Shelach “send thou”
It is customary for religiously practicing Jews to read from an annual cycle of weekly Old Testament readings called Torah Portions. This is said to be the same reading schedule that was taught every Sabbath in the Synagogues during the times of Jesus in the first century.
As Christians exploring the Torah portion cycle we must maintain a balance of including the Old Testament, the prophets, and the gospels in our weekly bible study.
Torah Portion Name and Readings-
Shelach is the Hebrew word for “send thou” or “send out”, this is the name for the weekly Torah Portion reading for the Numbers starting in chapter 13 verse 1 and going through chapter 15 and verse 41.
Prophets and New Testament-
It is also important to point out that along with the Torah portion readings and teachings, there are what are called Haftarah portions which are readings from the Bible in the books of the prophets. This week’s haftarah readings come from the book of Joshua in chapter 2 verse 1 through verse 24.
The gospel readings incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of Matthew in chapter 10 with verses 1 through verse 14.
Torah Portion Overview-
In this torah portion we don’t get a census but instead more action, as Israel prepared to go into the promised land. Twelves spies are sent out by Moses to spy out Canaan and they spy out the land and the produce. They see the amazing produce of the land but they also see giants and they are afraid! The spies (except Caleb and Joshua) bring a bad report. They cause the people to become afraid and the people complain against The Lord, Moses, and Aaron and The Lord heard it. The Lord grew angry, because the people did not believe the Lord. Because of this and the 10 times they tested Him He wanted to wipe them out. Moses interceded for the people that they would not be destroyed and Moses reminded Yahweh of His great name and His great character. Yahweh promised to forgive but also to judge those who complained against Him and that all would die and not see the land except for Caleb, because he believed the Lord and was faithful. Yahweh spoke highly of Caleb and said that he had a different spirit, a different attitude. Judgement came quickly on the spies that brought the bad report and they died. Again Israel disobeyed and tried to go into the land after Yahweh had said that they would not. For Yahweh had decreed that they would all wonder for 40 years and die, and that their children, whom they were afraid would die, would be the ones to enter the land. The people who tried to go in without The Lord are repelled and are slaughtered. Next we get some laws and instructions on sacrifices and offerings. Another instance of disobedience occurs when a man is caught breaking the Sabbath and he is put to death. Finally the torah portion ends with the command to add blue fringes to their clothes to remind them to be faithful.
Today I want to talk about the faith of Caleb and Joshua. Caleb and Joshua were faced with the same information as the spies that brought the bad report. But while the bad spies said that they would die, Caleb saw the people as just bread, something that would be consumed! Whereas the bad spies saw death, Caleb and Joshua saw the protection of the Lord. Whereas the bad spies saw how large the people were Caleb and Joshua saw only how big God is!
“At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. And they reported to him and said, “We came to the land to which you sent us; it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Yet the people who live in the land are strong, and the towns are fortified and very large, and besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the land of the Negeb; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites live in the hill country, and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we.” So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim), and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us choose a captain and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites. And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the Israelites, “The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only, do not rebel against the LORD, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” But the whole congregation threatened to stone them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.”
Numbers 13:25-14:10 (NRSVue)
Not only did they bring a good report when so many others were bringing a bad report, but they faced certain death and remained faithful! Caleb and Joshua were going to be stoned for what they said, yet they did not recant or relent. They believed the promises of God and that He would bring the people to the promised land. They saw the miracles of God and knew that He was with them! If God was with them then what did it matter how big the nations were, or how large the people! They believed in God. The New Testament calls us to be like Joshua and Caleb and to believe in God.
“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
Romans 8:31 (NRSVue)
The 10 spies that brought a bad report relied on what they saw in the world around them. They saw the strength of their enemies, and the danger that faced them. Instead of looking to God they looked at themselves. They saw that they could not and so believed they would die. And in the end, they did. Instead, we are called to look to the Lord. He is our source, when we are not, He is I AM! He is able to accomplish what we cannot.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSVue)
Our true hope, the one we put our faith in, is Yahweh! Jesus spoke often about not worrying, yet all too often I give into fear and worry! I look at my surroundings and see danger and fear, just like the 10 spies. Instead we should look to Him, focus on Him and have faith.
Consider this, we do not know what is inside of us until we are tested. When we are faced with trial and temptation then we find what we will really do. In the same way, we do not know if we really believe until we are tested. In that test, in that trial, we should look to Christ. For we alone cannot overcome, we do not have what it takes. But He does! He is our strength, our fortress, our refuge from trouble!
“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”
Psalm 62:5-8 (NRSVue)
Let us be like Caleb and Joshua, and have faith and trust in God!
Torah Portion Scriptural Highlights-
Numbers 13:1 Twelves spies are sent out by Moses to spy out Canaan and they spy out the land and the produce.
Numbers 13:25 The spies (except Caleb and Joshua) bring a bad report.
Numbers 14:1 The people complain against The Lord, Moses, and Aaron and The Lord heard it.
Numbers 14:13 Moses interceded for the people that they would not be destroyed and Moses reminded Yahweh of His great name and His great character.
Numbers 14:20 Yahweh promises to forgive but also to judge those who complained against Him and that all would die and not see the land except for Caleb, because he believed the Lord and was faithful.
Numbers 14:36 The spies that brought a bad report died in a plague.
Numbers 14:40 The people disobey and try to go up into the land and are rebuffed.
Numbers 15:1 Laws on sacrifices and offerings.
Numbers 15:32 A man is put to death for breaking the Sabbath.
Numbers 15:37 The command for blue fringes.
Haftarah (Prophets) Scriptural Highlights-
Joshua 2:1 The two spies sent by Joshua to Jericho are hidden by the prostitute Rahab and she and her family are promised safety.
Brit (Gospel) Scriptural Highlights-
Matthew 10:1 Jesus gives the 12 Disciples authority and sends them out as Apostles.
To Watch an overview of this week’s Torah Portion CLICK HERE