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PINCHAS

16 JULY 2011

Numbers 25:10-29:40(30:1)

I Kings 18:46-19:21

John 2:13-22

Pinchas was given a “Covenant of Peace” for his jealous action against Omri and Cozbi. There was to be a new attitude toward the Midianites. They were to be treated as an enemy, from now on.

The second census is taken and lists the names of the families in all of the tribes. This was done as a preparation for the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel. A total of six hundred one thousand, seven hundred thirty (601,730) were counted. The Levites were also counted, twenty three thousand (23,000), every male. They were counted separately because they were to spread among all the tribes to be the spiritual leaders.

The daughters of Zelophehad, who had no brothers to inherit from their father, requested a ruling on their rights to inherit. A ruling was made in their favor regarding the Laws of Inheritance.

GOD showed Moshe the Promised Land. He was not allowed to go in. Joshua was selected as the new leader. Also discussed in this Parashah are the feasts, their appropriate offerings, and the Jewish year.

In Numbers 27:20, Moshe is instructed to place some of his majesty upon Joshua; some of his majesty, but not all of it.  Sages say that the face of Moshe was like the sun and Joshua’s was like the moon.  Joshua was not chosen to lead because of his own brilliance.  Just as the light of the moon is no more than a reflection of the sun, Joshua’s greatness was a reflected light of Moshe.

We can be a reflection of our GOD.  We must continually make daily offerings and become a living sacrifice for our Heavenly Father (Numbers 28; Romans 12:1).  We must be in continual communication with our GOD, by prayer and offering up of our hearts and lips.  Yeshua often withdrew to a lonely place to pray.  We too must have our private times with the Lord (Luke 5:16).  Joshua did not depart from the Tabernacle (Exodus 33:11).  He sought counsel from Moshe and supported him (Numbers 11:28).

We are to be zealous for GOD.  Pinchas had great devotion for GOD (Numbers 25:1; Psalm 106:28-31).  We must beware of compromising with the enemy (2Corinthians 6:14-18).  If Satan cannot succeed as a devouring lion (1Peter 5:8), then he will come as a deceiving serpent (Gen 3:1-5; 2Corinthians 11:3).

Joshua was chosen to be the leader of GOD’s people because he reflected the light of Moshe.  He investing “seed time” to be around Moshe, stick to him like glue, and learn everything from him.  We must sit at the feet of Yeshua, as His disciples, in the same way.  Psalm 1 is a good start for us to get instruction at the feet of our Messiah.

 

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

 

 

 

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