consisted of non-Israelis who heeded the Pesach warning and were spared the 10th Plague in Egypt.
These people converted and followed Moses through the Red Sea and lived amongst Israel. They did
however become a stumbling block to Moses personally and to the nation in general as can be read
in Numbers 11:4.
Numbers 11:331-35
When GOD provided the quails, nobody gathered less than 140-160 kg of these birds to eat. Talk
about the richness of GOD’s provision! Talk about people’s gluttony!
Numbers 12:1-16
Miriam’s and Aaron’s attack on Moses was based on either cultural or racial grounds – the Hebrew
word translated as “Cushite” refers to anybody with a dark(er) skin, not necessary an African. The
text does not state whether this passage refers to Tsipporah (“Bird”) Moses’ Midianite (Arab) wife or
whether it refers to a second marriage. I am of the opinion that it indeed refers to Tsipporah, the
daughter of Jethro (Yitro) aka Reuel who was a priest of Midian. Jethro is assumed to be the
ancestor of the Druze people, and maybe the Druze religion as well. Their cultural background was
probably steeped in this animist religion, causing me to speculate that Miriam’s problem with
Tsipporah was based on several factors. Either way, GOD did not tolerate Miriam’s insolence and
she was punished with Tza’arat (Leprosy). Moses interceded for her and GOD healed her again. Our
GOD forgives us when we sin, repent and ask for HIS forgiveness. HE is the GOD who loves us and
afford us second chances!
I trust that GOD will bless you.
Be’Shem Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.
Amen.
