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RECOGNITIONTHE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECThttp://www.messianicbible.com

HEAR O ISRAEL www.hearoisrael.orgSHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKERwww.sheepfoldgleanings.com

MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCEhttp://www.messianicisrael.comAZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM GREENBAUMhttp://www.azamra.org 2

SHELACH L’CHA -“Send for yourself”

TORAH: Numbers 13:1- 15:41HAFTORAH READING: Joshua 2:1-24

B’RIT CHADASHAH: Hebrews 3:1 - 4:16 All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted

The Zin Valley in the Negev Desert of Israel

PROPHECY AND FAITH“And I shall establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim

to you and your seed after you. “And I shall give to you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Kenaʽan, as an everlasting possession. And I shall be their Elohim.” (Genesis 17:7-8)

And see, there was a man in Yerushalayim whose name was Shimʽon, and this man was righteous and dedicated, looking for the comforting of Yisra’ĕl. And the Set-apart Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Set-apart Spirit that he would not see death before he sees

the Messiah of יהוה. (Luke 2:25-26)

Simeon's faith overcame his doubt

SEND ON YOUR BEHALFAnd יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of

Kenaʽan, which I am giving to the children of Yisra’ĕl. Send one man from each tribe of their fathers, every one a leader among them.”

(Numbers 13:1-2)From the above verse, it appears that יהוה is doing the sending. In Deuteronomy, it implies that the idea for sending the scouts did indeed come from the people of Israel, not יהוה: ‘See, יהוה your Elohim has set the land before you. Go up and possess it, as יהוה Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you. Do not fear, nor be discouraged.’ “And all of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we would come.’ (Deuteronomy 1:21-22)After the scouts came to Moses, it would make sense that he would consult with יהוה who in turn said to Moses “Send for yourself…..” the implied disapproval could be paraphrased, “Send them if you want”. Whilst receiving the go ahead from יהוה, it came about because of the desire of the people, with the support of Moses.

SPYING OUTThe word translated as “spying out” in Numbers 13:2 is from the Hebrew word “tuwr” (rWT) and is better defined as “seeking out”, “touring”, or “exploring”, rather than “spying out.” Moses’ idea was to send them as “tourists” charged with “seeking out the Land” in order that they might report their findings to the people. But the “tourists” turned their mission into one of “spying out” the Land in order to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses as a military target. This kind of an evaluation was NOT necessary sinceיהוה had promised them the Land, and their victory over anyone who might challenge their right to it (Exodus 23:20-23).Moses’ support in sending them was to give the people of Israel a view of the Holy Land which would motivate them in the process that was taking them from being slaves in Egypt to a people being transformed in the desert, to a people being a light to the nations living in the Promised Land. 6

TRUSTThe Sages offer a parable: Someone wants to buy a donkey, but says that he must first test it. The seller enthusiastically agrees. 'May I take it to both the mountains and valleys?' 'Of course!' Seeing that the seller is so confident of the animals prowess, the buyer decides he has nothing to fear and forgoes the test. He buys the donkey and is very satisfied. So, too, Moses thought his willingness to let the people have their way would convince them that they had nothing to fear. He was mistaken. They wanted to hear about the land from their peers. So he sent the spies [Chumash, Parsha helach, pg. 799].

And יהושע said to him, “If you are able to believe, all is possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

EVERY ONE A LEADERHebrew word for leader is “nasiy” meaning “chiefs” or “princes”. Also means the “vapor or fog that rises from the earth and becomes a cloud”. This is a unique picture of leaders that rise up, in their time, toward heaven as “overseers” of people(s) before יהוה. The numeric value of “nasiy” is 361, equals “Shittim” which is the place where Israel committed whorings, while in the wilderness, with the women of Moab. (Numbers 25).

This is the curse that Balak & Bil’am engineered for the Children of Yisra’el to get them to worship “Ha Peor” or “Ba‟al Peor” (“lord of the hiatus” or “lord of the sabbatical”, in the Moabite culture meaning “lord of play time”); their idol who required the women to literally commit acts of whoredom as acts of worship. The numeric value of “HaPeor” is also 361.

NAMES OF THE LEADERS1. “Re‟uben” (behold the son): “Shammuah” or “rumor”2. “Shimon” (hearer): “Shaphat” or “judge” and “condemn”3. “Yehudah” (praised): “Kaleb” or “fiercely loyal”4. “Yissakar” (recompense, brings reward): “Yig‟al” or “Yah

avenges”5. “Ephraim” (doubly fruitful): “Hoshea” or “salvation”6. “Binyamin” (son of the right hand): “Palti” or “my escape”7. “Zebulun” (dwelling place): “Gaddi‟el” or “my fortune is El”8. “Menasheh” (one who forgets) is “Gaddi” or “my fortune”, 9. “Dan” (Judge): “Ammiel” representing “people of Elohim”10. “Asher” (blessed) is “Shethur” or “hidden” son of “Mika‟el”11. “Naphtali” (my strife) is “Nachbi” or “run away”12. “Gad” (fortune) is “Geu‟el” or “pride of Yah”

REASON FOR TESTINGGod will test and refine your name:Hosea means salvation, whom Moses would rename Yehoshua (Yah‟s Salvation) ben NunKaleb (fiercely loyal)Other ten: “Judge, rumour, condemnation, recompense, fortune is my mighty one, my fortune, escape, hidden, run away and pride”. These are the leaders representing the “Chosen People”. Most of these names are representative of the Egyptian (worldly) culture they came out of and are a picture of the spiritual condition of the Children of Israel.`

The names of these “nasiy’ ” or “princes” are different than those who lead the army of each tribe. Perhaps Elohim didn’t want the “military” involved in this operation. God used the “FBI” (Fearful B‟nei Israel).

INSTRUCTIONS OF MOSESNumbers 13:17-20 • …. and see what the land is like. •Notice the people living there, whether they are strong or weak, few or many; •and what kind of country they live in, whether it is good or bad; •and what kind of cities they live in, open or fortified. •See whether the land is fertile or unproductive and whether there is wood in it or not. •bring back some of the fruit of the land…And they reported to him, and said, “We went to the land where you sent us. And truly, it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. “But the people who

dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are walled, very great. ...“We are not able to go up against the

people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Yisra’ĕl an evil report of the land which

they had spied out, ..(Numbers 13:27-33)

TAKE GOD’S WORDFor indeed the Good News was brought to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not having been mixed with belief in those who heard it. (Hebrews 4:2)Even though יהוה declared the Land of Canaan (The Promised Land) to be good, the people were unable to take His Word at face value. יהוה new that if they saw the people of the land their faith would crumble because they looked in the natural instead of trusting God. Scripture labels the Children of Israel as a faithless, hard-hearted and unbelieving generation causing the anger of יהוה to burn against them. This attitude prevented them from entering the Promised Land (Hebrews 4:1–7). Are we any different? Do you walk by faith (when you have heard a sure word from יהוה) or in fear, doubt and unbelief?These six matters יהוה hates, And seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, And hands shedding innocent blood, A heart devising wicked schemes, Feet quick to run to evil, A false witness breathing out lies, And one who causes strife among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

YOU SHALL BE STRONG The phrase in Hebrew reads “v‟heet chazaq t‟am”. This phrase translates like a command, “And you shall be courageous”. “t‟am”, is a contraction of the word “tamiym” which means “complete” or “perfect”. So, what’s this saying? “And you shall be complete in courage.” Or “And you shall be perfect in courage.”

To be perfect or complete is a God idea for testing: And it came to be when Abram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה appeared to Abram

and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect. (Genesis 17:1) and “Be perfect before יהוה your Elohim,

(Deuteronomy 18:13)God commands us to be courageous. Why? Because courage is based on belief, just as obedience is based on belief. When testing comes we are to “encourage” one another. Together, we can even be “perfect” in courage. The test was about leadership being courageous and leading the people into being courageous. Heart failure is contagious..

FEAR OF DEATHFear of death is the mother of all fears and is what plagued the disbelieving Israelites. 13:33 And so we were in their eyes ... (ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash) “As [Israelites] and emissaries of the [Israelite] people, they should have thought only of their mission, not of what anyone else thought of them (Ibid. p. 803).We must walk by faith and not by sight always keeping our eyes on יהושע - Peter walking on the water (Matt 14:22–33), as long as Peter kept his eyes on יהושע he was able to walk on the sea, but when he took his eyes off of יהושעand looked at the stormy circumstances around him he began to sink. Scripture tells us: “But the righteous shall live by belief, but if anyone draws back, my being has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38) and, But without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

TEST TEN TIMESfor none of these men who have seen My esteem and the signs which I did

in Mitsrayim and in the wilderness, and have tried Me now these ten times, and have disobeyed My voice, shall see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor any of those who scorned Me see it. ..(Numbers 14:22-

25)The ten times were: (a) when the Egyptians chased them into the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11); (b) when they had nothing to drink but the bitter waters of Marah (ibid. 15:24); (c) when they ran out of food (ibid. 16:3); (d) when they left manna over [to the next day], even though they had been told not to (ibid. 16:20; (e) when they left the camp to gather manna on the Sabbath even though they had been told not to (ibid. 16:27); (f) when their water ran out at Refidim (ibid. 17:2); (g) when they worshiped the Golden Calf (ibid. 32:4); (h) when they rebelled against God's mitzvos (Numbers 11:1); (i) when they complained that the manna was not good (ibid. 11:4); (j) when they believed the spies evil report about Eretz Yisrael (Arachin 15a) [Chumash, Bamidbar, 807.]

FRUIT SYMBOLISMMoses also asked them to bring back fruit so Israel could see the richness of the land that awaited them. The prophetic imagery, for Israel synonymous with Torah and life in the Living Torah/ יהושע. The two men carrying the fruit - two witnesses of יהוה, the House of Israel and the House of Judah united as one, who carry the testimony of Messiah יהושע. The fruit represents the Word of God that is good to the taste, as fruit inspectors, meditating and walking in the understanding of the blessings in the Word. One cluster of grapes represents the united Israel as יהושע’s first fruits. Pomegranates have 613 seeds, the Torah commandments. Figs are those now returning to God’s teaching and instruction. The whole context represents those who have the Messiah on their heart and walk in the redemptive holy lifestyle of His Torah. This is

called the order of Melchizedek in the Spirit of Elijah/ יהושע.

THE PUNISHMENT..‘As I live,’ declares יהוה, ‘as you have spoken in My hearing, so I do to you: ‘The carcasses of you who have grumbled against Me are going to fall in this wilderness, all of you who were registered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. ‘None of you except Kalĕb son of Yephunneh, and Yehoshua son of Nun, shall enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. ‘But your little ones, whom you said would become a prey, I shall bring in, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. ...‘And your sons shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your whorings, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. ‘According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days – a day for a year, a day for a year – you are to bear your crookednesses forty years, and you shall know My breaking off. ‘I am יהוה, I have spoken, I shall do this to all this evil congregation who are meeting against Me: ...And the men whom Mosheh sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing an evil report of the land, even those men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before יהוה... (Numbers 14:28-38)

APPOINTED TIME And they rose up early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “See, we have indeed sinned, but we shall go up to the place which יהוה had spoken of!” But Mosheh said, “Why do you now transgress the command of יהוה, since it does not prosper? “Do not go up, lest you be smitten by your enemies, ..So the Amalĕqites and the Kenaʽanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and smote them, and beat them down, even to Hormah. (Numbers 14:40-45)The portal is closed and Elohim no longer intended to give the land to that generation, with its rebellion. “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we have not been saved!” Jeremiah 8:20, .. He has let the appointed time pass by!’ (Jeremiah 46:17) .. our lamps are going out.’ ...“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. ..(Matthew 25:8-12)The five virgins had awakened to discover the Bridegroom's approach, and that they had a lack of oil in their vessels, not enough to support them

MESSAGGE OF HOPEAnd יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl,

and say to them, ‘When you have come into the land of your dwellings, which I am giving you, and you make an offering by fire to יהוה, a burnt

offering or a slaughtering, to accomplish a vow or as a voluntary offering or in your appointed times, to make a sweet fragrance to יהוה,

from the herd or the flock, (Numbers 15:1-3)New instructions are given concerning offerings that had to be accompanied by meal offerings and wine libations [pouring a liquid as a sacrifice]. The new law would become active in the Promised Land, almost thirty-nine years from the time it was given. The law was an assurance that there would be a generation that would obey them in the Promised Land. We have just such a sure word for the future too. “In My Father’s house are many staying places. And if not, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

BLESSED ARE THE FOLLOWERS‘And when a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you

throughout your generations, and would make an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה, as you do, so he does. ‘One law is

for you of the assembly and for the stranger who sojourns with you – a law forever throughout your generations. As you are, so is the

stranger before יהוה. ‘One Torah and one right-ruling is for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.’ ” (Numbers 15:14-16)

and by Him everyone who believes is declared right ...(Acts 13:39)

“Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into

the city. (Revelation 22:14)

SANCTIFICATION OF BREADAnd יהוה spoke to Mosheh, ...‘When you come into the land to which I bring you, then it shall be, when you eat of the bread of the land, that you present a contribution to יהוה. ‘Present a cake of the first of your dough as a contribution – as a contribution of the threshing-floor you

present it. ‘Of the first of your dough you are to give to יהוה a contribution throughout your generations.

(Numbers 15:17-21)The Hebrew word used for “cake” is “challah” from the root word “chalal”, which means “that which is profaned”. By separating out a portion, the whole loaf is sanctified. Jewish tradition teaches that originally this “challah” was perforated or scored. Since the destruction of the Temple the women separate this portion of dough from the challah prepares and disposes of it after the appropriate blessing is said. In English: Blessed are You, HaShem our Elohim, King of the universe, Who made us holy with commandments and commanded us to separate challah from the dough.

TWO TYPE OF SIN‘And if a being sins by mistake, ... ‘But the being who does whatever

defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה, .. (Numbers 15:27-31)

The is the sin of ignorance and the sin of presumption For the first sin there is an offering or atonement, for the second sin, the penalty is death as illustrated by the example of the Sabbath-breaker in verses 32–36. Presumptuous sinners despise the Torah commands in יהוה’s Word thinking themselves to be too great, too good, and too wise, to be ruled by it. The act of gathering the sticks on the Sabbath was an

affront both to the law and the Lawgiver (Henry, p. 133).Definitions: Presume means “to assume, to undertake without leave or clear justification, dare.” Presumptuous means “audacity; overstepping due bounds, taking liberties.”The Hebrew word for presume is ruwm (Strong’s H7311) meaning “to rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted, to exalt oneself, magnify oneself, to be rotten, and to be wormy.”

TZITZIT“Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them to make tzitziyot on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners. “And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of יהוה and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring, so that you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim. (Numbers 15:38-40)As a wedding ring symbolizes the covenantal agreement one spouse has for another, so the blue fringes worn on the corners of one’s garments are an outward symbol of one’s spiritual commitment and devotion to the Elohim of Israel through obedience to his instructions in righteousness as found in the Torah portion of the sacred Scriptures.The tzitzit, help us remember the Torah; but, also so that we remember the “vision” of יהוה for His people and the command for us to “believe”

RAHABAnd Yehoshua son of Nun secretly sent out two men from Shittim to spy, saying, “Go, see the land, and Yeriho.” .. they .. came to the house of a woman, a whore, and her name was Rahab, and they lay down there. ... she said ..“I know that יהוה has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen on us, ... we have heard how יהוה dried up the water of the Sea of Reeds for you when you came out of Mitsrayim ... for יהוה your Elohim, He is Elohim in the heavens above and on earth beneath. ..(Joshua 2:1-24)This is a prophetic story. According to Hebrew tradition, the spies were Caleb and Phineas. Rahab recognized that these men were holy and realizing that they were in danger she hid them on her rooftop under stalks of drying flax. Flax is the raw product of linen, and means ingathering or harvest. She revealed how all who lived in her country were melting in fear because of the Israelites and the God of Israel. In return for her kindness to these men of יהוה, she asked that her and her family be spared from death when Israel attacked her city. They agreed and she helped them leave via a cord through the window.

RAHAB - EXPLAINEDTHE CORD: Made of three strands is symbolic of the House of Israel and the House of Judah who have received fulfilment of the promise of the Covenant through יהושע the Messiah; together they equal a three-stranded cord (Ecclesiastes 4:12; Ezekiel 37:15-28). THE WINDOW: is the word challon (Strong’s #2474) meaning if taken as a piercing or hollow in a wall, and is from the root word chala (TWOT #660), which means: to wound (fatally), bore through, and pierce. A SCARLET THREAD to mark the challon – represents purification and is used in the water purification ceremony. This symbolized the purification and redemption of Rahab’s lineage (Numbers 19:6). We are to bind (Strong’s # H7194) God’s teaching and instruction on our foreheads and hands (mind and heart), meaning onto our soul.Rahab was born an alien to the Covenant, when she embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and crossed over become a Hebrew. She is the mother Boaz the great grandfather of David. (Matthew1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).

PERSONAL APPLICATIONTherefore, as the Set-apart Spirit says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tried Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.

(Hebrews 3:7-9)The Holy Spirit speaks to people and He instructs us in the way of salvation if we listen. He speaks through: (1) the Words and example of יהושע. He "...hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in His Son;" (2) all Scripture; (3) our conscience; (4) people; (5) circumstances (6) the ministry (gifts, etc.), influences, and voice of the Holy Spirit; (7) godly counsel. Further, the verse suggests He speaks daily. Therefore, let us "take heed...exhort one another daily...hold our confidence [faith] steadfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:12-14). You too are sent. "...you will hear His voice..." If you "take heed" you shall walk in strength and victory. Remember His proverb: "Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that guards his soul [from unbelief] shall be far from them" (Prov. 22:5). Tamid Kadima.