Our Distinctives
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Bamidbar: "In The Wilderness" (in English "Numbers", too boring at title) 27.13-18 |
You know how the Rabbi will introduce an interesting or important visitor to the synagogue and have them stand or even say a few words? Well lucky me, I got to introduce two folks visiting our service from the planet Neptune! They came to earth researching “faith”, a hard concept to reconnoiter from their spaceship and they want to know about Messianic Judaism and its relationship to traditional Judaism (whatever that might be) and faith in general.
They told me if they don’t like what they found out, they would wipe out life here on earth. Seemed a bit judgmental. Aliens!
In my humble opinion, the practices of Messianic Judaism more resemble the patterns in Jewish scripture than any other strain of Judaism. Here in this portion, the commissioning of Joshua as future leader of Israel, we see some of these Messianic Jewish distinctives practiced in specific. (Numbers 27. 18-23, whole text below). Among those are beliefs and practices are these:
God Speaks to directly to people
18 ויאמר יהוה אל־משה … “God spoke to Moses”.
This phrase “and God spoke to ___” is used dozens of times to many individuals. They aren’t all holy people, some are awful, some aren’t even Jews.
The Spirit of Living God is meant to live WITHIN us
18 יהושע בן־נון איש אשר־רוח בו “Joshua, son of Nun, in whom is the Holy Spirit”.
POWER, SPLENDOR, and AUTHORITY can be imparted by the laying on of hands.
20 ונתתה מהודך עליו … “and give him of your splendor” by laying your hands on him
Getting direction directly from the Lord
21 ושאל לו במשפט האורים לפני יהוה “and ask for insight in the Urim before God
It would be easy to chase the (literally) shiny object here: the “Urim”, the high priest's breastplate of twelve precious stones or “lights” that were used to confirm or seek insights in a manner we don’t understand today, but my sense is the important part of this is to “ask for insight, directly from God”. Messianic Jews believe in that direct connection with God
Getting direction and prayer by the laying on of hands.
23 ויסמך את־ידיו עליו “Moses laid his hands on him (Joshua)
I don’t see the practice of the prayer through the laying on of hands anywhere in Judaism, but there are so many references to how one person, praying for another by connecting with them through their hands, brings healing, wholeness, wisdom, and even complete life changes.
What a relief: after my humble midrash (commentary), our Neptunian visitors told me that they had decided NOT to wipe out life on earth. They also express confusion at why everyone was complaining about the weather being so hot. It’s about negative 350 degrees on Neptune, and they were rather enjoying a good schvitz.
AN EXTRAORDINARY TASK
Why was this elaborate public investment of authority needed?
Joshua was not only leading two million Jews into a field of battle for re-possession of their nation, he was the only one who knew exactly what he was getting into. He was the only surviving member of the twelve scouts (except for his buddy Caleb) who had actually entered Israel and saw the fortified cities, the giants who lived there, and have a sense of the danger of his commission.
When the time came to actually do what Joshua had been commissioned to do, he slipped away to a quiet place and prayed, directly to God, and here is what God told him
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea *** toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:3-9
*** FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEE, Israel to you from Me!
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This is the translation of the parasha today (7/26/25)
Numbers 27:18-23
So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
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