Shelach: Send — שלח - Albuquerque Institute of Biblical Law

Shelach: Send — שלח

6/22/2019

Thoughts on Torah for this Last Week.

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Numbers 8-12
In last week’s parsha, we see and we’ll consider the two manifestations of God set out here – the Holy Spirit and God’s Cloud of Glory. Some may think that the Holy Spirit didn’t come on the world scene until the New Testament, but there is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit here. But before we get there, let’s review the mitzvot/Commandments in this portion. See Steven Berkson’s review in Part 14 -HERE.

Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been somewhat enigmatic. Some see the Spirit revealing truth, to some it is linked to miracles, and some a feeling of joy or peace. In this portion, we see God taking some of the Spirit from Moses and giving it the Seventy Elders who then prophesy. “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied.” Here is yet another function of the Spirit – to prophesy. As we ponder on the various functions that the scriptures seem to attribute to the Spirit, let's deepen our understanding of the Holy Spirit with this teaching by Steven Berkson – Understanding the Ruach.

God’s Cloud of Glory
The other manifestation of God we see in this portion is God’s Cloud of Glory. The Cloud that God gave to Israel provided both protection from the elements and from their enemies. But more importantly, it provided to Israel a physical manifestation that God was with them.

In our last post, we saw the Endtime Remanant wandering in the wilderness. Likewise, this Remanant will also experience God’s Cloud of Glory as Israel did anciently. Consider these comments by Dr. Gileadi about this Endtime Cloud of Glory.

As in the past, Jehovah’s cloud shields his end-time elect from their enemies and provides them with light during a time of darkness: “Although darkness covers the earth, and a thick mist the peoples, upon you Jehovah will shine; over you his glory shall be visible” (Isaiah 60:2); “Over the whole site of Mount Zion, and over its solemn assembly, Jehovah will form a cloud by day and a mist glowing with fire by night: above all that is glorious shall be a canopy. It shall be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, a secret refuge from the downpour and from rain” (Isaiah 4:5–6).

In the midst of enemy assaults, God’s cloud of glory protects his elect people from harm: “You were a refuge for the poor, a shelter for the needy in distress, a covert from the downpour and shade from the heat. When the blasts of tyrants beat down like torrents against a wall, or like scorching heat in the desert, you quelled the onslaughts of the heathen: as burning heat by the shade of a cloud, you subdued the power of tyrants” (Isaiah 25:4–5). And as the angel of God accompanied his people in the past, so Jehovah accompanies their end-time travels: “Jehovah will go before you, the God of Israel behind you” (Isaiah 52:12).

You might also enjoy this short video about God's Endtime Remnant.