power – Road to Zion

Korach B’midbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32

Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32

Haftorah Reading: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

Today we are looking at a very important Torah portion. I realize I say that quite often but in this portion I believe we are looking at verses that speak directly to our times today.

Let me begin by looking at another verse that has Hebrew – English translation issues. In Numbers 16:1 we read in English, “Korah took men.” However in Hebrew the word men does not appear. It reads, “Korach took.” This leaves us with an interesting question, what did Korach take?

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

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

Haftorah Reading: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Today we are studying a portion of scripture that has so much to say to us in our daily walk with the Father. I have several topics to cover, all of which I believe will speak to us. The first has to do with Moses. In this portion we read of the people’s complaints of having only manna to eat. They reminisced about the variety of food they had in Egypt. G-d told Moses He would supply the Israelites with enough meat for a month. In Numbers 11:22 Moshe shared with G-d his doubts that that was possible. G-d’s responded to Moses by asking if the L-rd’s power was limited? In Hebrew, Numbers 11:23 is expressed well, “Has the hand of the L-rd become shortened?” In effect He is reminding Moses how He delivered the people from Egypt, split the sea for them to cross on to dry land, brought them water from a rock and brought mana down each day.

Vayechi (And He Lived) B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26

Vayechi(And He Lived)B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26

Today I would like us to look at the last Torah portion of Genesis. In this portion we read of the death of both Jacob and Joseph. This portion, like Chayai Sarah in Genesis 23:1, follows an interesting thought. Even though both are called by a name meaning life, they include the death of the main character.

Mikketz (It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:-44:17

Mikketz(It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:-44:17

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 3:15-4:1

Today our Torah portion continues with the story of Joseph in Egypt and his reunion with his brothers. We see his rise to power in Egypt after he was able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. In Genesis 42:7-8 we are told he was able to recognize his brothers when they came before him to request food for their families and flocks. Amazingly, he was able to control his emotions and allowed them to continue to explain their situation. They did not know before whom they had actually bowed down to make their petition for food. No doubt Joseph remembered the dreams he had shared with his brothers years earlier and was now seeing them actually happen. His brothers did attribute their present state to their actions against Joseph when they sold him into slavery.

Pinchas Numbers/B’midbar 25:10-30:1

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 18:46-19:21

Messianic Scripture Matt. 26:1-20, John 2:13-22, Acts 2:1-21

Today I would like to cover what I feel are two very important topics. First I want to discuss my question on how we see the relationship between G-d the Father and Yeshua. My interest in this was sparked by reading an article posted on Facebook where the writer gave a long list of the foundations of his faith, covering many topics. In his article he only mentioned Yeshua, never bringing G-d into the picture of his faith. Yeshua was all and everything in his view. This was troubling to me and caused me to revisit the subject of how I see this question in my own life.

Korach Numbers/B’midbar 16:1-18:32

Haftorah Reading: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

Messianic Scripture II Timothy 2:8-21, Jude 1-25

Before we get to the Torah portion today I want us first to talk about my question concerning Matthew 27:46. Here, as Yeshua is dying, He said, “My G-d, My G-d, why have you forsaken me?” I am sure all of us have heard pastors explain this verse by saying G-d could not look upon Yeshua on the cross because He was carrying the sins of the world. A holy G-d could not tolerate being in the presence of sin unless it was covered by a blood sacrifice. Have any of you ever heard this explanation or any other?

Korach B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32

Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32

Haftorah Readings: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

Today we look at a Torah portion that covers an incident that takes place following the report of the 12 men sent to check out the Land. As a result of their negative report G-d sent Israel back into the desert and everyone over 20 years old were told they would not enter the Land. Only their children would receive the promise of G-d.

V’zot HaBrachah (And This is the blessing) D’Varim (Deuteronomy) 33-34

Haftorah Reading Joshua 1:1-18

Usually this Torah section is read on Simchat HaTorah. This holiday occurs Tuesday evening, October 22^nd at the end of Sukkot. However, rather than miss these important final words of Moshe I would like us to take the time to study this passage. In my question of the week I asked you what you saw as the characteristics of a servant of G-d. This question was based on verse 34:5 of Deut. In this verse Moshe was called a servant of the L-rd.

Naso (Lift) B’midbar (Numbers) 4:21-7:89

Torah Portion: Naso (Lift) B’midbar (Numbers) 4:21-7:89

Haftorah Reading Judges 13:2-25

This Torah portion covers a number of topics that I would like us to look at tonight. To start, let’s take a look at the name of the portion, Naso. This is an interesting word. In Hebrew it means to lift. We see this same word used in Psalms 121:1 where the verse reads, “I will lift up my eyes…” However, here the English translation is usually, take, as in count. If we translate this using the words lift up, it will carry a completely different feeling than to count. When G-d told Moshe to lift the heads of the people what impression does that give you, as opposed to count? To lift up implies each person was important. They were not just a number in a mass of people.

Bo(Come) Exodus(Sh’mot) 10:1-13:16

Torah Portion: Bo(Come) Exodus(Sh’mot) 10:1-13:16

Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 46:13-28

Tonight, we come to the climax of G-d’s hand freeing the people from their four hundred years in Egypt. I want to mention the opening word of this portion which is “Bo.” Translated into English it is Go. However, this is a Hebrew word that has as its most prominent meaning “Come.” When looked at in this light we can just hear G-d saying to Moshe, “Come into Pharaoh.” G-d was assuring Moshe that He, G-d, was already there before him. He was not to fear Pharaoh or what he might threaten to do, for G-d was with Moshe. I pray we each can hold on to this truth in our own life. No matter what lies before us G-d is already there waiting for us to rest in Him.