complain – Road to Zion

B’Shallach (Had Let the People Go) Exodus/Sh’mot 13:17-17:16

B’Shallach(Had Let the People Go)Exodus/Sh’mot 13:17-17:16

I want to begin by thanking those who took the time to send in an answer to my question this week. It is an encouragement to me to receive your thoughts on the topics we study.

Tomorrow night at sundown begins a special holiday called Tub’shevat or a holiday of the trees. In Israel it is a time when trees are planted. I thought it was interesting that trees are being given away here in Pensacola this weekend for Arbor Day but the calendar says Arbor Day is in April. Maybe we are secretly celebrating Tub’shevat.

Beha’alotcha (When you set up) Numbers/B’midbar 8:1-12:16

Haftorah Reading: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Messianic Scripture John 19:31-37, Hebrews 3:1-6

Our reading today contains many themes from the highs of the Menorah to the lows of the verses about Miriam and Aaron complaining and gossiping about Moshe. Today I want us to spend our time mainly on two of these themes. The first is found in Numbers 11:4-5. Here we read of the people complaining about only having manna to eat. They go on and on with their list of just how good they had it in Egypt. They seem to have completely forgotten the part about being slaves there. Then in verses 11:14-15 we see Moshe come to the end of his patience and said to G-d, in verse 15, “And if you deal thus with me, kill me, I pray you.” Moshe had reached the end and cried out to G-d.

T’rumah (Donations) Sh’mot/Ex. 25:1-27:19

Torah Portion: T’rumah (Donations) Sh’mot/Ex. 25:1-27:19

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:26-6:23

Our Torah portion this week gives us a detailed list of the donations the people of Israel brought to be used in the building of the Mishkan or Tabernacle. It also tells us, in Exodus 36:5, that Moshe had to eventually tell the people to stop donating. They had given more than was needed.

Becha’alotcha (When You Set Up) B’midbar (Numbers) 8:1-12:16

Torah Portion: Becha’alotcha (When You Set Up) B’midbar (Numbers) 8:1-12:16

Haftorah Readings: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Tonight, we read the Torah portion that speaks of the Israelites celebrating their first Passover after leaving Egypt. They are about to begin the second part of their journey. No longer are they escaping from Egypt, they are going toward the Promised Land.

T’rumah (Contribution) Exodus (Sh’mot) 25:1-27:19

Torah Portion: T’rumah (Contribution) Exodus (Sh’mot) 25:1-27:19

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:26-6:13

Tonight, we begin a series of four Torah portions that discuss the building of the Mishkan or Tabernacle and all of the items included in that construction. When Israel came into the Land their Tabernacle was set up in Shiloh and remained there for 369 years until Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.

Our portion begins with G-d speaking to Moshe, instructing him to take a contribution from the people to provide all the materials needed in the construction project. Later in Sh’mot/Exodus 35:21-29 we read where both men and women were included in this contribution. This makes the point that this was shared by everyone, all the people of Israel, not just a few. Everyone had a part in the building of the Mishkan.