Love Israel

Guest (Male): Shalom, and welcome to Veahavta Yisrael, a Hebrew phrase which means "You shall love Israel." We hope you'll stay with us for the next 30 minutes as our teacher, Dr. Baruch, shares his expository teaching from the Bible. Dr. Baruch is the senior lecturer at the Zera Avraham Institute based in Israel. Although all courses are taught in Hebrew at the institute, Dr. Baruch is pleased to share this weekly address in English. To find out more about our work in Israel, please visit us on the web at loveisrael.org. That's one word, loveisrael.org. Now, here's Baruch with today's lesson.

Dr. Baruch Korman: In this passage of scripture that we're going to study, we're going to see that the concept that is emphasized is that of vengeance. And we know that the scripture says vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, meaning that God is the only one who is holy enough, righteous enough, that can execute vengeance in a way that will bring forth righteousness. I've shared with you before that in the Greek language, this word for vengeance also has to do with bringing forth righteousness and only God is able to do that.

Because left to ourselves, when we think of vengeance, oftentimes the thought that comes into our mind is that of retribution or revenge. God does not behave this way. God always functions in a righteous way in order that His glory and His power is manifested throughout this world. So we need to remember that. Now, also, vengeance is going to be spoken of, but there's another aspect of great significance because Moses is going to be told that he is going to be gathered to his people. What does that mean? That is a Hebrew idiom that speaks of death. In other words, Moses is being told that he is going to die. There's nothing that he can do to change that. He is going to die, and he is not going to be the one that leads the children of Israel into the promised land.

So let's begin. Take out your Bible and look with me to the book of Numbers. Now we're ready for the first part of chapter 31. Again, the book of Numbers, chapter 31. Let's begin in verse one where it says, "And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, verse two, execute vengeance, the vengeance of the children of Israel upon the Midianites." And then He says Achar, which means after, "you shall be gathered to your people." This is a clear expression that speaks about how soon Moses is going to die. He is going to leave this world. This is what the scripture is teaching us.

Look now to verse three. "And Moses spoke to the people saying," notice that Moses is always obedient. Is he perfect? No. This is why he's going to die because he failed to sanctify the name of God. We all fall short of God's glory. No one is perfect except the Son of God and God Himself. But we see here that Moses failed God. But notice what it says, look again at verse three. "And Moses spoke to the people saying," then we have an interesting word. Now, this word can be thought of as a word of release.

And why do I say that? Well, if we look at this verb, we see that a word that is derived from it is a corkscrew. So you have a bottle and you want to take out perhaps that cork from the bottle, and you do so using a corkscrew. And when that is done, notice that there is oftentimes a sound of this pressure being released. So this is one of the things that is being done, but it's the opposite. It's not about pressure being released, but quite the contrary. It is about pressure being placed upon the enemies of Israel so that vengeance will take place.

So notice what it says. Moses spoke to the people saying, and then we have a word and it's a word that relates to perhaps preparation, getting the army ready. And that's what it says here. "Prepare among you men for the army. Prepare among you men for the army, that they shall be against Midian, for what purpose? To place the vengeance of the Lord upon Midian." So again, we see over and over this emphasis upon the vengeance being placed upon Midian. We're going to see why this is in a few minutes, but keep reading.

Look with me to verse four. Moses is instructed to get the army ready, and therefore it says, "a thousand for a tribe, a thousand for a tribe." So each tribe is going to have a thousand soldiers in it. And then it says, "for all the tribes of Israel, you shall send, send them to the army." So every tribe is going to participate. A thousand from every tribe, we'll see that number in a moment. This is what we're being told. Look now to verse five. "And they delivered from a thousand of Israel, a thousand of the tribe, each tribe," and then it says, "twelve thousand." These who are prepared for what? An army. So these are individuals who have been chosen, selected, and sent forth from each tribe in order that they are the instrument that God's going to use to make forth His vengeance upon Midian.

Let's press on. Look if you would to verse six. "And Moses sent them, a thousand of a tribe to the army, he sent them." Who did he send? Well, also Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the priest to the army. Now, this is interesting because if we read that carefully, it says, "he sent them, who did he send? Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the priest to the army." And not only this individual, it also says, "and the holy vessels," and we know what these vessels are. First of all, it mentions the trumpets and then it says HaTeruah in his hand, meaning in the hand of Eleazar, or the son of Eleazar, Phinehas. We see that in his hand was a trumpet for making a sound.

Now it's very clear that these sounds had a purpose. When you heard a different sound, it informed the people of what God wanted them to do. And it was the priests who were in responsibility for these sounds, making them in order to instruct the people. Look now to verse seven. "And they became an army against Midian, just as the Lord commanded Moses," and notice what it says at the end of verse seven, "and they killed every male."

Now, what we find here is that the purpose is not revenge or retaliation. The purpose of vengeance is always righteousness. And righteousness in this is a huge truth. Righteousness always involves two components: justice and accountability. I fear today that people are losing sight of that. Let me give you an example. There is a well-known Catholic leader, his name is Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and he served in New York for a number of years. And he has released a short video, it's all audio, whereby he is criticizing Bible believers because he feels that this war with Iran is unjust. I don't know how this man could arrive at such a conclusion.

Why? Well, for 47 years, the Iranian people have been massively oppressed by the Ayatollahs. And what we see here is once more, there is a perversion of justice and holding people accountable for their sinful deeds. Now again, it is not man that is able to execute vengeance. It is God. But I have no doubt, in my opinion, that God is in this. And what we see here in a very clear way is that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not having much success. What is taking place? They're being humiliated. They have no ability to really fight either Israel or the United States.

We find that the Israeli Air Force and the United States Air Force pretty much can do what they want. And we see that there has been restraint among both of these Air Forces, both of these militaries, in order to bring about a change in the government. Now, the Iranian leadership is very opposed to this change, but nevertheless, I strongly believe it will happen and I strongly believe it's God's will. Why? Why do I think that it's God's will? Because our God does not bless those who oppress, those who torture, and those who haphazardly kill.

And that's what's being done right now by Iran. To first and foremost their own people, but let's get it right. We have seen just recently when this is being recorded, a few nights ago, we saw that in the city of Arad, a biblical city you can read about it in the scripture, that a ballistic missile landed. And we see that I believe nine people were killed, and approximately 70 were seriously injured. And we see also in another southern city, there was shrapnel that fell from the interceptions. And again, numerous people were injured, in fact one 10-year-old boy, imagine that, just 10 years old, he is in a most critical condition.

So let's be very clear, and many other people have lost their life because Iran shoots missiles indiscriminately at civilian targets. That's what they're doing. So why this man, Timothy Dolan, would have a problem with God's righteous retribution upon this evil enemy, it mystifies me. I don't understand it, but here's the problem and I think this would probably answer why he has this position: he misunderstands the biblical concept of love. Yes, God is a God of love, the scripture tells us that, but because God is love, He loves righteousness. He loves holiness. He loves that which is glorifying to Him.

And that which is evil, that which is unrighteous, that which is unjust, what does God do? God punishes that. And this is what we're seeing in this passage. Notice, vengeance, and we'll talk about why the vengeance in a moment. But look with me if you would to the end of verse seven where it says that this army came about upon the Midianites, just as the Lord commanded Moses. And what did they do? They killed every male. Now, why is that? Because men were fighting against the children of Israel.

Let's get it right. Look now at verse eight. "And the kings of the Midianites they killed concerning their dead bodies. And what dead bodies? Well, we have Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, who were the five kings of the Midianites." And who else was also killed? Notice the end of this verse where it says, "and Balaam the son of Beor they killed with a sword." So now we see this wicked one, Balaam. Was God merciful to him? No. Why? We'll find out immediately why this was in a moment.

Look if you would to verse nine. "And the children of Israel took captive the women of the Midianites and their young ones, meaning their children. And all their domesticated animals, all their livestock, and all their armies," what did they do? They plundered. So they benefited financially from the defeat of the Midianite army, and therefore they plundered them. Verse 10. "And all their cities in which they dwelt in and all their castles they burned with fire."

Now, I wonder what Timothy Dolan thinks about the Bible because we see here it is God calling the children of Israel to render vengeance upon the enemies of God. And can we arrive at the conclusion that Iran today with all their oppression, all their torture, all their political arrest, can we discern that God is against Iran? Yes. Now, are there many believers in Iran? There are. Does God love these who believe in His Son? Absolutely. But because of the unrighteous leadership that has ruled over Iran for 47 years, there is going to be a time of vengeance.

And God, in the past, He used the children of Israel, and by the way, today He's using the children of Israel and the soldiers of the United States of America to render vengeance upon Iran, just like He did in our passage against the Midianites. It's very important that we see this. Move on to verse 11. They took, who took? These would be the children of Israel, all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and beast. So what do we see? Accountability. The wealth of the Midianites, what happened to that wealth? The children of Israel plundered it. They took spoil, they took booty, in another way of saying it, they plundered their enemy, and they received all the wealth.

Verse 12. "And they came to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the witness of the children of Israel," meaning those who were supposed to bear witness, "and the captives and the plunder and the spoils of the camp." It says here to the plains of Moab, which is by the Jordan, meaning the Jordan River. Where were they? It says here, Jericho, they were close to the city of Jericho. Verse 13. "And Moses went out and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the witness, meaning the congregation of the children of Israel, to meet them outside the camp." So as the armies were coming back victoriously after truly rendering vengeance upon the Midianites, it says here in this passage, look carefully, "and went out, they went out, Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the witness, meaning the congregation to meet them outside the camp."

Verse 14. "And Moses was angry at the captains of the army. Those who were over thousands, those who were over hundreds, the ones who came from the army of war." Now, why was Moses angry with them? We're going to find out in a minute. Look now to our next verse, verse 15. "And Moses said unto them, you have allowed the women or every female to live." Now Moses is not pleased with that, he's angry at them. Why? Well, look at the next verse, verse 16.

Now we're going to find out what Balaam did, why he was killed with a sword. Look at verse 16. "Look, they, meaning the women, were the ones concerning the children of Israel in the matter of Balaam," meaning the women took part in doing something. There were all of these temple prostitutes of the women who were there that led the children of Israel or enticed them to fall into idolatry at this place, Peor. And in because of that, what happened? Well, just keep reading, we're going to be told.

It says, in order to turn them to rebel against the Lord concerning this matter of Peor, and what happens? And it came about a plague on the witness of Israel, meaning the congregation of Israel. So what does Moses say? He has a different solution. And here again, based upon what I heard from Timothy Dolan, he would not agree with Moses. But I don't believe he agrees much with the word of God. Look at verse 17.

What's that first word? Atah. Now, it's not with an Aleph, it's with an Ayin. Why is that important? Because when we hear Atah with an Aleph, it means you. But when we see it with an Ayin, it's a totally different word. It means now, and not just now, it's now with a sense of urgency. It's very important that we remember that. So what is Moses saying? Look at verse 17. "And now with urgency, kill all every male among the children, meaning the young children. And every woman who has known a man by lying with a male, also kill."

So we see that there's a call to every male child to kill, and every woman who is of the age to have been with a man, also they too are to be put to death. Why? Because these females played a leadership role in enticing Israel and bringing judgment, God's judgment upon Israel. Now, we see something. Over and over when we understand the biblical God, so important that you hear this. When you understand the biblical God, God is a God of judgment. And what do we find? Well, earlier because of Israel's sin, what did God do? He sent a plague among the children of Israel, and thousands of people were killed by that plague.

But now there is a accountability upon the Midianites for leading under the leadership of Balaam. We find that now God is placing retribution and vengeance upon Balaam and the Midianites for what they had done. So look again, verse 17. "And now kill every male among the children, and every woman who has known a man by lying with a male, also," he says, "kill." Verse 18. "But every young one among the women who has not known a male by lying, these ones, these little ones, they are allowed you keep alive."

Verse 19. "And you camp outside the camp for seven days." Now, who? Who are the ones that are required to camp out outside the camp of Israel? It says here, "everyone who has taken a life, killed a life, and everyone who has touched," and we have a word Chalal, "a dead body, that has been made impure. But on the third day and on the seventh day, you and those who were taken captive," so he's speaking to all. Everyone who has killed, everyone who has come in contact with death, and everyone who is part of the captivity, it says here, look again at the text. They are impure, but on the third day and the seventh day, they're going to do something. What? Well, let's press on.

Look if you would to verse 21. "And Eleazar the priest said to all the people of the army, come into the camp this is the statute of the law which the Lord commanded through Moses." And notice what it says, is a very important principle because remember they had taken spoil, they had done things, they plundered their enemy. And they received much of their wealth, and that's why it says, look again at the scripture. Look if you would to verse 22.

"But the gold and the silver and the bronze and the iron and the tin and the lead, everything which can be made to pass through fire, pass through fire." Now, what is the purpose of this? It is for purification. So all these things that were taken, this wealth from the Midianites, notice that it's forbidden until this is done. Look again at our text, verse 22. "But the gold and the silver, the bronze," could mean copper, "the iron and the tin and the lead. Everything which can pass through fire, pass through fire and purify it. But through the waters of impurity, it becomes impure. All which is not able to pass through fire, pass through water."

So we have two types of water, and this is important that we see the distinction. There is Mei Niddah, which is waters of impurity, but there's also water that is going to be used in order to purify. And this purification has a sense and we'll see this of restoration. This is what the word of God is saying. So if it's able to pass through fire, we pass it through fire. If it's not, then what do we do? We pass it through water, it's washed. And through whether it's fire or whether it's water, we find these two elements have a sanctifying influence, a purifying influence.

Look now to the next verse. Look if you would to verse 24, our last verse. "And you shall wash your garments on the seventh day," so the first time on the third, also on the seventh. It says, "and now you shall wash your garments on the seventh day and purify yourselves, and afterwards you shall come into the camp." So over and over, we're seeing that when one submits to the instructions of God, what's able to be? Able to come back into the camp of the people of God. In other words, there is that restoration. But the purpose of this restoration is seen through fire or water. And we know that in the end times, God is going to judge through fire. But earlier in the days of Noah, God brought His judgment, brought His wrath through water. So both of these elements can be used in order to bring about a change, a restoration, taking that which is forbidden and making it acceptable.

This is what the word of God is teaching us. Now, let me just summarize a few things and then we'll wrap up. I want us to see very clearly that the God, the biblical God, is a God of justice. And the biblical God holds everyone accountable to His standards. Not my standards or the standards that are easy or desirable, but the Lord's standards. We need to embrace that. We need to understand it.

It is only when I acknowledge God's standards, now learn something. There is a direct relationship between recognizing the authority of God and accepting His standards. When we don't accept God's standards, it is because we are rebellious, because we are rejecting God's authority over us. See, biblically we see something. We see in the Bible that God wants absolute control over every aspect of our life.

Now, when we submit, what are we going to receive? Through this submissiveness, we will receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we will have the mind of Messiah, meaning we'll see things from God's standpoint. We will be empowered by God through His presence and His power in order to carry out the will of God. This is what a true believer desires.

We understand that to recognize God's authority is a good thing, that we desire that, and we look for opportunities to bear witness that we are under the authority of God. It's not what we like, what we believe, what we think is proper. It's not our definitions of right and wrong, but we recognize God's authority and we submit to Him and we share that He is sovereign over us. So it's only when we demonstrate our submissiveness to God, then is that anointing going to be poured out upon a believer, every believer.

When we approach God submissively, when we approach God with a desire to obey and to implement His word, this is going to be a catalyst for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fill us, empower us, to give us that righteous perspective so that we can carry out and do the will of God. And let me conclude by saying this: there is nothing better than doing God's will. No one ever has done the will of God and regretted it. But when we do our will, when we think we're the authority, when we think we can rule our life, this is going to be a source of great pain. It is going to rob joy from your life. So let's be submissive. Let's honor God. Let's be individuals that humble ourselves in order that we will be exalted by God in being empowered to obey the truth of scripture. This is what a true believer desires. I'll close with that. Shalom from Israel.

Guest (Male): Well, we hope you will benefit from today's message and share it with others. Please plan to join us each week at this time and on this channel for our broadcast of loveisrael.org. Again, to find out more about us, please visit our website loveisrael.org. There you will find articles and numerous other lectures by Baruch. These teachings are in video form. You may download them or watch them in streaming video. Until next week, may the Lord bless you in our Messiah Yeshua, that is Jesus, as you walk with Him. Shalom from Israel.