"Moving Toward the Goal" Parashat Hashevua Chukat (Statute) / Balak (Balak)

[Mevaser]

"Moving Toward the Goal" Parashat Hashevua Chukat (Statute) / Balak (Balak)
http://www.cmy.on.ca/toraportions200...dbar/hukat.htm (Online version)
Congregation Melech Yisrael, Toronto, Canada
Shabbat 12 Tammuz 5763, July 12, 2003
http://www.cmy.on.ca / cmy@ca.inter.net

This week's Reading list:
* Bamidbar / Num. 19:1-25:9
* Mikkah / Micah 5:6-6:8
* Yochannan / John 3:10-21
* 1 Korintim / Corinthians 1:20-31

Although there is a double portion read for this week's Parasha, I am going to focus my attention strictly on Parasha Chukat this week.


Bamidbar {21:21} Yisrael sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, {21:22} Let me pass through your land: we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed your border. {21:23} Sihon would not allow Yisrael to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Yisrael into the wilderness, and came to Yahaz; and he fought against Yisrael. {21:24} Yisrael struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Yabbok, even to the Bnei Ammon; for the border of the Bnei Ammon was strong. {21:25} Yisrael took all these cities: and Yisrael lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the towns of it.


Bamidbar {21:31} Thus Yisrael lived in the land of the Amorites. {21:32} Moshe sent to spy out Yazer; and they took the towns of it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. {21:33} They turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. {21:34} HaSHEM said to Moshe, Don't fear him: for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. {21:35} So they struck him, and his sons and all his people, until there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.


When you first read these passages you wonder; "What can possibly learnt from these Scriptures, other than that bnei Yisrael (children of Israel) fought battles with their enemies and won." That is exactly what I thought as I sat down to write this d'var Torah, having read this section. Then the L-rd revealed a very interesting truth and principle to me. It is a principle that can be applied to each one of our lives and one that is repeated and taught in the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant)


Bnei Yisrael had left most of their troubles behind them, at least for the time being. They were now a fledgling nation on their way to the Promised Land. The camps were organized by tribe, the fighting men were enumerated and the relationship with HaShem was institutionalized through the Leviim (Levites), in other words they were ready. HaShem therefore afforded them the opportunity to try out their strength, courage, faith and battle strategies with perhaps less formidable enemies than the ones they were to encounter across the Yarden (Jordan). Of course bnei Yisrael won both battles and they occupied the lands and the cities of the Amorites and the people of Bashan.


What struck me however about what we are being told here, is that although bnei Yisrael defeated both the Amorites and the people of Bashan, and possessed their land and occupied their cities, there is no indication that any of them remained behind, rather look what we are told:


Bamidbar {22:1} The Bnei Yisrael journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moav beyond the Yarden at Yericho (Jericho).

Every indication is that the whole company moved on towards their goal. Now picture this for a moment. This company of approximately two million people (perhaps even more) had been wandering through the midbar (wilderness); they lacked vegetables, fruit, meat and definitely water. They had been through rebellions, plagues and rejection. Finally now, they had some relief, they won two battles, occupied land that they could claim as their own and actually had houses and cities that they could dwell in. Can you imagine the relief they must have felt? Would you not have? Yet we're told they left it all and moved on. They did it for a promise, but not an ordinary promise, a promise from their G-d for a better place, for a better life in a promised land.


Remember how I have been teaching that the Torah is a physical document and its spiritual fulfilment can be found in the Brit Chadasha! Well here is another example of just that:


Ivrim / Hebrews {9.15} And for this cause He (Yeshua) is the mediator of the Brit Chadasha, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the Torah, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.


Yisrael could have very easily settled down and enjoyed the good life in the lands they now occupied, but they were looking forward to a better promise, a land of promise. These newly conquered places were only temporary stopovers on their way to what was ultimately awaiting them. Despite all the problems Yisrael had along the way, they had not lost their focus; they had not lost their vision. They were heading in one direction and one direction only; to the land HaShem had promised them and to which Moshe was leading them.


We have need to take a lesson from these passages in Parasha Chukat. Many believers have made themselves far too comfortable in this world. They have settled down to enjoy the good life of the land. Far too many have bought into the prosperity message and have lost their focus, lost their vision. The good life on earth however is not what HaShem has for us. We have a better promise to look forward to and Yeshua is leading the way for us.


Kefa Beit / 2 Peter {3.9} The L-rd is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering towords us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. {3.10} But the day of the L-rd will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. {3.11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {3.12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of G-d, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {3.13} Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.


Last week both Canada and the United States of America celebrated their birthdays. My wife and I although we live in Canada and carry proper Canadian documents, do so not because we consider ourselves part of this country, or any country for that matter. We do it because we are commanded by G-d to honour the laws of the land and so we do. Our citizenship however, is in heaven and our focus is on getting there. Canada is just a stopover along the way. We have not lost our focus, we have not lost our vision we are headed towards a land of promise to which Yeshua is leading us. Wherever HaShem may lead us next will only be one more stopover in the direction of that promise. We are following Yeshua to heaven and eternal life with HaShem, are you?


Pilifim / Philippians {3.20} For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the L-rd Yeshua HaMashiach (Yeshua the Messiah); {3.21} who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Jack (Yaacov) Farber


Hallelujah to our L-rd, our Teacher, our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
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