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Discussions Torah

Numbers 25:10–30:1: Righteousness apart from the law

When one is said to be “above the law,” that’s taken to mean the person flouts authority, in the sense second-century Roman jurist Ulpian meant when he wrote that sovereigns aren’t bound by laws.

There are plenty of scofflaws and tyrants recorded in the Bible. But an undercurrent in Heaven’s testimony from beginning to end is that true followers of the Creator are those who have so much trust (i.e., faith) in the instructions they’ve internalized that their actions follow the “spirit of the Law,” rather than the “letter of the Law.”

That’s what we see in the shocking actions recounted in Torah reading פינחס Pinchas (“Phinehas,” Numbers 25:10-30:1).

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 25:10-29:40: A ‘snake’ again becomes an icon of salvation

Serpents are quiet, cunning, quick to act when a threat is imminent. A serpent bought a curse on mankind (Genesis 3) and we now meet a “serpent” who boldly and decisively saved his people from those who would deceive them to destruction. Later, Eliyahu (Elijah) also learned that God’s preferred way to communicate with His people is not through thunder and lightning but a “still small voice.”

The Torah reading פינחס Pinchas (“Phinehas,” Numbers 25:10–29:40) starts with the culmination of the events in the prior portion (parashah). The culmination of Israel “playing the harlot” with idolatry ended when Pinchas (Phineas), Aaron’s grandson, speared a Shimonite chieftain and a Midianite chieftain’s daughter through with a spear. Both of them were mentioned by name so they were both people of reputation.

This event was so significant, it’s even spoken about in the book of Revelation (Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14). We can miss the why if we don’t understand the why of the original event.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 25:10–30:1: Losing your first love

Adultery is seen as no big deal in today’s society. Consider, though, how the hurt person in the relationship feels. That’s why Israel’s running after false gods and treating YHWH with contempt or apathy is compared to adultery many times in Scripture. This kind of unfaithfulness and rebuilding of the relationship between Creator and created is the subtext of the Torah reading פינחס Pinchas (“Phinehas”).

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Discussions Torah

Messiah in daily and Sabbath offerings (Numbers 28:1-10)

Learn how to see Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) in the tamid (continual, morning and evening) and Shabbat (Sabbath) offerings.

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Torah readings

Torah readings Matot/Massei (מטות/מסעי): Numbers 30–36

“As God is my witness, I will do that.” Such words can roll off our tongues easily, but we can forget that One is witnessing such a vow and watching to see whether we respect the Creator enough to follow through. That’s why Moshe (Moses), Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) and His apostle Ya’akob (James) warned us against dragging the LORD in to co-sign on our promises. That’s a key lesson in the dual Torah reading מַּטּוֹת Mattot and מַסְעֵי Massei (Numbers 30–36).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Path to spiritual maturity: How to align our thoughts, emotions, actions with God’s words (Numbers 9 and 27)

Yosef (Joseph), Moshe (Moses), Eliyahu (Elijah), Kefa (Peter), Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ), the five daughters of Zelophehad. This study of the Torah reading פִּינְחָס Pinchas (“Phinehas,” Numbers 25:10–30:1) and parallel passages explores some of the many examples on how to answer the call the biblical call to be “alefs”/”alphas” — leaders who wield power with humility and obedience to God, not domineering self-interest. We’ll see patterns of God’s sovereignty over earthly powers, the importance of aligning our hearts (thoughts and emotions) and actions with His Word, and the dangers of deception and self-serving motives, even in religious giving.

We’ll discover a Bible challenge to cultivate emotional intelligence by storing God’s wisdom in our hearts, and prioritize transparency and integrity over outward displays of authority. Ultimately, we learn to turn toward and depend on the true Source of power — the Creator Who commissions and sustains those who faithfully serve Him.

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Torah readings

Torah reading Balak (בלק): Numbers 22:2–25:9

A talking donkey may seem like fodder for a cartoon, but the Torah reading בָּלָק Balak (Numbers 22:2–25:9) contains a very real message for Israel about its future and the Messiah. Often, the Creator uses what we don’t expect — an animal, a prophet not of Israel — to shake up the complacent and underscore the gravity of the situation.