CHUCK KOLB 06/05/2015

Shabbat Shalom -
Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise)
the Light of the Menorah and the Holy Spirit !!!

Previously posted ...
Freedom Act ends Data Collection - Western Civilization Depop !!!
http://conpats.blogspot.com/2015/06/chuck-kolb-06032015.html

Welcome to our study of this week’s Torah portion, which is called
Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise).This is the portion that will be read this Shabbat
(Saturday) in synagogues around the world. 
We know you will be blessed as you read it along with us !
 
Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise)
Numbers 8:1–12:16; Zechariah 2:14[10]–4:7; Luke 17:11–18:14
 
“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him,
“When you set up (behaalotecha בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ) the lamps, the seven lamps shall
give light in front of the Menorah.”’”  (Numbers 8:1–2)
 
Last week, in Parasha Naso, the numbering of Israel continued with a census of the Levites. 
The Nazirite vow was detailed, as well as the Aaronic Blessing.
 
This week's Scripture portion is named Behaalotecha, which means when you step up
because it begins with instructions as to how the Menorah (lampstand) is to be set up in the Tabernacle. 
A related word is aliyah (עליה)—the Hebrew word for immigrating to the Land of Israel. 
It can be defined as the act of going up.
 
To take the step of faith to return to the Land
of our Forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) is an act of spiritual elevation.

The Menorah: Raising the Light of Purity
“Now this workmanship of the Menorah was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work. 
According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.” 
(Numbers 8:4)
 
Parasha Behaalotecha opens with the kindling of the Menorah. 
This lampstand is a symbol of the light of revelation and truth.
 
God commanded Moses to make it out of gold according to the pattern shown him on Mount Sinai. 
Why gold and not bronze or silver?
 
Gold symbolizes something precious
— of great value, and it is a metaphor for purity in the Bible.
 
The fire in the Menorah represents the fire of the Divine Light spreading
throughout the entire world, beginning with Israel.
 
We can understand it also as Godliness; therefore, the fire can be seen as symbolic of God
refining His people so that they may be as fine gold!
 
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. 
Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.”  (Malachi 3:3)

The Light of Obedience
Seven lamps were lit on the Menorah
Why are there seven golden lampstands and not five or nine or any other number? 
According to ancient Jewish thought, seven stands for perfection or completion.
 
The Book of Revelation also speaks of seven golden lampstands in a vision God gave to John: 
"And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.  And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands." 
(Revelation 1:12)
 
Here, these seven golden lampstands represent the seven congregations in Asia Minor
(Revelation 1:10–11, 20)
 
God warned that He might remove the lampstand of a congregation
if they continue in sin and refuse to repent. 
As Yeshua (Jesus) told the church at Ephesus: "… 
or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent." 
(Revelation 2:5)
 
Those who are His followers continually grow in obedience, love, joy, and peace,
becoming more and more like Yeshua.
 
That love, joy, and peace shines forth through a dark and dreary world like a
beacon of hope.  It makes others desire the Source of that goodness.

You can view this Parasha on our new website complete with embedded links ...
Parasha Behaalotecha: The Light of the Menorah and the Power of the Holy Spirit
http://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/parasha-behaalotecha-light-menorah-power-holy-spirit/

Parasha Reading Schedule 5775
http://free.messianicbible.com/torah-reading-schedule/

Many have falsely said that God is finished with His Chosen People;
however, Bible prophecy clearly states that this will never be so. 
In fact, in these Last Days, God is moving among His people to
physically and spiritually restore them.

THE SHABBAT CANDLE BLESSING
Jewish people around the world mark
this day by the candle lighting and blessing:
"Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments, and
commanded us to kindle the light of the Holy Shabbat."
http://lp.eteacherhebrew.com/lp_hebrew_shabbat_candles-en.html
✡ ✡ ✡
Yavoh ~ He is coming !
Yahweh - Yeshua -  Ruach Ha-Kodesh
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה  
BREAKING NEWS FROM ISRAEL
Minute by minute updates here ... 
http://www.kolbonews.com/
http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3089,00.html
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/
http://www.israpundit.org/
http://pamelageller.com/
http://www.jihadwatch.org/
http://www.joyofkosher.com/
http://prophecyupdate.blogspot.com/
Watching for Yeshua Ha-Mashiach



Lunchbox Granola Bars
http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/lunchbox-granola-bars/

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Shake
http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/peanut-butter-banana-breakfast-shake/

Spicy Eggplant Salsa
http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/spicy-eggplant-salsa/

A must do ...
5 LIFE-CHANGING LESSONS FROM ISRAEL ...
Apply 3000 years of Jewish wisdom to your challenges today.
[free webinar] Wednesday, June 10, 2015 - 1pm EDT (10am pdt)
Can't make it? No problem. register anyway for a replay link.
http://learningisrael.com/

Honey Sesame Side of Salmon
http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/honey-sesame-side-of-salmon/ 

Health Month Kickoff With a Detox and a Menu and a New Video
Watch and Win - my 2 favorite words.
Seriously, I’m a visual learner and I think that's why I love creating videos so much! So this week *WATCH*
and learn how to grill perfect steaks with me and my friend Naf Hanau and you can
*WIN* a box of steak from GrowandBehold.com.
But really we’re all winners cause Naf finally shares his secret spice rub
with the world and the world is a more delicious place because of it. Time to get your grill on !

Happy, Healthy June !! Plus My Go To Fresh Menu
June is health month here at Joy of Kosher and in honor of our healthy endeavor I thought I’d share
a sample of my “healthier” style breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas.
Mind you I am no nutritionist and generally leave the official, healthy, heavy lifting to Tamar.
http://www.joyofkosher.com/2015/06/happy-healthy-june-plus-my-go-to-fresh-menu/

Whole Wheat Challah
http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/whole-wheat-challah/

55+ Wines On Sale • Unique Joy of Kosher Discount! • Limited Time
http://www.kosherwine.com/sale.html

Joy of Kosher w Jamie Geller
http://www.joyofkosher.com/
http://joyofkosher.com/joyofisrael
https://www.youtube.com/user/joyofkosher
new Jamie Geller YOUTUBE Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChxA1V9pzrzj-_5vTG6wu8Q

Verily, Beloveds, I can scarcely take this all in while here on
the Lord's Earth, when we are all finally home, please, do
stop by to see Jamie and those beloveds within her given house ...

Beautiful ... http://luvaton.com/


The captains of Judah will say in their hearts,
'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a source of strength for me.'
ZECHARIAH (12:5)
 
וְאָמְרוּ אַלֻּפֵי יְהוּדָה בְּלִבָּם אַמְצָה לִי יֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם בַּי-הוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱ-לֹהֵיהֶם
זְכַרְיָה יב:ה

v'-am-ru a-lu-fay y'-hu-da b'-li-bam am-tza lee yosh-vay y'-ru-sha-la-yeem ba-a-do-nai tz'-va-ot e-lo-haay-hem

Jerusalem Inspiration
The Torah begins with the letter ב/bet (‘In the beginning’/בראשית) and ends with the letter ל/lamed.  Put the letters together and you get lev/לב, which means "heart". The Torah is the heart and soul of the Jewish people and is an expression of God's love towards all of mankind. By learning its words, we glean insight into the "heart" of our compassionate and loving God.  Right now, 75 Torah scrolls are being written to stand as an everlasting memorial for the souls of the 67 Israeli soldiers and 8 civilians killed in last summer's war. Join LIBI USA, the IDF's official social welfare unit, and YOUR Torah will be delivered to army bases and communities around Israel.

75 Torah Scrolls in memory of Operation Protective Edge Victims
LIBI, the official fund of the IDF, was established in 1980 by Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the IDF Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan to provide for the educational, religious, medical and recreational needs of Israeli soldiers. American Friends of LIBI is a recognized 501c3 non-profit organization run by a network of volunteers. When you donate to LIBI USA, over 95% of your donation goes directly to support Israeli soldiers.
http://friendsoflibi.org/75-torah-scrolls-dedicated-in-memory-of-last-summers-war-victims/
https://friendsoflibi.org/

♥†♥ ♥†♥ ♥†♥

Excellent biblical analysis desseminating events leading to the harpazo !  
06-04-15 Hummingbird027’s Updates on End-Time and Prophetic News (1:18:44)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj2dx2YOAII
Complete Links - http://hummingbird027.com/2015/06/04/06-04-15-hummingbird027s-updates-on-end-time-and-prophetic-news/


Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV

Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise)
the Light of the Menorah and the Holy Spirit !!!

 

Shabbat Shalom

 

Welcome to our study of this week’s Torah portion, which is called Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise).

 

This is the portion that will be read this Shabbat (Saturday) in synagogues around the world.  We know you will be blessed as you read it along with us!

 

Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise)

Numbers 8:1–12:16; Zechariah 2:14[10]–4:7; Luke 17:11–18:14

 

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you set up (behaalotecha בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ) the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the Menorah.”’”  
(Numbers 8:1–2)

 

Last week, in Parasha Naso, the numbering of Israel continued with a census of the Levites.  The Nazirite vow was detailed, as well as the Aaronic Blessing.

 

This week's Scripture portion is named Behaalotecha, which means when you step up because it begins with instructions as to how the Menorah (lampstand) is to be set up in the Tabernacle.  A related word is aliyah (עליה)—the Hebrew word for immigrating to the Land of Israel.  It can be defined as the act of going up.

 

To take the step of faith to return to the Land of our Forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) is an act of spiritual elevation.

 

The Temple Institute has created this life-sized
menorah for use in the future Third Temple.  The
menorah is made of 45 kg of 24 karat pure gold
and is hammered out of a single block of solid gold.
(Photo by Francisco Martins)

  

The Menorah: Raising the Light of Purity

“Now this workmanship of the Menorah was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work.  According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.”  (Numbers 8:4)

 

Parasha Behaalotecha opens with the kindling of the Menorah.  This lampstand is a symbol of the light of revelation and truth.

 

God commanded Moses to make it out of gold according to the pattern shown him on Mount Sinai. 
Why gold and not bronze or silver?

 

Gold symbolizes something precious—of great value, and it is a metaphor for purity in the Bible.

 

The fire in the Menorah represents the fire of the Divine Light spreading throughout the entire world, beginning with Israel.

 

We can understand it also as Godliness; therefore, the fire can be seen as symbolic of God refining His people so that they may be as fine gold!

 

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.  Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.”  (Malachi 3:3)

 

Smelted gold is poured into moulds.

 

The Light of Obedience

Seven lamps were lit on the Menorah

 

Why are there seven golden lampstands and not five or nine or any other number?  According to ancient Jewish thought, seven stands for perfection or completion.

 

The Book of Revelation also speaks of seven golden lampstands in a vision God gave to John:  "And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.  And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands."  (Revelation 1:12)

 

Here, these seven golden lampstands represent the seven congregations in Asia Minor (Revelation 1:10–11, 20).

 

God warned that He might remove the lampstand of a congregation if they continue in sin and refuse to repent.  As Yeshua (Jesus) told the church at Ephesus: "…  or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent."  (Revelation 2:5)

 

Those who are His followers continually grow in obedience, love, joy, and peace, becoming more and more like Yeshua.

 

That love, joy, and peace shines forth through a dark and dreary world like a beacon of hope.  It makes others desire the Source of that goodness.

 

A Jewish father and son at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem
share the burden of carrying the heavy Torah scroll. 
(Photo by Reinhardt Konig)

 

Cleansing of God’s Servants

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  (Psalm 37:4)

 

As we pursue the Lord, we also pursue purity in our attitudes, our speech, and our ministry.

 

And so we read in this Parasha that the Levites who served God in the Temple had to be cleansed and purified before beginning their ministry.

 

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:‘Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially.  Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.’”  (Numbers 8:5–7)

 

God took the Levites as His own in place of the firstborn who were spared during the Ten Plagues in Egypt.  Most of those sons defiled their hearts and spirits when they worshiped the Golden Calf. 

 

The Levites didn’t worship the calf.  They stayed faithful and true to the God of Israel; therefore, they were given the work of service in the Tabernacle, instead of Israel's firstborn sons.

 

Only those Levites between the ages of 25–50 could quality to serve in the Tabernacle.  
After the age of fifty, the Levites were required to retire from active duty.  They could stand guard (and according to the Jewish commentator Rashi, sing, lock the gates, and load the wagons), but could not serve in the Tabernacle.

 

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays at the Western Wall.

Murmuring in the Wilderness 

“The manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.  The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it.  And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.”  (Numbers 11:7–8)

 

In Parasha Behaalotecha, the Israelites resume their trek to the Promised Land.  The Divine fire-cloud accompanies them as a supernatural manifestation of God's Presence.

 

It has been a year since He delivered His Chosen People from bondage in Egypt.  They saw the River Nile turn to blood and their firstborn saved by blood.  They walked through a parted sea into safety.

 

But their experience of God's supernatural Presence and His provision of manna did not stop them from murmuring in the wilderness.

 

Oh how they complained ! 
Even to the point of rejecting God and desiring to go back to bondage where they could have the fish “that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.”  (Numbers 11:5)

 

Despite the manna, they were consumed with a craving for meat.  The Bible does not explain why they did not eat meat from their herds of sheep.

 

Lamb in flowers near Jerusalem

 

Moses finds the people's complaining so hard to bear that he is ready to die if no solution is found, and his honesty with God brings about a Divine solution.

 

God tells him to gather 70 experienced elders to the Tent of Meeting.  They are to share the burden of leadership and God endows them with Moses' spirit (Numbers 11:17).  In Judaism, this act of God is seen to forever legitimate the judicial role of Israel's elders.

 

God also promises Moses that He will give the people so much meat that they will be sick of it, which Moses finds difficult to believe.

 

To satisfy the cravings of these ungrateful Israelites, God sends tons of quail.  Many gorge themselves and die as God's anger is unleashed due to their rejection of Him.  They are buried at the place they named Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of craving). 
(Numbers 11:31–35)

 

Miriam and Aaron also complain by speaking against their brother Moses. They criticize Moses for marrying a Cushite woman—slander, and they want more respect as prophets in their own right—pride.

 

For speaking
lashon harah (slander, but also speaking the truth to injure)
and for pride, God strikes Miriam with leprosy;
she turns white “like snow.”

 

Aaron recognizes their sin and cries out to the Lord,
“O God, please heal her—please.”

 

Although repentance helps restore our relationship with God, a lesson still has to be learned by them and the entire camp.  They cannot move ahead until Miriam spends seven days outside the camp.

  

An Orthodox Jewish man writes a Torah scroll.

 

Haftarah (Prophetic Portion): Purity and the Menorah

 

The prophetic reading this Shabbat (Zechariah 2:14[10]–4:7), begins with an invitation to shout for joy because God will dwell in the midst of Zion and once again choose Jerusalem.  In that day many nations will join themselves to the Lord.

 

Zechariah's vision confirms how deeply Adonai cares about the cleansing of His people.

 

The Prophet Zechariah sees the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, standing before the angel of the Lord in the Heavenly Court.

 

Satan is also there accusing Joshua, who is clothed in filthy rags, a metaphor for sin.  According to Rashi, the sin Joshua was guilty of was allowing his sons to marry foreign women, which is not allowed for Levites (see Ezra 10:18).

 

Reading the Torah scroll at the Western (Wailing) Wall 
(Photo by Francisco Martins)

 

The Angel of the Lord identifies Joshua as a brand plucked from the fire, which an article on the Chabad website interprets as the "hardships of exile."

 

Indeed, Joshua has returned from the Babylonian exile along with Zerubbabel and the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem where they will rebuild the city and the Jewish Temple.

 

The Lord rebukes Satan and says to Joshua, “See, I have removed your guilt from you, and you shall be clothed in [priestly] robes.”  (Zechariah 3:4)

 

Zechariah then describes his vision of a seven-branched Menorah, which is kindled for the first time in this week's Torah reading.

 

A model of the Second Temple.

 

Empowered by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)

 

Rebuilding Jerusalem and the Second Temple is a huge task.  And through the Prophet Zechariah, God reassures both Joshua and Zerubbabel that He is behind the initiative.

 

Immediately after Zechariah sees the Menorah, the symbol of purity and the light of truth reaching the nations, the Lord gives a word to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, saying,

 

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit—said the Lord of Hosts."  (Zechariah 4:6)

 

Of course, pursuing spiritual goals is too difficult if we are left to our own devices.  Both the Parasha reading and the Haftarah reading reveal that we have supernatural help.

 

We see that even Moses had his limits.  No one could do the work of Moses without being anointed with the Spirit of God.

 

To ease Moses' burden, God spread some of Moses’ anointing—the Holy Spirit Himself—giving it to 70 respected elders who would share in the task of leadership.

 

The Scriptures say that these elders immediately prophesied.  When the Spirit of God is working in someone, spiritual gifts manifest.  Prophecy is just one of these gifts
(see 1 Corinthians 12:4–11, 28; Romans 12:6–8)

 

These gifts were only available to a select few until the Ruach (Spirit) descended on Shavuot upon the first Believers 50 days after Yeshua's resurrection.

  

Jewish boys pray at the Western (Wailing) Wall.

 

Through Yeshua, our garments of iniquity have been removed and we, like Joshua, are clothed in vestments of purity and righteousness.  This is a fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy, which foretells of a time when the Messiah will remove all iniquity in a single day.

 

“I am going to bring My servant the Branch [a future king from the line of David] … and I will remove that country's guilt in a single day.  In that day—declares the LORD of Hosts—you will be inviting each other to the shade of vines and fig trees.” 
(Zechariah 3:8–10; Jeremiah 33:15)

 

This righteous Branch from the line of David has appeared, and in one day, He paid the penalty for our sin and clothed us with His righteousness.

 

Each of us need God's Ruach in our lives empowering us to obey His word, manifest His love, joy, and peace, and exercise spiritual gifts He has bestowed.  Filled with that Spirit, each of us are beacons of light that show the way to a lost and dying world.

 

One practical way we can shine as lights in the midst of the darkness is by refusing to complain and, instead, express gratitude in all things, rejoicing in the Lord always.

 

“Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”  
(Philippians 2:14–15)

 

 

You can shine Yeshua's light in the Holy Land and among the Jewish People worldwide by helping the ministry of Bibles For Israel.

 

"It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them." 
(Psalm 44:3)

 

You can also designate Your Tithe for the salvation of the Jewish People

 

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua, his Son, purifies us from all sin."  (1 John 1:7)

 

Shabbat Shalom
from the Entire Bibles For Israel Family ! 
May your light shine
ever brighter until that perfect day !
http://free.messianicbible.com/

“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”  (Proverbs 4:18)