CHUKAT/BALAK

4 July 2009

Numbers 19:1-25:9

Judges 11:1-23

Micah 5:6-6:8

John 3:10-21

Here are some of the points in CHUKAT:

The Red Heifer: the One performs the ceremony becomes unclean

Miriam’s death

Lack of water

The people protest

G-D commands Moses to bring water

Moses and Aaron err and are punished

Moses strikes the rock

Aaron dies

Moses will not be allowed into the Promised Land

Amalek attacks

A New Challenge-The people complain about going around Edom

The Song (Story) of the Book of Wars of HaShem-History of their battles

The Battle of Sihon and Og

Even though Israel, and Moses, were afraid, Israel won

The Israelites encamp on the banks of the Jordan, opposite Jericho

This portion speaks many things to us, especially about G-D’S provisions for food and water.  He even has personal guardianship over us as He protects His people from their enemies.  As we read, they are attacked by Amalak, then by Sihon and Og both powerful Kings.  Yet we know from Joshua 23:3 and Deuteronomy 20:1-4, that the Lord our G-D goes with us to fight for us against our enemies and will bring us victory.  G-D tells us thru John the Shaliach (Apostle) that the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

As the people of G-D, we are engaged in a battle, a spiritual battle, for ourselves and our families.  We are to remain a pure and holy nation.  G-D refers to us as a Holy nation, a Royal priesthood.  We are to be the messengers of G-D’S plans to bring back not only His people, but all the nations, to serve G-D.

G-D has provided the removal of all defilement.  We who accept Yeshua as Messiah are no longer defiled but now are sanctified, set apart, to come before HaShem, the G-D of Israel.  The portion regarding the red heifer is a great mystery.  The rituals of the red heifer are part of the laws of purification found in Leviticus chapters 12-15.  It provides for the removal of defilement resulting from contact with the dead.  It offers no explanation for G-d's reasoning, except to do it.  Even more mysterious is that the aim of this ritual is to purify the defiled, yet the ritual itself defiled those who were in any way connected with the preparations of the ashes or water of purification.  It purifies the impure, and at the same time renders impure the pure.  There is no explanation for this mystery except that it is decreed by HaShem to be done.  The picture here is that of the Messiah, who represents this mystery.  It took the Children of Israel 40 years to be prepared to enter in.  It took our Messiah one afternoon to bring cleansing and purity.

Here are some of the points from BALAK:

Balaam, was the Prophet of the Nations

G-D impedes Balaam’s path

Balaam’s donkey speaks

Balaam was granted prophecy by G-D, but not to curse Israel

Balaam’s first blessing

Balak was very angry

Balaam’s second blessing

Balak was angry again, and thought that if G-D is forcing Balaam to bless instead of curse, then he should not do either

Balaam’s third blessing

Balaam’s last prophecy was given

In this final series of prophecies regarding Israel, Moab and their neighbors, Balaam revealed to Balak that G-D hates immorality.

The people of G-D, Israel are on their way into the last journey before crossing the River Jordan into the Promised Land.  As they pass through the country of Moab, Balak, the king, wants to attack the Jewish people.  He realizes that they are powerful.  To physically attack them would be to no avail, as he has heard how G-D has protected them and defeated every other nation who came against them.

Since they knew that they were a people governed by spiritual laws, he reasoned that the only way to defeat them was with spiritual power.  Therefore he sent for Balaam who was considered to be the master of the non-Jewish world in regards to spiritual matters.

Balak wanted Balaam to use his metaphysical powers against the Jewish people.  Instead, Balaam could only pronounce blessings upon G-D’s chosen people.  His final comment was that G-D hates immorality.  This will be impactful upon G-D’s people from this time on.

Shavuah Tov

Rabbi Z.

Return to D'var Torah Menu