Bible study portions “Matot v’ Masei” (Tribes and Journeys of) Numbers 30:1-32:42, 33:1-36:13
Yes, this is another long-winded discussion. If you want, read half, then come back to the rest later on. If you're comfortable, read it through in one sitting. There is a lot to cover here.
We need to be careful when making “vows” Adonai takes serious “promises” that we make, especially using “His” Holy Name (YHVH). We might have good intentions...but... how do you know that you will still be in the land of the living by next week to fulfill your promise? We take “making promises too lightly”. t have said in times before words like; “I swear to God that I’ll…or… “I promise that I’ll” …or … “Next week by this time, I’ll…!
What did Yeshua say about vows? “Let our YES be YES, and NO, be NO” without more words. We might have good intentions, yet only the LORD manages our time on earth. If we say that we will do something, and we use God’s name, and we end up NOT doing it, we will have taken HIS HOLY NAME in vain. So, what words can we say when we want to do something, without “vowing”?
”If God permits, I will try to…” or “I am not sure if I can, but, I will try to…” These words seem better because it leaves the option “if God permits”. We can make plans for the future, but the future is always in the hands of Adonai.
In this Torah/Bible study, we look at a woman vs a man making and keeping vows. If the woman is married, then, as long as the husband agrees to the vow, it is OK, and she must make it good, however, if he doesn’t agree to the vow, then, the vow that the woman makes is annulled. The same thing if the woman is under her father’s roof, (or tent). If the father agrees, all is well, if not, all is NOT well, the vow is nullified.
How do we take this today? When making vows or promises, and really, it is better NOT to promise, but if so, it should first be discussed between the husband and wife, or between father and daughter, and an agreement reached, whether or not such promise, vow, or decision, is to be made. It is good to serve Adonai and be involved in ministry, but it should be agreed upon when it affects families. Also, many thousands of years ago, a woman was always under the authority of her father or her husband. Then, women did not go out on their own to have their careers as today. Times are different today.
Chapter 31 speaks about the “slaughter of the Midianites” When we read this, we shudder, at such bloodshed, yet it was because of the influence of Balaam, that the Midianite prostitutes caused sin to enter the camp, thus bringing a “curse” upon Israel. It was necessary to wipe out the Midianites to prevent further sin, yet we see that the soldiers bring back captive women and children, which was common practice in Bible days as well as the rest of the “loot” such as livestock, silver, gold, etc.
The problem is that the “women” were the cause of the sin which was brought upon Israel. That is why Moshe was so upset, so he ordered the “women who knew men” to be killed as well as the male children, but why the male children? What harm can a little boy do? Perhaps nothing at that time, but in time, these “little boys” would grow up and seek vengeance against “those Israelites who killed daddy!” Another thing we see is that Israel was under a "Theocracy" God was the sole ruler, Commander-in-chief, King, Sovereign, etc... HE made the rules and HE gave commands. Today, we are governed by "Democracy."
Chapter 32 deals with the settlement of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh in Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River. Was it a bad thing that they settled on that side? Moshe thought that if they built shelters for their children, wives, and cattle first and then, join the other tribes to conquer the land of Canaan, then, after the wars and conquest, they could go back to their families.
When we see the land of Israel and then look around at the other nations, many more Jews are living “outside” of the land of Israel than “inside”. However, we are ALL “Am Echad” (One people) even though divided by oceans and continents. We are all ONE under Jesus Christ / Yeshua HaMashiach. There are communities, congregations, and churches all over the world, separated by oceans and continents, yet we are bound together by the Holy Spirit in communion and faith.
Chapters 34 to the end of the Book of Numbers, deal with the journeys of the Israelites during their time in the desert up to the death of Moshe. They journeyed to many different places, yet ALWAYS guided by the RUACH ELOHIM (God’s Spirit). We also journey a lot in our life. One could say that our lives can be considered “journeys and stops” Perhaps there are 8 different journeys and stops, the journey of “childhood” which enters later “adolescence” then goes to young “adulthood” then to “education and career” then to “marriage and family” then to “Senior-adulthood” then to “retirement and rest” then to “eternal rest and Shalom” at death. Each can be a “journey” but are we letting Adonai lead us during these journeys? Or are we doing our “own thing?”
We can also say that each and every decision we make in our lives is a "journey" in its own right. Where will it lead us to? Making the right decision must be based on God's Word. If it is based on God's Word, we know that our journey will be prosperous. Remember, prosperity does not only carry a $$$ sign, it can also be physical and or spiritual.
The Book of Numbers ends with; “These are the commandments and the ordinances which YHVH commanded to B’nei Yisrael through Moshe in the Plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho”
Thus, we see that ALL the Torah commandments come from Adonai, the first Ten being spoken directly to the People of Israel, and the rest, through Moshe to the people. The Torah leads us all to a knowledge of Yeshua, to accept Him as our Savior and LORD, through faith and faith ONLY.
Yes, this is another long-winded discussion. If you want, read half, then come back to the rest later on. If you're comfortable, read it through in one sitting. There is a lot to cover here.
We need to be careful when making “vows” Adonai takes serious “promises” that we make, especially using “His” Holy Name (YHVH). We might have good intentions...but... how do you know that you will still be in the land of the living by next week to fulfill your promise? We take “making promises too lightly”. t have said in times before words like; “I swear to God that I’ll…or… “I promise that I’ll” …or … “Next week by this time, I’ll…!
What did Yeshua say about vows? “Let our YES be YES, and NO, be NO” without more words. We might have good intentions, yet only the LORD manages our time on earth. If we say that we will do something, and we use God’s name, and we end up NOT doing it, we will have taken HIS HOLY NAME in vain. So, what words can we say when we want to do something, without “vowing”?
”If God permits, I will try to…” or “I am not sure if I can, but, I will try to…” These words seem better because it leaves the option “if God permits”. We can make plans for the future, but the future is always in the hands of Adonai.
In this Torah/Bible study, we look at a woman vs a man making and keeping vows. If the woman is married, then, as long as the husband agrees to the vow, it is OK, and she must make it good, however, if he doesn’t agree to the vow, then, the vow that the woman makes is annulled. The same thing if the woman is under her father’s roof, (or tent). If the father agrees, all is well, if not, all is NOT well, the vow is nullified.
How do we take this today? When making vows or promises, and really, it is better NOT to promise, but if so, it should first be discussed between the husband and wife, or between father and daughter, and an agreement reached, whether or not such promise, vow, or decision, is to be made. It is good to serve Adonai and be involved in ministry, but it should be agreed upon when it affects families. Also, many thousands of years ago, a woman was always under the authority of her father or her husband. Then, women did not go out on their own to have their careers as today. Times are different today.
Chapter 31 speaks about the “slaughter of the Midianites” When we read this, we shudder, at such bloodshed, yet it was because of the influence of Balaam, that the Midianite prostitutes caused sin to enter the camp, thus bringing a “curse” upon Israel. It was necessary to wipe out the Midianites to prevent further sin, yet we see that the soldiers bring back captive women and children, which was common practice in Bible days as well as the rest of the “loot” such as livestock, silver, gold, etc.
The problem is that the “women” were the cause of the sin which was brought upon Israel. That is why Moshe was so upset, so he ordered the “women who knew men” to be killed as well as the male children, but why the male children? What harm can a little boy do? Perhaps nothing at that time, but in time, these “little boys” would grow up and seek vengeance against “those Israelites who killed daddy!” Another thing we see is that Israel was under a "Theocracy" God was the sole ruler, Commander-in-chief, King, Sovereign, etc... HE made the rules and HE gave commands. Today, we are governed by "Democracy."
Chapter 32 deals with the settlement of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh in Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River. Was it a bad thing that they settled on that side? Moshe thought that if they built shelters for their children, wives, and cattle first and then, join the other tribes to conquer the land of Canaan, then, after the wars and conquest, they could go back to their families.
When we see the land of Israel and then look around at the other nations, many more Jews are living “outside” of the land of Israel than “inside”. However, we are ALL “Am Echad” (One people) even though divided by oceans and continents. We are all ONE under Jesus Christ / Yeshua HaMashiach. There are communities, congregations, and churches all over the world, separated by oceans and continents, yet we are bound together by the Holy Spirit in communion and faith.
Chapters 34 to the end of the Book of Numbers, deal with the journeys of the Israelites during their time in the desert up to the death of Moshe. They journeyed to many different places, yet ALWAYS guided by the RUACH ELOHIM (God’s Spirit). We also journey a lot in our life. One could say that our lives can be considered “journeys and stops” Perhaps there are 8 different journeys and stops, the journey of “childhood” which enters later “adolescence” then goes to young “adulthood” then to “education and career” then to “marriage and family” then to “Senior-adulthood” then to “retirement and rest” then to “eternal rest and Shalom” at death. Each can be a “journey” but are we letting Adonai lead us during these journeys? Or are we doing our “own thing?”
We can also say that each and every decision we make in our lives is a "journey" in its own right. Where will it lead us to? Making the right decision must be based on God's Word. If it is based on God's Word, we know that our journey will be prosperous. Remember, prosperity does not only carry a $$$ sign, it can also be physical and or spiritual.
The Book of Numbers ends with; “These are the commandments and the ordinances which YHVH commanded to B’nei Yisrael through Moshe in the Plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho”
Thus, we see that ALL the Torah commandments come from Adonai, the first Ten being spoken directly to the People of Israel, and the rest, through Moshe to the people. The Torah leads us all to a knowledge of Yeshua, to accept Him as our Savior and LORD, through faith and faith ONLY.