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Parashah 36: B'ha'alotkha (When you set up)

Parashah 36: B'Ha'alotcha (When you set up); Numbers 8:1 through 12:16.

Haftarah (Writings and Prophets): Zechariah 2:14-4:7.

B'rit Hadasha (New Testament): John 19:31-37; Hebrews 3:1-6.

Summary & Overview TORAH

o Numbers 8:1 | The Seven Lamps

o Numbers 8:5 | Consecration and Service of the Levites

o Numbers 9:1 | The Passover at Sinai

o Numbers 9:15 | The Cloud and the Fire

o Numbers 10:1 | The Silver Trumpets

o Numbers 10:11 | Departure from Sinai

o Numbers 11:1 | Complaining in the Desert

o Numbers 11:16 | The Seventy Elders

o Numbers 11:31 | The Quails

o Numbers 12:1 | Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses

Last week we looked at the “elevation” of the Priesthood, discussing the standards and requirements for Spiritual Leadership in a Congregation related to the tasks of “carrying the Tabernacle” as well as the Nazarene Vow, a special dedication people committed to, consecrating themselves to YHVH for a period of time of time. The name of this Torah Portion is “B'ha'alotkha” that comes from verse 2 where YHVH is saying to Aaron; “when you mount the lamps” or “light the lamps.”

Q – Why is this Torah Portion starts with the Menorah?

The Menorah is an indication of how we are to go through this Wilderness; it is to carry His light in our midst, shining in this dark world and in dark times. The Book of Numbers, or B’Midbar, is about travelling through the Wilderness and represents a “dark time” that every person will go through, particularly during the end times, when the whole earth will go through a time called the Great Tribulation. This is

the time when YHVH’s people will shine and draw people into the Kingdom prior to His Coming.

The Menorah is found in the Holy Place, the place of relationship with Y’shua, the Word of YHVH. This is the place where you build up your relationship so that you can shine and be like the Menorah to people that do not know YHVH yet. Then after describing the Menorah, it goes into the section of the dedication of the Levites, the ones who are to facilitate and teach the Word to the congregation. This shows us that we are to share what we have learned as a resulted of our relationship with YHVH.

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Travelling through the Wilderness

There are two ways to look at this “travelling through the Wilderness” experience. The first way is to see yourself as one of the people of Israel, who followed Moses through the Wilderness, identifying some of the characteristics described in Scripture, so that you can learn from their behaviour. Are you like one of the Israelites who look forward to the Promised Land or are you constantly

looking back to Egypt? Are you the one that praises YHVH in the midst of this Wilderness experience, or are you the one murmuring and complaining about the majority? Are you the one that helps and supports the cause and actually does something, or are you complaining and talking about your leaders? Are you the one who will make it or will you “die in the Wilderness?” Think about it.

The second way to view this is to see yourself as one within the larger group. From Scripture, we learn that YHVH sometimes treats the whole of Israel as one person, just like He refers to the followers of Messiah as His Bride. Not only that, the whole group can be negatively affected because of one person’s sin. That is the other way to view yourself as part of a collective group that makes up the people of Israel. We know these groups as Assemblies, Congregations and Churches, the place where you fellowship and express your faith with fellow believers. That particular Assembly or Fellowship you belong to, is seen as a “person” from YHVH’s point of view, and you must ask yourselves, is “she” righteous before YHVH and is He pleased with “her”? If not, then you as an individual will receive the same consequences, together with the rest of that Body, for any of the individual’s misconduct. This principle holds true for families as well, where YHVH will deal with the family as a unit, even if an individual member of the family rebel and sin. The Sabbath is a good example where YHVH said that you and any member, even people working and living with you, should honour the Sabbath. The “rules for the house” applies to everyone living in that “house.”This is why the decision where you fellowship is so important, they can pull you up or drag you down, because of the actions of individuals in that Congregation.

Personal Application: The principle of the “collective group,” that makes out “one person” from YHVH’s point of view, can be seen in your life as well. You are one person that consists of “different areas” or parts in your life. Some parts of you are eager to follow YHVH, and other parts are more fleshly and tend to murmur and complain. Some areas are there that makes you proud and make you feel worthy, and other areas need some work because they tend to pull you down. All the areas in your life will be challenged as you “travel through the Wilderness,” and you will become a better person at the end of every “Wilderness experience” because parts of you will die, and parts of you will come out stronger. We know that all the people who longed back to Egypt, who complained or rebelled, they all died out. Only the parts of you who follow and obey YHVH will make it at the end of this journey.

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The key is to just keep on following His Word and let the part of you who want to serve Him, grow stronger so that they will accompany you to the Promised Land. Just like you lose weight when exercising, you will “loose weight” and “baggage,” becoming healthy, slim and fit, trained and disciplined as a Soldier in the Army of YHVH.

Dedication of the Firstborn and the Priesthood

Num 8:10, 14-18 So you shall bring the Levites before YHVH, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites;11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before YHVH like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of YHVH. 14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. 15 After that the Levites shall go into service the Tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and offer them like a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel. 17 For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself.18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel. 19 And I have

given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

The Levites were counted for the sake of redemption. If YHVH redeems you, He owns you, just like the Levites belonged to YHVH. We see the same principle in V16 where it states that the Firstborn from the Children of Israel, as well as the firstborn of the animals, belong to YHVH. The Levites were then taken in the place of the Firstborn of the children of Israel, “redeeming” the Firstborn. Then they were given as a “gift” to Aaron, the High Priest. In the same way, we as His Priesthood is chosen in the place and on behalf of the “Children of Israel” (rest of believers who are not the Priesthood) and become a “gift” to Y’shua, our High Priest. This is what YHVH sees when you dedicate yourself as we discussed the Nazarene vow in the previous Torah Portion. People who devote themselves to YHVH, living more disciplined lives, are like His Priesthood” who are given to Him as a “gift.”

Gift is the word “nathan” ]tn that means, “gift, offering, set, lay upon, bring

deliver, consecrate, appoint.”

Verse 17 describes how the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain and taken for YHVH as an “offering,” that can also be seen as a “gift”, but in a different sense and outcome. Are you a “gift” that is taken or are you a “gift” that voluntarily give yourself unto Him?

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Spiritual Application: You can choose what type of “gift” you would like to be; you can stay in the world and “pay for your sin” with your own blood, or you can become part of Israel, who are redeemed by the “Work of the High Priest,” and the “work of the Priesthood,” who makes atonement for you, so that no “plague” would come near you and your household.

You can also decide to become one of the Priesthood, that is a “gift unto Y’shua,” doing the work

with Him to help the people stay on the Path that leads to the Promised Land. The “Atonement Work” starts with the Work of the Messiah and the Blood of Lamb, and continues with the work of the Priesthood, helping them while they travel through the Wilderness until His Second Coming. Which is the one you identify with, the person in the world, a child of Israel (believer) that happy with Salvation, but is not ready to commit to the next level where you help with the work of the Priesthood? We all should strive to become part of the Priesthood, who helps the people in the world come to faith and assist the believers (Israel), to enter the Promised Land safely.

To summarise: The Levites exist for the benefit of Israel and Israel exists for the sake of the world. If you refuse to choose Him, you will become the “gift unto Him” in the form of a “sacrifice,” where you have to die for your own sins and atone for your sins with your own blood, just like the Egyptian First Born. If you choose Him out of free will, then you will become dedicated (offer yourself up) unto Him and are in service to YHVH (spiritual sacrifices).

Offering (Sacrifice) Offer up (Dedication) The unrighteous does not accept the

call and become the offering/die The righteous offer themselves up

and are set apart.

Death of body 100% Dedicated – death of fleshiness

Gift in the form of a Sacrifice (qorban) Gift to High Priest (Priesthood)

The firstborn of Israel also had to die because of the sin of Isreal, just like the Egyptians, but YHVH chose the Levites in their place. The Levites became the “gift” unto YHVH so that they, in turn, can offer up sacrifices on behalf of Israel.

This “Sacrificial System” facilitated the “atonement process” and is also known as the “System of Grace.” Now the blood of animals can be shed in the place of man’s blood, facilitated by the Levites. Later on. Y’shua became the ultimate “First Born” Who shed His Blood on behalf of all humanity over all generations, atoning for all sin since Creation until the end of time.

Q – Why is “death” required to make atonement?

Sin came into this world through Satan’s lies and brought death upon man and a curse upon YHVH’s Creation. We also know from Scripture, Lev 17:11, that life is in the blood. Man’s fallen nature and YHVH’s cursed Creation had to be restored back to its original state. This is done by replacing the LIE with TRUTH. We will see this process in the following Word Picture:

Death is the word “muth” tvm and YHVH is represented by an Aleph a = 26

= YHVH.

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If you add the Aleph to the word “muth,” meaning that YHVH had to face death,

then the word “muth” tvm or death changes to “emeth” tma, that means

“Truth”. The truth is what is needed to “neutralise” the effects and consequences of the Lie, restoring back YHVH’s Creation and man’s fallen nature. When YHVH faced death in the form of Y’shua, Truth was released in the earth and became the solution to the problem. It is only the Truth that came from Y’shua the Messiah that was “good enough” to counter the “Lie,” this truth is also known as the Torah, because Y’shua is the Word that became flesh and dwelled among us, to teach us how to implement this Truth in our lives. Then, after returning to His Father, He sent His Spirit that writes the “emeth” or Truth in our hearts, and that is the event that changes your nature back to the original elevated state. Without His Spirit, you will have the fallen state, even if you have the Torah because it is only His Spirit of truth, Who can reveal His Truth from His Torah that will change your nature. You need both, His Torah and His Spirit!

Carrying the Ark through the Wilderness

Israel spent one year at Sinai before they started their journey through the Wilderness. They travelled in order of the Tribes, starting with Judah Issachar and Zebulun. Then followed the sons of Gershon and Merari, carrying the Curtains and Coverings and the Structure of the Tabernacle. Then the next three Tribes followed Ruben, Simeon and Gad. After them, came the Kohathites who carried the Ark of the Covenant, the Menorah and all the art effects and furnishings inside the Tabernacle. They generally arrived after the Tabernacle was set up so that they can just walk in and set up all the furnishings and do the final setup. Following and protecting the Koharites, were Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin, and then the last three Tribes, Dan, Asher and Naphtali. This placed the Ark of the Covenant right in the middle, six tribes before them and six tribes following them.

Deut 10:33 And they departed from the mount of YHVH three days' journey: and the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

This verse contradicts what we just read concerning the way Israel was set up, as they travelled through the Wilderness. We learned from the previous passage that the Kohathites carried the Ark of the Covenant and was situated in the middle of the twelve Tribes. Here we see the Ark of the Covenant travelling in front of the company, leading the way.

Q – What is going on, is Scripture contradicting itself?

We can only understand this if we jump to the Book of Deuteronomy and get some more insight. There actually were two Arks. We are all familiar with the Golden Ark with the two Cherubim that contained the Tablets with the Ten Commandments given to Moses.

Deut 10:1-4 At that time YHVH said to me, ‘Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the Mountain and make yourself an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in the ark.’

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3 “So I made an ark of acacia wood, hewed two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. 4 And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which YHVH had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and YHVH gave them to me.

Deuteronomy comes from the Greek word Deuteronómion, Δευτερονόμιον, that is made up of two words, “duo” and “nomos” that means “two laws” or "second law." We find a record of Moses ascending the Mountain a second time to get a new set of Commandments because he broke the first set of Tablets when Israel worshipped the golden calf. We read from this passage that Moses made an Ark, this is an Ark only made from acacia wood, that is different to the Ark made by Bezalel from shittim wood, mentioned in Exo 37. This event where Moses went up the second time was prior to the construction of the Tabernacle and the building of the second Ark that was covered with gold.

These new tablets are placed in the wooden Ark and later on transferred to the Golden Ark, and the broken tablets were then placed in the Wooden Ark. This Wooden Ark was the Ark that was carried in front of the 12 Tribes, and went ahead with the Tribe of Judah.

Q – What does this all mean?

We will look at the differences between these two Arks to gain some insight.

Wooden Ark – Broken Tablets Golden Ark – Perfect Tablets Plain, only made from acacia wood, a sign of humility and humanity.

Made from shittim wood and covered with gold – gold depicts aspects of kingship or divinity.

Moses made this Ark – his name means “drawn from the water”. (Physical)

Bezalel made this Ark – his name means “in the shadow of Elohim. (Spiritual)

Everybody saw this Ark - revealed This Ark was covered and never seen - hidden

Contained broken tablets made by YHVH and engraved by YHVH.

Contained perfect tablets made by Moses and engraved by YHVH.

Tablets were broken instead of people – Tablets rejected as a result of people’s rebellion and sin.

Tablets are for the sake of the people. Tablets accepted and received by people after judgement.

Spiritual Application: The two Arks represent the Messiah, His First Coming when He came to the earth in the form of a humble servant, because

of His Commandments that were broken. He went in front, ahead of the King, the Golden Ark, representing His Second Coming.

When He comes again, He will bring with Him the undefiled perfect Tablets, the Commandments that are not “broken”,

defiled and misinterpreted or changed by man. He will come and teach us His perfect Torah from the Mountain.

Isa 2:3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the Mountain of YHVH, To the House of the Elohim of Jacob; He will teach us His Ways, And we shall walk in His Paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, And the Word of YHVH from Jerusalem.

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Moses’ name means “drawn from the water” and show us the human aspect of Messiah that relates to the Wooden Ark that contained YHVH’s “not so perfect” Commandments. This Ark went out with Judah (man), and “broken” as a result of man’s inability to convey or teach YHVH’s Commandments compared to King Y’shua, the ultimate Teacher of Torah.

The other aspect of the Wooden Ark being with Judah is gleaned from the prophecy Judah received from his father, Jacob. It said that he holds the sceptre, and he is the lawgiver or “protector and teacher” of the

Commandments. This shows us that his interpretation of the Commandments is not perfect, and his best efforts to fulfil his purpose was not good enough and caused him to teach from “broken tablets”, just like looking into a broken mirror with shattered pieces, only conveying a partial image of His Character and His Torah. We as humans only have a “Wooden Box” understanding with “broken Tablets” of His Ways.

The Hidden Book

Num 10:35-36 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: “Rise up, YHVH! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” 36 And when it rested, he said: “Return, YHVH, To the many thousands of Israel.”

The Sages teach that these two verses are so powerful, that they make up a separate Book of the Torah, dividing the Torah Portion into three different Books and changing the five Books of the Torah to seven Books. When you go to a traditional Synagog, you will hear verse 35 every time they take out the Torah Scroll, and verse 36 every time they put away the Torah Scroll. What is interesting is, that these two verses, stand alone and have nothing to do with the preceding or following verses. In the Hebrew text, there is a large space and an inverted “Nun” on either side, separating it from the rest of the chapter. This highlights these two verses and YHVH is about to reveal something profound, bracketed between these two “nun's.”

The letter “Nun” n means “fish” and this “Book” is found

within these two fish. We know from the Berit Chadashah (NT) that the fish reveals the Spirit of Messiah that was upon His Disciples that made them “fishers of men,” and the fish representing the Gentiles. What is fascinating is that there is a constellation that is represented by Two Fish; the sign of Pisces, that we are in for the last 2000 years. This is also known as the “Age of the Gentiles.”

Q – When will the Age of the Gentiles end?

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The Age of Aquarius begins when the March equinox point moves out of the constellation of Pisces and into the constellation of Aquarius. But there’s no definitive answer as to when that will be. The Age of Pisces is an astrological age, which shifts roughly every 2,150 years and the next 2000 years we will be in the Aquarian Age. We have been in the transition from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age for the last half-century. Some believed it started from December 21, 2012 when the great alignment took place. The reality is that we cannot pinpoint it exactly and is up for speculation. The reason we would like to know is that it will indicate the beginning of the Time of Judgement and the Second Coming of Messiah.

The passage prior to the first “Nun” reveals an invitation to the Gentiles where Moses invited Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law to join Israel. The next section after verse 36, after the second inverted letter “Nun,” you find judgment by fire coming upon YHVH’s people. This is ending the “age of the fishers,” where all Gentiles are invited, and followed by the judgement of the earth as described in Matt 24 and the Book of Revelation.

Q – What is the message to us living in the Age of the Gentiles?

We find this message “within the fish-brackets” and is for the people who live in the time of the “Age of the Gentiles,” that is us.

“Rise up” is the phrase that is the word “qum” ,vq that means, “rise, perform,

set, establish, accomplish.” The letter “Qof” q means “back of the head” or

“repentance,” “Vav” v means “man” and “Mem” , means water that represents

YHVH’s Word. Repentance can only happen if man is exposed to the Word or Torah of YHVH. This word is first found in Scripture in Gen 4:8 where Cain “rose up” and killed his brother.

Spiritual Application: This is the age we live in; the age where believers or brothers in faith will “kill one another” because of doctrinal differences and different ways of “offering up sacrifices” to YHVH (how we serve and worship Him). YHVH approve of some ways and other ways He rejects. The aim is to find out what YHVH prefers and try to please Him, instead of doing what we like and pleases us. As Gentiles consists of, and comes from diverse cultures, will cause them to interpret and understand the Word in different ways.

For example; if you have different views on head coverings, (kipah or tallit or woman’s head covering), you should not “stab your brother or sister to death” with your words because of your

understanding or “cultural convictions.” All these things are cultural traditions that are not commanded in the Torah. Do not judge those who wear them and do not judge those who do not. If it helps you with your dedication to YHVH, then go for it, but if you prefer not to keep that tradition, you are free to do so. These fall into the category of “Grey Areas” that exist in Scripture, and these “areas of understanding” will differ and are “Tests” to see if we can live in love with one another. Repent and do not “kill” your brother or sister in Messiah over these differences.

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“Return” is the word that starts the phrase; “Return YHVH…. many thousands of Israel.” “Return” links with “rise up” being the first words of each of the

phrases. Return is the word “shuv” bvs that mean “to return, to answer, to

deliver and to restore.” The Age of the Gentiles is where YHVH will deliver man and restore them with the people of Israel or “Straight ones of Elohim,” also known as “Righteous People of Elohim.” In the previous Torah Portion, we saw how YHVH asked us to return to His Ancient Path, that is His Torah. [Jer 6:16-19] The people refused to do so and they who rebel, will bring calamity upon the Congregation, just like the judgement of fire that came upon His people, the section after the “second inverted nun.” This “inverted nun” is an indication of repentance as well. In the context of what we just discussed, this implies that those who enforce their “ways of offering” (Context of Cain and Abel’s offerings), the wrong ways of “offering” or worship will bring calamity on the Congregation as well.

Spirit of Complaining

Num 11: 1-5 Now when the people complained, it displeased YHVH; for YHVH heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of YHVH burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to YHVH, the fire was quenched.3 So he called the name of the place Taberah,[a] because the fire of YHVH had burned among them.

Complained is the word “anan” ]na. This word is only used twice in Scripture

and the second place is in Lam 3:39 written by Jeremiah, who was called the “weeping Prophet,” because he saw the destruction of the Temple and the people taken into captivity by the Babylonians. This passage in Lamentations consists of three parts; the first part is about complaining and lamenting, the second part is about revealing the goodness of YHVH, and the third part is the reason why calamity happens and why we should not complain.

Lam 3:1-6 I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. 2 He has led me and made me walk In darkness and not in light. 3 Surely He has turned His hand against me Time and time again throughout the day. 4 He has aged my flesh and my skin, and broken my bones. 5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and woe. 6 He has set me in dark places Like the dead of long ago.

He carries on and complain for the next 15 verses, and then within the midst of the complaining, reveals these beautiful words that everybody is familiar with:

Lam 3:22-27 Through YHVH’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “YHVH is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 YHVH is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of YHVH. 27 It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth.

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Then we have the verses that indicate to us that he realised that it will not help to complain, but rather trust and praise YHVH. We see that the reason for the calamity that came upon Israel, that resulted in the complaining, actually comes from man’s own doing, a result of their own sin.

Lam 3:37-39 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When YHVH has not commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed? 39 Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Personal Application: The things we do as individuals, as well as the things the “collective group” or Assembly does, can bring calamities upon His people because of our sin. Before you complain you should stop for a minute and ask yourself, why am I in this situation and why does it seem that YHVH is not with us. Do introspection and ask YHVH to reveal your sin, and the collective sin of the Congregation, so that you can deal with it and move on, walking in YHVH’s blessings again. The key message we learn from Jerimiah is to see YHVH as our hope and salvation, even if we caused the calamities. We also learned to praise Him within the situation and give Him glory even if we suffer. Reverse the effects of disobedience and search the Truth, that will remove the Lies and Curses that is upon YHVH’s people and upon His Congregation.

Num 11:4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”

The Spirit of complaining is present prior to the actual complaining. We read in Num 11:4 that there was a “mixed multitude” or a collection of people from all backgrounds. They cultivated the cravings for flesh and the complaining only started when someone mentioned it first. This craving was cultivated and collectively created by the mixed multitude. Be careful with you hang out with negative people who are prone to complaining. If you mix with negative people, it will rub off, and you will become just like them and receive their “reward” with them.

Personal Application: The other key learning is to try and see the good in people, to try to “catch someone doing good.” If you look for negative things, that is all you will see because people make mistakes. When you see a brother or sister stumble, do not bash them over the head with the Commandments, or “stab them to death” with your tongue, rather help them up and speak life through kind words of encouragement.

Do not convict them of their ”sin”, that is the job of YHVH’s Sprit, He will convict them, your job is to support them and help them to stand up and walk in the Truth of His Torah again, not in traditions.

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Give me Meat!

The people complained about the food, because they got fed up with the manna that YHVH send from heaven, they complained because they wanted meat.

Q – What does the meat and the manna represent?

Meat is the word “basar” rsb. They hungered for

flesh and despised the manna. Basar comes from the root word “basar” that means, “good news, good tidings, messenger, to preach.”

This word is first found in Scripture in 1 Sam 4:17 where a messenger (basar) brought a message to Eli, news about his two sons who were killed and the Ark of the Covenant that was taken. This does not sound like good news at all.

Spiritual Application: One of the meanings of the word “basar” is “preacher.” In the context of the “message” that is “good news” we make the connection to the messages that is preached today that is perceived as “good news” to the hearer. These messages can be “bad news” if people “die” or when it does not contain the essence of the “Ark of the Covenant” and the “Commandments” of YHVH. These “good news” messages can refer to the Gospel message of salvation through Messiah that is preached, but it can also mean the “good news messages” that “tickle the ear,” teaching only things that people would like to hear. These messages are “fleshly” to feed those who seek “flesh/meat” instead of “manna.” This will cause spiritual death to the “offspring” of these Teachers because they do not receive the Truth that is only found in the Torah or the Ark.

The other “Good News” or Gospel message is when Preachers do not move pass the message of Salvation and the Cross. This message is not moving past the “Mountain” and does not contain the full Truth that is contained in the Ark of the Covenant. Feeding on this message alone will also cause spiritual death to the members of those Congregations.

Manna is “supernatural food” that is given freely while you travel through the Wilderness after you encountered the Mountain and the Commandments. If you travel through the Wilderness without mana, you will definitely die spiritually. Manna is also found in the Bert Chadashah (NT) in the Book of John.

John 5:48-51 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

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Spiritual Application: Y’shua referred to Himself as the Beard from heaven, that is Manna, but man desired “flesh” instead. Think about it, people travelling through the Wilderness rather seek things of the flesh rather than things that enhance and feeds the spirit. When you go through a tough time, are you typically see if there is something you can do to “fix it” instead of asking YHVH for an outcome.

The other aspect of this picture is, that during this period called the Wilderness or “Age of the Gentiles,” people will desire “fleshly things” rather than the “bread of life,” Who is Y’shua. They will be lovers of money and seek after their own pleasures, so busy with their own lives and careers, that they have no time for YHVH. Even within the Body of Messiah, people will be self-centered and seek their own desires, making YHVH a “tool” to resolve their issues and make their “life work” instead of having a relationship with Him.

The other aspect of manna is that you have to go and pick it up yourself, it is not something that you are spoon-fed by someone else. You have to take your Bible and study the Word in order to have a personal relationship with Y’shua, that will get you out of the Wilderness and into the promised Land.