From: Wendy Mcnulty
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Parashas Sh'lach l'Cha

Parashas Sh'lach l'Cha

"Send for Yourself!" (Part 1 of 2)

Bemidbar/Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah Reading: Yehoshua 2:1-24
Brit Chadasha Reading: Ibrim 3:7-19

Written By Rebbetzin Wendy McnultyCngregation Davar Emet
Union Of Two House Messianic Congregations

Parashas Sh'lach l'Cha represents yet another portion of the Book of
Bemidbar (Numbers) that is full of prophetic Two House and Messianic
significance; as is the its Haftarah portion, Yehoshua (Joshua) 2:1-
24. The Brit Chadasha portion relating to this Parashas provides
believers with a warning to heed Yahweh's Word and not to be stiff-
necked and rebellious as in the example of the Israelites during their
wilderness wanderings.

In fact, this week's Parashas provides the historical account of a
dramatic turning point in the life of the nation of Israel. It is the
incident of the "evil report" of the men who spied out Cana'an. Their
report fuelled a rebellion against Mosheh's leadership, which resulted
in Yahweh decreeing that the entire adult generation of Israelites who
had left Mitzrayim (Egypt), with the exception of Yehoshua and Caleb,
would perish during 40 years of wilderness wandering. Only their
children would enter Cana'an. The Parashas also provides the first
example of Sabbath breaking, the law of tzit- tzit (fringes) and the
challah offering, the basis upon which the weekly Shabbat Challah
tradition is founded.

The expression Sh'lach l'Cha means "send for yourself". It is found
in Bemidbar 13:2 - "Sh'lach l'cha (send for yourself) men (anashim) to
spy out the land of Kena'an, which I am giving to the children of
Yisra'el. Send one man from each tribe of their fathers, everyone one
a leader among them."

The Hebrew word anashim, translated "men" in this verse, is an
expression which means "worthy, capable men" such as would be
respected by the community. The men sent forth by Mosheh to spy out
the Promised Land were men deemed to be "above average" as it were.
Yet, these trustworthy, reliable, wise men of Israel quickly fell prey
to doubt and rebellion against Yahweh. It brings to mind 1
Corinthians 10:12, "So he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest
he fall."

We will study this week's Parashas in nine sections:

1) The Mission - Bemidbar 13:17-25
2) The Cluster of Grapes - Bemidbar 13:23
3) "Good Words Turned Bad" - The Evil Report - Bemidbar 13:26-14:10
4) Exemplary Leaders and Yahweh in their Midst - Bemidbar 14:5-28
5) Discipline - Discipline (A Word Study)
6) Too Little, Too Late - Bemidbar 14:39-45
7) Caleb and Yehoshua - Two Men, Two Houses -Bemidbar 13-14
8) Reconciliation and Remembrance - Bemidbar 15
Repentance & Forgiveness/No Foreign Israelites/Challah &Tzit-Tzit
9) Intentional vs. Unintentional Sin - Bemidbar 15:22-31

The Mission - Bemidbar 13:17-25

In modern geographical parameters, the Israelite spies searched out
Cana'an from the area southwest of the Dead Sea (Wilderness of Zin -
vs. 21) to Hebron, north to the area of the present day Syria/Lebanon
borders (Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath - vs. 21). In 13:22, we
find them traveling to Hebron (about 18 miles southwest of Jerusalem)
and to the Valley of Eschol (Valley of the Cluster - vs. 23-24) which
is thought to be near the present day Arab village of Burj Haskeh, two
miles north of Hebron. The mission began in mid-to-late July (verse
20 - the "season of the firstfruits of grapes"). Verse 25 tells us
that they spied out the land for 40 days. Could there also be a
prophetic nuance given here to the 4000 years between the Flood and
the return of Messiah? For the past 4000 years the children of
Israel/believers in Yahushua have "checked out" their eternal
inheritance, but not yet entered into it fully as we will when
Yahushua returns so that we truly take possession under Yahushua our
Military Leader and Great High Priest. Remember, Yehoshua, who led
the children of Israel into the Promised Land, is a Scriptural "type"
of Yahusha our Messiah.

Mosheh's instructions to the men in Bemidar 13:17-20 make it clear
that this was not just a military recognizance mission. He wanted to
know about the agricultural capacity of the land, so that the children
of Israel could prepare themselves to live there. So, too, the
children of Israel will be gathered from the four corners of the world
by Messiah and returned to the land where they will live on the lands
of their tribal inheritance (Yehezekel/Ezekiel 47:18-48:35).

We also learn from this portion that Caleb of the Tribe of Judah and
Hoshea (re-named Yehoshua by Mosheh) of the Tribe of Ephraim were
among the men who entered the Promised Land on the recognizance
mission. They are soon to plan a vital role in defending the
authority of their leader Mosheh and the honour of Yahweh as their
Protector and Provider.

The Cluster of Grapes - Bemidbar 13:23

Bemidbar 13:23 presents us with a beautiful prophetic picture of the
Two Houses of Israel. Let us take a look at the Scriptural "types"
mentioned here and what they represent:

The cluster of grapes represents all Yisra'el. Yisra'el is Yahweh's
Vineyard (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 5). The cluster of grapes was so large
that one man along could not bear it. This is symbolic of the
fulfillment of Yahweh's covenant promise to Abraham that his seed
would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand by the sea.

Two men - The two men who carried the cluster of grapes represent
Ephraim and Judah, the Two Houses of Israel, which will be reunited
when the "Two Sticks" prophecy of Yehezekel 37 is fulfilled at
Messiah's return. Neither House, Judah nor Ephraim, can carry forth
the completion and fulfillment of Israel's role to be a light to the
nations. The Two Houses must be restored and reunited for the Nation
of Israel to be complete and function as the "one new man" that Yahweh
has provided for in Yahushua. (We will also see this symbolism played
out in the account of Yehoshua and Caleb in Bemidar 14 and in the two
spies of Yehoshua 2.)

The pole: The Hebrew word used in this verse for the word "pole" is
tAm - mot (pronounced m-oh-t). It is used in only four places in The
Scriptures: Bemidbar 4:10 and 4:12, Bemidbar 13:23, and Nahum 1:13.
It means "a carrying frame, a pole, a yoke." It comes from the root
word tAm - mot - which means "to be shaken, to be moved, thoroughly
shaken". In Bemidbar 4:10, the "pole" is the pole used to carry the
Menorah when the Camp of Israel traveled. The Menorah, as we have
seen, represents Yahushua as the Light of the World. In Bemidbar
4:12, the "pole" is the one used to carry the altar when Israel
travelled. Of course, the symbolism is clear: Yahushua offered
Himself as our Pesach Lamb on the heavenly altar to redeem us from
sin. In Nahum 1:14, the word "mot" is translated "yoke" and the
prophet foretells that Yahweh would break the yoke and the shackles
of Nineveh and Beliya'al off of Israel. In Nahum 1:8 which proceeds
this verse, the word translated Nineveh is actually the Hebrew word
magom which means the place where you have been dwelling and Beliya'al
in Nahum 1:11 means wickedness, trouble, worthlessness. Only
Yahushua's sacrifice can break that yoke off of mankind to remove
sin's "shackles". Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the nation
which toppled the Kingdom of Israel and took Israel/Ephraim into
captivity, scattered the captives throughout their empire. In Nahum
1:15, the House of Yehudah is commanded to "observe your festivals,
perform your vows." Judah's festivals and vows are fulfilled in
Yahushua. Returning to the verse in our Parashas, Bemidbar 13:23, we
find that the "pole" carrying the cluster of grapes (Israel) as a yoke
across the shoulders of the two men (The Two Houses, Ephraim and
Judah) is none other than Yahushua haMashiach. Only in Him, can
Ephraim and Judah be reunited into one Israel - echad - multiple
things in one unity, as in Debarim/Deuteronomy 6:4, The Shema.
Indeed, Yahushua prayed to His Father in Yochanan 17:11: "Set-apart
Father, guard them in Your Name which You have given Me, so that they
might be one (echad in Hebrew, mia in Greek) as We are."

The Pomegranates: In our recent studies on the Seven Species in
preparation for Shavu'ot, we discovered that the pomegranate pictures
Messiah in two ways. Firstly, a pomegranate is said to have 613
seeds, the exact number of the Torah commandments. These seeds are
concealed under the flesh of the pomegranate. Yahweh's Torah, His
Word, His Commandments took on flesh and dwelt in our midst. Each
pomegranate seed has a pure white centre/heart veiled in translucent
red flesh which "bleeds" when punctured, as the sinless Yahushua bled
on our behalf. Again, in the pomegranates carried back from the
Promised Land on the pole with the cluster of grapes, we see yet
another shadow of Messiah.

The Figs: The fig tree is used symbolically of Israel a few times in
Scripture. Yahushua is called "Israel" by Yahweh in Yeshayahu 49:3.
In Bemidbar 13:23, we have the fruit of the fig tree being brought
back from the Promised Land to Mosheh and the children of Israel. In
our Shavu'ot teachings, we learned that figs have healing properties
that have been used in the past and even today to treat certain
physical illnesses, particularly those of the flesh.

In Bemidbar 13:23, a short verse, given double emphasis by repetition
in verse 24, we have an account of one cluster of grapes bearing born
on a pole between two men, also carrying pomegranates and figs. This
is the pashat, or literal, meaning of the verse. However, the remez,
or deeper meaning of the verse reveals a rich tapestry of prophetic
Messianic symbolism: The nation/people of Israel carried upon the
shoulders of the Two Houses of Israel, Ephraim and Judah, yoked
together by Yahushua haMashiah, together with the Torah/Word of Yahweh
symbolized by the pomegranate, and the healing powers of Yahushua
haMashiach represented by the figs - the very healing properties that
the nation of Israel is to take forth from the Promised Land to the
ends of the earth as a "Light to the World" and the representatives of
Yahushua haMashiach here on earth.

"Good Words Turned Bad" - The Evil Report - Bemidbar 13:26-14:10

The contingent of "spies" return from their 40 day journey
and "unburden" themselves, as it were, three times, each time growing
progressively more emotion-charged and exaggerated.

First, they report to Mosheh and Aharon within hearing of the
congregation of the children of Yisra'el (13:26). The report begins
factual and positive, "We went to the land where you sent us. And
truly, it flows with milk and honey and this is its fruit." (13:27).
Next comes the infamous word, "BUT", at the beginning of verse 28.
They then proceed to describe strong inhabitants and walled cities
with Amaleqites, Hittites, Yebusites, Amorites and Kena'anites
dwelling in the land. These people groups were enemies of Yisra'el
and the report resulted in a tumult amongst the people that Caleb had
to silence (vs. 30) before he could speak to them to provide counter-
balance to the fear-inciting words of his compatriots. Basing his
conviction on the strength of Yahweh in their midst, Caleb speaks to
the people, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are
certainly able to overcome it."

The men who had spoken negatively then took issue with Caleb and
argued that Yisra'el would not succeed against the Canaanites and
"gave the children of Yisra'el an evil report of the land which they
had spied out" (vs. 32) telling them that "it is a land eating up its
inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great
size. And we saw there the Nephilim, sons of Anaq of the Nephilim.
And we were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their
eyes." (vs. 32-33)

The men had now turned from reporting to Mosheh and Aharon, their
leaders, and were directly addressing the children of Yisra'el
inciting rebellion amongst the people. Given all the signs and
wonders they had witnessed at the Hand of Yahweh in their midst, one
might expect that the children of Yisra'el would not have been worried
by "men of great size". They had the Creator of the Universe in their
Camp, going before them into battle. Yet, Chapter 14 tells us that
the people "lifted up their voices and cried, ... And all the children
of Yisra'el grumbled against Mosheh and against Aharon..." (14:1-2).

A pity party ensued amongst the people (vs. 2-3), which lead to a bit
of an insurrection in Bemidbar 14:4: "And they said to each other,
"Let us appoint a leader, and let us turn back to Mitzrayim."
Eventually, despite a humble and ardent response from Mosheh and
Aharon, and Yehoshua and Caleb, the people actually became so incensed
with emotion that they were going to stone their leaders: "But all
the congregation said to stone them with stones." (14:10)

Exemplary Leaders and Yahweh in their Midst - Bemidbar 14:5-28

Facing yet another rebellion by the children of Yisrael, so soon after
the quail incident, one might think that Mosheh would throw up his
hands in disgust and frustration, but Bemidbar 14:5 tells us that
"Mosheh and Aharon fell on their faces before all the assembly of the
congregation of the children of Yisra'el." Once again, the servitude
and humility of Mosheh is demonstrated.

In an act of sorrow and repentance before Yahweh, Yehoshua and
Caleb "tore their garments" (14:6) and proceeded to plead with the
children of Yisra'el to return to reason and confidence in Yahweh's
ability to defend them and lead them to victory (14:7-9), but their
pleas fell on stiff necks and deaf ears.

Just as the rebellious mob picked up stones to pelt their
leaders, "the esteem of Yahweh appeared in the Tent of Meeting before
all the children of Yisra'el." (vs. 10). Now remember, the pillar of
cloud or fire was with the Camp continually and was always visible.
This verse indicates that the Shekinah glory of Yahweh manifested
Itself in a very visible and dramatic manner to "all the children of
Yisra'el". Yahweh's response to the rebellion reverberates still
today:

"How long shall I be scorned by these people? And how long shall I
not be trusted by them, with all the signs and wonders which I have
done in their midst?" (14:11)

Ready to smite the children of Yisra'el with pestilence and
disinherit them, Yahweh is beseeched by Mosheh to spare His people, to
be merciful to them, lest the nations around them speak evilly of
Yahweh and His ability to provide for His people. One should note
from verse 12 that Mosheh did this for the children of Yisra'el even
when faced with the potential "plum" of having Yahweh make of him "a
nation greater and mightier than they." No more rebellion, no more
frustration, a fresh start! Truly, Mosheh did walk in the example
which Yahushua later set for His followers. He endured the sufferings
at the hands of his people and gave his all to spare and save them
from annihilation at the Hand of Yahweh ... a punishment which the
children of Yisra'el had certainly worked hard to merit!

Mosheh reminded Yahweh of His own Words, that (verse 14:18): "Yahweh
is patient and of great kindness, forgiving crookedness and
transgression, but by no means leaving unpunished, visiting the
crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth
generation." These words come from Shemoth 34:6-7 in the account
where Yahweh hides Mosheh in the cleft of the rock, covers Him with
His Hand, and allows His goodness to pass by.

The result of Mosheh's humble and ardent intercession for the
children of Yisra'el is Yahweh's discipline and not the destruction of
the nation. In Bemidbar 14:22, Yahweh makes it clear that the
rebellious adults have "tried Me now ten times, and have disobeyed My
voice." Yahweh is patient, but the children of Yisra'el had been
sorely trying His patience. As a result, all adults of that
generation ages 20 and above would not inherit the Promised Land.
They would wander about in the Wilderness of Sinai for forty years, a
year for a day of their spy mission and evil report. During that
time, the generation would pass away and their children would become
adults. Only Caleb and Yehoshua, who did not participate in the evil
report, would be permitted to enter the Promised Land (vs. 14:30),
together with the "little ones", the children. The children would
grow up in the wilderness and enter the land; the very children whose
lives the rebellious adults kept complaining that Yahweh was
endangering. The children would bear the consequences of their
fathers' sins during the 40 years of wandering, but they would not
perish as would their parents.

Yahweh, as a loving Father, does discipline His children. Discipline
is rarely pleasant. We, as His children, do not experience His wrath.
His punitive wrath will be unleashed in the future against all who
are not His, who have not come to Him through Yahushua haMashiach,
haDerek, haEmet, v'Chaim - the Way, the Truth, the Life ... the only
way to the Father, past, present and future. He is the "once for all"
Pesach offering and our Yom Kippur atonement.

"Whom Yahweh loves, He disciplines" (Ibrim 12:6, Mishle 3:12). He is
all-knowing, we are not. We make presumptions and base actions on our
limited, finite knowledge of circumstances. Yahweh "works all things
together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called
according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) The Scriptures repeatedly
tells us that if we love Yahweh, we will keep His commands, we will
submit to His authority. While the 40 year term of their correction
may have seemed harsh, Yahweh had been patient, yet the children of
Yisra'el had provoked and tried Him ten times, despite abundant signs
and wonders and the Presence of Yahweh in their minds. Their hearts
and minds kept desiring the past, Mitzrayim, with its fleshy
pleasures. This generation was not the generation to put their
shoulder to the yoke and possess Cana'an. With their eyes, and their
hearts, so quickly averted from Yahweh's will, they would have
perished and their children with them. They would have caused their
children to become "the prey" that they were accusing Yahweh of
endangering them with.

Discipline - Disciple (A Word Study)

From The Winston Dictionary of Canadian English:

Discipline: N 1) Strict training of mind or character; 2)
obedience, self-control, or order resulting from this; 3) punishment
given in order to train or correct. V 1) To train to be obedient or
efficient, keeping in order or under control.

Disciple: N. A person who accepts the teachings of a leader and helps
to spread them, especially one of the followers of Yahushua.

"Do your utmost to present yourself approved to Elohim, a worker who
does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth" (2
Timothy 2:15)

"And you have forgotten the appeal which speaks to you as sons, "My
son, do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, nor faint when you are
reproved by Him, for whom Yahweh loves, He disciplines and flogs every
son whom He receives. If you endure discipline, Elohim is treating you
as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers,
the you are illegitimate and not sons. ... But He does it (discipline)
for our profit, so that we might share in His apartness." (Ibrim
12:5-8, 10b)

"Thus you shall know in your heart that as a man disciplines his son,
so Yahweh your Elohim disciplines you, therefore you shall guard the
commands of Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in His ways and to fear Him."
(Debarim 8:5-6)

"And you shall hear, O Yisra'el, and shall guard to do, that it might
be well with you, and that you increase greatly as Yahweh Elohim of
your fathers has spoken to you, in a land flowing with milk and
honey." (Debarim 6:3)

"And they reported to him, and said, `We went to the land where you
sent us. And truly, it flows with mike and honey, and this is its
fruit." (Bemidbar 13:37)

You cannot be a disciple without discipline.

(End Part 1 of 2)

************************************************************