Ye[.S;M I) Reading the Torah Portion

3-Year The Torah Portion | Parashat #123 Torah Cycle Masei (Reading 1 of 3) Parashat #123 March 6, 2021

ye[.s;m I) Reading the Torah Portion

Masei Now it’s time to read the Torah portion. You will get the most out of the Torah portion if you have a Numbers 33:1-56 disciplined plan for approaching it each week. I suggest the following (although you may want to develop your own plan of attack). Prepare by having a pen and paper ready to take notes or by having Isaiah 11:16-12:6 your computer ready. Read the Torah portion quickly just to get a bird’s-eye view of it and to gain a 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 general understanding of its contents. Then read it again slowly and more contemplatively. As you read it, you should keep track of 1) changes in the main storyline (plots and subplots) of the text, 2) the introduction of new major themes you have not encountered heretofore and 3) connections to the main themes developed in the Torah portion. Keeping track of the major themes will provide you with thoughts to help you outline the passage later on. Recording changes in the storyline (subplots) will Revelation 21:9-14 1) help you more accurately interpret Scripture and 2) see connections to themes that may be repeated in the Haftarah and Apostolic readings.

I strongly recommend that when you study these lessons you have the following tools available. 1) A Bible [all references are based on the NKJV], 2) a printed copy of this lesson, 3) pen and paper [notebook preferred] where you can either write extra notes or complete answers to questions where the lines in this lesson are not enough space to write on, 4) an on-line version of the Bible. I suggest BibleGateway (https://www.biblegateway.com/). There are many instances where I will ask you to make a connection to some other passage. The BibleGateway app has an awesome SEARCH feature to find Bible passages. Also, once you find a passage you can use Control-F or Command-F (MAC users) to find words, numbers or phrases in the text on display. Lastly, as often as possible . . . have a partner studying with you! II) Outlining the Torah Portion

Now that you have read the Torah portion, it’s time to outline it. Try to divide the Torah portion into its major subject divisions. Please limit the outline to no more than seven major headings. Also, try to limit each subject division to a short phrase. In the chart below provide a brief phrase describing each significant change of events in the reading. Outlining will help you develop the skill of “seeing” the themes in the text.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII. VIII.

III) Torah Portion Discussion Questions

I have given you a number of questions to stimulate your thought about the Torah portion reading. My goal is two-fold. First, I want to ask you questions about what the Spirit has shown me are important lessons to learn from the Torah reading. Secondly, I want to help you develop the art of making thematic connections. This skill will develop as you practice, practice, practice.

1. A few weeks ago we learned how the Feasts of Adonai were chiastically related. We also learned the thematic significance of Passover and Sukkot. How does Numbers 33:3 (They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians.) thematically connect Passover and the Exodus? ______2. What is the day after Passover? ______3. Thus, we can easily see that Passover and Unleavened Bread are clearly associated with or thematically connected to Israel’s exodus, their leaving Egypt. Which verse in our Torah portion thematically connects the Feast of Tabernacles to Israel’s departure from Egypt? ______4. If you had to list the two greatest events associated with Israel’s exodus from Egypt what would you choose? ______5. Some of you may have mentioned the plagues as well as the answers I gave. The point is that the Exodus was an absolutely miraculous event where Adonai stepped out of invisibleness and clearly showed that He was the one and only true God. However, He not only showed He was the one and only true God, He also showed that He was the God of Israel! Can you think of any Scriptures that make reference to the Exodus which prove that this event was a seminal event in Israel’s history? ______6. Throughout these lessons I’ve noted on many occasions how the theme of exile and return is one of the strongest and most often-used themes developed in the Bible. A. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:22-24)? B. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Abraham (Genesis 12:10-20)? C. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Isaac (Genesis 26:1-11)? D. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Jacob (Genesis 28:1-5)? E. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Joseph (Genesis 45:1-15)? F. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of the Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-17)? G. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24)? ______Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 2

7. How is this theme of exile and return applied to the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:1-4)? ______8. All the questions I’ve asked have simply been to show you that if you want to understand your Bible you have to understand the prominence of the theme of exile and return. This powerful theme is used to teach you many things about our redemption. Now we know how powerful this theme is. Furthermore, we know that this seminal theme of exile and return (Israel’s exile into Egypt and her return to the land of Israel from Egyptian bondage) is the greatest of all themes referenced to over and over in the Bible! Lastly, we know that the story of Israel’s exile and return was the backdrop for the greatest miracles recorded in the Bible. So, have I made my point??? Israel’s exile from and return to the land of Israel provide the basis for the greatest miracles mentioned in the Bible. Now notice the following verses: Jeremiah 23:7-8 (“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”). First of all, what is the significance of the phrase, “who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt”? Now, what is the significance of the phrase, “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”? ______

IV) Messiah in the Parsha In Luke 24:25-27 and 46-47 Yeshua stated that Moses, the Prophets and the Writings all prophesied of His death, burial and resurrection in three days. Therefore, we should expect to see teachings about Yeshua and His role in redemption throughout the Torah. In this section I will ask you questions that will hopefully help you “see” Messiah Yeshua in the Torah portion and sometimes the Haftarah reading as well.

1. As most of you who’ve studied with me for a while are aware, this section, Messiah in the Parsha, is heavily devoted to teaching you how to see Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection in the Tanakh. Hopefully, you’ve become experts at seeing this. Way back in Genesis and in other lessons, we learned one of the most powerful themes taught in the Bible, and it all revolves around one story—the fall of Adam and Eve. So, let’s recap. Give me the most important Scripture from Genesis 1-3 detailing what would happen to Adam and Eve if they sinned. ______2. What was the most visible, tangible evidence of punishment for Adam and Eve for their sin? ______3. Adonai told Adam and Eve that they would die on the day they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, they did not physically die. The only tangible thing that seemed to happen was that they were banished from the Garden of Eden! There is a great connection and lesson here that Adonai is trying to get us to see!!! What is He trying to teach us, or, shall I say, what type of connection is He trying to get us to make concerning the situation set here? ______

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 3 4. How can you provide evidence to strengthen the assertion that exile is equivalent to death using the Tree of Life in your answer? ______5. To see more passages proving that the Bible clearly uses exile as a picture of death, see the lesson on Parashat 94 which goes into this subject (exile = death) in more detail. How do Luke 15:27 (And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’) and Luke 15:32 (‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’) help support the idea that exile is equivalent to death? ______6. So, let me ask you a question. If, when one is banished from his ancestral plot of land (or is exiled), that is called death, what should it be called when he/she returns to that ancestral plot of land? ______7. One of the most spectacular passages that teaches the equivalence between exile and death is Ezekiel 37:1-14. Please note in particular, Ezekiel 37:11-14 – Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’ ”

However, notice how Ezekiel also mentions how Adonai will return them to their land within the context of resurrecting them!

Eziekiel 37:11-14 – Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’ ” The words in black, bold, and italicized letters pertain to resurrection, whereas the words in red, bold, and italicized letters speak of return from exile! The point Adonai is making here is that when He physically returns those Israelites (who’ve been scattered all over the world) to the land of Israel, it will be just like a physical resurrection! It’s impossible to miss. What promise is Adonai making to Israel in Ezekiel 37:11-14 concerning her exiles and which exiles is He referring to? ______8. So, we can clearly see that Ezekiel 37:11-14 teaches us that somehow resurrection will accompany the return of Israel’s exiles. How is Deuteronomy 30:1-4 thematically connected to Ezekiel 37:11-14? ______9. At first glance, Deuteronomy 30:1-4 may only seem like a passage talking about the return of Israel’s exiles. However, let’s do two things. First, let’s talk about how Deuteronomy 30:1-4 is translated and offer a better translation. Notice the wording in Deuteronomy 30:3b-4 (and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. 4If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you [NKJV]). Notice the phrase, “farthest parts

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 4 under heaven”. Now, let’s look at Deuteronomy 30:4 as translated by the Artscroll Chumash1. Devarim 30:4 (If your dispersed will be at the ends of heaven, from there HASHEM, your God, will gather you in and from there He will take you.).

The phrase translated farthest parts under heaven (NKJV) or at the ends of the heaven (Artscroll Chumash) is taken from the Hebrew phrase biqeitz hashamayim. The Hebrew word hashamayim is literally the heavens. The Hebrew word biqeitz is literally in/on the end/edge. Therefore, biqeitz hashamayim is literally, in/on the end/edge of the heavens!!! The second thing we need to do is make a thematic connection. You may not know this, but Yeshua said something that’s almost word for word verbatim equivalent to Deuteronomy 30:4 as translated in the Artscroll Chumash! Do you know what verse that is? ______

10. Let’s compare Matthew 24:31 with Deuteronomy 30:4, but using the Artscroll Chumash translation! Matthew 24:31 – And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Deuteronomy 30:4 – If your dispersed will be at the ends of heaven, from there HASHEM, your God, will gather you in and from there He will take you. Did you notice how the Artscroll Chumash translation allows you to more clearly see the connection between these two verses? Sometimes the translation you use can either help or hinder you from seeing connections. My advice is to use a reputable English translation and a reputable Jewish translation. I recommend the KJV, NKJV, NASB and the Artscroll translations. Never use the NIV, The Message and most other paraphrases of the Bible. As you can see, Yeshua is almost quoting Moses word for word! And what is the subject Yeshua is talking about in Matthew 24? Furthermore, what great event will occur right when Yeshua returns (give a Scripture reference)? ______

V) Making the Connection to the Haftarah Reading I have listed a number of passages from the Haftarah reading that have thematic connections to the Torah portion. Your job is to find the thematic connections in the Torah portion. Although I may quote an entire verse or two from the Haftarah reading, you should focus most of your attention on the text that is bold and italicized. The bold and italicized text will contain the main theme or words that I want you to connect to the Torah portion. Once you have found a connection to the Haftarah verses, record the chapter and verse of the Torah text connection and write a brief sentence describing how the two passages are thematically connected.

1. How is Isaiah 11:16a (There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______2. How is Isaiah 11:16b (As it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

1 The Chumash. ArtScroll Series/Stone Edition, Hebrew/English translation, edited by Rabbi Nossom Scherman and Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, 1993, p. 1091.

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 5 3. How is Isaiah 12:1 (And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.”) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______4. How is Isaiah 12:3 (Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______5. How is Isaiah 12:4-5 (And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. 5Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

VI) Making the Connection to the Apostolic Writings I have listed a number of passages from the Apostolic reading that have thematic connections to the Torah portion. Your job is to find the thematic connections to the Torah portion. Although I may quote an entire verse or two from the Apostolic reading, you should focus most of your attention on the text that is bold and italicized. The bold and italicized text will contain the main theme or words that I want you to connect to the Torah portion. Once you have found a connection to the Apostolic verses, record the chapter and verse of the Torah text connection and write a brief sentence describing how the two passages are thematically connected.

1. How is 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

2. How is 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

3. How is 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

4. How is 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 (Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

5. How is 2 Corinthians 10:2 (But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 6 Basic Facts About Our Lesson

This crossword puzzle will cover basic facts about the Torah portion, Haftarah reading and Apostolic readings. The answers are based on the text from the New King James Version of the Bible and may contain phrases as well as individual words.

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Let’s get practical. The study of the Word is not complete until we are encouraged to think, speak and act differently. Our study of the Word should always involve personal application of the text to our lives. As I’ve heard it said before, Adonai’s Word needs to go from our head to our hearts and then to our hands. Our lifelong journey is to become like our master, Yeshua, and this is only accomplished as we faithfully apply His Word to every aspect of our lives. Discipling Our Children What have you learned from this week’s Torah study that you can teach your children? Ø Write down what you learned that can and/or should be discussed with your children? Perhaps they need to know some of the facts covered in the crossword puzzle? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed bad habits or thought patterns in your children’s lives? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed good habits or thought patterns that your children need to be encouraged or strengthened in and grow in obedience to? o ______o ______o ______

Ø Write down anything you learned that can be a topic of prayer for you and your children this week or permanently? o ______o ______o ______Discipling One Another Think about what you’ve studied in this week’s lesson. Ø Write down anything you learned that impacted you the most? o ______o ______Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 8 o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed bad habits or thought patterns you need to stop? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed good habits or thought patterns you need to be encouraged or strengthened in and grow in obedience to? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that can be a topic of prayer for yourself, your family, your worship community, your neighborhood, the world or Adonai’s people at large? o ______o ______o ______Just focus on one thing and talk to an accountability partner about it. Determine what you can DO over the next week (or more) in order to put what you’ve learned into practice. Make a commitment to someone else that you are going t seek to put some aspect of this week’s lesson into practice. ANSWER KEY Outlining the Torah Portion I. Numbers 33:1-49 – Israel’s Travels Through the Wilderness to the Plains of Moab II. Numbers 33:50-56 – Instructions for Dispossessing and Inheriting the land

Torah Portion Discussion Answers 1. This passage specifically mentions that Israel departed, or made an exodus, from Egypt the day after Passover. 2. The day after Passover is the Day of Unleavened Bread. 3. Numbers 33:5 – Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth. The very first place Israel journeyed to was a place called Succoth (Sukkot). Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, is thematically connected to the Exodus because the first place Israel journeyed to after LEAVING Egypt was a place called Succoth, which just so happens to be a place associated with a feast celebrating their exodus from Egypt. 4. I would choose the death of the firstborn and the splitting of the Red Sea, because these two events were two of the most awesome events demonstrating Adonai’s power to save His people and destroy His enemies. 5. There are a series of passages that use the same formula, pointing Israel back to their great deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Here are a few: A. Judges 6:8 – . . . that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage’ ” B. 2 Kings 17:7 – For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods 6. Answers: A. Adam and Eve, as representatives for mankind, were banished/exiled from the Garden of Eden where Adonai dwelled. The question of the ages is, “How do we return to that idyllic paradise?” B. Abraham was promised the Land of Canaan, but as soon as he arrived there he had to leave (exile) because of a famine and live temporarily in Egypt. Later he was allowed to return. C. Isaac was promised the Land of Canaan, but he was forced to leave (exile) because of a famine and live temporarily in Gerar. Later he was allowed to return.

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 9 D. Jacob was promised the Land of Canaan, but he was forced to leave (exile) because his brother wanted to kill him. Later he was allowed to return. E. Joseph’s family was promised the Land of Canaan, but they were forced to leave (exile) because of a famine and live temporarily in Egypt. Later they were allowed to return. F. Everyone who had been exiled from their ancestral plot of land because of debt or any other situation was allowed to return at the Jubilee. G. The prodigal had lived in exile from his father and his ancestral plot of land. Once he repented, he returned. 7. Here we see that although Israel will eventually be exiled into the nations, Adonai will have mercy on her and bring her back (return) to her ancestral plot of land. 8. The significance is that Jeremiah is making reference to the greatest of all events in Israel’s history! He’s referring to THE event that was the occasion for the greatest miracles humans had ever seen on this earth! Jeremiah is stating that the miracles and the greatness of Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage will pale in comparison to the events and miracles associated with Adonai gathering His people from exile amongst the nations and bringing them back to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel)! Just think about this for a minute. On the one hand, the children of Israel were exiled to one nation, Egypt, and Adonai performed all sorts of miracles (plagues, death of the firstborns, splitting of the Red Sea) to deliver them. Furthermore, He led them, fed them and cared for them through the wilderness for forty years and was able to bring them from Egypt to the land of Canaan!!! Think of all the miracles associated with that! Now try to grasp what Jeremiah is saying. In this passage, Jeremiah is presenting you with a scenario where the nation of Israel is scattered into all the nations on the earth (not just one nation), and Adonai is saying that He will return them from all those nations to their land! And here’s the kicker. He’s saying that the events associated with Him bringing Israel back to their land from their exile in the nations will be so awesome, so spectacular, so grandiose, so over the edge, that people will not even remember the Exodus from Egypt anymore!!! Woe! As I’ve heard it said before, “’Dems mighty big words there sir!” Once we get to the Messiah in the Parsha section we’ll see what grand event Jeremiah is referring to. Messiah in the Parsha Answers 1. Genesis 2:15-17 – Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 2. Genesis 3:22-24 – Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Thus, they were exiled, or banished from the Garden of Eden! 3. He is trying to get us to make a thematic connection between DEATH and EXILE! He’s endeavoring to show us that exile from one’s ancestral plot of land is equal to or equivalent to DEATH! 4. The Tree of Life is what it represented, LIFE! When Adam and Eve sinned they were banished from the Garden of Eden. But we must also consider what was in the Garden of Eden! The Tree of Life! So, in a way, we can say that when Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, they were separated from the source of LIFE—and that equals DEATH! So, it is very easy to connect death to exile when we consider that Adam and Eve’s exile was actually connected in death, in the sense of separation from the source of life. 5. The prodigal was living in exile from his ancestral plot of land because he had left home. It was when he returned that his father said of him, “for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” And why was he “alive again”? Because he had returned to his ancestral plot of land! 6. It should be called resurrection! 7. He’s talking about those Israelites who have been scattered into other nations. He’s promising that one day He will bring them back to the land of Israel. 8. Deuteronomy 30:1-4 states that in the latter days Israel will find herself scattered in exile amongst the nations. Furthermore, Adonai promised that He would regather them and bring them back to the land of Israel. This is exactly the same promise in Ezekiel 37:11-14! 9. Matthew 24:31 – And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 10 10. He’s talking about His return/second advent. When Yeshua returns He will resurrect the dead! 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Note the connection between the trumpet of I Thessalonians 4:16 and Matthew 24:31! This is the same event—the resurrection of the dead at Yeshua’s return.

We’ve just learned from Deuteronomy 30:1-4, Ezekiel 37:11-14 and Matthew 24:31 that there will be a grand regathering of Israelites who have been scattered among the nations. But the gathering will be of those who have died in Messiah outside the land of Israel. This event is not limited to those who died in Yeshua outside of the land of Israel, but will surely include those along with others. They will be resurrected and then brought back to the land of Israel when Yeshua returns, thus fulfilling Deuteronomy 30:1-4 and Ezekiel 37:11-14! This is the event prophesied by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 23:7-8 – Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.” It will be a combination of a return and a literal, physical resurrection! And, this is the reason why this return will eclipse the original exile and return from Egypt, because it will involve the resurrection from the dead! When Yeshua returns and resurrects the dead and returns them to the land of Israel, then the first exile and return story will pale in comparison. Mark my words! Haftarah Connection Answers 1. Numbers 33:8—They departed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, went three days’ journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah. Read the poetic description of the crossing of the Red Sea in Isaiah 51:10—Are You not the One who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that made the depths of the sea a road for the redeemed to cross over? 2. Numbers 33:1—These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 3. Numbers 33:15—They departed from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai. This is a hard one! Let’s see if you can remember all the times Adonai was angry with the children of Israel and the places where they were camping! The first is the Wilderness of Sinai. Adonai had given Israel the Ten Commandments, Moses was on top of the mountain receiving the Torah, and Israel grew weary of waiting for Adonai and had Aaron build a golden calf. Exodus 32:8-10—They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.”

Numbers 33:16—They moved from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah (graves of complaining). This is the place where the mixed multitude complained about the food and infected the camp of Israel with their complaints. The Israelites then wept and complained as they remembered the varieties of food they ate “freely” in Egypt. Numbers 11:10—Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased.

Numbers 33:17—They departed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. This is the story when Aaron and Miriam complained about Moses and his Ethiopian wife. Numbers 12:9—So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed. How about when the children of Israel wouldn’t go up into the Promised Land (Numbers 14). Or Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16?

Numbers 33:37—They moved from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom. When Israel left Mount Hor, as they were traveling by the Way of the Red Sea, they became discouraged. Numbers 21:5—And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 11 died.

Numbers 33:49—They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jesimoth as far as the Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab. Remember, this is where Israel committed harlotry with the women of Moab. Numbers 25:3—So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. 4. Numbers 33:9—They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there. 5. Numbers 33:3-4—They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. 4For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had killed among them. Also on their gods the LORD had executed judgments. The name of Adonai and His power was heard in all the lands: Joshua 9:9—So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt.” Also, Leviticus 26:45—‘But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.’ Apostolic Reading Answers 1. Numbers 33:4—For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had killed among them. Also on their gods the LORD had executed judgments. 2. Numbers 33:52—then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places. 3. Numbers 33:52—then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places. 4. Numbers 33:3—They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. 5. Numbers 33:1—These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. The Exodus of Israel from Egypt and their journey in the wilderness and subsequent entrance into the Promised Land are all physical representations (and prophecies) of the spiritual battles that we encounter as believers in Messiah Yeshua. First, we are delivered from hasatan, our harsh taskmaster, from our bondage to sin when we are born again, as Israel was delivered from Egypt and their cruel taskmasters. Next, Adonai leads us through our own “wilderness period” and begins the lifelong process of sanctification. Just as Israel had to destroy all the idols and high places of the heathen whom they had destroyed and driven out of the land of Canaan, so, too, we need to remove the idols and high places from our own lives. In addition, Israel had to fight physical battles with their enemies. We also have to fight spiritual battles with our enemies, as described in Ephesians 6:12— For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Our enemies are ever present and the battle is continuous, as in 1 Peter 5:8—Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Finally, just as Israel received their inheritance in the Promised Land, we, too, will receive our inheritance as sons of Adonai, as we read in Colossians 1:12 (giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.), Hebrews 9:15 (And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.), 1 Peter 1:4 (to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you), and John 14:2 (In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.).