Parsha: Shlach Lecha “send for yourself”
Torah: B’mid’bar 13:1 – 15:41
This week’s Torah Lesson begins in last week’s Torah Readings and culminates in this week’s readings. Here is what happened last week:
29 And Moshe said to Chovav, (Ruel the Midianite,) Moshe’ father in law, We are journeying to the place of which Avinu said, I will give it you: come you with us, and we will do you good: for Avinu has spoken good concerning Israel. 30 And he said to him, I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my kindred. 31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray you; for as much as you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you may be to us instead of eyes. 32 And it shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that what goodness Avinu shall do to us, the same will we do to you. (B’Midbar 10:29-32)
Moshe’s begging his father in law to join Israel and help them find their way through the wilderness is a direct affront to Avinu. It appears that Moshe has lost trust in Avinu’s ability to lead them through the wilderness. It isn’t clear who asked Avinu or if He was reacting to the grumbling of the people but regardless of the stimulus, Avinu’s answer was clear:
1 And Avinu spoke to Moshe, saying, 2 Send you men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moshe by the commandment of Avinu sent them from the wilderness of Paran: (B’Midbar 13:1-3)
When the spies returned, ten of them brought an evil report about the land and it’s residents. Two spies brought a good report but the people decided to believe the ten. A rebellion was about to erupt but the presence of Avinu scared the people into submission. When the dust settled, this is what Avinu had to say:
26 And Avinu spoke to Moshe and to Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say to them, As truly as I live, said Avinu, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. 30 Doubtless you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which you said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your prostitutions, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise. 35 I Avinu have said, I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. 36 And the men, which Moshe sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander on the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report on the land, died by the plague before Avinu. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still. 39 And Moshe told these sayings to all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. (B’Midbar 14:26-39)
The break in trust for Avinu had culminated in a raucous demonstration by the leaders and common children of Israel. The verdict was swift and sharp. The predicted death toll would be in the millions over the next fourty years. The entire generation would die in the wilderness because of their lack of faith. Here is what Shaul teaches:
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living Avinu; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Meshiach if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 4:1 ¶ Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And Avinu rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of Avinu. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as Avinu did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of Avinu is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua the Son of Avinu, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 3:7-4:16)
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