Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #37: Shlach L’kha (Send on your behalf) B’midbar (Numbers) 13:1-15:41
Haftarah: Y’hoshua (Joshua) 2:1-24
B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 3:7-19
This week we are confronted with a sad aspect of human nature; “lack of trust and faith in the G-d who created the universe. The leaders of the tribes chosen to reconnoiter the land which G-d was about to give them focused on the obvious instead of the ability of G-d to overcome any physical obstacle. This is incredible in light of the fact that G-d had so recently brought them from under the Egyptian bonds of slavery and through the Sea of Reeds, miraculously parted specifically for their safe passage to the other side. The only two men who had faith and trust in G-d to overcome such monumental obstacles was Y’hoshua the son of Nun, and Kalev the son of Y’funeh, this situation filled with prophetical significance.
All the people of Israel disregarded the encouragement of these two men and their admonishment that the people not to rebel against Adonai or be afraid of the physical obstacles reported by the other spies. Not only were they easily given to accept the bad report of the spies rather than believing that G-d was with them and would bring them to the land of milk and honey (Num. 14:8), they rebelled against Moshe and Aharon as G-d’s chosen representatives and prepared to stone them. As we shall learn, this attitude, lack of faith and trust in G-d and His representatives was not taken lightly. G-d did not simply forgive them and say something like “I know you are just acting according to your human nature, don’t worry about it.” No, this behavior set the stage for the first narrative of provisional forgiveness.
As maturing true believers, we must start our walk by trusting that YHVH/Yahshua is Who He says He is and continue to open our hearts and minds to His Torah, just as a butterfly slowly emerges from its chrysalis and spreads its wings to their fullest capacity. In the process of a newly hatched chrysalis there is a significant risk of being crushed or eaten by a bird while the butterfly opens and dries its wings! Similarly, our level of trust in G-d and in the faithfulness of Yahshua’s sacrifice (Rom 3:25) should grow and flourish as we start our journey in G-d’s Torah, even as we go through obstacles of life such as the incident of the 10 spies. Seeing is not always believing. As a Messianic Jew we must learn to overcome our human nature and animal desires and replace them with the “new nature” spoken of in 2 Cor. 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-4; Col. 3:10. This “new nature” is not a sinless nature as many Christians are taught to believe. Rather it is the power of G-d through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to overcome our human nature and animal, selfish desires. In the case of the 10 spies, the appropriate response to their observations would have been for the people to follow the advice of Y’hoshua and Kalev, who were obviously more spiritually “in tune” with G-d than were the people, which we will now explore on a deeper plane.
Moshe renamed Hoshea, the son of Nun before he went out with the others to reconnoiter the land. His new name was Y’hoshua. We can only understand the significance on these names in the Hebrew. The root of (Yasha) means “salvation” and the root (yaho) referring to G-d. With the Hebrew name change, the spelling is also different which gives the new name a much more significant meaning. Joshua in Hebrew means “G-d is salvation.” This is because of the addition of the “Yud” (See Exodus 3:14). It seems that Moshe was given the insight to know that Y’hoshua knew from where his strength and salvation would come. This narrative teaches us that we must learn to look beyond what is seen with physical sight and know that we can safely entrust our lives to G-d in all situations. The name change was also a blessing to Joshua because he would have known the meaning of his new name. That there were only 2 of 12 spies who trusted G-d even though the physical obstacles would have been insurmountable for the people had G-d not been involved also shows us that not everyone who calls themselves “believers” will make it into the Kingdom of heaven. For parallel scriptures on this subject see Matt. 7:21; Rom.9:27; Is.10:22; Lev.23; Luke 13:24).
There is an additional significant point of information we don’t want to miss regarding these two men. Kelev represented the tribe of Judah (13:6), and Hoshea represented Ephraim. For an additional revelation on the relationship between these two men and Ephraim/Judah, I strongly encourage you to read the prophecy concerning the “two sticks” into “one” in Ezekiel 37:15-17. Although Hoshea, which literally means “help” was the name on the official register, Joshua (from Jehoshua “Yahovah” [YHVH] help, was the name Moshe bestowed upon him (13:16). It is amazing that this far back in the history of mankind and Israel specifically, we see Judah and Ephraim working in tandem! That is Ephraim representing the 10 lost tribes of Israel, and Judah representing the southern tribes Levi, Benjamin, and Judah.
“Zooming” our thoughts out from the immediate situation involving a possible assault depending on the reconnaissance report, G-d used this situation as a terminal test of faith. He knew that from a human standpoint, the report would be overwhelmingly negative. The Anakim were living there. Amalek lived in the area of Negev. The spies saw the N’filim; hybrid descendants of the fallen angels who were giants compared to the average sized man.
What G-d wanted to do was to put before the spies and the nation the ultimate test of their faith. Would their fears dissipate considering Y’hoshua and Kalev’s strong admonishment and encouragement not to fear the people living in the land even though they were the Nephilim.
As I previously discussed, it is in our human nature to fear the unknown, especially in situations whereby victory seems impossible. But G-d has shown us throughout His Torah that victory under any circumstances can be ours if we put our trust in YHVH/Yahshua just as David did when faced with what seemed like certain death.
Recall that Goliath was also a descendant of the N’filim, identified as a Philistine. Exactly how tall Goliath was depends on where we obtain our information. The Masoretic Text, written in Hebrew indicates he was six cubits and a span. That would be about nine and one-half feet. The Septuagint, which is the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament has Goliath’s height at four cubits and a span, which is about six- and one-half feet. The Hebrew text found in the Dead Sea scrolls indicates Goliath was four cubits tall, about six feet. Regardless of which is correct, Goliath was physically taller and stronger than David and there were no other takers when it came to who might go up against Goliath. Also remember that the Israelites failed to wipe out the Anakites-a subset of the N’philim- in their conquest of the Promised Land. As a result, the Anakites survived in Gath and its surrounding cities, eventually becoming Philistines. The details about David and Goliath are discussed in this lesson to call our attention to the enormity of what the 10 spies must have seen.
Keeping with the consistency of G-d’s Torah, we may compare the fact that only two of the 10 spies embodied the trust over fear when facing a seemingly impossible situation, and the fact that “And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out. “Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved” (Rom. 9:27). This one truth dispels the Christian idea that everyone who “calls on the Name of the L-rd will be saved, not understanding that this statement is not telling us that a simple calling out G-d’s Name or “professing” to believe in Him is sufficient to win the race towards the ultimate prize of salvation when we stand before Yahshua in judgment. Again referring to the consistency of G-d’s Torah, we see more evidence of the Jew/Gentile connection and G-d’s consistent standards/regulation for anyone who wants to be considered one of G-d’s people in Romans chapters 9-16. As a sidebar, the definition of a “true Jew” is found in Romans 1-3. John chapter14 not only establishes the fact of Yahshua’s Messiahship and oneness with G-d as Father, but Yahshua makes it very clear that those who love Him keep His commandments. This in no way means that the laws of G-d are dead being “nailed to the cross.” The fact that the majority of the world’s people do not follow G-d’s commands, change them as the Catholic Church has done, or simply have no idea what they actually mean supports the fact that only a remnant will be saved.
On the Jewish side, biological Jews cannot be saved by the merit of the fathers (patriarchs) as many are taught to believe. Furthermore, those Jews who follow Oral Torah and Not G-d’s Torah have been blinded to the truth of Yahshua as Messiah ben Yosef and Messiah ben David until the fullness of the Gentiles, describing Romans 11:25 where a temporary hardening of the hearts of those Jews who do not believe that Yahshua is the Messiah until a certain number of Gentiles have accepter Yahshua as Messiah. After this, Israel will experience a turning back to G-d and acceptance of Yahshua as their Savior.
Getting back to the discussion on the seriousness of a persons or society’s choice to deliberately rebel against G-d and His Torah (instructions, commands; laws) we find the sad result in Num. 10:14-24. G-d can provide limited forgiveness that does not equate to redemption and salvation. The sages identify the ten times the Israelites tested G-d as the following in Avot 5:4; Num 14:22:
1. At the sea (Ex.14;11
2. At Marah (Ex. 15:24
3. Without food (Ex.16:3)
4. Gathering manna ((Ex. 16:20)
5. Manna on Shabbat (Ex. 16:27)
6. At R’fidim (Ex. 17:2)
7. Golden calf ((Ex. 32;4)
8. Murmuring (Num. 11:1)
9. Manna not tasty (Num. 11:4)
10. Believing the spies evil report against the land (no trust) (Num. 14, Arachin 15a).
We see exactly what G-d says about this limited forgiveness: B’midbar (Numbers) 20-24; “Adonai answered, ‘I have forgiven as you have asked. But as sure as I live, and that the whole earth is filled with the glory of Adonai, none of the people who saw my glory and the signs I did in Egypt and in the desert, yet tested me these ten times and did not listen to my voice, will see the land I swore to their ancestors! None of those who treated me with contempt will see it. But my servant Kalev, because he had a different Spirit with him and has fully followed me- him I will bring into the land he entered, and it will belong to his descendants.”
Note the word “Spirit” in the above paragraph is capitalized. G-d knew Kalev had the Spirit of G-d in him and he was blessed.
The rebellion of the Israelites against G-d and His representatives, Moshe and Aharon provide a clear example of the truth that Salvation is not a “given. “It is not granted for those who profess the L-rd/Yahshua yet continue to rebel against His Laws/instructions by following the traditions of men that include but are not limited to celebrating pagan holidays, ignoring the biblical Sabbath or changing it from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, and eating forbidden foods. We must follow G-d’s Torah/instructions/laws. In the end it is He will rightfully judge each of us according to our deeds (Rom. 2:6-11; Rev. 20:12-15).
Haftarah: Y’hoshua 2:1-24
This week’s haftarah tells the story of the spies sent by Joshua to scout out Jericho, prior to the invasion of the Holy Land by the Israelites. This event is similar to the one in our parashah. Joshua sent two spies to Jericho, where they stayed at an inn within the city walls, run by Rahab. The king discovered their presence and he sent for Rahab and asked her to report the two men. Rahab covered for the men telling the king they had already left. She actually hid them on her rooftop. Rahab told the men that the people in the city were afraid of the Israelites impending attack because they knew G-d was with them. She told them she knew G-d was going to give them the land. Rahab asked to be remembered and spared with her family when the Israelites attacked. She was told to tie a scarlet thread and hang it from her window. This would be a symbol that her home was a safe haven. She helped the men escape via a rope out her window and she told them how to hide if needed. The spies returned, and Rahab and her family were spared. We can see the similarity of the red thread in the window and the blood on the lentils of the doors during Pesach (Passover). Rahab was obedient as were the Israelites. Her home was symbolically covered by the blood of a Messiah that was yet to physically appear but was already present.
B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 3:7-19
This passage gives us “New” Testament confirmation of what G-d said and did in the parashah. There is little need for detailed explanation beyond the literal word. There is a point of no return. The Ruach confirms this fact. “Watch out brothers, so that there will not be in any one of you an evil heart lacking trust, which could lead you to apostatize (fall away) from the living G-d. Instead, keep exhorting each other every day, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you will become hardened by the deceit of sin. For we have become sharers in the Messiah, provided however, that we hold firmly to the conviction we began with, right through until the goal is reached” (Heb. 3:12-14). John 14:12 reads “Yes, indeed! I tell you that whosoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! John 14:15 reads “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” In John 15:9 Yahshua tells us that “If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love.” John 14:21 reads “Whoever has my commands and keeps them (7-fold witness in Revelation), is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. “John 14:24 reads “Someone who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words.”
Moving to Heb. 3:18-19: And to whom was it that he swore that they would not enter his rest? those who were disobedient.” So, we see that they were unable to enter because of lack of trust. To define the concepts of trust and validate the term as an action verb, Hebrews chapter 11 provides 18 examples I encourage you to read and contemplate.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart