Beha’alotcha/When You raise
Numbers 8:1-12:16
Zechariah 2:10-4:7
When reading Numbers, it’s easy to either be distracted or overly conscious of the rules, regulations, or just the numbers enumerated therein. Take a ‘step back’ for a moment and consider who these words are written to. Not long before these words were presented to them, they had been slaves in an advanced and beautiful society for over four hundred years, under the rulership and domain of the realms of darkness. Keep in mind that the ten plagues weren’t just ‘pressure’ put upon the Egyptian people and their leadership; but the Holy One of Israel was judging the gods of this world! This demonic atmosphere that had the children of Israel in bondage, was full of power and demonstration of these false gods. Yes, there was incredible beauty, culture and science, but it was in a context of worship for these entities that wanted to corrupt and destroy God’s first born In a way the Children of Israel were like Joshua the High Priest mentioned in Zechariah; being opposed by satan himself; being as a people clothed in filthy rags, as subjects to that demonic realm. As we read in Numbers this week, these people are being prepared to ‘host’ the presence of God in His tabernacle. Remember; over four hundred years of being subject to the gods of this world with no sense of who they really were! (Ezekiel describes the effect of the Tabernacle in their midst: 16:14 “Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor (read verses 16:10-13a) which I had bestowed upon you, says the Lord God”).
This week’s Torah portion describes the preparations of one of these families to be holy and handle the precious things of God for the benefit of His people, from utter darkness to unimaginable light! So, you can now see how the torah portion and the haftorah are connected, with the description of Joshua’s defilement as the High Priest who was being ‘visited’ by these same evil spirits that tried to enslave the children of Israel for all eternity; “but God!”
So today whether you have a history of bad behavior or been tempted or lied to about your standing before the Living God, Who has spoken for you…know that over four hundred years of living in complete darkness couldn’t put out the light of God in His people and His promises. Lay hold of His promises for you today, let Him take off the ‘filthy garments’, and put a beautiful robe and a clean ‘turban’ on you and know today you are a beautiful bride and holy priest before the Only, True and Living God! by john eisner
Bonus thought: Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Messiah Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah.
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