{"id":3133,"date":"2014-07-13T11:13:24","date_gmt":"2014-07-13T11:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3133"},"modified":"2014-07-18T22:22:13","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T22:22:13","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-mattot-allowing-our-wealth-to-draw-us-away-from-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-mattot-allowing-our-wealth-to-draw-us-away-from-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Mattot, Allowing our Wealth to Draw us away from God"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6_oUAjxXnqU\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This weeks reading is from Parsahat Mattot (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 30:2-32:54<\/span><\/em>). the Lord commands the men of Israel saying \u05e0\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dd \u05e0\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d3\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd assemble to make war against Midian to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cavenge the children of Israel of the Midianites.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The men went and made war with Midian, burning their cities and killing the men but they kept the women and children alive.\u00a0 Moshe was angry with the military officers for keeping the women alive because they were the ones who caused the people to sin against the Lord at Baal Peor on the counsel of Bilam.\u00a0 In addition to this, the Scriptures tell us that the sons of Reuben and Gad had a large number of cattle and they desired to remain on this side of the Jordan to make their homes.\u00a0 The Scriptures say they asked to not be taken across the Jordan river into the Promised Land.\u00a0 Based upon the war with Midian, the people keeping the women and children alive, and these people wanting to remain on this side of the Jordan, these Scriptures appear to be speaking to us about bondage and the lust of our own desires verses a life that is surrendered to God\u2019s will and purpose.\u00a0 Did the sons of Reuben and Gad desire God\u2019s will for their lives?\u00a0 Remember the Torah says that God will bless and prosper Israel in the Promised Land, did they lack faith in God\u2019s promises?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05dc\u05d1<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 | \u05e8\u05b7\u05d1 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9-\u05d2\u05b8\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e6\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05d6\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d2\u05bc\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05d3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05de\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4: \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9-\u05d2\u05b8\u05d3 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05df \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05d6\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b0\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8: \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e2\u05b2\u05d8\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05d6\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d7\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05d1\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05b9\u05df: \u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b2\u05d3\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4:\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05de\u05b8\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d7\u05b5\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d9\u05bb\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05ea \u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05e8\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05df:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 32:1-5<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 32:1 Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had an exceedingly large number of livestock. So when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was indeed a place suitable for livestock, 32:2 the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 32:3 \u2018Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon, 32:4 the land which the Lord conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.\u2019 32:5 They said, \u2018If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan.\u2019\u00a0 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In Parashat Mattot, the sons of Reuben and of Gad say <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">32:5 \u201c&#8230; \u2018If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This is a significant statement to make having come all this way and all those many years to turn around and ask that they would not be taken over the Jordan into the Promised Land.\u00a0 Based upon their request, Moshe and Aaron thought they were again trying to discourage the sons of Israel from crossing over into the Land.\u00a0 In the process of trying to explain what the sons of Reuben and Gad were thinking at this point in time, the rabbis expound upon the Section of Scripture from Parashat Mattot in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar, Parashat 22, Part 9<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05db\u05d1 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d8) saying the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar, Parashat 22, Part 9<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> An alternative exposition of the text, Now a very great multitude of cattle (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 32:1).\u00a0 This bears on what Scripture says, A wise man\u2019s understanding is at his right hand; but a fool\u2019s understanding at his left (Ecclesiastes 10:2).\u00a0 The expression, A wise man\u2019s understanding is at his right hand, applies to the good inclination which is set on one\u2019s right, while the expression, A fool\u2019s understanding at his left, applies to the evil inclination which is set on one\u2019s left.\u00a0 Another exposition is that the expression, A wise man\u2019s understanding is at his right hand, refers to the righteous who apply their minds to the Torah, which is on the right; as it says, At His right hand was a fiery law unto them (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 33:2), while A fool\u2019s understanding at his left, alludes to the wicked, who set their minds on getting rich; as it says, In her left hand are riches and honor (Mishley \/ Proverbs 3:16).\u00a0 Another exposition, the expression A wise man\u2019s understanding is at his right hand, applies to Moshe, while A fool\u2019s understanding at his left, applies to the children of Reuben and the children of Gad, who made the main thing the subordinate, and put the subordinate thing first, for they cherished their property more than human life, saying to Moshe, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 32:16).\u00a0 Moshe said to them, That is not right.\u00a0 Rather, do the more important things first, build you cities for your little ones (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 32:24), and afterwards Folds for your sheep.\u00a0 Thus, we have explained the expression, A wise man\u2019s understanding is at his right hand as applying to Moshe, and a fools understanding at his left as applying to the children of Reuben and the children of Gad.\u00a0 The Holy One blessed be He, said to them, Seeing that you have shown greater love for your cattle than for humans souls, by your life, there will be no blessing in it.\u00a0 Of them it says, an estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed (Mishley \/ Proverbs 20:21).\u00a0 In the same strain it says, Weary not yourselves to be rich; cease from your own wisdom (Mishley \/ Proverbs 23:4).\u00a0 And who is rich?\u00a0 He that is contented with his lot; as it says, When you eat the labor of your hands, happy will you be, and it will be well with you (Tehillim \/ Psalms 128:2).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The midrash opens with the wise man having understanding at his <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> and the fool, his understanding at his <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cleft hand.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The idea taken out of the midrash is that the righteous stand on the right side, whereas the wicked are on the left.\u00a0 The rabbis equate the fools understanding to the left hand, to the wicked, and to the children of Reuben and Gad because they desired to get rich by remaining on this side of the Jordan.\u00a0 Note how they say that they cherished their wealth over life.\u00a0 The last time the congregation decided not to go over to the Promised Land they had to stay 40 years in the wilderness and many died.\u00a0 The rabbis say that the Lord (the Holy One blessed be He) said to the children of Reuben and Gad <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cSeeing that you have shown greater love for your cattle than for humans souls, by your life, there will be no blessing in it.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The idea is that they desired wealth rather than human souls and since their focus was on material things, there would be no blessing from God not to mention that the blessing was supposed to come inside of the Promised Land and not outside.\u00a0 Remember mount Ebal and Gerizim, the blessing and the curses in Parashat Re\u2019eh (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11:29<\/span><\/em>) the blessing and the curses, inside and outside of the Promised Land respectively, the curse is paralleled to those who are outside.\u00a0 The midrash also equates the right hand with Moshe, and the left hand with a fool\u2019s understanding.\u00a0 The interesting point here is with regard to the right-verses-left imagery that is being illustrated.\u00a0 Why do the rabbis correlate the right hand with righteousness and the left with wickedness?\u00a0 In the Scriptures, we often find the use of the right-verses-left imagery and so the question is \u201cwhy do the Scriptures emphasize the right hand so often?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today we have a phrase that is known as one\u2019s <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cRight hand man.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 According to Merrian-Websters Dictionary, the definition of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cRight hand man\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 is the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Websters\u2019 Definition of \u201cRight hand man\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">A soldier holding a position of responsibility or command on the right of a troop of horses<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">A valuable assistant upon whom one is accustomed to rely<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The idea of the right hand man is as a servant who works on behalf of his master, the one who is at the right hand has the authority of the master to go forth on his behalf, similar to the soldier who has authority to command the troop of horses.\u00a0 The Scriptures also equate the right hand to the \u201carm of the Lord\u201d in the Torah.<br \/>\nAccording to the book of Exodus and Deuteronomy, Israel attained her liberation from slavery (Egypt) by the power of God, symbolized by his victorious conquering arm.\u00a0 There are several expressions used to describe the victorious arm, two stand out as being the most frequently occurring, yad hazaqah (\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d3 \u05d7\u05b2\u05d6\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05d4) \u201chand \/ arm of strength,\u201d and zeroa netuiah (\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b0\u05d8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4) \u201coutstretched arm.\u201d\u00a0 These two expressions are found most frequently in Exodus and Deuteronomy.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; vertical-align: top;\"><strong>yad khazakah (\u05bc\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d3 \u05d7\u05b2\u05d6\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05d4)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><br \/>\nShemot \/ Exodus 3:19<br \/>\nShemot \/ Exodus 13:3, 14, 16<br \/>\nShemot \/ Exodus 32:11<br \/>\nDevarim \/ Deuteronomy 3:14<br \/>\nDevarim \/ Deuteronomy 6:21<br \/>\nDevarim \/ Deuteronomy 9:26<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; vertical-align: top;\"><strong>zeroa netuiah (\u05bc\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b0\u05d8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4)<\/strong>Shemot \/ Exodus 6:6<br \/>\nDevarim \/ Deuteronomy 9:29<br \/>\nDevarim \/ Deuteronomy 26:8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Both expressions are paralleled in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 4:34, 5:15, and 7:19<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 For example, according to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 4:34<\/span><\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 4:34<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 4:34 \u2018Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u05dc\u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 | \u05d4\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05e1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d2\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05bc\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e1\u05bc\u05b9\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b9\u05ea \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e4\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d3 \u05d7\u05b2\u05d6\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b0\u05d8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Scriptural use of the<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> range from a description of direction to the opposite of doing wrong (doing what is right).\u00a0 Being on the right suggests that one lives with justice and righteousness and conforms to a standard of holiness (Torah principle) thus the right hand is a place of honor and authority.\u00a0 According to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 48:13-14<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">48:13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel\u2019s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel\u2019s right, and brought them close to him. 48:14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh\u2019s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. NASB<\/span><\/em>) Jacob divided the blessings over Joseph\u2019s sons and emphasis is given making the distinction between the right and the left hands, and the older and younger sons.<\/p>\n<p>In the first century, the believers understood the<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> as a place of honor, dignity, and authority according to the Apostle Paul\u2019s words to the Ephesians in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ephesians 1:19-21<\/span> <\/em>(<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. NASB<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 Paul says that our Father in heaven exalted Yeshua above all others and seated Him at His right hand.\u00a0 The <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> is used in prophecy relating to the Messiah looking forward to what God was going to do, to give the Messiah power and authority to subdue His enemies (see <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 110:1 and 118:16<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Yeshua being seated at the right hand of God enables him to intercede on our behalf (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 8:34<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n<p>In addition to this, the Mishneh Torah (\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u200e, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201csecond Torah\u201d<\/span><\/em>) is subtitled <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cSefer Yad HaHazaka\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d9\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d7\u05d6\u05e7\u05d4, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cBook of the Strong Hand\u201d<\/span><\/em>) written by Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon) also known as Rambam.\u00a0 This Torah principle of the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> has made its way into Judaism in the following manner.\u00a0 Based upon <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 118:15<\/span><\/em>, the Scripture says <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cGod\u2019s right hand does valiantly\u201d<\/span><\/em> which has become the source text for the right hand taking preference to the left.\u00a0 For example, when performing the ritual washing (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">netilat yadayim<\/span><\/em>) the right hand is washed first.\u00a0 When one lays hold of an object such as the cup of wine for the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Kiddush<\/span><\/em>, one holds it in the right hand to illustrate its importance.\u00a0 When holding food for the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Berachah<\/span> <\/em>(the blessing) one holds it in the right hand.\u00a0 When giving charity, one is to give money with the right hand to illustrate how we are to give back to the Lord with great importance (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parshah 5<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The midrash states <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ctwo things are in the right hand of the Holy One &#8211; charity and Torah. Charity, as it says (Tehillim \/ Psalms 48) Charity fills your right hand.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 According to the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shulchan Aruch<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">OH 651:3<\/span><\/em>), is the teaching that a left-handed person should hold the mitzvah in their right hand &#8211; as the right-hand side is spiritually always on the right; e.g. the laws of shaking lulav and etrog, where the Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions are explained.\u00a0 There are many more ways in which the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> illustration is used in Judaism, but I think you get the point that based upon the Scriptures there is a significance to the use of the right hand that not only brings glory to God but is known as a reference to honor, power, and authority that is given by both man and God.<\/p>\n<p>The important point about this weeks Torah reading, the sons of Reuben and Gad had a large number of cattle, they desired wealth and they wanted to remain on this side of the Jordan to make their homes.\u00a0 Midrash Rabbah opens with the rabbis saying a wise man has understanding at his <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cright hand\u201d<\/span><\/em> and the fool, his understanding at his <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cleft hand.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The righteous stand on the right side, whereas the wicked are on the left.\u00a0 The fools understanding is equated to the children of Reuben and Gad because they desired to get rich by remaining on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness rather than going over into the Promised Land to take hold of the promises of God.\u00a0 All of these things taken into context speak to us about the bondage and lust of our own desires verses a life that is surrendered to God\u2019s will and purpose.\u00a0 Have you surrendered your life and will to God\u2019s purposes or do you desire to take hold of a blessing while remaining in the wilderness of sin?\u00a0 When the children of Israel finally got almost across the wilderness previously, they were afraid to go in and take what was theirs.\u00a0 Their own sin, stubbornness and lack of faith held them back.\u00a0 Is sin, stubbornness, and lack of faith holding you back today?\u00a0 The Scriptures say <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cThose who are Christ\u2019s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Galatians 5:4<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 Have you done this or are you actively seeking God for help to do this?\u00a0 The theme here in Parashat Mattot (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 30:2\u201332:42<\/span><\/em>) is the reality and difference between spirituality and life.\u00a0 Today, there are people who are primarily active in the world of commerce and the professions, while there are others who devote themselves to studying Torah (and\/or the Scriptures).\u00a0 The lesson of the Parshah is that today we are faced with having to make a living, but there is also the necessity of spending time in God\u2019s Word and Seeking His presence in our lives.\u00a0 Let\u2019s not allow our wealth or our freedoms to draw us away from the Lord and His promises to serve our own passions, wants, and desires.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take some time out of our busy days for the Lord to serve others, to seek His face, and to Pray. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/BTT_Parashat-Mattot-2014.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Mattot-2014<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; This weeks reading is from Parsahat Mattot (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 30:2-32:54). the Lord commands the men of Israel saying \u05e0\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dd \u05e0\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d3\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd assemble to make war against Midian to \u201cavenge the children of Israel of the Midianites.\u201d\u00a0 The men went and made war with Midian, burning their cities and killing the [&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-3133","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\/3133","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=3133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3133\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}