A Journey Through Torah

Michael G. Wodlinger

Description

If you are a Believer, this book is important for you. Numbers tells a story of the final portions of the journey of Israel from Egypt to Canaan. There are parallels for us in this journey; lessons that will help us navigate this life we lead.

A Journey Through Torah is a must read for all who are interested in discovering knowledge hidden within the pages of this fourth book of the Pentateuch. HaSefer B’Midbar, The Book of Numbers, contains God’s instructions for His children to follow, even today. Understanding these will enable its readers to have a more fulfilled and enriched life.

Sujets

• Spiritual Growth
• Christian Living
• Philosophie et théologie
• Israel
• God
• Religion
• Numbers
• Bible

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 10 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664292796
• Langue: English

Extrait

A JOURNEY THROUGH TORAH


An Introduction to God’s Life Instructions for His Children


VOLUME 4: HASEFER B’MIDBAR / THE BOOK OF NUMBERS


MICHAEL G. WODLINGER






Copyright © 2023 Michael G. Wodlinger.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.



WestBow Press
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9280-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9279-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023903139



WestBow Press rev. date: 02/22/2023



CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1: Parashah B’midbar (In The Desert)
Numbers 1:1–4:20
As we enter our first reading, we encounter
the first census of all the males in the
community over the age of twenty.
Clearly, ADONAI knew His children
would rebel against Him and have to
face the consequences of wandering
many more years in the wilderness;
thus, they needed to be trained for war.
2: Parashah Nasso (Take)
Numbers 4:21–7:89
In our second reading of Sefer B’Midbar /
book of Numbers, we are shared with the
census of other clans of the tribe of Levites.
These other clans are responsible for the
less valuable articles and elements of the
Tabernacle. Nonetheless, their roles are of
equal value to the clan of K’hat, indicating
how God views the work of all His children.
3: Parashah B’ha‘alotkha (When You Set Up)
Numbers 8:1–12:16
There are several issues discussed in our
third reading of the book of Numbers. These
include the handling of the Tabernacle
menorah, the issue of apprenticeship and
responsibility, the Passover ceremony,
the trumpets and their use, the order of
breaking camp, the ongoing dissatisfaction
of the Israelites, and the pressures upon Moshe.
4: Parashah Shlach L’kha (Send On Your Behalf)
Numbers 13:1–15:41
In this, our fourth reading of Sefer Bamidbar,
the book of Numbers, we are introduced to
the pivotal moment in Israel’s journey toward
the Holy Land. Moshe’s role as leader is
again questioned, and Adonai’s fury is seen
in the response given to His people’s complaints.
5: Parashah Korach (Korah)
Numbers 16:1–18:32
In our fifth reading of Sefer B’Midbar, the
book of Numbers, we are presented with a
rebellion from a group of leaders, Kohanim,
who believed they were more capable of
leading Israel than were Moshe and Aharon.
6: Parashah Hukkat (Regulation)
Numbers 19:1–22:1
Our sixth reading of Sefer B’Midbar,
the book of Numbers, introduces to
us the red cow. As we read in these
chapters, the ashes of the red cow/heifer
cleansed those who became contaminated.
7: Parashah 40: Balak
Numbers 22:2–25:9
In this reading of Sefer B’Midbar, the book of
Numbers, we are introduced to Bala’am. Here
we find a prophet for the world, representing
many gods to those outside Israel. Although
Bala’am saw himself as Adonai’s prophet, he
did not have the same status as Moshe, but
he was able to speak the words placed in his mouth.
8: Parashah: Pinchas (Phinehas)
Numbers 25:10–29:40
In our eighth reading from HaSefer
B’Midbar, we once again read of Israel’s
poor judgment. Israel was infiltrated by
Moabian temple priestesses who seduced
both men and women to worship Ba’al
and engage in sacred prostitution as part
of their worship. Adonai stepped in
and placed a plague within the community.
9: Parashah Mattot (Tribes)
Numbers 30:2(1)–32:42
Our ninth reading of HaSefer B’Midbar,
the book of Numbers, introduces us
to a much deeper meaning of vow or
oath. Before this portion of Torah,
only Adonai had the right to change a
commandment or instruction. Here, in
this reading, we read of human beings also
given this right under certain circumstances.
10: Parashah Masa’ei (Stages)
Numbers 33:1–36:13
This reading reviews for us all the masa’ei,
stages, of the journey from Rameses, in
Egypt, to Abel-Shittim, by the shores
of the Jordan, in the territory of the
Moabites. Ancient scribes tell us the list
of stages shows us Adonai’s compassion
for His people. Throughout the forty
years of travel, the Israelites enjoyed
extended periods of rest, sometimes months.

Conclusion



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Glenn and Michael acknowledge the direct influence ADONAI Elohim has made in the creation of this fourth volume of the series A Journey through Torah. A huge thanks to our wives, who have put up with us as we journeyed. We also wish to acknowledge the time and efforts of those who reviewed the prepublication manuscript, making necessary recommendations for revisions. We have enjoyed this process and hope our love for understanding ADONAI ’s Word will transfer to you. We pray you enjoy your reading.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bless you fully and richly.



INTRODUCTION
Welcome to HaSefer B’Midbar, the book of Numbers. In the following pages, you will be introduced to an overview of the forty years of wandering of Israel and the mixed multitude as they traveled toward the promised land.
This was not an easy journey, as you know, if you have read HaSefer Shemot, the book of Exodus. It appears the travelers, Israel and the mixed multitude consisting of fellow slaves from much of the neighborhood, and Egyptians, whose gods met the King of kings, had difficulty trusting in either Moshe or ADONAI , the Lord God. As we read within the pages of Numbers, they challenged both all through their time in the wilderness, until the first generation died, as a consequence of their constant complaining. Only the second generation was allowed to complete the journey and enter the promised land.
The consequences of their complaining and of their betrayals are well documented in the book. As you will read, they were to enter Cana’an just after their second year of wandering; however, their lack of trust resulted in their having to wander another thirty-eight years. However, as you read through the thirty-six chapters of the book, please also focus on ADONAI ’s love for His children. This may be difficult to discern, as the Hebrew scriptures are not as emotionally charged as are the apostolic scriptures. Thus, a good deal of reading between the lines is required to gain a full grasp of what is written in these pages.
HOW THE BOOK IS STRUCTURED
Why would this be called the book of Numbers and HaSefer B’midbar, the Book in the Wilderness, in Hebrew? All through your reading, you will find Moshe and the leaders of Israel engaged in a good deal of number counting—a census of men for the army, a census of the Levites for Tabernacle service, and a census of the whole community; the numbers of those who died as a result of the consequences of their lack of trust; the numbers of animals sacrificed and the bowls of fellowship offerings at each celebration. Many commentators 1 divide the book into three parts: part I, the time at Mount Sinai; part II, Kadesh Barnea; and part III, plains of Moab. Each of these parts of Numbers includes travel times as well as negative events that caused significant loss of life. Others 2 divide the book into two sections, the first being the travels of the first generation, the disobedient generation, and the second generation, the obedient generation. Thus, the book takes on a theological tone to it, making clear distinctions between differences between disobedience and obedience.
There are ten chapters or weekly readings, each called a parashah, that structure the reading. As you will see, as you enter the book, each parashah chapter, is divided into two sections. The first provides an overview of the events detailed, while the second, titled Deeper Understandings , digs a little deeper into these events and attempts to make connections with our current times.
It is intriguing for me to learn that events that occurred almost five thousand years ago have direct relevance to us and our lives today. I know many of you find this hard to believe; however, a good deal of the book focuses on human nature and how people’s focus on their state of living changes when they encounter hardships, tests, and trials. Incredibly, human nature seems not to have evolved much during all the time that has passed between then and now.

Scripture cited and used in this small book has been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. I have found this translation