Bamidbar “in the wilderness”
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-
Bamidbar is the Hebrew word for “in the wilderness”, this is the name for the weekly Torah Portion reading for the Numbers starting in chapter 1 verse 1 and going through chapter 4 and verse 20.
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 Hosea in chapter 1 verse 10 through chapter 2 verse 20.
The gospel readings incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of Matthew in chapter 4 with verses 1 through verse 17.
Torah Portion Overview-
In this torah portion we get a lot of censuses. First God commands Moses to take a census of Israel, every male 20 years old and up (except the Levites). Next commandments are given for the tribe of Levi to serve and camp around the Tabernacle. The tribes of Israel are assigned camping positions on the sides of the Tabernacle, forming around the tabernacle to put it at the camps center. We then get a mini census, a list of Aaron and his sons (the current priests). The Levites are then instructed to serve the Lord and serve the priests (Aaron’s family). It is also stated that Aaron’s family will serve as priests. Next comes another census. Whereas the census of Israel counted the men of war, the census of the Levites seems to focus on those who will server the Lord, however, they are listed as early as a month and up. The Levites are given responsibilities. Moses takes a census of every Israelite firstborn a month old and up and instructs that they must be redeemed. Finally, the last census in this Torah portion is Moses taking a census of the Kohathites from age 30 to 50 and describes their service.
In the Torah, and indeed, in ancient Israel, who you descended from was important. A man’s ancestors were a source of honor or shame, because their actions and faith were seen as something that transferred to their descendants.
This is why genealogies were so important. They showed who you came from, and so in a way, explained who were are. They provided honor or shame to you, giving you a place, hopefully, to start life. Think of it kind of like being born into money today. It’s not that everything you do will be changed, it’s that being a descendant of someone who was honorable gave you a good place to start. You were born a person of status.
That is why so many claimed that they were children of Abraham. Abraham was faithful, obedient, and righteous! Thus, to be born a “son” or “daughter” of Abraham was to be in a place of honor, a place of distinction. To a Jew, this was everything. They took great pride in being sons of Abraham.
In the New Testament we see a change. For now we see a people who were not entirely made up of Jews, not all were natural born sons of Abraham. What was to be done? Are the Christian Jews to be seen as so much greater than the Gentiles? No. Paul, in one of his great works, explains that the status of ones birth has been wiped clean. You are not judged, good or bad, based on your genealogical status. Instead, all are seen as one people, a people of faith.
“There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:28-29 (NRSVue)
If you belong to Christ, that is, if you are a member of the family of God, adopted by the grace and mercy of Yeshua that He showed at the cross, then you are Abraham’s offspring. But how? How does belonging to Christ make us of Abraham and not natural birth? Abraham was promised that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Paul sees this blessing as the forgiveness of sins. When we, as Gentiles, receive forgiveness and have our sins washed clean we are receiving a great blessing.
“Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered; blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”
Romans 4:7-8 (NRSVue)
In the Old Covenant, the covenant was started with circumcision. Those who were of the covenant were all circumcised. This was the way of entry into the covenant family of Israel. Would the New Covenant then require Gentiles to be circumcised in order to enter into this family of Abraham? No, because, as Paul points out, God made a promise to Abraham before he was circumcised. Thus when we receive of the promise, that is, Jesus, we enter into the family of Abraham. Not with the cutting of the flesh, but with the promise of life!
“Is this blessing, then, pronounced only on the circumcised or also on the uncircumcised? We say, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.”
Romans 4:7-12 (NRSVue)
Thus we enter into this promise, this covenant, without circumcision. This does not mean that circumcision is bad, just that it is not required. We enter in because of faith, because we believe the promise of God and accept His son as our Savior! His voice echos to us in Scripture, promising to us life everlasting, that we are not only forgiven of our sins, but that we are His family. We are not the fleshly family of Abraham, but we are the spiritual family of Abraham. Thus, we see that Christian Jews, those of the flesh of Abraham, and the believing Gentiles, come together in the Messiah. We are no longer Jew or Gentile, that is, we do not receive status by our genealogy but by our faith in Him!
“It is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those descended from Israel are Israelites, and not all of Abraham’s children are his descendants, but “it is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.”
Romans 9:6-8 (NRSVue)
Rejoice in Him! He is our life, He is our hope, He is everything! Because of what Jesus did we have this life, and this promise. Because of what Jesus did we can receive the promise of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. This is our hope, if we endure to the end, we will be saved!
Torah Portion Scriptural Highlights-
Numbers 1:1 God commands Moses to take a census of Israel, every male 20 years old and up (except the Levites).
Numbers 1:48 The tribe of Levi shall serve and camp around the Tabernacle.
Numbers 2:1 The tribes of Israel are assigned camping positions on the sides of the Tabernacle.
Numbers 3:1 The sons of Aaron are listed (the priests).
Numbers 3:5 The Levites serve the Lord and serve the Priests and Aaron’s family serves as priests.
Numbers 3:14 Moses takes a census of the Levites a month old and up and they are given their responsibilities.
Numbers 3:40 Moses takes a census of every Israelite firstborn a month old and up and they must be redeemed.
Numbers 4:1 Moses instructed to take a census of the Kohathites from age 30 to 50 and describes their service.
Haftarah (Prophets) Scriptural Highlights-
Hosea 1:10 Israel will grow and be restored as children of God and will be united with Judah.
Hosea 2:1 Israel will be punished for her unfaithfulness and idolatry.
Hosea 2:14 Yahweh will have mercy on Israel and restore her.
Brit (Gospel) Scriptural Highlights-
Matthew 4:1 Jesus is tempted by the Devil in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:12 Jesus moves to Capernaum and starts His ministry.
To Watch an overview of this week’s Torah Portion CLICK HERE