The LORD has a huge vision and plan for the earth and all of its inhabitants. That vision is brought to us in this week's double-titled Sabbath reading portion. Its title is Mattot - Mass'ei, which refers to the tribes of Israel, and the journey of the tribes from their deliverance and departure from Egypt to their entry into the Canaan territory, their promised home. The reading portion starts in Numbers 32. Moses recorded each of their journey's departure points and encampments along the way. (Numbers 33).
As the tribes approached the Promised Land from the east, the LORD gave instructions to Moses regarding the current inhabitants of the land: "...When you have crossed the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan into the land of Canaan (kana - humiliate, vanquish, bring down low into subjection, humble, fall on one's knees, bring low by enemies), then you shall drive out all (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the inhabitants of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; you shall dispossess the inhabitants of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess." (Num. 33:51-53).
The LORD was uncompromising in His next warning: "But if you do not drive out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants (sek/sakak - thorn/covering, shut in, to block, overshadow, cover over, screen, hedge in) in your eyes ('ayin - sight, fountain, well, mental and spiritual faculties) and thorns (seninim/sen - thorn, barb, a cactus hedge) in your sides (sad/sarar - side, adversary/enemy, distress, bind up, vex, besiege, trouble, make narrow, harasser, oppress), and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them." (v. 55-56).
In the thinking of the world today, this sounds very harsh. The LORD was taking the land away from the Canaanites and giving it to the Israelites. However, the land, the earth, is the LORD's (see Ps. 24:1-2), and He does what His will with it. The LORD had given the land of Canaan to the Israelites in a covenant promise that He will not break. The Canaanites were, like all the people of the earth, descendants of Noah and his three sons. Through their forefathers, the Canaanites had knowledge of the LORD God, their Creator, who saved their future lives through the flood by sparing Noah. In written Hebrew, the inhabitants of the land are signified with the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, having the knowledge of the coming Savior and Messiah/Christ. The wickedness of these inhabitants had grown very great, and their rejection of God had caused them to choose demonic gods, idols and abominable worship practices. Human beings became a commodity to them to be trafficked for profit. God waited to dispossess them (see Gen. 15:13-16) until their wickedness had grown so great, and without repentance, so that as the Just Judge, He could wait no longer. Joshua described the inhabitants this way because of their rejection of God as LORD: "...do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." (Num. 14:9).
The LORD has set pre-appointed times and boundaries for all of the nations (see Acts 17:26-27), as He set specific appointed boundaries for the Israelites also (Num. 34:1-12). The LORD, and not man, raises up kingdoms and tears down kingdoms according to His will and divine purpose. (Jer. 1:9-10). All nations would do well to remember this. This is just one part of the Vision of God for the whole earth that we can learn in this Sabbath reading portion.
The fact that the LORD sovereignly and miraculously moved an estimated two million people from "bitter and hard bondage" in Egypt to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) a land filled abundantly with milk and honey is an earth and history changing event that only the LORD could accomplish as He had promised.
As we read in another selection from this Sabbath reading portion, the Israelites did not keep the Vision of the LORD. They accepted the idols of the land and lost their 'ayin spiritual perception and eyesight as the LORD had warned above. They gave up their knowledge and trust in God. Jeremiah wrote the Word of a grieving God: "...My people have changed their glory for what does not profit...For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water. Have you not brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD your God when He led you in the way?...For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me," says the LORD God. 'How can you say, 'I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals (false god of the Canaanites)?" (Jer. 2:11-23, excerpt).
The forsaking of God by His people has a far-reaching and devastating effect upon the heavens: "Be astonished (samem - desolate, waste, destroy, astonished, appalled, stunned, stupefied, causing horror, cause to be ruined), O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,' says the LORD." (v. 12). Much is at stake in the spiritual obedience or disobedience of God's people as we can see.
Jeremiah also recorded this cry from the heart of God to His people: "If you will return, O Israel,' says the LORD, 'Return to Me; And if you put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be moved. And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,' in truth, in judgment, in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." (Jer. 4:1-2). In the same manner, the return of His people to the LORD affects all of the nations of the earth! The nations praise the LORD and are glorified in Him. How can we refuse to return to Him with all of our hearts?
This leads us to the last part of the Vision of God revealed in this Sabbath reading portion. This is a special Sabbath because it is the Sabbath before the new month of Av begins. When the new month begins at the appearance of the new moon in the lunar cycle, it is called "Rosh Chodesh," or "Head of the month." Av is an important month because a special day of mourning, fasting and prayer is marked during this month called Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av or August 3rd this year. Several catastrophic events occurred in Israel or to the Jewish people on this date throughout history including the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem, the expelling of Jews from certain European countries, and the date of marked events in the Holocaust.
To commemorate this date of mourning, Isaiah 66 is read for the Sabbath reading portion. Isaiah 66 contains a great Vision of God for the earth. It begins: "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool...on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isa. 66:1-2, excerpt).
The LORD mourned over His people, saying, "...Because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight." (v. 4). However, the LORD also then emphasized His Vision for Jerusalem and Zion, His holy mountain. He will judge all flesh, but of Jerusalem and Zion the LORD says: "Rejoice with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her...Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream...and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem...For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD." The LORD's Vision extends to all flesh on the earth, flowing to the world from Jerusalem and Zion. (see also Acts 1:8).
Also mentioned in this chapter of Isaiah is the Lord's question: "Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or a nation be born at once?" (v. 8). The answer is "Yes!" The LORD caused Israel to be re-established in a day after two thousand years. The earth had to give birth to Israel again at the Word of the LORD.
This is a special time to draw closer to the LORD. It is a time to consider what is lasting and what is not, what is true and what is not, and whose Vision we will follow - our own, the world's, or the LORD's. It is a time to express our love and thanks for the mercies of God and for His enduring Word for all of the inhabitants of the earth. There is no other King worthy to rule the earth. There is no other Ruler who brings glory out of sorrow and manifests the possible out of the impossible. It is a time to seriously consider these things and choose the LORD God again and again, and His Son, Jesus, our Salvation, and His Spirit who dwells within us.
If you would like to know more about drawing closer to our Father, you can join my prayer: "Dear Father, You have guided the steps of my life and given me everlasting life in the light of Your face, and in the name of Your Son. You brought me to Your Son, Jesus, who changed my life. You called me holy and a living temple, and filled me with Your Holy Spirit and with Your glory. You healed me, delivered me, and blessed my loved ones. You hear my prayers and reassure me that You have heard. You gave my life purpose, taught me and said to me, "I am here." I can only thank You with my love, my praise and my life. I offer this in Jesus' name. AMEN."
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