Bamidbar (Numbers)
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Meaning
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Day Three
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Haftarah
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B'rit Hadashah
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Blessed art Thou, L-rd our G-d
King of the Universe, who has sanctified
Us with Thy commandments, and
Commanded us to study the Torah.
King of the Universe, who has sanctified
Us with Thy commandments, and
Commanded us to study the Torah.
Numbers 16:44-50 NASB (1)
44 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly." Then they fell on their faces. 46 Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun !" 47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. 49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked.
And today we see the catastrophic outcome of the rebellion of Korah and his followers! This is a picture of the righteousness and judgment of our Father God. And see how there is always one man, holy to the LORD, who stands between “the dead and the living”! This not only applies in the physical (natural) sense but in the spiritual sense—perhaps even more so. And for all of the jealousy and arrogance of Korah, it was Aaron, after all, one of the cousins that he accused of actions of grandeur and presumption, who stood in the gap for Israel that day. What we’ve just witnessed this week is a good example of how the enemy works in the minds and hearts of men. Is it any wonder that in the Apostolic Writings we see Rabbi Sha’ul/Paul’s warning about the primary battleground in which every man and woman contends: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…Ephesians 6:10-17. Had that mixt multitude exercised such knowledge against the enemy, there would have been many fewer followers of Korah. This rebellion spearheaded by Korah occurred because Korah was used by the enemy. His mind and heart were infiltrated by haSatan (the adversary from the Hebrew) in the adversary’s bid to dethrone Moses and Aaron and literally spoil the plan of God for Israel. It was yet to come from Israel that “light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of all Israel” (Luke 2:32). Had this insurrection been successful and Moses deposed, and Israel lost among the nations, then from where would the Savior come? It was the enemy’s attempt to prevent that child from being born that would “bruise his head” (Genesis 3:15). And any added misery that the human race would suffer as a result of that loss of a Savior delights the enemy for it is written: 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10. We can see the logic of this statement: If Jesus came that we have abundant life, then that ‘thief’ is none other than haSatan. We might consider this battleground that exists with some great seriousness because we see what happened in the history of Israel. The enemy comes to steal and destroy our peace, our health and our status in the Kingdom of Yahweh. That is why you’ve read the adjuration in Torah Bites over the years to: “Lock and Load Psalm 91!” Now I always had a tiny misgiving about that expression because seriously when one considers it, how can one lock a firearm BEFORE they load it? In order to obtain my firearm acquisition card in order to buy a rifle to rid varmints attacking my livestock I had to take a special firearm/hunting course. I discovered that some firearms do require that you lock the safety and then load a round into the chamber. In any event, the expression has found popularity in its “lock and load” form in order to indicate that one is prepared for any impending incident. Being aware of the ‘wiles’ of the devil is just good basic spiritual warfare that many believers don’t practice because they were taught: “don’t talk about the devil because you’re giving him praise”. Now if ever there was a statement contrary to Scripture there that is! A Word that counters that statement is: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…1 Peter 5:8. Being sober and vigilant is the state of knowing and watching for the traps he sets out for us. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-10. If we’re spiritually, mentally and emotionally wearing that ‘helmet’ of salvation then we are prepared for any impending trap or incident and we’re “locked and loaded”! 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91:1-8. Hallelu-YAH!
Blessed art thou, L-rd our G-d,
King of the universe, who has chosen
us from all peoples and given us thy Torah.
Blessed art thou, O L-rd, Giver of the Torah.
King of the universe, who has chosen
us from all peoples and given us thy Torah.
Blessed art thou, O L-rd, Giver of the Torah.
(1) NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading (and KJV in commentary) unless otherwise specified