Parshah 41- Pinchas - Phineas (dark skinned).

Torah - B'midbar - Numbers 25:10 to 29:40 Haftarah - 1 Kings 18:46 - 19:21. B'rit HaChadashah (N. Covenant, N. Testament) - John 2: 13-25.

A person guided by God.

Rabbi Marcelo Guimarães, in his commentary on this Parshah, says: "We cannot forget that the study of the Torah allows us to trace the parallel between our spiritual life and its growth. One day we were also lost without the God of , whether we were born in a corrupt society or in the midst of a pagan, idolatrous and promiscuous people, we were living in our crimes and sins, in the system of a world away from the principles of the Eternal. God has been and still is merciful to us and has overtaken us, allowing us to hear these words today. Then, in the Person of Yeshua, we have obtained salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, and therefore we can begin a new life with God, with faith and hope in eternal life." (B'midbar / Numbers page 162)

"Let Adonai, God of the spirit of all human beings, appoint a man to be over the community." (B'midbar 27: 16, BJC).

These words were spoken by Moshe, immediately after God has told him that he would soon be gathered unto his people, a common euphemism to die. After the incident in Meribah, where Moshe struck the rock to bring water to the people instead of speaking to it according to the instructions, Aharon died (B'midbar 20: 22-29). Moshe was also warned that in a short time he himself would die, although some battles and the book of D'varim (Deuteronomy) were still to be completed.

Jonathan Allen, describes this passage as follows: "Instead of the human response that might have been expected, Moshe's first thought is for the community; Who will take them: "Let the Lord, Source of the breath of all flesh, point out someone over the community, who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall take them out, and bring them in, so that the Lord's community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd."(B'midbar 27:16 -17, JPS). The middle of the verse provides a description of the functional work for the successor of Moshe. Ancient rabbinical commentaries say that Moshe "exemplified the merit of the righteous, because at the time of his death he did not concern himself with his personal well-being, but with the needs of the community" (Sifre 138). The word “ish” is often translated as "man." It is translated by Gunther Plaut (following the JPS translation) as "sent," suggesting that "the line of history evokes the occasional sense of an appointed agent." The book of D'varim/Deuteronomy refers explicitly to "Moshe a man of God." (D'varim 33:1) or a man sent by God. Also, both the and the prophet Elisha are called "man of God" (:18, 2 Kings 4:7), making the relationship transparent. Joshua is the agent appointed by God and the "man sent by God" in his generation.

From the time they left Egypt, Moshe was the leader (under God) for Israel. This is mentioned in a series of texts, such as: "Then his people remembered the days of antiquity, the days of Moses and his people, where is he who brought them out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock. Where is he who set the Holy Spirit in the midst of them? "(Isaiah 63:11, ESV)

Now Moshe is worried that without another leadership figure Israel will be "like a flock without a shepherd" and may be scattered. The image also reappears in later texts of the Hebrew Scriptures: "[Micah the prophet] said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd, and the Lord has spoken, `These have no master; Let each one return to his house in peace'."(1 Kings 22:17, ESV) Jacob Milgrom comments that, "This image, as before, is a description of David: "In the past when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel in the war, and the Lord said to you, "You must shepherd my people Israel, you will be their ruler." (2 Samuel 5:2 and 1 Chronicles 11:2, ESV). Thus, the image of David is forged along the mosaic model. This same image is also used in the Greek Scriptures of the B`rit Hachadashah (NT): "When [Yeshua] disembarked, he saw a great multitude and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." (Mark 6:34, ESV). Yeshua HaMashiach is the Good Shepherd of who John talks about. (John 10:11, 14), fulfilling the vision of the : "And he shall stand and shepherd the people in the power of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God, and they shall dwell safely.”(Micah 5: 4: ESV) and the image of David is repeated: "And I will put over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them and guide them. He shall be their shepherd."(Ezekiel 34:23, ESV). All these scriptures are Messianic Scriptures.

We can see how important this is in the Scriptures of the B`rit Hachadashah (New Covenant/). Yeshua delegated the role of shepherds to the leaders within His Body: "Moreover, He gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, others as proclaimers of the Good News, and others as shepherds and teachers." (Ephesians 4:11, CJB). Observe how the Greek word "shepherds" was translated, which comes from the Latin Vulgate translation, "one who feeds or cares for sheep or cattle." Today we see evangelistic pastors, singing pastors, etc. They vulgarized a concept and changed the way this ministry operates. We have people with the title of pastors who have no flock! A true absurd, a shepherd without a flock is like a barbecue without meat! It does not work.

Apostle Kefa/Peter uses the same vocabulary to demonstrate that leaders should take on the responsibility of shepherding within the congregation: "Therefore I warn the congregational leaders that are among you, as leader and witness of the sufferings of the Messiah, as well as a partaker of glory to be revealed .... shepherd the flock of God that is in your care .... not for the desire of dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm. "(1 Peter 5: 1-2, CJB). But what does that entail? Rav Sha'ul lists the qualifications of the leaders in his letters to Timothy and Titus. What does the pastor do? Rabbi Hirsch gives the answer: "Man is bound to be at the forefront, walking as an example to public and private life, and generally by his influence bring the people to faithfully fulfill all public and private duties. The activity of a shepherd is dedicated to the well-being and prosperity of the flock." This agrees with Kefa/Peter's comments on supervision and how to be an example, emphasizing the pastor's motivation in a helpful way. Unlike the pastors described by Jeremiah, who are "ruthless and do not seek Adonai, therefore they have not prospered and all their flocks are scattered." (Jeremiah 10:21, and in Ezekiel 34: 8, JPS). The leaders in the Body of Mashiach (rabbis, pastors, group leaders, school teachers, and theologians in colleges and seminaries) should be concerned with the good of the flock, of those whom God placed in their care, rather than their own careers, business and welfare. This is not to say, of course, that full-time or part-time workers are to receive an inadequate salary, “for the worker is worthy of his labor” (Matthew10:10, NIV) but that the Kingdom's work must be carried out with fidelity and honesty to serve the people, not just to earn a salary.

We, as the Body of Mashiach, should cry out to the Lord in the very words of Moshe: "May Adonai, the God of the Spirit of all human beings, appoint a man to lead the community of Israel" (B'midbar 27:16, CJB) May God enlighten our minds.

May Him lift up men and women willing to pay the price to care for the common good, with diligence and honesty, both in our congregations and in the political/governmental area. I still believe that it is possible to see profound changes in this Nation, if we apply the biblical principles and walking accordingly to the word of the Lord. May He bless us. Shavuah tov!

Bible Versions Used: CJB - Complete Jewish . ESV - . JPS - Jewish Publication Society. NIV - New International Version.

Richmond, July 7th, 2018. Rabbi Jaime Araujo.