Nasso נָשֹׂא - Elevate!
Torah Reading: Numbers 4:21-7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-5
Apostolic Scripture: Luke 1:11-20
Reading #7 - Numbers 7:72–89
My Thoughts:
In verse 89 we read that Moses heard “His voice” speaking to him above the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. How magnificent this must have been! Hashem is pleased with His special gifts from His special people. The offerings and sacrifices of obedience have been met. All is well. If even just for a short time. Isn’t that the way it is with us too? All can be super good and right - or a short time. But, that’s when we have to show our love and trust even during the hard times. It’s during those times we grow really close to Hashem, because we are having to depend on Him. If you are going through a good time -- give your shouts of praise to Hashem. If you are going through a challenging time -- thank Him for staying by your side and assuring you that it will all work out! Amen!
Challenge:
Who could enter the Holy of Holies during this time? Just Moses and the High Priest Aaron. And I believe Aaron could only enter on Yom Kippur -- the Day of Atonement. Time with Hashem is a special time. Time to be appreciated and to look forward to. My challenge to you today is to think about the “time” you spend with Hashem. Is it special? Do you plan it? Do you try to spend time with Him every day? I tend to talk to Him throughout the day. I like to think He is with me through everything I do. In the morning I do my Bible Torah study and I always feel like He is giving me revelation and direction through His Holy Scripture. I try to pray for His Land and His people (Israel) every day. Make sure you are giving special time to be with the Father (and Yeshua if you believe). He is the whole reason for our existence. I pray we never forget that.
Reading #7 - Numbers 7:72–89
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher, 73 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
74 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
75 one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
76 one male goat for a sin offering;
77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, 79 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels,
one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
80 one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense;
81 one young bull,
one ram,
one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
82 one male goat for a sin offering;
83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84 This was the dedication offering of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles; 85 each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; 86 the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels; 87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering; 88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings: twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering of the altar, after it was anointed.
89 When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Hashem, he heard His voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; and He spoke to him.
Haftarah
My Thoughts:
In this week’s Torah Portion, Hashem describes to us the “Nazarite vow”. And here in Judges we read about Samson and how even before he is conceived an angel tells his mother that Samson will be a Nazarite. And he will be set apart to defend Israel. Sometimes Hashem does call us to tasks and sets us apart. I think the next time He does this with me I will try and follow the Nazarite instructions. It makes sense. A clear mind from alcohol, especially over time, really helps you to have a clearer focus. This might be something we all think about.
Challenge:
I don’t know if any of you have ever had an “angel” from Hashem come to you. I know that there have been times in my life when it seems like an “angel” came and helped me through a particular situation. Our family has a story about when our two adopted sons first came to us from Korea. Before we met them on the plane, we had arrived at Chicago O’hara Airport. We had gotten lost at the airport and it was getting close to their arrival. Out of nowhere appeared a woman, dressed in a suit, and asked us if we needed help. She walked with us for a while and then showed us clearly where to go. We thanked her and started walking. We turned around and she had disappeared! There were a few other times too, where we feel we may have had a little “visitation”. The challenge today is to think of times when unusual things happened. Did it involve an angel? Maybe a special “messenger” from Hashem has visited us. And that is a wonder and an honor don’t you think?
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-5
2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and childless. 3 Hashem’s angel appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren and childless; but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing; 5 for, behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to Elohim from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Apostolic Scripture Reading
My Thoughts:
This is the story of Gabriel, an angel appearing to the father of John “the Baptizer”. He tells the father that John will be a Nazarite, just like Samson that we read about in Judges today. His son, John, will be “set apart” do a wonderful task. He will teach the people to return to Hashem, and prepare the way for the Mashiach Yeshua. To do this, John has to be clean and thoughtful, regarding the things of Hashem. When Hashem picks people to do special things for Him, He wants them to be serious about their calling. He wants them to be spiritual and not worldly.
Challenge:
I was thinking this may be one of the few times an angel is named (Gabriel). Isn’t it interesting to think that Hashem has named all of His celestial beings? There is a Psalm that says He has an angel to protect us (Psalm 91:11 “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”). Isn’t that amazing? My challenge for you today is to think about the angel that Hashem has given you to protect you. Does he have a name? Wouldn’t that be so wonderful if we knew the name of our special protector? Let’s take a minute to thank Hashem for the angel He has given us! Amen!
Apostolic Scripture: Luke 1:11-20
11 An angel of Hashem appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of Hashem, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to Hashem their Elohim. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for Hashem.”
18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of Elohim. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
