Standing Strong |
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Pinchas
Numbers 25:10– 30:1 1 Kings 18:46– 19:21 John 2:13– 25 Galatians 1:13– 21 |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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In this week’s Parasha we get to see that the passion for G-d’s command to stop the evil in their midst as demonstrated by Pinchas is rewarded. G-d had given the priesthood to Aaron and his sons and their descendents. Our sages teach that this left no one in the priesthood from Pinchas’ generation, but Pinchas gets elevated as a priest from this generation as a reward for his actions.
A census is then taken of the tribes to allow for the distribution of the land of Israel with larger portions to go to larger tribes. One of the great miracles of G-d is shown when we look at the results of this census. |
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Although all of the generation that refused to enter the land has died, the total numbers of those of the people are almost exactly the same as when they started the journey out of Egypt. The people have had to live in a wilderness for almost 40 years and the population has not gone down. This shows G-d’s great compassion and caring for His people. Even after the numbers of those lost at Sinai due to the sin of the Golden calf and the 24,000 who just died due to the plague brought on by the worship of a false G-d (as brought into the camp by the Midianite women and the women of Moab as prompted by Balaam and Balak), the population has not diminished. Where can you find people living in such harsh conditions for 40 years without a drop in population? It is a miracle of G-d for all who choose to open their eyes and look at what is happening.
We now see G-d’s plan for how inheritance of the land is intended. The daughters of Zelophehad present a case to Moses for them to inherit some of the land of Israel. Their father had not taken part in the Korach rebellion and while he had no sons, his name did not deserve to be blotted out from the inheritance of the land of promise. Moses brought the case before G-d and was told that the daughters of Zelophehad were correct. If a man has no sons he is to give the inheritance to his daughters. If he has no daughters it then goes to his brothers, if he has no brothers, it is to go to his uncles, and if he has no uncles it is to go to his nearest relative.
Moses is told the penalty for his striking the rock at Kadesh and that he will be gathered to his people as was Aaron without entering the land of promise. G-d then directs Moses to place some of the authority placed upon Moses upon Joshua. In front of the people of Israel, Joshua is promoted to authority so that when Moses will not enter the promised land and Joshua is to lead them, the people will have seen the passing of authority to Joshua and not see him as taking his position out of his own desire and that the position of authority is bestowed upon him by G-d’s command.
G-d then lays out for the people all the feasts of the L-rd and when they are to be observed and what the offerings are to be. Most of the feasts are given the command of observance to do no customary work thereon. But Yom Kippur is set apart in that on this feast there is to be no work done.
G-d is very specific as to what He wants done on these feast days and the exact manner in which it is to be done. He expects passion from us in living out his commands and allowing no false G-ds in our midst. He will care for us in miraculous ways when we walk in his commandments even when in the wilderness of our own making. He will take care of our progeny and establish the passing on of authority within our leaders under His guidance. He clearly calls us to observe His feasts during their appointed times.
The key is obedience, performed with a passion for the L-rd.
Selah |