PARASHAH MASEI
(Numbers 33:1-36:13) Week 43
MAZAL TOV! CHAZAK! CHAZAK! VE’NIT CHAZAK! (Mazal: To Drip from Above!)
MASEI: Journeys of: “These are the stages of the people of Israel when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.”
(From Ramses to Moab)
ISRAEL’S 42 Encampments: After the sin of the spies, Israel was forced to wander 38 more years so the rebellious generation could die in the desert. They encamped, on average, two years per location during the 38-year wandering.
CHESED: The ‘faithful’ love of Adonai, as shown so many times in the Torah. (Manna, Miriam’s Well, Protection from enemies, Protection from wild animals, Cloud by Day, Columns of Fire by night, Victories in War!)
SHEKHINAH: The Presence of the Lord God Almighty…Atop Mount Sinai…within the Holy of Holies as His Glory hovered between the wings of the Cherubim!
The Promised Land: From the Nile to the Euphrates encompasses MOST of modern-day Middle East. The land of Canaan’s borders do not correspond with the historical settlement of Israel. These boundaries are yet to be fulfilled! (Rom 4:13)
PRAY for ISRAEL and HER RESTORATION!
AREI MIKLAT: Cities of Refuge, for those who accidentally caused manslaughter. Three cities east and three cities west of the Jordan River were established for this purpose. The refugee had to remain in the city of refuge consistently until the HIGH PRIEST over his jurisdiction of manslaughter DIED.
In other words, the Judge of his isolation, passed away, setting him free.
Another example of the ‘life for life’ principle, as a foreshadowing of Jesus the Messiah, Se Ha Elohim, Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!
The 48 Levite Cities: Since the Levites were not apportioned their own land, they were given 48 separate cities in which to dwell.
6 of those committed cities were to be Cities of Refuge!
The Levites were to be the Torah Teachers in each city of the Promised Land. These appointed Levitical Cities were to have nearly ½ mile of open land surrounding each city! WHY?
The open land was to accommodate crowds of TALMIDIM or students, to gather and learn Torah from the Levitical Priests.
These cities were centers for Worship and Torah Study, or Yeshiva, like a grassy amphitheater.
The Daughters FIVE:
It is explained in Masei that the Daughters FIVE were agreeable to marrying from within their own Tribe of Manasseh in order to protect the land inheritance by keeping it, down through the generations after them, in their tribe, in honor of their father and of Adonai.
We must say that these daughters were well-versed in Torah, obedience, and the understanding of Adonai’s instruction. They were assertive, but appropriately humble.
We can learn from these sisters!
They took their concern regarding their inheritances to the correct leaders, at the perfect time, with no Lashon Hara (evil speech) beforehand, and were granted by Adonai and Moses and all the Priests, their portion!
May we emulate their humble bravery…humble warriors!
HAFTARAH (Old Covenant) READING: Jeremiah 2:4-28: 3-4 “WHERE IS ADONAI?”
Please read each verse of the Haftarah!
‘The Haftarahs of Reproof’ as some call the readings in Jeremiah are read during the Three Weeks of Sorrow during the Month of AV. All three describe punishments befalling Israel if they did NOT return to the LORD, but also gave promises of redemption and restoration, IF Israel returned to Torah and to the Lord God Almighty!
The resulting curse of the “falling away” from the Lord and from Torah is described when Jeremiah explains the judgement will be SURE….and the people would be taken away into captivity. Slavery, bondage, and diaspora are the results of the Nation of Israel from their “Falling Away”!
The houses they built…their enemies will occupy!
BRIT CHAHASHAH (New Covenant) READING: James 4:1-12
The sin of Pride is the precursor to many other sins, explains James. When we walk humbly and justly before our God, ADONAI will elevate our lives.
The Nation was to DISPOSSESS the enemies in every territory of the Promised Land. Adonai was explicit in His instructions. To DISPOSSESS means much more than PUSH OUT the enemy to make room for your tribe!
By refusing to DISPOSSESS the enemies throughout the Promised Land, the Promise has been compromised!
The FULL inheritance HAS NEVER BEEN GIVEN OUT THE NATION OF ISRAEL.
We see this in looking at the boundaries given for Canaan…The Promised Land…knowing Israel has NEVER possessed all this. WHY? IF ADONAI PROMISED IT?
The instruction was to ENTER INTO THE COVENANT LAND TO DISPOSSESS THE ENEMY COMPLETELY, setting up a pure and complete Hebrew / Jewish community! This never happened, completely and thoroughly, as commanded by Adonai.
This is a picture of a life without the over-arching CHUPPAH of Messiah over one’s life! This is the only way to DISPOSSESS the enemy; through the POWER of the Messiah!
THIS IS WHY, AT THE END OF “JACOB’S TROUBLE”, OR THE TRIBULATION, YESHUA HIMSELF WILL TRAMPLE THE LAND AND CRUSH ALL SIN AND SINFUL WAYS, THUS FINALLY ACCOMPLISHINGI THE FATHER’S PLANS! THE HOLY CITY WILL FINALLY BE HOLY!
‘Yarash’ or Dispossess:
Yaw-rash’: a primitive root: TO OCCUPY, by driving out previous tenants, and possessing it in their place!
Sukkot: TO DWELL
By implication: to seize, to rob, to inherit; to expel, to impoverish, to ruin: cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive out, enjoy, expel, without fail
MAZAL TOV! CHAZAK! CHAZAK! VE’NIT CHAZAK! Be Strong, Be Strong, and, may we be strengthened!
What Does “Mazel Tov” Mean?
The word Mazel literally means “to drip from above.”
Mazel can have different connotations depending on its context, but they are all connected to this basic definition: something trickling down from above.
The signs of the Zodiac are called Mazalot. Jewish tradition considers the constellations on high as directing the destiny of individuals and nations, down below. Thus, Mazel is the influence dripping down from the stars.
Over the years, bad or good Mazel came to mean “luck” more than “destiny.” When the Talmud says that we are not subject to Mazel, it means that we are not limited to our destiny; rather, our own actions determine our fate.
When we tell someone Mazel Tov, we are giving them a blessing: You should be aware of the blessings in your life and be ready and hopeful to receive more and more dripping down, from on high!
Mazel Tov dear friends!