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This week our parashas are Matot and Masei, which translate to “Tribes” and “Journeys.” Parasha Matot covers Numbers 30:2-32:42, and Masei covers Numbers 33:1-36:13. With these parashas, we conclude the book of Numbers. These parashas serve as a summary of our people’s journey in the wilderness and contain warnings for the generation about to enter the Promised Land. While these words were for our people thousands of years ago, they remain relevant to us today.
Matot begins with the instruction that if a person makes a vow to the Lord, they must fulfill their promise. The point of this command, which connects with the rest of our parasha, is that our promises are very important. We should not make promises lightly, and breaking our oath is a serious sin.
Chapter 31 records the campaign against the Midianites for their participation in the sins at Peor, where our people had sexual relations with Midianite women, resulting in many deaths. Numbers 31 reveals that this plan was devised by the wicked prophet Balaam, who was killed during the conflict. Balaam’s prideful life and death represent the fate of all who follow his path. In Scripture, this is known as the “Way of Balaam.”
Chapter 32, the final chapter of parasha Matot, records a major incident between Moses and the tribes of Reuben and Gad. These tribes wanted to settle east of Jordan, outside Israel’s boundary. Moses reminded them of their vow to help conquer the Promised Land and warned that abandoning it would bring God’s wrath. The leaders promised to fulfill their commitment, and Moses stated that keeping their word would secure their desired land, while breaking it would bring judgment from Adonai.
Parasha Masei begins in chapter 33 and was written to the second generation that was to inherit the land of Israel. This chapter is a summary of our people’s journey through the wilderness. There are 40 sites listed in this chapter where our people encamped. The number 40 is significant since it represents the number of years we lived in the wilderness as the first generation passed away. We should understand this list as stylized by Moses, through the Holy Spirit, to serve as a reminder for generations to come.
In verses 50-56, the Lord commanded this generation to destroy the Canaanites. We were to destroy every religious site and item they possessed and to take complete possession of the Land. We read this powerful warning from the Lord:
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.
We are reminded again by the Lord to fulfill our promise to Him to take full possession of the Land. Should we decide not to fulfill our promise, then we have this clear warning that there will be constant trouble from our enemies. The Lord also promises to remove us from the Land just as he will do with the Canaanites if we do not follow His command.
Chapter 34 contains the boundaries for the land of Israel and lists the tribal chiefs to establish a historical record.
Chapter 35 contains commandments concerning cities of refuge. The Lord commanded our people to establish six cities of refuge for those who had unintentionally killed another person. These cities were to be a safe place for them to live until they could be brought to trial and served as protection from family members seeking revenge.
Chapter 36 concludes the book of Numbers with an interesting incident. The daughters of a deceased tribal head were concerned that marrying outside their tribe would cause them to lose their family’s land inheritance. When they brought this issue to Moses, the Lord commanded that they marry within their tribe to preserve the family inheritance. The book of Numbers thus ends positively, with godly women obeying the Word of the Lord.
A major theme throughout parasha Matot and Masei is the importance of keeping vows and promises. These parashas demonstrate that our actions must follow our words. Promises, especially to our Creator, should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, the book of Numbers reveals our failure to follow through on our word. Our people started well, following the Lord’s commands, but then took a sinful turn. The generation that left Egypt fell into such unbelief that they were condemned to die in the wilderness.
Interestingly, chapter 33’s summary omits these shameful events. Reading it alone, you would think the journey went remarkably well! This omission is intentional. The sins of the previous generation were not being held against the new generation, who had the opportunity to succeed where their fathers failed. Moses implores them not to repeat those mistakes. Unfortunately, the later generations did not keep their covenant promises either, and eventually our people would be exiled from the Promised Land for a time.
Today, each of us also needs to be in the right relationship with the Lord, following His commands for our lives. As sinful people, we will fall short of our promises; this does not excuse our behavior but does explain it. Through the New Covenant in Messiah Yeshua, not only are we given the power to obey the Lord, but we are also forgiven for our mistakes through Messiah Yeshua’s sacrifice. Through the Lord, we can begin each day anew and live our lives walking down the good path He has made for us.
This power and atonement are always available because He is always faithful to His promises. The Lord never fails to do what He says He will do, whether it is a blessing or judgment, like Balaam. So, as we close the book of Numbers, let us take these lessons to heart, to confidently live our lives full of meaning and purpose given to us by our wonderful Father.
May the Lord enable each of us to keep our good promises to Him. May we all walk in the way of the Lord and not the way of Balaam. May each one of us receive the amazing blessings that come from a life faithfully following the plans of the Lord.