Lighting the Menorah lamps: Torah study: Numbers 8:1-12:16

[Ben Avraham]

PARASHAH: “B’ha’alotkha” (in your setting up) NUMBERS: 8:1-12:16

We see in this parashah study, various themes. The first is “Putting up the lamps” or one could say; “going up to light the lamps”. This speaks of the golden Menorah, which was inside the Mishkan. As we know it was made of pure gold, one single piece hammered out to light the inside of the Mishkan. How they did that, making it from one piece of gold is a miracle, but we serve a God of miracles.

The menorah had seven branches, “7” is the perfect number of YHVH. Gold symbolizes purity. So, we serve a pure and holy God who sent YESHUA who is the LIGHT of the world. The seven-branch menorah had seven lamps filled with pure olive oil. The priests would light the lamps in the evening until morning light. The light of the menorah was the only source of light in the Mishkan. Outside was darkness, yet YHVH was outside in the form of a column of fire, inside, the menorah burned so that light was always there.

Numbers 8 tells us that the lamps that were part of the Menorah were facing forward ( casting their light forward, in front of the Menorah) (8:2)
That would tell us that the lamps were facing toward the Table of Shewbread, facing towards the "interior" of the Mishkan. There is some symbolism here. The Table of Shewbread had 12 loaves of unleavened bread. Yeshua is the "Bread of Life" and also the "Light of the World." Since we have HIS light inside us, it makes sense that our "light" faces the "Bread of Life", always seeking HIM, for more of HIS reflected light.

Also, the Menorah was in the "interior" of the Tabernacle. It was the "interior" source of light. Perhaps this can remind us to have our "spiritual lamps" pointed towards the interior of our being. Light reveals hidden things. We need to search our souls with God's Light to seek out areas where we have fallen short. Perhaps hidden sin in our lives. HIS WORD is the Light, as King David said; "Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path".

Yeshua is our light, He is with us and gives us his light both day and night. We are like the branches of the Menorah; we need to stay connected to the oil to have light. Yeshua said: “Ye are the light of the world”, just like the moon has no light of its own but reflects the light of the sun. The moon up close is full of meteor craters, it is a pock-marked satellite in space, not very attractive up close, but when we look at it from Earth, we do not see the pock-marked surface, only the light that is reflected from the sun.

The same is true with all believers, we are all “pock-marked” with the stain of sin, but YHVH looks at us through the light of Yeshua and sees us as “kol kadosh” (All holy). The stain of sin is not only covered by the blood of Yeshua but also atoned for. Dealt with completely.

The Levites were offered up to YHVH for service. To honor this, there was the burnt offering and the sin offering on their behalf. There were two bulls and an offering of fine flour. The bulls speak of the strength of Adonai and the fine flour, one could say “Yeshua the Bread of Life”. Yeshua is our strength and our life, if we are going to be like the Levites, dedicated to serving HIM, then we need HIS strength.

In chapter nine, we read about the Passover, always to be celebrated by ALL believers, even if we can’t celebrate it always on the 14th day of the first month, such as the case of some who were unclean by touching a corpse. There is always provision, they could celebrate it on the 14th day of the second month. All believers celebrate the Passover (abbreviated) when we take communion, some churches do it twice a month, some celebrate it every Sunday, but no matter what the tradition is, we are reminded of HIS body and HIS blood.

When the cloud lifted, the Israelites would move, when it settled, the Israelites would stop and make camp. That is the way all believers should act, when we are led by Adonai. We should be sensitive to his calling, to his direction, sometimes we need to wait on him, wait for him to move, or move others, sometimes the waiting can be a few days, or years. We should try not to get ahead, that HE may not follow US, but US following HIM.

Chapter eleven tells us about the "complaining and murmuring" of God's people. Sounds like us at times; “grumble, grumble, grumble and groan!” “What? Manna again?” we’re tired of manna Waffles, manna bagels, fillet of Mannah, BaMannaBread, etc...

manna patties, manna tortillas, manna-shakes, etc.… Oh the stuff we had in Egypt, we miss it so much!” but…they forgot to mention that they were slaves, slaves to a tyrant. Adonai gets angry and “fires up” the people. “You want meat?” “OK, I’ll give you meat!”

Rex Humbard, a TV preacher once said; “God may give you what you want, but you may not want what you get!” We need to be satisfied with the little or the much that Adonai gives us, be it just beans and rice with tortillas, or a steak with potatoes. HE will ALWAYS supply our needs. Sometimes I think that people eat just too much. We need the physical food but we also need the spiritual food which comes from the Torah.

Chapter twelve speaks of Miriam and Aaron when they spoke against their brother Moshe.

It says, “because of the Cushite woman that Moshe married” What happened to Zipporah? Maybe she died. A Cushite is a Sudanese, a black woman. So what? In some places, there is still racial bigotry, some do not believe in “mixed racial marriages” God doesn’t have a problem with it, and there is no commandment against it. There IS a problem with mixed FAITH marriages, when one is a believer and the other isn’t! Then, there are problems with being “unequally yoked” Yet the problem addressed was that Miriam and Aaron were questioning Moshe’s authority as leader. “Hey, God speaks to us all, right? Well... back then, it was Moshe who conveyed Adonai’s words, yet Adonai placed his spirit upon 70 other tribal leaders too, this was to help Moshe “bear the burden”.

As co-workers in ministry, we must never try and do it by ourselves. The gifts of the Spirit are for all believers and are utilized to help each other out. Ministry is not a "Lone Ranger' thing. We all work together, we minister together, we worship together. Yes, there are some things we might do in private, like praying alone, and there are some "one-on-one" ministries, yet for the most part, we share the burden.

Miriam was stricken with “Tza-arat” (leprosy) she was afflicted with some kind of skin disorder for her words against her brother. Moshe prayed for her healing, the shortest prayer in the Bible; “El na r’pha na lah!” (Oh God heal her!) and seven days later, she was healed.

Let us be careful of our words that are directed towards servants of the LORD, lest we err and suffer the consequences, we may get more than just a skin rash. We should uphold our spiritual leaders and support them.

Shalom to all, Have a blessed week.