Beha'alotcha, Numbers 8:1 – 12:16, "When you raise"
In this week’s parsha we find ourselves in a time period of the very first few months into the first year after the nation was set free from Egypt. This unusually long portion is crammed full of intense imagery, complex situations, divine intervention, and opportunity for personal application.
If you remember, Numbers 1 begins in the second month of the first year after escaping Egypt. Now, in chapter 9 we go backwards to the first month in the second year to before the census referenced in chapter 1 was even taken. Here we are told about how the children of Israel would follow the cloud that descended upon the tabernacle but later in chapter 10 we are told that it wasn’t until the 20th of the second month that they actually set out to follow the cloud. This back-and-forth theme is a bit hard to follow, but once figured out, the timeline flows as it should.
In summary, the parsha starts out with a discussion on the golden lampstand. The imagery is of a single lampstand, while at the same time creating an image of the seven branches out in front of it. At first this didn’t make much sense to me, but as the parsha continued the concept falls into place.
The second theme we encounter is that of Moses cleansing Aaron, his sons, and the Levites for their priestly roles. We go through a short section on the age of priestly service and retirement before moving into a recap on the Passover observance.
The next section takes us through a summary as to how the Lord made His presence known through the perpetual presence of a cloud covering the tabernacle by day which became like the appearance of fire by night. It is here that we are told that when the cloud would lift and move, the children of Israel would pick up camp and move to follow it. Wherever the cloud would settle, so too would the children of Israel.
The next section of the scripture tells us about how the Lord commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets. These trumpets were to be used to signal the children of Israel for different reasons based on how the trumpets were to be sounded.
In verse 10:11 we are told that during the second year, in the second month, on the 20th of the month, the cloud of the Lord moved for the first time. As noted earlier, putting the book of Numbers into succession, this would have been right after the census of Numbers 1 was taken and the assignments outlined in Numbers 2-4 were given.
In chapter 11 we find the children of Israel becoming disgruntled and complaining. The Lord brings fire to the outskirts of the camp and Moses intercedes. Next, the people complain about not having meat. By this point Moses is getting fairly frustrated with the people and cries out to God to just kill him and put him out of his misery with these people. God responds by telling Moses to get 70 men from the various tribes who He (God) would give the same spirit which He had put upon Moses so that these elders could help Moses govern the people. From there God responds to the complaints of the people and their desire to eat meat which was really a desire to go back to Egypt and what was familiar.
In verses 11:18-20 we read about God telling Moses to address the people. He tells Moses to “Say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, “Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt.” Therefore, the LORD will give you meat and you shall eat. ‘You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 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, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”
Moses questions God, God responds, and Moses goes and tells the people. The next scene is God putting the Spirit upon the 70 elders, two remain in the camp and continue to prophesy, a young man tells Moses, and Moses responding with joy and not jealousy.
We are told that the people gathered the birds all one day, all that night, and all the next day before brining them (a days journey) back to the camp and cooking them. We are also told that the one who gathered the least gathered 10 homers which totals about 11 gallons.
Can anyone else see the total lack of Torah observance in this?
The story continues with the anger of the Lord being kindled against the people while they were just getting started with their eating. We are told that He sent a sever plague upon the people. Truly, they had returned to “Egypt” in more ways than just their hearts.
Moving into chapter 12 we find Miriam and Aaron murmuring against Moses. The basis of their argument is that Moses had married a Cushite woman. In reality, their argument was one of comparison. In essence, they were saying that they had the same relationship with God that Moses did because Moses wasn’t any better than them as evidenced by his choice in a wife. In other words, they were attempting to elevate themselves through the process of putting Moses down. God responded by putting leprosy on Miriam. Moses interceded and God said he would leave the leprosy on her long enough for her to properly bear her shame and then he would remove it.
So, what is the common theme that runs through all what I have shared and what do I believe the Lord has given me to share with you all on this parsha?
Here is what I am seeing as the common theme. At the very beginning, the light of the golden lampstand was to be out in front of itself. This gives the images of:
- Being a light,
- Being out in front, and
- The concept of leading and following
The theme is repeated in the imagery of the priesthood. They are called to be the light of the nation, spiritually going out before the people as God goes out before them. Again, the theme of being a light, being out in front, and following God is repeated.
We then come into a brief summary of the observance of the Passover. In this summary Moses was approached by a few men who, because of various issues, were unable to celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. Moses responded by telling them “Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you”. Again, the theme is repeated. Moses demonstrates what it is like to live in harmony with God, to properly respect His place, and be humble before the Lord. Moses fully respects God and knows that it is not his place to simply provide an answer that he derives.
This leads us into the imagery of God’s presence amongst the people as a cloud by day and a fire like cloud by night. In this we are again given the imagery of God leading His people and the people following as they respond to the movement of the cloud by following it wherever it went. Again, the theme of the priests leading the way behind the light of God while being followed by the nation is repeated.
From there we are told about the silver trumpets who’s entire purpose is to summon the people to “follow” based on a particular sounding of the trumpeter. In this the people would have had to have been educated so that they could respond in the proper way to the particular blast being sounded.
All of this leads us up to the point where, during the second month of the second year, on the 20th day of that month, the cloud moved for the very first time. Everyone fell into harmony. The trumpet players blew their horns, the priests fell into harmony and performed their duties, and Moses led the people as he followed God’s leading until they settled in to where the Lord led them.
Then, from first glance, everything changes. The next three stories appear to be totally different. But are they? The first comes with the people grumbling, the Lord sending fire to the outskirts of the camp, Moses praying, and the Lord ending the fires.
The next is the people grumbling against the manna and wanting meat. Moses complains to God, God sends the birds, the people pick up dead birds, bring them back to the camp, and a plague breaks out. In the midst of this story, God feels for the burden that the people are to Moses so he assigns 70 elders to help Moses lead the people.
Ultimately, Aaron and Miriam complain against Moses, Miriam is struck with leprosy, Moses intercedes, and God heals her after allowing her to bear the shame of her guilt.
In conclusion, I want to point out how Moses responded in each of these situations. Ultimately, his example is the one we are to follow. When it comes down to the “rights” that Moses may have had, I can easily see how he could have had a bit of a chip on his shoulders when Aaron and Miriam came out to judge him and make a power play against his authority. I can easily see how there could have even been a bit of a “you are getting what you deserve” attituded when Miriam was struck with leprosy. It kind of reminds me of how people talk about what will happen when Yeshua returns and has His day of vengeance against those that persecute us, who don’t believe what we believe, and who don’t appreciate the light we are following.
I think we need to remember what Yeshua did for us while we were still sinning against Him and how Moses interceded for Miriam and the children of Israel when they were doing nothing but making his life miserable.
Even though Moses had his moments, got frustrated with God, and went before Him with his complaints, he always stayed true to being the light and intercessor before God. He never argued for God to wipe out the people or repay them for the wrongs they committed against him. Moses never put himself above the people. It was either God with all of them, or God with none of them. Moses simply did not let God treat him any different than the people he was leading.
I think there are some things that we can learn from Moses as we look to being a light worthy of being followed. I think it begins with his humility and his true love of those that God put into his care. Maybe that is a good place to start.
I pray that this has been a blessing to you.
