{"id":3034,"date":"2014-06-01T11:13:36","date_gmt":"2014-06-01T11:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3034"},"modified":"2014-06-06T11:30:36","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T11:30:36","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-behaalotcha-the-god-who-would-dine-with-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-behaalotcha-the-god-who-would-dine-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Behaalotcha, The God who would dine with us"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QYqV245xEI8\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This weeks reading is from Parsahat Behaalotcha (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 8:1-12:15<\/span><\/em>) and we read in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 10:11-36<\/span><\/em> the Children of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sinai moving out for the first time and the Scriptures describe the deconstruction of the Tabernacle and the order of the tribes as they moved out.\u00a0 The Scriptures then say <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">11:1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The people were complaining about the Manna (bread from Heaven) that God provided and longed for the fish, cucumbers, melons and leeks that were available in the land of Egypt.\u00a0 The people longed for Egypt.\u00a0 Moshe pleads on behalf of the people before the Lord (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">11:10-11<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Lord provides so much meat for the people that they become sick (loathsome) of the meat.\u00a0 While Moshe was speaking with the Lord, the Lord said <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cIs the hand of the Lord short\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05b2\u05d9\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05e8)?\u00a0 All that Moshe had witnessed of the Lord delivering Israel from Egypt, did he doubt the Lord was able to provide meat for the people?\u00a0 Today, amongst believers, is there doubt regarding God\u2019s ability to save His people?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d9\u05d0<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d9\u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d7\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05dd \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b8\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b4\u05dc\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9-\u05d8\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05df \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05dd: \u05d9\u05d8\u00a0\u00a0 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05d7\u05b8\u05d3 \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05de\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 | \u05d7\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b6\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd: \u05db\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3 | \u05d7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8-\u05d9\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9-\u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d6\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b8\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd: \u05db\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4 \u05e9\u05b5\u05c1\u05e9\u05c1-\u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05e3 \u05e8\u05b7\u05d2\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b5\u05bc\u05df \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: \u05db\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d4\u05b2\u05e6\u05b9\u05d0\u05df \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05d7\u05b5\u05d8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc-\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d2\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05dd \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05e1\u05b5\u05e3 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd:\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b2\u05d9\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b2\u05d9\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d3\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 11:18-23<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 11:18 \u2018Say to the people, \u2018Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, \u2018Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt.\u2019 Therefore the Lord will give you meat and you shall eat. 11:19 \u2018You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 11:20 but a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you; because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, \u2018Why did we ever leave Egypt?\u2019\u2019\u2018 11:21 But Moses said, \u2018The people, among whom I am, are 600, 000 on foot; yet You have said, \u2018I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.\u2019 11:22 \u2018Should flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Or should all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?\u2019 11:23 The Lord said to Moses, \u2018Is the Lord\u2019s power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not.\u2019\u00a0 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For the Children of Yisrael, bread was very significant and essential for their survival in the wilderness.\u00a0 The Torah tells us that the bread from heaven did not end until they entered into the Promised Land.\u00a0 The manna from Heaven preserved their lives.\u00a0 In addition to this, the Scriptures tell us according to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 14:13<\/span><\/em>, \u05d9\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e6\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8-\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05b9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b9\u05e1\u05b4\u05e4\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3-\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd:\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">14:13 But Moses said to the people, \u2018Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The people were fleeing from the Egyptian arm and Moshe says to them \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e6\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cdo not fear, stand and see the salvation of the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Here Moshe uses the word \u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea the name of our savior and redeemer \u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7 Yeshua.\u00a0 Because the word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cYeshua\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7) directs our attention to the salvation of God in the Torah, Yeshua the Messiah challenged the people to see the historical significance of the bread that comes down from Heaven; saying He is the true bread from Heaven.\u00a0 Yeshua drew a parallel on these ancient words to his purpose on earth to sustain his people.\u00a0 When we worship Yeshua, we are by proxy worshiping the One who sent him, our Father in heaven.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the Scriptures we see the Lord God is continually working to save His people, but not just that, He desires to dwell amongst His people.\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar, Parashat 15, Part 8<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d8\u05d5 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d7) brings an interesting perspective on how the Lord desires to dwell among his people.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar, Parashat 15, Part 8<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> Another exposition of the expression, When You lightest.\u00a0 This bears on the Scriptural text, Even the darkness is not to dark for You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness is even as the light (Tehillim \/ Psalms 139:12).\u00a0 Yet to us He says, When You light!\u00a0 To what may the matter be compared?\u00a0 To the case of a king who had a friend.\u00a0 The king said to him, I want you to know that I shall dine with you.\u00a0 Go then and make preparations for me.\u00a0 His friend went and prepared a common couch, a common candlestick, and a common table.\u00a0 When the king arrived there came with him ministers who encompassed him on this said and that, and a golden candlestick preceded him.\u00a0 His friend, seeing all this pomp, felt ashamed and put away all that he had prepared for him, as it was all common.\u00a0 Said the king to him, Did I not tell you that I would dine with you?\u00a0 Why did you not prepare anything for me?\u00a0 His friend answered him, Beholding all the pomp that accompanied you, I felt ashamed, and put away all that I had prepared for you, because they were common utensils.\u00a0 By your life! Said the king to him, I shall discard all the utensils that I have brought, and for love of you I shall use none but yours!\u00a0 So in our case.\u00a0 The Holy One blessed be He, is all light; yet He said to Israel, Prepare for Me a candlestick and lamps.\u00a0 What do we find written in this connection?\u00a0 Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them (Shemot \/ Exodus 25:8); and you will make a candlestick of pure gold (Shemot \/ Exodus 25:31).\u00a0 When they had completed everything the Shechina came.\u00a0 What is written in that connection?\u00a0 Moshe was not able to enter into the tent of meeting because the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Shemot \/ Exodus 40:35).\u00a0 Thereupon He called to Moshe; as it says, And the Lord called unto Moshe (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 1:1), and it is written, When Moshe went into the tent of meeting that He might speak with them, then he heard the Voice speaking (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 7:89).\u00a0 What did He say to him?\u00a0 When You light the lamps.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The midrash is speaking about lighting the Menorah in the Tabernacle and draws a parallel to a king who wants to dine with his friend and asks his friend to prepare for the meal.\u00a0 The friend of the king is obviously poor and is only capable of preparing a common couch, a common candle stick and a common table according to the parable.\u00a0 When the king arrives his friend sees his wealth, glory, and honor and feels ashamed of what he has prepared for the king.\u00a0 The point of the midrash is that this king chooses to dine with his friend using what is common.\u00a0 In a similar manner, the Lord asks Moshe to build a dwelling place out of common things.\u00a0 When everything was complete, God\u2019s Shechina (glory) came down and dwelled in the Tabernacle.\u00a0 Based upon the Midrash and the Torah, the Lord chooses the common things in order to relate to us here on earth.<\/p>\n<p>The midrash provides us with a parable that draws an allusion to the Lord God who is greatly glorified, having great honor and glory, and is willing to take what is common for the purpose of dwelling among His people.\u00a0 The evidence for this is the various passages that suggests God takes on the form of a man in order to interact with mankind (i.e. Parashat Vayera, <em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 18:1-22:24<\/em>).\u00a0 According to Parashat Vayera the Lord reveals to Abraham what He is about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah; it is clear that though God can take on human form he does not give up His divine nature and authority.<\/p>\n<p>In <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">John 1:1-14<\/span><\/em>, John wrote that <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe word of God tabernacled among us\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d5\u05d4\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e0\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05db\u05df \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5\u05db\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d5\u05e0\u05d7\u05d6\u05d4 \u05ea\u05e4\u05d0\u05e8\u05ea\u05d5 \u05db\u05ea\u05e4\u05d0\u05e8\u05ea \u05d1\u05df \u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d0\u05d1\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e8\u05d1 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05ea) is understood to mean that the Word of God became a man.\u00a0 The Greek translation of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">John 1:14<\/span><\/em> says \u201c\u039a\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f41 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c3\u1f70\u03c1\u03be \u1f10\u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03c3\u03ba\u03ae\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03b8\u03b5\u03b1\u03c3\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b4\u03cc\u03be\u03b1\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6, \u03b4\u03cc\u03be\u03b1\u03bd \u1f61\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2, \u03c0\u03bb\u03ae\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c7\u03ac\u03c1\u03b9\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2\u201d that <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe word became flesh\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c3\u1f70\u03c1\u03be \u1f10\u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf) and<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u201ctented\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u1f10\u03c3\u03ba\u03ae\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd) among us.\u00a0 The Greek text is drawing upon the Torah understanding that God tabernacled with man in the Mishkhan saying that<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u201cthe Word tabernacled among us\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05db\u05df \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5\u05db\u05e0\u05d5).\u00a0 According to the Torah, the Mishkhan (Tabernacle) was designed in such a way to describe how God could dwell among His people and yet remain on His throne in heaven.\u00a0 The Lord God also can tabernacle in our hearts by His Holy Spirit.\u00a0 The concept that the Word can make His dwelling here among men according to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">John 1:14<\/span><\/em> is not without precedence in the Scriptures considering the Torah portion Parashat Vayera.\u00a0 John tells us that it is the divine Word (\u05de\u05b5\u05d9\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0, Memra) that come down to dwell among us.\u00a0 The Torah indicates that God came down in human form to speak with Abraham and to reveal to him what He was about to do with Sodom and Gemorah.\u00a0 The difference here is that it is through the Word we can know God personally and this is why it is important that we take the time to daily study God\u2019s Word.\u00a0 Our understanding of these verses coupled with this week\u2019s Portion show the importance of studying the Bible in order to know God and His will for our lives.\u00a0 It is also important to realize how much the Lord desires to dwell with us.\u00a0 According to the midrash He chooses to dine with us using what is common.\u00a0 In parallel fashion, the Word of God come to dwell in a common body in order to make atonement for each one of us.\u00a0 We also are only able to give to the Lord what is common, but what He gives to us, the Spirit that dwells within each of us, this is far from common.\u00a0 The Apostle Paul said to the romans the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 8:11<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Spirit of our Father in heaven is powerful to raise one from the dead and is able to give each one of us life.\u00a0 The Lord giving us life from dead works.\u00a0 Note, dead works are the sins that we commit, remember Paul said the wages of sin is death (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 6:23<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The power of the Spirit to give us life is to overcome sin, and to do good works (\u05de\u05e2&#8221;\u05d8, Maasim Tovim, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ephesians 2:10<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Thinking on this week\u2019s Torah portion, Parashat Beha\u2019alotcha, the Lord God made the statement about himself saying<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u201cIs the hand of the Lord short?\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05b2\u05d9\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05e8)\u00a0 The answer is <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ccertainly not\u201d<\/span><\/em> because He continues to reach out to us, having made a new covenant in the blood of His salvation (Yeshua), and empowering us to have life (to not dwell in dead works \/ Sin).\u00a0 The Salvation in Yeshua (\u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7) that declares our Father\u2019s desire to go to great lengths for the purpose of dining with us.\u00a0 Throughout these many centuries we can see in history the Lord\u2019s hand is certainly not short!\u00a0 Praise God!\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/BTT_Parashat-Beha\u2019alotcha-2014.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Beha\u2019alotcha-2014<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weeks reading is from Parsahat Behaalotcha (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 8:1-12:15) and we read in Bamidbar \/ Numbers 10:11-36 the Children of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sinai moving out for the first time and the Scriptures describe the deconstruction of the Tabernacle and the order of the tribes as they moved out.\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3034","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3034"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3034\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}