Tag: Yeshua

Going Out…

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

“These are the journeys of the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt by their divisions under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Moses recorded the stages of their journeys at the Lord’s command. These then are their journeys by stages” (Numbers 33:1-2; Matot/Masei Numbers 30:2 – 36:13).

As the Lord speaks the Ten Commandments to Israel from Mt. Sinai, He reminds them that it was He who delivered them out from the house of bondage, out of the land of Egypt. The remembrance of the exodus from Egypt serves as the point of departure, as well as a remembrance for a nation as it worships, celebrates, and relates to the human other, “The outsider dwelling among you shall be to you as the native-born among you. You shall love him as yourself – for you dwelled as outsiders in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 19:34; cf. Lev. 19:18). At the close of the Book of Numbers, the Lord reminds Israel of her journeys of the past forty years, the places where she stopped, and from where she set out.

There is an interesting occurrence in the Hebrew text of Numbers 33:2:

‎וַיִּכְתֹּב מֹשֶׁה אֶת-מוֹצָאֵיהֶם, לְמַסְעֵיהֶם–עַל-פִּי יְהוָה; וְאֵלֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶם, לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶם

“Moses wrote down their going out, according to their journeys, by command of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their going out” (Num. 33:2).

In this verse מוֹצָאֵיהֶם, לְמַסְעֵיהֶם, “going out, according to their journeys,” is then reversed, מַסְעֵיהֶם לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶֽם, “their journeys according to their going out.” Why?

The going out, מוֹצָאֵיהֶם, the exodus, needs to be at the forefront of our minds, why? Because the end is caught up in the beginning. In the reverse, the journey itself became the purpose, not the destination, which again, is caught up with the going out, as we read:

“and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey …” (Ex. 3:8).

The going out begins with grace. Even with the many setbacks experienced by the children of Israel in the wilderness on the journey, the going out from Egypt began with the grace of God. The going out was then sustained by the grace of God, and it would end in the Promised Land by the grace of God.

At the beginning of every Shabbat (Sabbath) and every holiday, the Jewish people are reminded in the holiday blessings of the grace of the exodus, the going out, from Egypt. It is a remembrance of being slaves, of being exiled, and of being “the other” within a society. This ever-present reminder of our history, the current reality of others, and the possibility of experiencing this condition once again, should keep the heart compassionate and eager to serve “the other” to the glory of God (Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31).

The going out in the life of faith in Messiah also begins with grace, and it to is characterized as a deliverance/salvation from bondage: a continuation of the exodus from Egypt theme, the Greater Exodus. The apostle Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves – it is the gift of God. It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship – created in Messiah Jesus for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10).

Of great importance in the faith life is to remember our condition when the Lord delivered us, where we started. It is easy to forget, focusing on the good feelings of the present and the victories by faith we have witnessed and received; but remembering our point of departure, and where we have been, will help us to see more clearly where we are going, and what we are to do along the way.

It is easy for the journey to become one of complaint for what we lack or have lost, but the Lord desires it to be a going out of faith-obedience that impacts the lives of those around us (Ro. 1:8), not just those like us, but those unlike us (Lk. 10:25-37). While we may not be able to make grandiose gestures of care – building hospitals, orphanages, houses, or paying for education – we can help with food, water, clothing, visitation and encouragement along the way (Matt. 25:31-46). More than that, we can all share simple acts of kindness, or use our voice to speak for those who lack a position from which to speak.

I pray that we use this going out, and the journey that has been graced to us, to be a bright light of the Gospel, and an example of the self-sacrificial love of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus to all.

From this Torah portion, let us remember the grace that we received at the beginning, the grace we continue to receive, and the grace that we will receive at our end. Let us remember that we were once enslaved, hopeless, hungry, strangers in need of aid. Let us remember where He found us, and where He might direct us to find others. Let us remember that it is the Messiah that we serve, and the living message of the Gospel that we are to share: a timeless message of eternal hope for all.

Be well. Shalom.

For the Sake Of …

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

After the Lord informs Moses that he will “gathered to his people” (Num. 27:12-13), Moses makes one request: while I am living, appoint a new shepherd (Num. 27:16-17). Why?

וְלֹא תִהְיֶה, עֲדַת יְהוָה, כַּצֹּאן, אֲשֶׁר אֵין-לָהֶם רֹעֶה

“That the congregation of the Lord would not be as sheep without a shepherd for them.”

As we know, the Lord instructs Moses to take Joshua, lay hands on him, set him before Eleazar the high priest, and give him this sacred duty before all the congregation (Num. 17:18-19).

Moses wanted Israel to have a leader in place before his own graduation. A leader known to the people, trusted by them, and in whom the Spirit of God rested. Joshua was Moses trusted student, and a leader in his own right.

Still, there is a clue in Moses’ words that is helpful, or dare I say, vitally important for all leaders, regardless of stature, to understand. As Moses said to God, Israel should “not be as sheep without a shepherd for them.”

“For them” is often lost in translation, but it is important in this plea of Moses. His successor should be there, as their shepherd, “for them.” In other words, not for themselves, their own gain, or their own fame. Joshua, Moses knew, would be there for them: the people of God.

Yeshua/Jesus also appointed successors, the apostles, and from the apostles, the gift ministries articulated by Paul (Eph. 4:11-16): gift offices to a Body of disciples discipling (Matt. 28:18-20).

Yeshua had compassion on His people, and He did not want to see them as “sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). To the Jewish hearer of the first-century, this would draw their minds back to Moses, and his desire for Israel to have a leader, a caregiver, a protector; as the Jewish people were, in effect, without a good shepherd at that time.

Here we find Yeshua, the Good Shepherd. He is the fullness of Moses’ prayer typified in Joshua, now realized. The Joshua who would give His people rest. Yeshua is a shepherd “for them,” as Moses prayed, the sheep of His flock. He was not for Himself, but for the Lord, and the flock the Father gave to Him.

What does this say to us?

For leaders: lead for the sake of heaven and those entrusted to your care. For parents: parent for the sake of your children. For teachers: teach for the sake of your students. You can fill in other professions, positions, and vocations. But what about everyone else?

The word translated as shepherd has several meanings in Hebrew: shepherd, companion, and friend. So …

Be a friend: for the sake of those in need of a friend. Be a companion: for the sake of the lonely. “For the sake of …” out of consideration for someone else’s good, done for their benefit.

Yes, Moses was speaking of a national leader, but this was a national leader of leaders. Yeshua is our eternal leader, the Good Shepherd, Who has established shepherds for shepherds, friends for friends, and companions for companions. The tending of His flock.

No matter what He has called you to, do so, for the sake of those in your care; and others, or even those tended to, will also do unto you (Matt. 7:12).

Be well. Shalom.