Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:02 — 41.6MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Here’s an outline of this recorded study on Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps], Numbers 8–12):
- Grumbling and complaining in the Bible, with a focus on Moses and his leadership. (0:00 in the recording)
- Humility, teachability, and spiritual maturity in biblical context. (4:50)
- Numbers chapter 8 and its connection to light, bread, and the priesthood. (11:11)
- The importance of community and standing for something. (17:13)
- Spiritual nourishment and the importance of consuming the right things. (24:24)
- Daily bread and spiritual sustenance in times of crisis. (31:03)
- Yeshua’s feeding of the 5,000 on the west shore of Galilee (Israel) and the 4,000 people on the east shore (Greek Decapolis) symbolize abundant spiritual nourishment for Israel and the nations (35:21)
- Jewish teachings of the Zadokim (Sadducees) and Perushim (Pharisees) on resurrection (42:06)
- Maintaining distinctiveness in the kingdom of God while spreading the Good News. (46:04)
- Understanding God’s message and unity among believers. (52:49)
As we read the book of Numbers, we will need to look to see if the children of Israel are teachable and humble or are they stiff-necked and arrogant? There are lessons we can learn from their experience.
Grumbling and Complaining in the Wilderness
The Torah reading Behaalotecha, focusing on Numbers 8-12, begins with the Israelites grumbling and complaining during their journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land, just as they had complained earlier when leaving Egypt. This pattern of grumbling is relevant to all people’s spiritual journeys from bondage to freedom.
The Meaning of Humility and Spiritual Maturity
Numbers 11 highlights Moses’ humility, contrasting it with his earlier complaint to God about the burden of leadership. God responded graciously to Moses’ frustration by instructing him to appoint 70 elders to help bear the burden. This is an excellent example of how to handle conflicts by focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on complaints.
The biblical concept of humility, means recognizing one’s place in relation to God and being teachable. Spiritual maturity involves being humble and open to correction and growth.
Light and Bread Symbolism in the Tabernacle
Both Numbers 8 and Zechariah 2-4 highlight the themes of bread and light in the Tabernacle. The menorah (lampstand) and table of showbread were positioned opposite each other, with the light illuminating the bread. The twelve loaves of bread, represented the children of Israel with the menorah symbolic of God’s light shining on His people and provision. The lamps and the trees that feed them are represented by the priests and kings of Israel, who are to work together as shepherds of God’s people.
Feeding the Multitudes: A Call to Spiritual Nourishment
The discussion turned to Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 and 4000, as recounted in the Gospels. Jesus’ challenged His disciples to feed the crowds themselves, interpreting this as a call for believers to provide spiritual nourishment to others. The miraculous provision of bread and fish was seen as symbolic of God’s abundant provision through His people.
• With the feeding of the 5,000 (12 baskets of leftovers): Israel
• In the feeding of the 4,000 (7 baskets of leftovers): The nations
The feeding of the 5000 and 4000 was a lesson that God wants to save the entire world. He has more than enough to feed the nations and has plenty left over.
It’s of the utmost importance that communities and nations are not just being temporary places to stay, but are places where families and faith communities support each other through trials and hardships, emphasizing commitment and working through difficulties rather than easily abandoning relationships.
Spiritual Food: Consuming the Right Things
It’s important that we are careful about what we “feed” our spirits. Just as we should be careful about our physical and spiritual nourishment, we must also be careful about our spiritual nourishment. The pagan practices of consuming human flesh and blood have no place in our spiritual or physical practice as we understand the biblical teachings on the life being in the blood and the symbolic consumption of offerings at the altar. This led to a discussion of Jesus’ words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood in John 6, interpreted as symbolic of spiritual sustenance.
We must rely on God for daily provision, as Jesus’ teaching on praying for “daily bread” shows us how this principle applies both literally and spiritually, especially in times of crisis or scarcity. They reflected on the need to trust God’s provision rather than stockpiling excessively.
Pharisees, Sadducees, and Religious Divisions
Jesus’ warnings about the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees are often glossed over, particularly since the Sadducees didn’t survive past the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. The Pharisees were an outgrowth of the Maccabean revolts. When the children of Israel returned to the Promised Land from the Babylonian exile, they not only needed to rebuild their physical walls of Jerusalem, but they had to rebuilt the spiritual walls of the Jewish people, they had to decide what kind of community they would create. They had to decide what their community would stand for and what their community would not tolerate.
This era is foundational to the Pharisees and they were actually quite “evangelistic” in spreading their views. They were the ones who established the synagogues all over the Roman empire. But the message they sent out into the world was not always good. This is what Yeshua called out when He warned that they went out all over the world making proselytes and made them twice a son of hell as them. Jesus may have leaned towards the Pharisee view of the Scriptures but He challenged both sects on their views on resurrection, purity laws, and artificial divisions within the people of God. Jesus criticized them for creating unnecessary barriers and burdens for converts.
Unity Among Believers in God’s Kingdom
When Yeshua said “you give them something to eat.” We are called to give anyone who needs it the word of God to eat, whether they are native born or grafted in. We are all a part of this important mission to lead people to the eternal Tree of Life.
Yeshua is the message of hope for all nations. He is the good food that sustains all of us, that fills the hole in us. We can’t be filled with the sensual things of the world, these do not satisfy our deepest thoughts, and needs.
Summary: Tammy