CHUKAT “Ordinance/Decree”
30 June 2012
Numbers 19:1-22:1
Judges 11:1-33
John 3:10-21

Summary of CHUKAT:
The Red Heifer: the one who performs the ceremony becomes unclean
Miriam’s death
Lack of water
The people protest
GOD 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 week the Torah portion begins with the law of making one ritually pure when that person has become impure thru coming in contact with death. We then follow more history of the people as they continue their journey to the borders of Israel, ending by the banks of Jordon.

We also continue to journey on our road to the Promised Land, constantly battling spiritual forces, our flesh, etc.

We, as a people of GOD, need to constantly be on guard, be ready for battle when called for.  One’s thoughts and meditations should always to seek to live by the word of GOD.

Psalm 119 tells us to commit our lives to GOD and  to keep his precepts (Laws/ Chukkat) Psalm 119: 4 – 9.  It purifies our ways (cleanses-purifies).
Keeps us from presumptuous sin (Vs 11 & 133)
Spiritual discernment (Vs 18 & 130)
We will extract solid counsel (Vs 24 & 27)
Teaches us to be a witness (Vs 74 & 79)
To give us perseverance (Vs 33 & 112)
Refocus my goals (Vs 36 & 59)
It teaches us to reverence GOD (Vs 38 & 120)
It satisfies the searching soul (Vs40)
It gives us boldness (Vs 46)
Gives us hope (Vs 49 & 92)
Gives a clear path during confused times (Vs 50 & 51)
Comfort in hard times (Vs 52 & 143)
Gives deep inward joy (Vs 54 & 103)
Gives strength under persecution (Vs 69 & 85)
It reveals true riches (Vs 72)
It is an eternal word (Vs 89 & 160)
It is the word of life (Vs 93)
The word of GOD is our sufficiency, because it teaches us to love His teaching (Chukkat) and in them we are to meditate all day long (Vs 97)

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z

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