Pinchas פִּינְחָס - Phinehas
Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Apostolic Reading: John 2:13-22
Reading #7 - Numbers 29:12–30:1
My Thoughts:
Today we are reading about the Feast of Tabernacles. In this Scripture we are taught about the sacrifices. But, in other parts of Torah we are told we are to live in booths for 7 days remembering the journey through the desert. It is also celebrating the end of the harvest year. The Israelites as they traveled in the wilderness for 40 years lived in fragile dwellings. We are to remember this. Also think about the dependency the Israelites must have had upon Hashem. For food, water and life. And with the many hundreds of people they had to have rules and organization -- strong leadership. All of this Hashem provided and provided in unique ways. Sometimes people would forget about Hashem’s faithfulness and challenge Him in difficult times. There were great consequences for doing this. Let’s remember this as we go through life and it’s ups and downs. Hashem will always be there for us. We must believe He has the perfect plan, no matter what.
Challenge:
This is another Feast for you to prepare and plan for. Now is a good time to think about the materials you will need to build your Sukkah this fall. You can find some building plans and ideas online. You can even order Sukkah “kits”. Or maybe you want to build your Sukkah from a tent. However you want to do it, start your planning now. That is today’s challenge for you. Amen.
Reading #7 - Numbers 29:12–30:1
29:12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Hashem seven days. 13 You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect; 14 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams, 15 and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; 16 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
17 “‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 18 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 19 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 21 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 22 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.
23 “‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 24 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 25 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
26 “‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 27 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 28 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.
29 “‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 30 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 31 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.
32 “‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 33 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 34 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
35 “‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no regular work; 36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Hashem: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; 37 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance, 38 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering.
39 “‘You shall offer these to Hashem in your set feasts—in addition to your vows and your free will offerings—for your burnt offerings, your meal offerings, your drink offerings, and your peace offerings.’”
40 Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Hashem commanded Moses.
30 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Hashem has commanded.
Haftarah
My Thoughts:
Hashem is giving directions to Jeremiah during a very turbulent time. He wants him to go out as His messenger to the people. In verse 7 we read, “But Hashem said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. 8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Hashem.’” Can you imagine the faith Jeremiah would have to have as Hashem is telling him this? He has to go where He says and speak what He says. But, this is given with a strong promise that Hashem will be with him and rescue him. Has Hashem ever told you to go and speak to someone about something? But, maybe it was too scary or risky for you to do so? Repent right now if you did not do what He said -- and you know what this is. And remember next time to obey Him. It is the only right thing to do. Trust me I know.
Challenge:
In Chapter 2:3 we read, “Israel was holiness to Hashem, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says Hashem.” This is something to pay strong attention to. Hashem has special favor over the Land of Israel. In troubled times, in good times, in obedience and disobedience -- Hashem is faithful and loves His people and His Land. If anyone, or any government does “evil” to His people or His Land there will be strong repercussions. Remember this today and we see terrorists and countries attacking Israel at different times. Remember to pray and give financially to help protect the Land. This must be a number one priority. And if you are not doing this, start today. Do a search online to the many organizations who help Israel and its people. Give today. Amen.
Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 Hashem’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Now Hashem’s word came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Before you were born, I sanctified you.
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Adonai Hashem! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
7 But Hashem said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. 8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Hashem.
9 Then Hashem stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth. Then Hashem said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
11 Moreover Hashem’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12 Then Hashem said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over My word to perform it.”
13 Hashem's word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?”
I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.”
14 Then Hashem said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says Hashem.
“They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness,
in that they have forsaken Me,
and have burned incense to other gods,
and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17 “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Hashem, “to rescue you.”
2:1 Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hashem says,
“I remember for you the kindness of your youth,
the love of your weddings;
how you went after Me in the wilderness,
in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness to Hashem,
the first fruits of his increase.
All who devour him will be held guilty.
Evil will come on them,”’ says Hashem.”
Apostolic Reading
My Thoughts:
Today we read about Yeshua going to Jerusalem during Pesach and seeing people with booths set up to sell items. I don’t know if this in itself was necessarily a bad thing, because people were traveling far and most likely needed to buy things. I think the problem was they were in the Temple area doing this. Remember as we have studied Torah that the Temple is a sacred and holy place. There are strict rules for cleanliness and holiness, sacrifices and all. People setting up “business” in this area was not a good thing. It was in a sense desecration. How easy it is to forget the Holiness of Hashem and try to take advantage of holy gathering places. We must repent and make it right. I think you know what I mean.
Challenge:
Yeshua is giving lead information that He is going to die and in a miraculous way He will be raised from the dead in 3 days (verse 22). I believe this had to happen to show that He was the Son of G-d. Not only was He raised from the dead, but He spent time continuing to teach Torah and prophecy for the next 40 days. And then He miraculously ascended into Heaven to reside in the Kingdom of Hashem. This is what the accounts of the Gospels tell us and in this particular reading -- Yeshua is telling us. Yeshua’s earthly body died, but He was raised into an eternal body. And indication of what is to come for mankind. In the end (beginning of eternity) -- we too will be raised from the dead. First to be judged and second to live forever in the Olam Haba. Just as you have been challenged to get ready for the annual Feasts, I challenge you to get ready for the day that you will be taken from this earth. Pray, repent and see His face. We must do this often in preparation. Whether you are old or young, be ready. If you make a mistake or sin, make it right. And do it quickly. Amen.
Apostolic Reading: John 2:13-22
2:13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Yeshua went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the Temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. 16 To those who sold the doves, He said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make My Father’s House a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
18 The Jews therefore answered Him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”
19 Yeshua answered them, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he spoke of the temple of His body. 22 When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this, and they believed the Torah, and the word which Yeshua had said.
