Mattot/Massei - July 10, 2021

Torah Portion:
Mattot/Massei - July 10, 2021
Torah: Numbers 30:2(1)-36:13
Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-66:24

Portion Summary:
—The laws of vows for men and women are given.
—The Lord commands vengeance against the Midianites and they slay all males and spare only virgin females.
—An inventory of war booty is taken and divided.
—The Reubenites and Gadites find good land east of the Jordan, but vow to help their brothers capture the land on the other side.
—The travels of the Children of Israel are listed.
—The boundaries of the land are given.
—The cities of the Levites and the cities of refuge are named; the laws of the manslayer are given.
—The daughters of Zelophehad are given their father’s portion of land with conditions, and the laws of inheritance are given.

Devotional by Janet Cothrell:

“Then they said, ‘If we have found favor in your eyes, let this territory be given to your servants as a possession. Don’t make us cross the Jordan.’ Moses replied to the sons of Gad and Reuben, ‘Should your countrymen go to war while you dwell here? Why do you dishearten Bnei-Yisrael from going across to the land that ADONAI has given them?’” Numbers 32:5-7 (TLV)

The tribes of Gad and Reuben found the land they wanted in an uncontested area. The other tribes could expect to struggle and strive for their land, and Moses saw these two tribes stopping short as being unsupportive and as abandoning the mission. Those tribes agreed to set their families and flocks in place in the good land they had chosen, and to go on to help their brothers with the struggle.

In this country some have claimed at times to be persecuted for their faith, but they have no idea what this really means. We have always been in a much better place than believers in oppressive countries. There are places where lives are taken and in danger of being taken all the time, and human rights have no meaning in those places. Do we appreciate the suffering that they go through, and do we strive to support them? I cannot imagine the hardships they face, and the faith it takes to continue. Do we support them in prayer, financially, and in whatever else we can do to ease their struggle?

We have found ourselves in what has, up to now, been a good land. Does that mean that we forget the suffering of those who strive to keep faith and spread the Word where it is so savagely hunted out?

Father,
I thank You for the ease with which we may follow You in this country. I pray that I do not forget that there are those who are my brothers and sisters who pay dearly for their love of You. Please show me ways to support these ones so dear to You.
In Yeshua’s name, amen.

End of the book of Numbers:

חֱזַק! חֱזַק! וְנִתְחַזֵק!
Chazak! Chazak! V’nee Chazek!
Be strong! Be strong! And be strengthened!