Massei

Posted by in Numbers / Bamidbar | במדבר

Massei

  Massei – מסעי – Journeys
Numbers 33:1-36:13

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them. (Numbers 33:55-56)

Many times, we look at what is happening around the world, especially in the middle east, and we ask why? Why are so many nations against Israel? Why is Israel surround by enemies? In this week’s Torah Portion, God gives Israel a specific command to drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan. Let us fast forward in the scriptures.

8 With the other half-tribe, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD gave to them; 9 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, with the city which is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba, as far as Dibon; 10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the sons of Ammon; 11 and Gilead, and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah; 12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for Moses struck them and dispossessed them. 13 But the sons of Israel did not dispossess the Geshurites or the Maacathites; for Geshur and Maacath live among Israel until this day. 14 Only to the tribe of Levi he did not give an inheritance; the offerings by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as He spoke to him. (Joshua 13:8-14)

Israel did not obey the command of God, they did not drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan and they suffered for it throughout history. If Israel had obeyed the command of God, the Bible we read today would be very different. Samson probably would not have died the gruesome way that he did. David probably would not have killed a giant.
God warned Israel that if any of Canaanites remained that they would become like barbs in Israel’s eyes and thorns in their sides. God also warned them that if they did not drive out all of the Canaanites that He would do to Israel what He planned to do to the Canaanites. History shows that Israel was driven out of the Land not once, but twice.

It has been over 50 years since Israel has returned to the Land and the inhabitants are still like barbs in their eyes and thorns in their sides. Looking at everything that Israel has gone through, it is safe to conclude that God’s judgment found in this week’s Torah portion is still in effect. Despite whether or not the current world government known as Israel is living under God’s commands one thing is true; they are still God’s people and we are grafted in with them, we are one with Israel. What happens in Israel affect us all. On September 29, 2011, the United Nations will hold a meeting to decide if Israel should go back to the pre- 1967 borders, a move that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says would weaken Israel’s defense. Let us hope that Israel gets a favorable vote that day.

As you go throughout the week, remember that we are a part of Israel. Pray for our brothers in Judah. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for the whole house of Israel. Pray for God’s shalom to cover us all.