Parasha Sh'lach L'cha 5783

Me

This week we read Parasha Sh’lach L’cha, Numbers 13:1-15:41. Parasha Sh’lach covers a ton of ground, most of which we will be unable to completely and adequately cover today, but as a brief synopsis: we begin with chapter 13 and the 12 spies of Israel (one from each tribe) being sent out across the Jordan to reconnoiter the Promised Land, and then 10 of the 12 come back with an evil report about the Land and the nation rejects it. In chapter 14 we see Israel grumbling and complaining about the bad report they’ve now heard, they try to mutiny against Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Caleb try to calm the crowd and encourage them to push forward, Moses intercedes for the nation and reminds HaShem of the 13 Attributes found in Exodus 34:6-7, and the Lord condemns Israel to 40 years in the wilderness until the first generation dies out, and Israel suddenly gets indignant and tries to take the Land anyways and fails horribly. In chapter 15 the Lord describes how offerings by fire should be presented as a fragrant aroma before Him once Israel actually enters the Land, He delineates between unintentional and intentional sin, and lastly our Parasha this week concludes with the command to wear Tzitziyot.

(Talk about the struggle to to have a kid …)

We

We all likely have an idea of how this waiting pattern feels…

Odds are, we all have a pretty good idea of what it feels like while waiting on God’s plans for our lives to play out…

Whether we’re waiting on that home that we know is waiting for us…

Or the new job…

Or that financial blessing…

Or we’re waiting on family to come to faith…

Or waiting on a health miracle in our own life, or that of our friends and family…

God

Principle: G-d’s calling and promises are not contingent on an easy life, so our faith must not waver when we face challenges.

(Repeat)

(Expound)

Numbers 13:1–3 TLV

Adonai spoke to Moses saying, “Send some men on your behalf to investigate the land of Canaan, which I am giving to Bnei-Yisrael. Each man you are to send will be a prince of the tribe of his fathers, a man from each tribe.” So according to the word of Adonai, Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran. All the men were princes of Bnei-Yisrael.

(Expound)

Numbers 13:6 TLV

From the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh.

(Expound)

Numbers 13:8 TLV

From the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun.

(Expound)

Numbers 13:17–20 TLV

As he sent them to explore the land of Canaan, he said to them, “Go up there through the Negev, then go up into the hill country. See what the land is like and the people living there, whether they might be strong or weak, few or many. In what kind of land are they living? Is it good or bad? Also, what about the cities in which they are living? Are they unwalled or do they have fortifications? How is the soil—fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

(Expound)

Numbers 13:23–33 TLV

When they reached as far as the Valley of Eshcol, they cut a single branch with a cluster of grapes. It was carried on a pole between two of them. They also cut some pomegranates and some figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster cut by Bnei-Yisrael. They returned from investigating the land after 40 days. They traveled and returned to Moses, Aaron and the entire community of Bnei-Yisrael at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They gave their report to them and the entire assembly. They showed the land’s fruit. They gave their account to him and said, “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey—this is some of its fruit. Except, the people living in the land are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw the sons of Anak there! Amalek is living in the land of the Negev, the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites are living in the mountains, and the Canaanites are living near the sea and along the bank of the Jordan.” Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “We should definitely go up and capture the land, for we can certainly do it!” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We cannot attack these people, because they are stronger than we.” They spread among Bnei-Yisrael a bad report about the land they had explored, saying, “The land through which we passed to explore devours its residents. All the people we saw there are men of great size! We also saw there the Nephilim. (The sons of Anak are from the Nephilim.) We seemed like grasshoppers in our eyes as well as theirs!”

(Expound)

Numbers 14:1–10 TLV

All through that night, the entire community raised up their voices. The people wept. All Bnei-Yisrael grumbled against Moses and Aaron and the whole community said, “If only we had died in Egypt! If only we had died in this wilderness! Why is Adonai bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be like plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” They said to each other, “Let’s choose a leader and let’s go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the entire assembly of the community of Bnei-Yisrael. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes. They said to the whole assembly of Bnei-Yisrael, “The land through which we passed is an exceptionally good land! If Adonai is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land and will give it to us—a land flowing with milk and honey. Only don’t rebel against Adonai, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They will be food for us. The protection over them is gone. Adonai is with us! Do not fear them.” But the whole assembly talked about violently stoning them. Then the glory of Adonai appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all Bnei-Yisrael.

(Expound)

Principle: G-d’s calling and promises are not contingent on an easy life, so our faith must not waver when we face challenges.

(Expound)

Talk breifly about Yeshua and Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:22-34 then transition to the narrative in Mark 7…

Mark 6:45–52 TLV

Right away, Yeshua made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. After leaving them, He went up on the hillside to pray. And when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and He was alone on the land. He saw the disciples struggling to row, for the wind was against them. Around the fourth watch in the night, Yeshua comes to them, walking on the sea; and He wanted to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought He was a ghost and cried out— for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately, He spoke to them. He said, “Take courage! I am. Do not be afraid.” Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped. They were utterly dumbfounded, for they still hadn’t understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

(Expound)

Principle: G-d’s calling and promises are not contingent on an easy life, so our faith must not waver when we face challenges.

(Expound)

Psalm 46:2–12 TLV

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth change, though the mountains topple into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at their swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God— the holy dwelling place of Elyon. God is in the midst of her, she will not be shaken. God will help her when morning dawns. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms totter, He utters His voice, the earth melts! Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah Come, see the works of Adonai, who brings devastations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear. He burns chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations. I am exalted in the earth.” Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us. The God of Jacob is our strong tower. Selah

(Expound)

Machaseh (verse 2) means a shelter one runs to

Misgav (verse 8 & 12) means a defensive structure like a fort, high tower, something like a military installment

Principle: G-d’s calling and promises are not contingent on an easy life, so our faith must not waver when we face challenges.

(Expound)

You

(Call worship team up)

So, what are you impatiently waiting on the Lord for in your life today?

Are you waiting on God’s call on your life to materialize?

Are you waiting for your children or your parents to come to faith?

Whatever it is, are you truly waiting on God? Are you truly patiently and humbly giving Him the room to move in your life? Are you letting Him bring about His promises at His time?

Or are you beginning to doubt Him? Or trying to make His promises come about in your own strength? Are you beginning to give into doubt and fear because the waves and the storm are becoming too much for your own strength?

We

If our worship team will make their way back up to the stage.