Tag: Numbers 11

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Torah readings

Torah reading Beha’alotecha (בהעלתך): Numbers 8–12

Studies in Torah

As the Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps]) begins, the menorah and the Levites are dedicated to God’s service, and the Tabernacle is ready for business.

However, this reading is permeated with all sorts of ingratitude and complaining, from the people complaining about the manna to Miriam and Aaron complaining about Moses. God doesn’t put up with any of it. Whether it’s sending down a consuming fire or a plague, God doesn’t put up with people grumbling about His provision.

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Discussions Torah

Mt. Sinai is everywhere Yeshua wants to be (Numbers 9–11)

Mt. Sinai is everywhere you — and Yeshua — want you to be (Numbers 9-11). Tents pitched in front of Mt. Sinai.

In the Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps], Numbers 8–12) we learn two main lessons: First, what started in Sinai (approaching God’s Presence) won’t stay in Sinai. (Hint: It will travel with the people, in the midst of the assembly.) Second, God is always willing to give us every opportunity to repent and participate fully in His community.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Are you hungry for God? Or are you bored? (Numbers 11; John 6)

Are you hungry for God? Or are you bored? (Numbers 11; John 6). A man is lit only by the light of the open refrigerator he holds open in front of him.

We find in the Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha an interesting juxtaposition of the elders who were picked to be the LORD’s hands and mouth helping Moshe (Moses) in Israel vs. those who wanted to stuff their mouths with the flesh of Mitzraim (Egypt). The latter were “greedy” for “meat” and not the manna bread that came down from Heaven. Yet God provided those ungrateful complainers both.

his account helps reveal the important point behind the controversially cryptic words of Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) in John 6: “eat My flesh” and “drink My blood.”

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 8:1–12:16: When the LORD moves, move it! When the LORD rests, cool it!

Move v. rest

Yogi Berra famously quipped, “It’s deja vu all over again.” And that seems to sum up the beginning of Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps]). We have read about the Tabernacle menorah and the consecration of the priesthood before in Shemot (Exodus) and Vayiqra (Leviticus), but Bamidbar (Numbers), like Devarim (Deuteronomy), is a thematic rather than a book. And Bamidbar is like a travelogue of Israel’s journey from bondage to freedom, with snapshots of cringe-worthy waypoints that are best not revisited by future generations.

In the Beha’alotecha album of snapshots, we see a collection of lessons about remembering the One Who gave freedom and guarding oneself against resentment for the journey to that freedom.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 8–12: Heaven wants you to be Spirit-filled

Photo by FreeImages.com/Andre Larsson

The Creator of all things, the LORD of Israel, sees what people do, but Heaven also wants to pour out the Spirit to help us become more like the Son of God.

That’s the subtext of Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps]). It starts with Aaron’s lighting the menorah (seven-branch candelabra in the Sanctuary), which represents the fact that God can see all we offer to Him. There was also a lot of complaining, grumbling and jealousy, but the LORD was also able to “download” His Holy Spirit onto 70 of the elders of Israel, equipping them to share a little bit of Moses’ burden.

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Appointments With God Discussions Gossip and Slander Life With God Passover Torah

Numbers 8–12: The LORD calls, but will we answer?

The President of the United States reaches to answer a call. Official White House photo by Pete Souza. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.

As the Torah reading בהעלתך Beha’alotcha begins, the menorah and the Levites are dedicated to God’s service, and the Tabernacle is ready for business. However, this reading is permeated with all sorts of ingratitude and complaining, from the people complaining about the manna to Miriam and Aaron complaining about Moses. God doesn’t put up with any of it. Whether it’s sending down a consuming fire or a plague, God doesn’t put up with people grumbling about His provision.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 10:11-36: When God says move, you move

When God says move, you move

When the cloud moved as God led Israel from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land, the people were to follow it. Where the cloud rested, they rested. Similarly, we should not move anywhere unless God moves us. God knows our weaknesses. He knows how far we can move.