| Trusting that you all had a productive week and are now preparing for Shabbat. This week’s Torah Portion is Parashat Shelach (Numbers 13:1-15:41). Here is a brief commentary from Baruch on this portion of Scripture. |
| In this week’s Torah portion, HaShem’s call upon the Children of Israel challenged their faith. Such an experience is not unique to Israel; every believer will have his or her faith challenged to some degree every day. Obviously, in the case of Israel in this week’s parashah, it was a big test; taking possession of the Land of Canaan from a human perspective would not have been an easy task. An important principle to learn is that no matter what the challenge may be to one’s faith, the solution is always the same— trust in the L-rd. It was clear from the text that the Children of Israel focused upon the Nephilim (Giants) who dwelt in the Land, rather than believing that HaShem would keep His word and give them the Land He promised. When the moment came to obey HaShem and inherit the Land, instead of acting in faith, the people wept all night, murmured against Moses and Aaron, and wished they had died either in Egypt or earlier on in the Wilderness. The people asked a couple of very informing questions, “And why is HaShem bringing us to this Land to fall by the sword, our wives and children will become spoil; surely it’s better for us to return to Egypt?” Numbers 14:3 Not only does this verse call into question the character of G-d, but also His ability. This reveals the real problem with the Children of Israel. They knew of the G-d of Israel, but they did not truly know Him. In other words, they did not have any doubt that HaShem existed, but they had not come to believe that He was a Holy and Righteous G-d and infinite in Power. It was highly insulting to HaShem to say that He brought them into the wilderness to die by the sword. In addition to this, their statement that “surely it’s better for us to return to Egypt” reveals that they thought they knew better than Him. It is clear from this verse that they did not believe in an omnipotent and omniscient G-d. Left to themselves, they would have returned to Egypt and lived a life of bondage to an evil ruler. This is what many believers are experiencing today. They know that Yeshua is the Messiah, but they have not come to know Messiah and His power or character. They fail when their faith is challenged and they are living a life that is moving in a direction contrary to the will of Yeshua and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What is their real problem? The answer is that they are spiritually cowards. I know this because I, too, have failed to act in faith and live in a way which reflects a faith that acknowledges that Yeshua is Holy and Righteous and infinite in Power. Joshua admonished the people saying, “But against HaShem, do not rebel…” (See Numbers 14:9). Join with me this Shabbat and pray to Yeshua and ask Him to reveal to you the areas in which you are rebelling against Him. A lack of faith in the Biblical Messiah plagues us at all times. |
May you all have a blessed Shabbat!
Thank you Lord for your word and the knowledge you have given to Dr Baruch to teach us. G_d may continue blessing your life, family and ministry. Thank you 🙏🏻
Amen! Dr. Baruch’s life, together with his whole family, is a blessing to us indeed. The L-rd continue to use him mightily in this age and time.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Shalom, I’m always looking forward to Dr. Baruch’s commentary on every parashah-I’m sharing them to our FB viewers in Winnipeg, Canada. Hoping these commentaries continue, by HaShem’s grace. Thank you.
Thank you Ireen! I will try to post one each Thursday or Friday! Blessings!
Shalom, my husband and I enjoy your teachings…I do have a question about The Shabbat. Should we as gentile believers honor the Shabbat
And is it beneficial for us?
Hello Debra! Thank you for leaving a message. Please click on the link below where I discuss Shabbat. Blessings!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I3fcyGcSNo
My husband and I descovered “biblically inspired life”. We are just behind you and Baruch, married for over 30 years and my husband saw something you and Baruch shared in “savegaurd your marridge” and when he practiced what you said, our relationship between us, changed for the beter. I think he is starting to understand me (I am not a difficult person) but sometimes us lady feel insecure. Friends of ours are having marriage problems (feminism) and we were wondering how to send them your videos without them feeling affended. We were praying about it. The husband seldomly come to visit us. We have been staying in our home for 23 years and he has been in our home only one time. My husband received a call on Thursday from him and he said he is in the neighborhood, could he come by. G_d is Sovreign. My husband told he how this videos really touched him. Then friend then asked me to share the videos. I did not only shared the 2 which my husband asked me to share , I shared 5 with him. I rely do pray that through those 5 videos G_d will bless them abundantly. Baruch and Rivca, we enjoy your teachings so much, we do not go to a denomination. G_d has grown in our lives and has been teaching us so many things that one woukd never have learned it in another place.
We live in South Africa. I am afrikaans, please exuse my grammer. Please continue this amazing work. Shalom Ylva
Thank you so much for your very kind and encouraging message. I appreciate so much you taking the time to leave it. It means a great deal to me. Blessings!
Amen.