Parental and leadership character; strengths and weaknesses will come out at different points in one’s life. If weaknesses are not actively dealt with, then faults will affect a person whether being mentored or not. What legacy is being left behind. One either learns and inherits from their heritage or embarks on leaving a stain. What’s in a name? Do we realise how much God loves us. Prior planning prevents poor performance. All these ideas are intrinsically intertwined.
| Parashah #36: B’ha’alotkha (When you set up) B’Midbar Numbers 8:1-12:15 |
Everyone is a lamp. Does one have pure light or dimness? Does one hide light under some obstacle?
11 character qualities that influence others and that will leave a legacy behind are like the characteristics of Yeshua all in the wisdom of the Father:
- Leading with humility. Humility offers encouragement that gives life, pride offers disouragement that gives death. As quoted in Phil 2:3 Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Phil 2:3
- Leading with love. Gal 5:13 states, Serve one another humbly in love. Showing kindness, treating with honor, dignity and respect for ourselves develops those same qualities for others, all with patience.
- Leading with accountability. What and who is motivating us. Rom 14:12 states, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Just like Yeshua, we will have to do the same. Does our decisions align with our life purpose and long term goals? What are the desired outcomes of one’s life? Writing the plan on paper sets up accountability, bringing clarity and substantially increased motivation to follow through. Accoutability is the Lord’s instrument to protect you from yourself and from the penalty of poor decision-making.
- Leading with relationships. Construct boundaries. This follows on from authentic accountability, it requires and may carry caring confrontation. We are known for uniqueness, temperament and deeply valued by God. Wisdom in leadership invests in the present for the desired outcomes in the future.
- Leading with teachability.
- Leading with discipline.
- Leading with gratitude. Forgivness is cause for gratitude and thanksgiving.
- Leading with generosity.
- Leading with forgiveness.
- Leading with encouragement.
- Leading with faithfulness.
Every living moment is showing what is in the heart. If the heart is full of pride, the words will be laced with a verbal poison of judgement and superiority. If the heart is full of humility, the speech will be seasoned with grace and mercy. If the heart is consumed with fear, it will communicate worry and dread. If the heart is comforted by God’s love, it will have the capacity to give words of comfort.
Micah 6:8 sums up the aspirations of a good leader. “… to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God.”
Moshe = “drawn”, the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus. He did his best to use the 11 points mentioned above. He sometimes failed just as we do. Just as Moshe was drawn out of the water. We also will be drawn by God into a better life, so long as we submit to God, and the righteousness of others. We just have to use that radical submission. It is a clarion call for all.
Num 8:3 and 8:13 Notice the lamps, Aharon and his sons:
- Aharon אהרון Aharown pronounced a-har-one, = “light bringer“, brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest of Israel and head of the whole priestly order (Ex 4:14; Lk 1:5; Act 7:40; Heb 5:4; 7:11; 9:4 ). Had one set of sons dies because they took initiative without asking. Another set of sons was almost consumed because they did not obey all the way.
- Nadab and Abihu were the firstborn sons who died immediately after offering “unauthorized fire” (incense not commanded by God) in the tabernacle, an act of severe ritual violation (Lev 10:1-2).
Ex 6:23 Nadab נדב Nadab pronounced naw-dawb = “generous”, struck dead before the sanctuary in the wilderness for kindling the censers with strange fire. From the primitive root, offered willingly, willingly offered, offered freely, give willingly;
Ex 6:23 Abihu אביהוא Abiyhuw pronounced ab-ee-hoo = “he is (my) father”, destroyed for sacrificing strange fire to God.
- Eleazar אלעזר El‘azar pronounced el-aw-zawr = “God has helped“, succeeded his father Aaron as High Priest, overseeing the tabernacle and the Levites, and played a key role in appointing Joshua and dividing the Promised Land (Num 3:22; 20:28).
- Ithamar איתמר Iythamar pronounced eeth-aw-mawr = “coast of palms”, from an unused root תמר tamar pronounced taw-mawr meaning to be erect; also served as a priest but held a secondary role, primarily overseeing the Levites during the transport of the tabernacle, while the High Priestly lineage remained with Eleazar’s descendants (Num 3:29-32).
When looking at the Greek καλύπτω kalupto pronounced kal-oop’-toc akin to <2813> and <2928>;
cover, hide, veil
1a) to hinder the knowledge of a thing
(Is this a coincidence with Yosef? which will be read later in Jn 19:31-37 notes).
There are 5/613 mitzvots (commandments) mentioned in this parashah. #379, 380 Sacrifices Num 9:11, #381, 382 Sacrifices Num 9:12, #383 Sacrifices Num 10:9-10.
- Humble leaders use brokenness as a path way to greater intimacy with God, trusting God with the outcome. What are we sacrificing? We can’t give (love) what we haven’t got (love). If there’s brokenness it will evolve into bitterness, a suicide to the soul. God is calling every person to greater intimacy with Him. Receive the love so that it can be breathed into another life. The measure of our forgiveness forms the depth of our love. Love is foundational and expressed by obedience.
| Zechariah 3:1-4:7 |
Taken into sections;
3:1-2 is the 5th vision: Joshua the high priest and Satan.
3:3-5 Priesthood restored (Ex 28), 3:4-5 are promises.
3:6-7 Charge to Joshua
3:8 Is a prophecy and a command. The 6th vision: God’s servant, the Branch.
3:9 His anointing (Mt 3:16)
3:10 Universal prosperity (Mic 4)
4:1-4 has the 7th vision in Zechariah: The golden candelstick and the 2 olive trees (Rev 11:3-4). 4:6 is a promise. 4:7-10 is the 6th prophecy fulfilled.
Zech 4:1 the angel showing the prophet these visions, came again and walked him, showing him a golden candlestick with a bowl on the top of it, have seven lamps. He also showed the prophet 2 olive trees, one on the right and the other on the left side of the candlestick and its bowl. They poured oil into the bowl which fed the 7 lamps. The olive trees are explained to be the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth. (v11-14; Rev 11:4).
4:5-7 The anointing of Zerubbabel with the Spirit and power. Verse 7 highlighting the prophecy.
An outline of this section can be as such; The high priest: Israel cleansed 3:1-10. The olive trees: God empowers His people – 4:1-14. God and His leaders Zech 3-4.
God cleanses His people for service Zech 3:1-10. Haggai’s first message 1:1-11 and Zechariah’s call to repentance 1:1-6 was evidence that the spiritual level of the remnant was low. Most of these people had been born in Babylon where there wasn’t much good leadership example or instruction to nourish their worship of Yehovah. The difficult circumstances in their own land tested their faith. The enemy of our souls will use anything to prove what faith level is in the heart. God in His wisdom helps us focus on Him and His promises.
The accused (3:1, 3) Joshua, stood before the Lord as a representative of Israel, a people He had called to be a holy nation of priests (Ex 19:5-6). Joshua and Zerrubbabel were ‘men symbolic of things to come’ v 8.
| John 19:31-37 |
Here we have one of the 52+ references to Yeshua. Jn 19:36, ‘For these things happened in order to fulfill this passage of the Tanakh. Not one of his bones will be broken’. Cross References Ex 12:46, ‘It is to be eaten in one house. You are not to take any of the meat outside the house and you are not to break any of its bones’. Num 9:12, ‘they are to leave none of it until morning and they are not to break any of its bones. They are to observe it according to all the regulations of Pesach’.
Two lots of people were involved in the Lord’s burial: Roman soldiers (Jn 19:31-37), and the Jewish believers (Jn 19:38-42). He dismissed His spirit at ‘the ninth hour’ which was 3:00 pm (Matt 27:45-50). The last 3 words from Messiah were spoken within a short period of time just before He laid down His life.
The Roman soldiers did not do what they were commanded to do by Roman law – break the victim’s legs – but they did do what they were not supposed to do – pierce the side. In both matters they fulfilled the very Word of God. The bones of the Passover lamb were not to be broken (Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20). His side was to be pierced (Zech 12:10; Rev 1:7).
John saw the significance of the blood and the water from the wound in the side. It proved that Messiah had a real body (1 Jn 1:1-4) and experienced real death. When John wrote the book, there were false teachers in the community claiming that Messiah did not have a truly human body. There may also be a symbolic meaning; the blood speaks of justification – guilt of sin, the water of sanctification and cleansing – stain of sin. Some scholars connect Jn 19:34 with 1 Jn 5:6. In 1 Jn 5, John deals with evidence of Messiah, he presents 3 witnesses: the Spirit, the water and the blood (1 Jn 5:6, 8).
Two high ranking men, Yosef and Nicodemus prepared Yeshua’s body for burial and to place it in a proper tomb. These two men Yosef and Nicodemus are like book ends to Eleazar and Ithamar. Eleazar’s (High Priest) lineage brought Messiah (High Priest). Aharon a “light bringer”, and Nicodemus brought into the light. Nicodemus name means conqueror, Messiah conquered. The other coincidences the writer leaves for you to see.
Nicodemus (Gk) Νικόδημος Nikodemos pronounced nik-od’-ay-mos = “conqueror”. A member of the Sanhedrin, from the root word <3534> νῖκος nikos pronounced nee’-kos from <3529>; meaning victory, to utterly vanquish.
When you assemble the data available about Yosef of Arimathea, we learn he was rich (Mt 27:57), a prominent member of the Jewish council (Mk 15:43), a good and righteous man who had not consented to what the council did (Lk 23:50-51), a member of the believing minority (Mk 15:43 Lk 2:25-28), and a disciple of Messiah (Jn 19:38). It was he who asked for the body and, with his friend Nicodemus gave a decent burial.
Matthew, Luke and John all indicate the tomb was new. It was Yosef’s (Matt 27:60). John indicates that Yosef was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews. The Greek word translated ‘secretly’ could be translated ‘having been secreted’. In Matthew 13:35 this same very form is translated ‘have been kept secret’. In a divine point of view, he was being protected so he could be available to bury the body of Messiah.
Nicodemus the man who started off with confusion at night (Jn 3) ended up with open confession in the daylight. Nicodemus and Yosef were not ashamed to be publicly identify with Messiah. When the two men touched His dead body, they defiled themselves and could not participate in Paesch. They certainly couldn’t secure a tomb at the last minute, nor purchase 65 pounds of spices quickly during Paesch when many merchants wouldn’t be doing business.
Mary of Bethany had anointed His body for burial (Mk 14:8; Jn 12:1-8). Other women watched the two men minister to Messiah and witnessed the burial (Matt 27:61; Mk 15:47). They planned to return after the Shabbat and complete the burial procedures (Lk 23:55-24:1). At a critical council meeting recorded in Jn 7:45-53, Nicodemus boldly stood up and defended the Messiah. His associates ridiculed him for thinking that a prophet could come out of Galilee.
It was Yosef that arranged to have the tomb hewn out, and the men assembled the cloths and spices needed for the burial. The Shabbat was about to dawn, Messiah had finished the work of the ‘new creation’ (2 Cor 5:17) and He would rest.
Joseph יוסף Yowceph pronounced yo-safe = “Jehovah has added“, “let him add”. Who favoured Messiah. (Mt 27:57, 59; Mk 15:43, 45).
Of Hebrew origin Arimathaea Ἀριμαθαία Arimathaia pronounced ar-ee-math-ah’-ee-ah, = “heights”. Of Hebrew origin 07414> הרמתים; Ramah pronounced raw-maw = “hill“.
Arimathaia: it’s also the name of several cities. The one mentioned in (Mt 27:57; Mk 15:43; Lk 23:51; Jn 19:38) appears to have been the same as the birthplace of Samuel in Mount Ephraim.
When looking deeper into the word hill; On the south of the Valley of Hinnom. It’s so called from a tradition, that the house of the high priest Caiaphas, when the rulers of the Jews resolved to put Christ to death, stood here. It is named (Hill of Evil Counsel).
| Hebrews 3:1-6 |
3:1-2 are commands.
3:1 profession ὁμολογία homologia pronounced hom-ol-og-ee’-ah from the same as <3670>; agreement; terms of surrender;
- profession, confession (Tim 6:13), professed
1) profession (v1, 4:14;10:23; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Cor 9:13)
1a) subjectively: whom we profess to be ours
1b) objectively: profession [confession] i.e., what one professes [confesses]. <551> ἀπείραστος apeirastos pronounced ap-i’-ras-tos.
- cannot be tempted, that can not be tempted by evil, not liable to temptation to sin
3:6 is a promise. 3:3-6 Because He is Creator (Jn 1:3; Eph 3:9; Col 1:15-18).
3:6; 10:23; 1 Th 5:21; hold fast (Gk) κατέχω katecho pronounced kat-ekh’-o. from <2596> and <2192>;
hold, hold fast, keep, possess, stay, take, have, make
1) to hold back, detain, retain
1a) from going away
1b) to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of)
1b1) that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance
1b2) to check a ship’s headway i.e. to hold or head the ship
withhold: (2 Th 2:6), hold: (Rom 1:18; 7:6; Heb 3), retain: (Ph’m 13), stay: (Lk 4:42), let: (2 Th 2:7), keep: (Lk 8:15; 1 Cor 11:2), keep in memory: (1 Cor 15:2), take: (Lk 14:9), seize on: (Mt 21:36), possess: (1 Cor 7:30), make toward: (Acts 27:40)
5 things we must do to the end;
- Endure to the end (Mt 10:22; 24:13; Mk 13:13). Resist the enemy.
- Hold fast the hope of eternal life to the end (Heb 3:6)
- Hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Heb 3:14)
- Show the same diligence to the full assurance of the hope to the end (Heb 6:11)
- Overcome and keep Messiah’s works to the end (Rev 2:26)
Where true leadership begins, begins with you…