Rabbi's Drash

Matot-Masei

b

5 7 6 9

Numbers 30:2-36:13
 

This portion ends the book of B'midbar which means Numbers since it began with Moshe taking a census of all those young men who left Egypt and also ends with Moshe now taking a last census of the young men of the next generation who will enter the Promised Land 39 years later. They had never been in Egypt but they had heard all about it from their parents. Their complaints were actually learned from their parents. An interesting point to take note of is that the first book of the Chumash begins with Bereshit, the introduction of Creation and the formation of the people of Israel. The next three books Shemot, Vayikra and B'midbar which detail step by step what occurred to Israel are similar to the synoptic gospels. D'varim the last book is also called the Mishneh Torah (repetition of the Torah) (Deut. 17:18) and differs from the other books and is actually a repetition of the three books. In the Messianic Writings we can compare the first three books to these while the book of Yochanan is different to the other three. There are no coincidences in the Scriptures. These books detail the continuation of the people of Israel and the accounts of G-d bringing redemption not only to Israel but to the whole world. This can only happen through Israel not vice versa. The book of Numbers has detailed Moshe's struggles with his leadership of the people, the other leaders as well as his own family. He had many enemies including the nations he encountered on his travels to the Promised Land. There is much that is spoken about when it comes to roles in this book…the Cohanim, the Leviim, the tribes and even women. At the end of Numbers we read the account of the five daughters of Tzlof'chad again and the sages ask why this is mentioned in such detail even mentioning their names. In those days, women needed the covering and protection of the men in order to survive. They were considered like cattle and here the G-d of Israel is giving women their place and value in society. Judaism can be credited with raising the standard at for women making them co-equal before G-d. This does not change the fact that women like all the others have a role to play in the world. When that role is not honored, society suffers the consequences. The modern female liberation movement did not do justice to women; in fact quite the contrary…by trying to force equal rights upon women, they actually lowered the standards. G-d placed women in a higher position then men by being the crowning glory of His creation. It was Eve's disobedience that caused all women to come under a curse having to submit to man for her own protection from that day on. Problems arise when we ignore our own calling and instead we want to fill another's position to which we have not been called. When someone is in the wrong place, they usually make a mess of things. Women do not understand their position and in their desire to be counted, they have lowered their position and standards. As we examine Moshe's calling, there is much to learn from him. His position was not one which he came to overnight. His life was a miraculous one having been saved from death by his sister, Miriam. He was raised as a prince of Egypt in the courts of Pharaoh, like a half-brother to the son of Pharaoh. At first glance it looked like Moshe fled when Pharaoh had heard that he had killed an Egyptian task-master however when we examine it we understand the Moshe could easily have explained the facts to Pharaoh who would have pardoned him. Moshe however always knew who he was-a Hebrew. His own people had turned against him now accusing him of killing someone. He no longer wanted to defend them and he fled. He now underwent 40 years of training by living in the desert and after the training period was over, he was ready to return to Pharaoh after hearing from G-d. How do you think it was so easy for him to enter directly into the court to speak to the new Pharaoh? This was the boy with whom he had grown up. This gave him easy access to him even though now their relationship had changed. This relationship kept him alive. Over the next 39 years after the exodus, Moshe continued to grow into his position and at the end of it at the age of 120, he was ready to die. He never retired. He simply went to be with G-d. When G-d told Moshe it was time to go, he never argued or complained or made excuses. He was told that after the battle with the Amorites, he would be taken to be with G-d. He didn't delay the battle but went instantly to the people and told them to go and fight. Moshe kept repeating the words "pnav Adonai" hvhy ynp meaning before the face of G-d demonstrating that every battle that Israel would ever fight would not be their own(Num 32:21-23). In our lives today, there is one thing that this teaching makes very clear…no battle is fought on our own. It is always G-d's battle. If we look at all the failures of Israel and it compare it to our own failures, we can see that no matter how bad we are, G-d will never abandon us. If G-d is with us, who can be against us! In the book of Romans 8:28, Rav Shaul wrote "And we know that G-d causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." When in our lives we are going through hard circumstances, instead of complaining, let us instead ask ourselves what we can learn from them. Here Moshe was done! He was exhausted! The leadership of the people had taken everything out of him even though it was clearly his calling. He lost it when he lost sight of Who is fighting the battle for us. We can also learn from his life that he was never alone in making decisions. His father-in law had taught him early on that he needed to choose a group of men who would be able to work with him. Moshe constantly looked for consensus of the people. Although he made many mistakes we can see that he was an example of humility and honesty. He never failed to admit that he wasn't perfect. If we confess our sins, G-d is always faithful to forgive us. We complete B'midbar with the understanding that leadership is not for the faint hearted. G-d is the One who gives us the strength to do what He has called us to do. When He chooses a leader that person can no longer be self-centered but must give of themselves to others. They must forget themselves as did Moshe. We never hear that Moshe tried to set up his little kingdom which his sons would inherit. In fact we hear little of his wife and sons. They must have suffered greatly having to live without a father most of their lives. The calling of G-d is one of sacrifice and the price can be a high one to pay. We must however never lose sight of the true leader in all that we are called to do -G-d. My challenge to you is that you truly search your heart and be honest with yourself. Are you in the position to which G-d has called you or are you envious of someone else's position because it seems like a better one. Also remember that G-d's calling I simply that and cannot be bought. Remember the story of Balaam which is also in this portion. He was a prophet of G-d even though he was not a very good one. He failed in the end because he could be bought. He knew that he could not curse Israel but he could cause Israel to sin and bring themselves to their own destruction. This was why he was killed in the end. Seek G-d's kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will be added to you. Let us constantly search our hearts as King David tells us in Psalm 139:23-24 and let us be strengthened by Him only.      May G-d add blessings to His Word!      Rabbi Percy Johnson      Netanel ben Yochanan      [nxy [b lantn      © 2008 Use by Permission      Kehilat She’ar Yashuv

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