Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.7MB)
The Torah readings for this week consist of two parasha. First, we have Mattot, meaning “tribes,” taken from Numbers 30:1–32:42. Secondly, we have Masei meaning “journeys,” which begins in Numbers 33:1 and continues through 36:13.
Moses was instructed to speak to all the leaders of Israel and tell them the commands of Adonai concerning vows. If a man made a vow – a promise to do something or to not do something, he was required to keep it without exception.
A father or husband could overrule the vow of a daughter or wife, but a man’s silence, if he knew of the vow, meant that it stood and had to be fulfilled. A widow or divorced woman was bound by her vow in the same way as a man. If a husband waited for a period of time after learning of his wife’s vow and then attempted to nullify it, he would bear the guilt involved.
In other words, after an appropriate period had passed, the vow was considered established and could be canceled only through the proper sacrificial process. In God’s economy, the responsibility of headship rested with the husband and father. As the nation approached settlement in the Promised Land, the structure and stability of the family were carefully safeguarded.
In Chapter 31, Adonai said to Moses, “Take vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites.” Moses was instructed to choose 1,000 men from each tribe, 12,000 in all, to execute the Lord’s Vengeance. upon Midian. Also, Moses was told by Adonai that afterward he would die and be gathered to his people. This battle was part of a holy war declared by Adonai Himself because Midian had led Israel into idolatry and immorality, and because Moses did not glorify Adonai at the waters of Meriah.
Earlier, Adonai had already judged His own people for yielding to the Midianite temptation. Twenty-four thousand Israelis died in the plague recorded in Numbers 25. Now the Midianites would also be called to account. Those who enticed Israel into sin would not escape His Wrath. Though judgment begins with the house of God, it does not end there. Both the deceived and the deceiver belong to Him, and both are accountable before His righteous judgments.
Numbers 25 tells us that Pinchas, Phinehas – was the one who stopped God’s plague upon Israel by zealously confronting the corruption that had entered the camp through Midianite influence. Pinchas understood what it meant to stand courageously against evil.
Adonai would now use the 12,000 warriors of Israel Accompanied by, Pinchas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, who carried the holy vessels and the holy trumpets for signaling.
The campaign against the Midianites was completely successful and resulted in the defeat of their fighting forces. The text records that every Midianite male was killed and that only the young women who had not known a man were spared. Remarkably, not a single Israeli soldier died in the conflict. Among those killed were the five kings of Midian, including Zur, the father of Cozbi, the woman involved in the sin committed by Zimri in the sight of Moses and all Israel.
The commanders of the army were overwhelmed with gratitude for this miraculous deliverance. Such a victory could only be attributed to the grace and protection of God. As a result, they brought a freewill offering of gold to Adonai. The total weight of the offering was approximately 16,750 shekels of gold, representing a tremendous amount of wealth. All of it was brought into the Tabernacle as a memorial before the Lord, a tribute to the faithfulness and blessing of the Holy One of Israel.
In Chapter 32, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, requested permission to settle in the territory east of the Jordan River that had recently been conquered. Their request was granted, but only after they solemnly pledged that they would not settle comfortably in their inheritance until Israel’s battles in Canaan had been completed and their brethren had received their own inheritance.
In Chapter 35, Adonai instructed Moses concerning the cities of refuge. He said, “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you shall designate six cities of refuge.”
If someone accidentally killed another person, he could flee to one of these cities. There he would be protected from the avenger of blood until a proper hearing could be held and justice administered. These six cities of refuge beautifully foreshadow the Messiah. It is to Him that we have all fled for refuge.
Notice that God Himself appointed these cities. They were an act of divine grace. All people are sinners and deserve judgment. Moses, the lawgiver, did not choose these cities, for the Law cannot save anyone.
Although they were Levitical cities, no earthly priest established them. Their appointment, like the sending of Messiah, came from the loving heart of the Father.
A manslayer could enter one of these cities, and no one could forbid him. So, it is with salvation. There were many cities in Israel, but only these six could provide refuge. Likewise, there are many religions and philosophies in the world, but there is only one Savior and only one way of salvation—through faith in Yeshua the Messiah.
Jewish tradition tells us that the roads leading to the cities of refuge were carefully maintained and clearly marked so that a fleeing person could quickly find safety.
Some rabbinic traditions also teach that the gates of these cities were never shut.
There is, however, one point of contrast between the cities of refuge and Messiah. The manslayer who arrived at a city was admitted but still had to stand trial. In our case, there is no question regarding our guilt before God.
Scripture has already declared that all have sinned and fall short of His glory. Yet we are saved by grace through faith in Messiah. What a Savior
Let’s Pray,
Father please!! Forgive us for our daily failures and sins. By the power of the Holy Spirit. Help us to pursue Your righteousness more diligently in all that we do each day In Yeshua’s name we pray. Amen.