Parasha Pinchas 5782

Me

Today is a special and exciting day here at CMC, one we have been waiting impatiently on for about two years now…

(Talk about relationship with Toby and Brooke…)

And funny it is pretty crazy how things line up sometimes when God is on the move, because when we scheduled Toby’s S’michah for this Shabbat this week’s Parasha wasn’t even on my mind and it is so amazing looking at how all of this played out timing wise with the S’michah and Parasha Pinchas coinciding.

We

God

This week we read Parasha Pinchas, Numbers 25:10-30:1, which begins with the continuation of the narrative of Pinchas (Phineas), the grandson of Aharon, who killed Zimri the Nassi (prince) of the tribe of Simeon and Cozbi the Midianite woman for their flagrant disregard of the Presence of God and the holiness of Israel with their idolatrous prostitution in front of everyone. Because of his zeal for the Lord, HaShem makes covenant with Pinchas of shalom and everlasting priesthood.

In Numbers 26 we come to the end of the first generation of Israel out of Egypt with the plague that Pinchas stopped, and Moses is commanded to count the warriors of Israel once again to determine the number of 2nd generation warriors Joshua and Caleb will be going into battle with.

Chapter 27 opens with the daughters of Zelophehad approaching Moses and asking for their father’s land inheritance as he died in the wilderness and had no sons. Adonai granted their request with some qualifications required to be upheld so that the land inheritance remains with the tribe of Manasseh and isn’t gained by another tribe through marriage.

In the latter half of chapter 27 we see the commission of Joshua (which is replayed in Deuteronomy 31 as well).

Numbers 28 and 29 reiterate, and to some regard with more detail, the Moadim of Adonai, as always beginning with the most important of these Moadim—the Weekly Shabbat.

This Shabbat, however, I want to focus on one specific part of Parasha Pinchas. This is something I believe is vital for us as followers of Messiah to understand, and also something I believe is divine timing for us considering the events of this Shabbat here at CMC. As we dig into the Parasha I want us to keep this principle on mind…

We must continue to fan the flame of the Ruach HaKodesh which is upon us through the laying on of hands.

So let’s dig into the Parasha together this Shabbat…

Numbers 27:12–14 TLV

Then Adonai said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and look at the land that I have given to Bnei-Yisrael. When you have seen it, you will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered. For in the wilderness of Zin during the strife of the community, you both rebelled against My Word instead of honoring Me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Two weeks ago, in Parasha Chukat, we read about Moses being instructed by HaShem to speak to the rock but instead he struck it as he did the first time. However, this failure to follow Adonai’s instruction as laid out before him and their actions not esteeming Adonai as holy before B’nei Yisrael cost Moses and Aaron their admittance into the Promise Land. Moses and Aaron found themselves in the same boat as the rest of the first generation of Israel who left bondage in Egypt and never truly, fully acclimated to faithfulness to God as they journeyed through the wilderness.

So here we see Moses seeing the realization of the consequences of his actions, or rather lack there of, at the rock. Adonai tells Moses he will not only not cross into the Promised Land, but He has now instructed Moses that his time has officially come to an end.

But, what is extremely interesting to me is that even facing the finality of his life Moses’ innate reaction as a leader is to intercede on behalf of the flock HaShem has assigned to him.

Numbers 27:15–17 TLV

Moses spoke to Adonai saying, “May Adonai, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community to go out and come in before them, who will lead them out and bring them out so that the people of Adonai will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

The cry of Moses’ heart even as he faced the end of his ministry and ultimately the end of his life was for the people of Israel. He beg the Lord to not leave them as sheep without a shepherd, to not leave them wandering aimlessly. This is a very keen observation of the nation as a whole and their needs, especially considering the entire time they were shepherded by Moses they were in constant need of the shepherds rod correcting them and the path they walked and the pastures they attempted to eat from.

Moses was a shepherd who knew well the heart of his flock, and his flock knew his voice. He knew without a spiritual leader the nation would wonder in all the wrong directions… What’s more is he knew without a spiritual leader the nation would make the same mistake that cost him his entrance to the Promised Land, they would fail to esteem Adonai as holy before the nations. And this was the most important call upon Israel, they were called to be a light unto the Nations.

So Adonai responded:

Numbers 27:18–21 TLV

Adonai said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Ruach, and lay your hand on him. You will have him stand before Eleazar the kohen and the entire assembly and commission him before their eyes. Give to him some of your authority so that the whole community of Bnei-Yisrael will obey him. He will stand before Eleazar the kohen, who will pray and obtain judgments for him by Urim and before Adonai. At his mouth, they will go out and at his mouth they will come in, he and all the community of Bnei-Yisrael with him.”

Now what is really interesting about Parasha Pinchas is that we see a theme of succession throughout. First we see the succession of the priesthood being given as an eternal covenant to Pinchas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the kohen. This succession is very important because it is a succession that is ordained specifically by God.Tradition says that the reason this covenant with Pinchas was made as we see in Numbers 25 is because the covenant of the priesthood made with Aaron was made with Aaron his sons Nadav, Avihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar and their sons born after. However, tradition says Pinchas was already alive before this covenant was made and as such was not a part of the priestly covenant. However because of his actions of zeal for the holiness of Adonai in the killing of Zimri and Cozbi the covenant of priesthood was extended to him.

But notice the contrary nature of Pinchas’ esteeming of Adonai’s holiness verses that of Moses with the rock…

The second concept of succession we see in Parasha Pinchas is the numbering of the second generation who will enter the Promised Land of which their parents were unable to take possession because of their lack of faith when the 10 spies brought back an evil report.

Next we see the succession of land inheritance for the daughters of Zelophehad a Manassite who died at some point in the wilderness journey and had no sons. His daughters approached Moses about inheriting their father’s portion of the Promised Land so his name would not die out among his brothers.

Lastly, we see what we are focussed on today, the succession of leadership of Israel from Moses to Joshua. With Pinchas is was a divine instruction for the covenant of priesthood to pass on in succession through Pinchas. But in this case it was the leader of Israel, Moses realizing the limitations of his leadership and lifespan asking God to provide a shepherd in his place to lead Israel in their coming and their going.

What I think is most important of this account is the precedent of s’micha being established by HaShem. He commands Moses, as we read a moment ago…

Numbers 27:18–20 TLV

Adonai said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Ruach, and lay your hand on him. You will have him stand before Eleazar the kohen and the entire assembly and commission him before their eyes. Give to him some of your authority so that the whole community of Bnei-Yisrael will obey him.

Remember, Joshua was one of the only two spies who brought a good report back of the Promised Land to B’nei Yisrael, Joshua and Caleb. Remember, Joshua was also Moses right hand throughout their wilderness journey. So it is no surprise that, as the Lord says, the Ruach HaKodesh was already upon Joshua at the time of his calling to take over leadership of Israel.

Then Adonai tells Moses to lay his hands upon Joshua, the very definition of the term S’micha (laying on of hands) and to bless him before the Kohen and the entire assembly of B’nei Yisrael. In the s’micha a portion of the mantle and authority of Moses was transferred to Joshua in preparation for the job that laid before him.

Now, the fullness of this transference of leadership isn’t seen in its entirety until we get to Deuteronomy 31… But the anointing had already been placed on Joshua to accompany the indwelling of the Ruach HaKodesh within his heart and life. The stage had already been set in preparation for when Moses’ life would come to an end and Israel’s journey would press forward to possess the Promised Land.

We must continue to fan the flame of the Ruach HaKodesh which is upon us through the laying on of hands.

We see a similar account in Luke 9 with Yeshua and the disciples. He calls the twelve together and anoints them with power and authority over demons and disease… In other words, the disciples were given a portion of the Ruach HaKodesh, not the fullness of the Ruach as is seen in Acts 2… But they were given the power of the Ruach and sent out to proclaim the Good News of Messiah every where they went.

Luke 9:1–6 TLV

Now when Yeshua called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no travel bag, no bread, no money, nor even to have two shirts. Whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there. And whoever does not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a witness against them.” So they went out and began traveling throughout the villages, proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.

The disciples then went out and proclaim the Good News and signs and wonders were performed through them. Then we read…

Luke 9:10 (TLV)

When the emissaries returned, they described to Yeshua all they had done.

They then continued to walk with Yeshua in ministry, day in and day out… They were very literally fanning the flame of the Ruach within them as they ministered with Yeshua, as they witness the signs and wonders He performed, as they saw people healed, lives changed, the dead rise, the imprisoned set free, and so much more. Now, this isn’t to say they didn’t have their moments of weakness and doubt… Heck, we see this in the following verses of Luke 9 when yeshua feeds the five thousand with two fish and five loaves.

We see it also, obviously, when Yeshua dies and they more or less throw in the towel and go fishing thinking all is lost… But, ultimately they encounter the resurrected Yeshua and are right back on track. Then in Acts 2 they encounter the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh and experience the fullness of the anointing that God was placing upon their lives. And as we read through the book of Acts and the rest of the Brit Chadashah we see the disciples continue to fan the flame of the Ruach in their lives and encourage others to do the same.

We see Paul encounter the S’micha of the Ruach HaKodesh in Acts 9…

Acts 9:10–17 TLV

Now there was a disciple named Ananias in Damascus. The Lord said to him, “Ananias.” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street named Straight, and ask in the house of Judah for someone from Tarsus named Saul. For look, he is praying; and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man—how much harm he has done to your kedoshim in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the ruling kohanim to tie up all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a choice instrument to carry My name before nations and kings and Bnei-Yisrael. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” So Ananias left and entered into the house. Laying hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Yeshua, the One who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—has sent me, so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”

Paul previously was responsible for great persecution of the Body of Messiah. But now is having a divine encounter with Yeshua and Yeshua sends disciples to lay hands on him and lead Him to the knowledge of Yeshua and the empowering of the Ruach HaKodesh. Paul experienced the power of the Ruach through the laying on of hands. Paul was fully aware of the anointing that went with it and the necessity to fan the flame of the Ruach daily. Paul then becomes a tremendous powerhouse for the Kingdom of Messiah, especially in the diaspora.

But Paul is also a prime example of Parasha Pinchas’ message of succession for the sake of the Kingdom. Everywhere Paul went he raised up the future of the Body of Messiah. He continually gave S’micha to those that he raised up to carry on the call of furthering the Kingdom of Messiah at all costs. We see this with Luke, with Titus, with Timothy, and with so many more… Just take a quick glance at the salutation of any of Paul’s letters and you’ll see the many, many people he built up to carry on the work of the Good News to Jew and Gentile alike.

But, as we see in 2 Timothy 1, Paul was well aware of the necessity to continue to press into the Ruach, to continue to build up our walks with the Lord, to continue to commune with the Lord, to continue to spend time in worship and prayer, to continue to spend time in the Word faithfully… The anointing of the Ruach is freely given to those bought by the Blood of the Lamb, but it is a flaming fire that must be constantly stoked in order to see the fullness of what God wants to do in and through us.

2 Timothy 1:3–6 TLV

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my forefathers did, when I continually remember you in my prayers night and day. I remember your tears, and I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I recall the genuine faithfulness within you, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure it is within you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

If we want to experience the fullness of the anointing of God in our lives, if we want to see God use us to change to lives of others, if we want to be part of bringing Tikkun Olam…

Just as Paul encouraged Timothy, we must push forward in the anointing of God. We must be like Joshua receiving the anointing and authority of Moses ready to usher our people into the Promises of God. We must be lie Elisha picking the mantle of Elijah and receiving a double portion of his anointing. We must be like the twelve disciples being sent out in the S’micha of the Ruach to lead the world around us to the freedom and healing only found in Messiah Yeshua.

We must continue to fan the flame of the Ruach HaKodesh which is upon us through the laying on of hands.

Now, this message is one that is a key to revival… For far too long the body of Messiah has been stagnant… We have been complacent with status quo… We have been complacent with preaching the Good News with evangelism and apologetics… But it is time we catch a fire under our hides… It is time we recognize there is a fire burning within us that desires nothing more than to be set ablaze and overcome us…

If we want to see revival then we, the Body of Messiah, those bought by the Blood and filled with the Ruach HaKodesh must begin to faithfully and daily press into the fire of the Ruach HaKodesh.

But, this isn’t just a message for our mishpacha or for the Body of Messiah, although it is indeed a call to arms for each and everyone of us. But Toby, this message is for you as well. Today we gave you s’micah as assistant rabbi here at Congregation Mayim Chayim… Today we laid hands on you and prayed for you as you step into this next phase of your calling. It is now time that you press into the fire of the Ruach like you have never experienced before. You are now, like Moses and Joshua, like Elijah and Elisha, like Yeshua and the disciples, like Paul and Timothy, on the front lines of ministry. You are answering the call to become a shepherd in the Kingdom of God.

So, Toby, today is the first day of a new reality for you… Today is the day that you begin to fan the flame of the Ruach HaKodesh not just for your own life and as the leader of your family, but as a rabbi… Today you begin to live a life that should be an example to the flock God has called you to be a part of leading to set an example of fanning the flame of the Ruach and pressing into revival for our congregation.

And, mishpacha, it is not mine and Toby’s job, it is not our leadership team’s job, it is not our worship team’s job to fan the flame in your life… Everything that happens here at CMC is a part of that process, but the biggest piece of the puzzle is what happens in your day to day lives at your own homes, what happens when you are at work, when you are driving your car, when you are out in the community… We are in the end of days, no doubt about it and I believe we are at the cusp of the latter day out pouring. But, the truth of the matter is there has only ever been one revival, it began in Acts 2 and it has never ended… We are either in it or we’re not… It is time that we press into the revival of the Ruach and it is time we recognize…

We must continue to fan the flame of the Ruach HaKodesh which is upon us through the laying on of hands.

You

We

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

So, what is holding us back from walking in the fullness of revival, in the fullness of the power and presence of the Ruach HaKodesh in our lives, from the world around us seeing signs and wonders as the Ruach operates through us?

Like we said last Shabbat, the only thing that can stop God’s blessing and move in our lives is us… The fire of the Ruach HaKodesh is burning within each of us as followers of Yeshua, and He wants to move in and through us to impact our families, our social circles, our congregation, our city, our state, and the world as a whole. But we must fan the flame of the anointing that is on us continually…

You guys hear me talk time and time again about the importance of discipleship, and you’ll probably continue to hear me hone in on that over and over again. But this is how we fan the flame, how we stoke the fire of the Ruach within us. We must continually press deeper and deeper into the Presence of God.

This world is spiraling quickly and the Body of Messiah has a divine anointing, a divine calling to reach the lost with the Good News, to speak life into people, to the broken healed, the imprisoned set free, the chains broken on those bound by sin and darkness, the dead rise, and so much more!!!

People came up to Yeshua as He was ministering just hoping to grab ahold of His Tzitzit, and not just the woman with the issue of blood, trusting in complete faith that they would be healed. People chased after Peter and the disciples in Acts hoping that their shadow would fall on them and they’d experience healing and freedom… The key is they continually fanned the flame of the Ruach, and the same Power of the Ruach, the same revival experience is available for us today if we are willing to walk in it, if we are willing to be fully devoted disciples of Yeshua, if we are willing to fan the flame of the Ruach within us and give God the freedom to move in and through us.

Are we ready for real change, for real revival? Are we ready to see signs and wonders? Are we ready to see chains break and people find freedom in Messiah in our midst? Are we ready to see hundreds and thousands come to faith in Yeshua as we read about in the book of Acts? Let’s walk in the Power, let’s live in the Power, let’s press into the Power and fan the flame of the Ruach!!!