Lessons in the Wilderness

-Please Read this FIRST- On this site we prefer to use the actual Name of our loving Heavenly Father as it was written in the Word, and thus you will note that we will use the Four Letter “Memorial Name” of - YHVH, which is pronounced as YaHVaH or YaHWaH. In addition we will also use our Heavenly Father’s attribute/title, which is Elohim rather than “God,” which sadly is the name of a pagan god. In addition we also love to use the actual and real Name of our beloved Messiah which is - Yahushua or Yahshua in short, for this is our Saviours original Hebrew Name as given to Him at birth in Lukas - Luke 1:31. This was the only Name ever used when He was on the earth by His family, disciples and His followers OVER THE centuries, even until today! However, it was changed to a foreign name by the founder of the new “pagan church of Rome.” Occasionally, we may also use other Hebrew or Greek names as well as different words in our studies for certain common words used are from pagan backgrounds and thus are not suitable. All names will be translated when they are FIRST used in a study or at various times as needed for clarity. There is a full explanation of YHVH’s blessed “Memorial Name” as well as the wonderful blessed Name of our Messiah and Saviour, thus please read … “The Memorial Name.”

Study - Part One

As we commence Part One of “Lessons in the Wilderness” I pray that we have prepared ourselves in prayer and asked our Heavenly Father in Messiah’s blessed Name that He will give us discernment and understanding in order that we may grow in His beloved Word. But more so that we will become stronger in faith and closer to Him in spirit and in truth! HalleluYah!

Introduction:

This study covers chapter One and part of chapter Two of Davarim - Deuteronomy, but chapter One contains some rather exciting and interesting details that should really touch many and bless every true believer in our beloved Saviour Yahushua THE Messiah!

It will be a lengthy study for in the past I have only given it as a message in fellowships around Australia and all over the world in various languages. Now rewriting it I decided to make it more comprehensive, for when giving a message you have only so much time, but here you can read it at leisure and if tiring, you can place the page in “favourites” and come back to it and continue where you stopped. I pray that there will be many blessings to be found within its message, even though, some are rather direct, for Elohim as does Messiah Yahushua does speak direct to the heart and commands obedience from all of us! Sometimes we tend to forget that!

When I originally decided to write this study in the early 1980s and read chapter one, I so clearly felt my beloved YaHVaH Elohim (the LORD God) saying to me, “This is where those in the church still are and they should read this book to get closer to Me, for I am Elohim, for I say that so many of those who say they are mine are lingering in the wilderness!”

Beloved, and I am speaking to all who are reading this study, the book of Davarim - Deuteronomy was written for Israel, but also very much for today and it applies to you right here and now. Did you realise that this is a book that did not have to be written. The point is, most of what is contained in this book, had already been said by YaHVaH Elohim (the LORD God) and was given to the people by his chosen prophet Moshe - Moses. The point is this, had the Children of Israel taken notice of those blessed words and acted upon it at the time, this book would not be with us today, but it is!

Thus, what is Elohim saying to Israel in this chapter, and yes, also to you and me … is;

“When I say MOVE, you MOVE.”

But beloved, this chapter contains far more than just that, for it teaches us so much more, for we will look at a number of other Scriptural characters in Scriptural history, as they are all quite relevant in so many ways and I pray that this study will shower you with the kind of teaching that will have you bowing down in prayer and asking the Father in the Name of Yahushua; “Father, have I moved on where You desire me to be?” I pray beloved that this study will richly bless and fill you with joy in Yahushua who is the true Messiah, “the Name above every name!” Just remember, that there is not any other name that qualifies to be our Saviour, for did our blessed Saviour not say;

“And whatever you ask in My Name that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” Yochanan - John 14:13-14.

But before we commence to look at the Book of Davarim - Deuteronomy, the first thing that comes to my mind is, as the prayer suggests: Where are you in His plan right now and although this book speaks about days long gone, yet I know this book was written for today’s situation for we need to understand that the world at large has come to a spiritual halt and we know this just by looking at the chaos that is all around us with so much crime that has the law in tatters and then is the ever changing weather patterns with some of the worst storms and hurricanes/cyclones, floods, or wild/bush fires in history with a massive loss of lives and property. But then there are the never-ending nations at war all around, the vast majority being associated in one way or another to Islam, a religion that has been murdering each other and “infidels” – “non believers” since it commenced! All this is revealing that we are indeed living in the latter days, and yes, even the cashless society is now becoming a reality and we can see that it is almost upon us. And sadly as we have seen, far too many of the faithful have not gone on into His service, but are all too busy in home affairs, reminding me of that young man who spoke to Yahushua;

“Then another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Master, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Yahushua said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Mattityahu - Matthew 8:21-22.

Many have said that the words of Yahushua sounded rather harsh, actually it was not! For the truth is that most people just did not understand the meaning of the statement regarding this disciple, for he was working with a teacher of the Law who is mentioned in verse 19, and his disciple would have been the eldest son of the family and usually it is the eldest son who takes on the responsibility to run his fathers property until he dies, and thus only after he buries him, does he consider himself to be free. But, according to the law, the eldest should also be handed over to Elohim to become a priest and should have been automatically released and when this disciple-scribe was asked by Yahushua to join Him, thus the same applied. But the point was this; he just did not want to commit himself! And this is where the problem really was! And this was also Israel’s main problem, for there was a lack of commitment at the end. And the question could also be asked of many of us, are you willing to go and do whatever the Almighty asks of us, when He calls?

As I stated earlier, there was no need for Davarim - Deuteronomy to be written, for it is a repetition of what has already been said in the previous books of YHVH’s Law given to the Children of Israel. But, of course, the former generation of Israel had by now died in the wilderness due to their sins, and even Moshe would not enter into the Promised Land, thus it was important that the law, especially the Ten Commandments to be repeated and expounded to the new generation before they would enter the land!

If you get to study the whole of this book very closely, you will discover that it contains a very important and a powerful word, I call it one of the books key words, which happens to be; “Remember” in Hebrew it is “Zachar.” This word is used some 14 times. With seven being the perfect number and this is double the amount, thus it is almost like saying remember Elohim’s creation and remember the calling out of Avram – Abram, later to become Avraham and remember the promise that YaHVaH Elohim gave him when he was 99 years of age.

“As for Me behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Avram, but your name shall be Avraham - Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their Elohim.” Bereshis - Genesis 17:4-8 – NKJV.

Israel also had to remember when they were in slavery and how Elohim had heard His people when “they cried out in their pain” and how He “remembered His people” and with a great and mighty hand Elohim made Egypt suffer with 10 plaques each of which humiliated their gods, but it was the tenth plaque, the last one for it took their first born and finally pharaoh allowed Moshe to lead Israel out of Egypt to go and worship Elohim and they departed out of their long and painful bondage. This was the great deliverance a picture a type of what was yet to happen, for Yahushua was the completion being the lamb of Elohim, without spot and blemish! HalleyluYAH.

It was also necessary to remember the giving of the Law, the “Ten Commandments,” which are still in affect to this day, as Yahushua the Messiah so clearly stated, and in fact, he not only said that His death would not end them, but he actually strengthened the commandments greatly and clearly stated that the law would end when All things be completed” or “finished”! For those who understand the Word they will know what is meant, He was speaking in the manner of all the prophets and he was clearly speaking of that great day when the New Heaven, the New Earth would be with us, with a New Jerusalem and all the true believers will be there with Him forever! Just read the Sermon on the Mount!

But the fact is the book of Davarim - Deuteronomy was given mostly for the Children of Israel for if they had fully obeyed their Elohim, then there would never have been a need for this fifth and final book of the “Torah – the Law” What was so tragic that YaHVaH Elohim once again needed to give Israel the Ten Commandments for the second time and He thus repeated many of His Laws to His people and as we know, many other details were also contained in this book that were previously written in the earlier books!

But we will look more closely at this chapter as we commence with “Lesson in the wilderness!”

Chapter 1:1:

Let us commence this study by reading verse 1 of chapter 1 of Davarim – Deuteronomy.

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.”

With the Children of Israel having been redeemed from slavery out of Egypt by the mighty hand of YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, then three days later came the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea, and fifty days later at Mt Sinai, where Moshe had gone up to Mt Sinai and he received the Torah - the Law. These things we know from the blessed Scriptures! This day we know today as “Shavout” or the “Feast of Weeks.” It was on “Shavout” that Shime’on - Peter spoke to the many Israelites from all over the world who had come to Judea for the Passover and this feast and he shared Yahushua as their true Messiah and Saviour! However on this day back on Mount Sinai Moshe - Moses had been given the Ten Commandments and due to the many who worshipped the golden calf 3,000 Hebrew’s were punished and they died! But on Shavout in 69 A.D. 3,000 Hebrew’s were redeemed by the shed blood of “the Lamb without spot and blemish,” their Messiah Yahushua!

“Then those who gladly received His word were immersed - baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the eating of meals and in prayers. And everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. Now all who believed were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” Acts 2:41-45.

But let us look at that verse again, did you notice that it names a list of places and that those names are very difficult to pronounce, I mean let face it … , “Suph, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab?”

I always find that our beloved Heavenly Father loves to bedazzle us with some fascinating sounding names, but worse still many of these are extremely difficult to pronounce, I mean, hello, “Dizahab?”

Beloved there is a very good reason why Elohim makes sure that He names all these places, for the point is that each and every one of them matters, and should you ever have the opportunity to travel “Eretz Yisroel” - the “Land of Israel” and the Egyptian Sinai Dessert you can go and visit some of these ancient places. But more importantly, the point is, details are important. It is very much like reading all those begets in the blessed Scriptures, for you may just find that if you actually start reading some of those begets you might just discover that there is so much treasure there and a great deal more to get from them than skipping them, like most church goer’s and true believers so sadly do!

Verses 2 & 3.

“It is eleven days’ journey from Choreb - (or Mt. Sinai) by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month that Moshe spoke to the children of Israel according to all that YHVH had given him in commandments to them.”

First we read that it would have been just an *eleven-day journey from Mt Sinai to the place where they were now at being Kadesh Barnea and yet they had already camped there for one year and eleven months. And frankly that was just too long for our Heavenly Father, blessed be He!

*For interest, the distance from Choreb or Mount Sinai to Kadesh Barnea is about 110Mi or 176Km.

Beloved, have you ever thought about this question, considering Israel’s obstinacy, what is one of the most amazing facts regarding this long and arduous journey of “forty years?” It is this, that the ever-loving YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, would remain with Israel throughout this entire generational journey – yes even for the whole of the entire “forty years.” Of course we know that He was continually present for when the Tabernacle was erected and completed, there was smoke above it during the day and fire at night, being a powerful sign of Elohim’s continual presence! In addition “forty” adds up to a “generation” and thus it is one of the most important numbers in the Scriptures for it appears again and again, be it “forty days” or “forty years”!

Forty is a Generational Number:

The number “forty” is used by Elohim to represent a period of testing or judgment for there may be a length of time required to accomplish a part of Elohim’s plan in His dealings with mankind. The forty days of rain in the days of the flood were the judgments of Elohim. Egypt was left desolate for forty years because of Elohim's judgments. The forty day periods of fasting, testing, and communing with Elohim that were faced by Moshe - Moses and our Saviour Yahushua were a form of Elohim’s judgments. The forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness were also a judgment of Elohim, blessed be He! There were a number of leaders in Israel, but many more in Judah who reigned for “forty year” periods, and they were put there by Elohim according to His Will and Judgments. There is much more to the number “forty” and the word “generation,” but this will suffice for now!

Let us look at one single life that contains three generational parts to it, and of course that is Moshe - Moses who led Israel from Egypt. For the first 40 years of his life he lives like a prince in great wealth and far from Elohim and he was certainly not suitable for what Elohim needed as yet, for he would have been a man far too proud! Then after his misdemeanour with that evil Egyptian Moshe went into the wilderness where he remained for another 40 years, and only towards the end when he was humbled and ready Elohim called him to lead his people out of Egypt! And Moshe led his people out of slavery towards the Red Sea, when he was 80 years of age (2 times 40). Then after 40 years in the wilderness Moshe died at 120, and now we have seen the generational periods of Moshe’s life, 3 times 40. For he was 40 years a prince, 40 years a lowly shepherd and 40 years a great leader and prophet and a picture of our saviour, yet Moshe who was a typology of a “saviour” of Israel, was not worthy to enter the land of promise, for the true Saviour would come after him who would be far greater and He would be born as prophesised in “Bethlehem” which translates as the “House of Bread.”

Also, did you realise that the maximum number of “stripes” that were permitted for punishment were “forty.” “Stripes” have to do with judgment, and that included Elohim’s judgement. See Lukas - Luke 12:47-48. When Elohim brings judgment upon His people, it may be rightly termed, “stripes.” When Shime’on - Peter states (about Yahushua) “by whose stripes you were healed” in 1 Shime’on – 1 Peter 2:24, he is quoting directly from Yeshayahu - Isaiah 53:5, which is a prophecy concerning spiritual and not physical healing as many erroneously teach. Although physical healing from Elohim is a wonderful blessing, yet, blessed be He, spiritual healing is by far a greater blessing!

Our salvation is dependent on the fact that Yahushua bore the “stripes” that you and I deserved to bear on our flesh. In other words, Yahushua bore the force of all the judgments that should have come upon us as sinners. Yeshayahu - Isaiah’s prophecy shows the judgments of Elohim were poured upon our beloved Saviour, Yahushua in order that we may be saved! Thank you Lord for Your great love and mercy!

Please Note: There is an interesting page online that covers the many times that the Number “forty” is mentioned in the Scriptures and I know that you will find it very interesting, for our beloved Saviour fasted “forty days and nights in the wilderness,” and he was tempted for “forty days.” In addition, Yahushua remained on earth forty days after resurrection, and these are just some of the countless facts from the Word! ENTER HERE - or via a link at the bottom of the page.

Our heavenly Father sets a range of conditions in this last book of the Torah, in regard to when Israel enters and possess the land what they do, what they can eat, how they treat strangers, even their sexual relationships, their home life their attitude to work as well as to money. For Elohim clearly states, “I want you to know that when you are in the land I have given you, it came with conditions! And unless these conditions are kept, you will lose what I have given you!” (Paraphrased).

Beloved, it is just the same with us today, for all who have believed in the Name of our Saviour Yahushua the Messiah who gave His Life on that tree on Golgotha as “the Lamb of Elohim without spot and blemish,” and laid in the tomb for three days and three nights and when we have repented from our sins then we redeemed in blessed Name of Yahushua the Messiah. For we have entered into a special relationship with our Saviour and have thus entered into a Covenant with Him!

Tragically, I find it so sad that the greater church tries to get out of these conditions and they have that old traditional statement that is a Satanic lie, one that I have heard for far too long; “The Old Testament law is no more, thus the law does not apply to us for Jesus nailed them to the tree.”

Beloved, that statement is simply a hideous lie that is so evil that it obviously has come from Satan, for are we not told in the book of Revelation.

“That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” Revelations 12:9 NKJV.

Yahushua Himself made the following statement as a warning and it is very powerfully told that evil ones, who obviously would be led by Satan would be teaching great lies and even perform miracles to mislead individuals away from His truth, but those teachers would be from the Devil!

“For false Messiah’s (Christ’s) and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.” Mattityahu - Matthew 24:24-25.

Thus, it is clear, the Word that came directly from Heaven said, that it would be “Satan who would be a deceiver of the world.” yet so many of the lies that are being told have become an old and long standing tradition, thus it must be the truth. But if you look back who actually introduced most of those ideologies, you will find it is the pagan church of Rome who has challenged the truth of the Word from the very beginning and even radically changed it, together with the eastern orthodox churches! Tragically their followers are lost, but I pray they may read the Truth of His Word and that YaHVaH Elohim’s Holy Spirit will Touch them and that they will repent and return to the Father in the true and loving Name of Yahushua the Messiah! It was Rome who changed Messiah’s Name to a Greek name, which means, a hail to “zeus.” Just look up “Ephesus,” or any name or place in Greece that has the ending of seus, sus, zeus, etc, etc, each and every one always means the pagan god zeus! I am sorry to shock many, but it just happens to be a fact and we must cope with it, and return to the TRUTH of the Word of YaHVaH Elohim and Yahushua the Messiah.

Who is the Messiah?

You may now ask, well before you go on, who do you then claim that he is? That is simple, for we clearly believe that He is Elohim, for Yochanan - John 1 so clearly tells us this, but also the Tanach, the Old Covenant confirms it that YaHVaH Elohim and Yahushua are Echad – ONE! Davarim – Deuteronomy 6:4 states in Hebrew first and then in English;

“She’ma Yisroel YHVH Eloheynu YHVH ECHAD” - “Hear O Israel, YHVH our Elohim YHVH is ONE - ECHAD.”

There is a study online, entitled “Echad – ONE” - click the link at the bottom of the page!

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with Elohim and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Yochanan - John 1:1-5.

Thus, we acknowledge that Elohim and Yahushua are one and the same for both are from the beginning, but “the Word” became flesh lived as a man and gave His life and has returned to be with the Father and is there again today, until He returns again!

The Sermon on the Mount:

The truth is that the conditions I was speaking about earlier also came directly from Messiah’s own mouth as well as from the Apostles, including Shaul – Paul, therefore, beloved, if we break our Saviour’s conditions we will lose that we have been so lovingly given, unless we repent with all our heart! We must obey Him, and that is in all matters, if you are called into ministry, you better obey, if you are about to sin, just stop it, for it is better to obey the Word, for He will see you!

In fact the “key word” in this very book is “Obey” or “Shamu” - in Hebrew. For if YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, says for us to do something, then you better do it, or there will be consequences! Thus for those who are Obedient and desire to be so, I believe that they will also have an Objective! And that beloved are the two big O’s in the book of Davarim – Deuteronomy, for all who are Obedient unto the Father and Messiah, who are One, will have an Objective of reaching the “Land of Milk and Honey” or for those in Yahushua, the “Kingdom of Elohim!” HalleluYAH, but there are conditions attached, like it or not!

Chapter 1:3:

The words … “that YHVH had given him in commandments” in verse 3:

Beloved we should never treat the Word of YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, lightly, for a Commandment is a Command and as we know as Elohim stated that His covenant and commandments with Israel are forever, for the Hebrew word “Olam” literally means – “eternally” – (Tehillim – Psalm 105:8), thus, no matter what you are taught, they have not been removed or changed!

I am sure that although teachers within the churches continue the lie that the law has been nailed to the tree, well let me tell you this; why is there in countless churches all over the world two tablets that contain the Ten Commandments on them? Is it for decoration or is it saying that we should keep them? According to their own teaching, they should be ripped off every church building wall for let’s face it they are part of the Old Testament law!

Sadly in these latter days there is what I call the Satanic; “once saved always saved” false doctrine, which has become very popular and why not, for it makes this new type of religion so simple, once you are saved, you are right, regardless what you do! Rubbish! Personally I call it a “Take Away faith” or an “Eat Out faith!” Read “The Power of Words” for more detailed and Scriptural information. There is a Link at the bottom of the page.

But in the Sermon on the Mount our beloved Messiah He not only instructed His followers to uphold the Ten Commandments, for he directly mentioned the Law;

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen; will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished (or until everything is finished).

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Verses 17 to 22.

As we can see, Yahushua continues His sermon with the Ten Commandments as He has already done as we have read, for He said “Do not Murder” But Yahushua empowered this law by adding even more to it, who ever said that He abolished the law, when we can see Him adding to it? He added “… anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Therefore as we can see Yahushua is clearly dealing with THE VERY LAW that was given at Mt Sinai and He adds to it! As He did to the marriage laws if you will check it! Thus, if your church is telling the lies that you are not under the law, that is untruth, for Shaul - Paul never said this, for what he spoke about is very different indeed, he was speaking about the law that was being practiced by the priests at the time, the same Messiah encountered in the wheat field on the Sabbath, for His Apostles did not break the Sabbath at all, but under the man-made, or rabbinical laws, they did, and Shaul was against these laws, but not the law of Elohim. In addition all sacrificial laws were no longer in affect, for Messiah had indeed fulfilled these! But the law of Elohim remained ongoing, the Sabbath, the Feasts and other relevant moral laws! But we now keep these not because we have to, but because we desire to please out beloved Elohim for what He has done for us, it should be a delight and not a burden! Thank You Father in the loving Name of Yahushua!

“Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month on the first day of the month that Moshe spoke to the Children of Israel according to all that YHVH had given him as commandments to them, after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and Og king of Bashan who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.” Davarim - Deuteronomy 1:3-4.

Remember beloved that details and words in the blessed Scriptures of Elohim matter a great deal!

Thus, Let us quickly review at what we have seen so far.

Verse 1 told us exactly where the Israelites were, for this matters where and why they were here or there. It is very much the same with all of us, for if we are in the right place and in the plan of the Almighty, then we are able to be in His service. We all matter to YaHVaH Elohim, and He knows where we are and if we are moving in the right direction, or if we have stopped and not going where He desires us to be!

“On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moshe - Moses began to explain this law, saying. YHVH our Elohim spoke unto us at Horeb, saying, You have remained long enough at this mount.” Verses 5-6.

What was Elohim really saying to Israel “It is time - NOW GET GOING.” This also speaks to many who may be reading this study, for the question is this, are you at the same place as you were the day you gave your life to Yahushua (Yeshua the Messiah)? Possibly you also may have gotten too comfortable and not sought the Father and asked Him in Messiah’s Name what He has for you and if there is a work in His service that He may wish you to do. I believe that all the faithful have a job to do whilst there are lost souls out there who have not accepted our Saviour into their lives and they must come to believe, repent and be immersed! In and out of fellowship we must be witnesses and if we have not grown, then we have not been bold enough in our loving Saviour Yahushua the Messiah! Thus the message to you, just as it was to Israel so long ago, Get Going!

And that is just what this chapter is really all about. It is a chapter about going forward! Let us be guided by His precious Word.

“Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighbouring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which YHVH swore to your fathers, to Avraham, Yitzchak (Isaac), and Ya’akov (Jacob) to give to them and their descendants after them.” Verses 7 & 8.

Just a short note re this Scripture, amazingly Israel to date still has not obtained all of the land that YaHVaH Elohim had rightly given them! However, there was just one time when they were in reach of their objective and they could have had all of these lands during the time of King Dovid - David, but it was not to be. But it will be in the end!

Elohim said “Turn and take your journey” or better said “Pack up and get going … Go in and POSSES THE LAND.” Now did you notice something in this scripture? Was this a promise? No it was certainly not! Was this a prediction? Again, I can say with absolute confidence that it was NOT! For it was an absolute command as we will see again later in verse 21.

Verses 9 to 18 - Twelve Men Appointed as Rulers:

“This people have become too big for me to manage and I cannot do it alone.” Through his father in-law, Elohim said; “I do not want you to do it alone!” Verse 9.

Moshe abdicated his position and delegated and a whole organisation to look after the twelve tribes, there would be a man to look after a thousand, another after 500, 100, 50, 20 and even 10 etc. And ten men had to be selected from the tribes. (two tribes had priests and they would not be included).

These verses deal with the growth of the Children of Israel, numerically, and how Moshe found it more and more difficult to deal and handle the individual arguments single handed on a daily basis, considering his many duties. For this reason, as these verses describe, he appointed twelve honourable and faithful men, one of each of the twelve tribes and made them rulers over them. This would leave Moshe time to do all of his other duties, especially YaHVaH’s work!

Organization: In Verse 9 Moses simply said “I cannot do it,” and that was a typical reaction of an overburdened person, but as Israel was going to multiply in the land they certainly needed organization! And therefore Elohim allowed Moshe to take a wise man, a leader from each of the tribes and make them a ruler of that tribe! The question is should they be paid, like today’s pastors and ministers who are more or less well paid full time employees, etc., thus they have to say that their profession is being a minister of religion, or whatever they choose! But once they have been to their churches’ theological college they are very much bound to their theology and must only preach their teachings and are not permitted to stray from their theology or pattern in any shape or form, or be sacked, or in some cases even excommunicated.

A short Break & Living in Faith:

Beloved, the faithful in Yahushua the Messiah firmly believe that every man in Elohim’s service should live a normal life including going to work, possibly part time if there is much work in His service, as well as by living by faith for the rest of his and his families needs. Our ministry does just this, live by faith and we live according to our beloved Messiah’s simple instruction contained in that wonderful prayer - “Give us this day our daily bread.” And beloved, we do not market or sell anything, nor do we in any shape or form ever ask for funds, yet Praise be to Elohim, we always seem to have sufficient for “our daily needs” and we need no more. Just have FAITH!

The Land before you:

Moshe had to continually encourage the people with stories of what YaHVaH Elohim had done for them as they travelled through the wilderness and protected them from mighty enemies. But now they were at the border of the Promised Land and they had to get going!

“So we departed from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as YHVH our Elohim had commanded us. Then we came to Kadesh Barnea” Verse 19.

We need to realise when the Children of Israel first arrived at Kadesh Barnea that was thirty-eight years in their journey, for they would spend another two years there and their stay is part of the wilderness experience. You would have to wonder, they had arrived at the very border and they were almost there, it was just a very short distance to their destination, yet they stopped dead in their tracks after such a long journey. You would have to ask yourself - Why? The answer is simple but we will come to that!

“Look, YHVH your Elohim has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as YHVH Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.” Verse 21.

Moshe said “GO and Take the Land … Keep Going … Don’t Stop Now … Don’t be Afraid … Don’t even Doubt … None will Stand Against You for YHVH Elohim will Go Before You!” So what was stopping them?

Before I go On, I do need to quote two verses from the Brit Chadashah, the New Covenant and it comes from Revelations chapter 21:7-8. You will note that it has an extremely powerful message for everyone!

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his Elohim and he shall be My son. But the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the pit where there will be lightning and sulphur, which is the second death.”

Beloved, did you note what came first in the list “fearfulness” meaning “fear, alarm, dread, trepidation, terror and anxiety,” but did you realise that all of these are tools of HaSatan, Satan, the Devil! Yes, “fear” is a greater sin when it comes to serving the Father and He who is “the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim” (Yochanan John 1:1) being Yahushua our beloved Saviour and Messiah who freely gave His earthly life for you and for me on that stake up on Golgotha!

Did you realise that Messiah said something very powerful, even when He was on the earth, yet many versions of the Scriptures have attempted to delete the last few words of Yochanan - John 3:13. It relates to what I stated above!

“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”

I ask you to think about that question for it is in fact a powerful one, but would take another study! But let us now return to the thoughts of FAITH!

Faith and the Prophet Eliyahu - Elijah:

Fear is such a strange thing and it is something that those who have a true and a strong faith in Elohim will overcome. I always think of that wonderful prophet Eliyahu – Elijah, a man of rugged attire who simply walked into the king in that great court and as he stood before the evil king Ahab, believe it or not Eliyahu insulted that mighty king.

At this stage we need to understand the times and royal protocol of those days: 1: To have an audience with the King an application must be made and approved and the visit must be made at the precise time! This in a slightly lesser manner applies to the queen as well. Therefore should anyone just walk into the court without an invitation that person should never even reach the king and would be put to death! 2: Anyone who speaks to the king, without being asked to do so is put to death. Yet Eliyahu, a rugged man of Elohim proceeds and stands before this evil king and utterly disgraces him with one of the most powerful declarations and he then completely humiliates the king by not just turning his back on him but also walking out of the palace. Now, that is what I call complete impertinence. But that is just what that great prophet Eliyahu did! But what did he really say?

This is his statement to the king was as follows …

“As YHVH, the Elohim of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there will be no dew or rain for these years, until I say so.” 1 Melachim - 1 Kings 17:1.

To fully understand what the implications of his statement, we must consider the following.

(1) “As YHVH Elohim of Israel lives, before whom I stand.”

Here we see Eliyahu giving his authority, for he stands before the king in the Name of YaHVaH Elohim!

(2) “There shall be no dew or rain for these years”

Eliyahu now threatens the king with a drought.

(3) “Until I say so” or “according to my word.”

These are Eliyahu’s concluding words, in which we see his immeasurable faith.

When Eliyahu said, “before whom I stand,” this was a huge insult to the king for it contained the following implication.

“Hey king, you might be sitting there on your mighty throne, but I am not standing before you, I only stand with and before my Elohim.” (Paraphrased).

Where was Israel’s Faith?

I firmly believe, as we read about Eliyahu’s stand before the evil king Ahab that we the faithful in Messiah can also stand before an evil world and act in full faith, even in the face of peril. It was this kind of faith that Moshe was expecting from Israel at Kadesh Barnea, but no they came back to him with an argument.

“And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.’ The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe.” Verses 22 & 23.

Now, let us consider Moshe’s reply, the question is; was he really as pleased as the statement seems to imply? The truth is those words by Moshe “The plan pleased me well” did not actually mean he was very happy at all, for the truth is they disobeyed Elohim, but his reply was in the sense of “If you demand it!” Bamidbar – Numbers 13:2 records this event …

“Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan.’ Bamidbar – Numbers 13:2.

In Hebrew “Send thou men” is “Shelach Lecha Anashim” which better translates “Send for yourself men”. Thus implying that Elohim was saying “OK go if you must, but I disassociate Myself from this venture!”

At other times, such as in Bamidbar – Numbers11:16 – “Elohim said to Moshe, Gather for Me (akkaph Li) seventy men,” thus these men Gathered for Elohim to Go, thus not only were they going with Elohim, but He would go ahead of them, which was very different to the occasion we have read here when we read when Moshe said and “The plan pleased me well.”

No, Moshe was not pleased at all for that statement was very much said on the human level, but on the spiritual level he was most unhappy! But there was worse to come, for when they returned they had three items of News: 1; Good News, 2; Bad News based of their own fears and 3; Outright Rebellion of the People.

1. Fruit of the land … “They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and explored it. Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, ‘It is a good land that YHVH our Elohim is giving us.’” Verses 24 & 25.

2. They also reported that … “The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.” Verse 28.

3. Rebellion … “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of YHVH your Elohim.” Verse 26.

The spies had returned with the samples of the giant and delicious fruits. WOW, just one look was enough to convince Israel that the land was indeed a “Good Land that YaHVaH Elohim had given them.” BUT … there was the question of all those giants in the land, how can we even think of entering and fight the giants and there were those walls that reached “up to the sky” Excuse me, they were so high that they actually reached “up to the sky?” Fear tends to cloud men’s mind and things tend to get exaggerated! Then sadly verse 26 states that the people refused to enter into the land and they rebelled against the command of YaHVaH their Elohim! And that is so tragic, had they not seen His mighty acts? Where was their faith, for faith overcomes everything!

Beloved, Israel who had seen the great power of the Almighty from the day the Tabernacle was completed for a pillar of smoke rose from its roof during the day and fire by night, ensuring that the Children of Israel would know that He was with them, in addition, He provided them with manna six days a week, but they had to collect twice the amount on Friday to cover for the Sabbath! But after the “twelve men of you, one of a tribe” having returned from their journey into the land of promise and having seen the wondrous fruits and the goodness of the land, sadly they came back full of fear of other things they had seen! It is sad to learn that fear had stuck not only them but they allowed it to run wild!

It simply amazes me how Israel just could not trust Elohim. I really believe that is was so easy for YaHVaH to take the Children of Israel out of Egypt, but believe me, it was much harder to take Egypt out of the Children of Israel! And sadly, as I have looked at the churches it is just the same as I see gospels of prosperity teachings and pastors using their own names as part of their ministry, now that is not honouring the Saviour? Their teachings are all astray with so much error based on ancient Babylonian, Greek and Roman gods mixed in with some sort of so-called christianity that it has become a false religion! If it celebrates the pagan based “easter,” which is based on a pagan goddess, it is obviously Pagan, the same applies to that ancient pagan festival of “christmas” upheld for one who was obviously according to the Scriptures not even born anywhere near that date, but again is part of an evil pagan festival!

Lot’s Story - Bereshis - Genesis 18-19:

At first it may be a good for us to look back in time a little to a family living in a certain city, for it amazes me how people and individuals who believe in YaHVaH Elohim, Sanctify His Name, so often get their priorities so very wrong, even when things get into a bad, if not a very dangerous situation. The truth is that their faith will have slipped in one way or another! That is why I am heading all the way back to the Book of Bereshis - Genesis and I know that we will all learn a mighty lesson from it if we will only heed to it, and begin to understand the situation right here at Kadesh Barnea and why there was such a lack of faith, that can lead to fear and fear means the destruction of the soul, thus your relationship with Elohim!

Please Note: He who we all know as Avraham - Abraham was first known by the name of Avram - Abram, and his name did not change until that incredible day when he took his son, his only begotten son Yitzchak - Isaac up the Mount and offered him as a burnt sacrifice unto YVAH Elohim, But Elohim provided a Ram in his place. It was then the “h” was added to Avram as a sign of faith and he became Avraham!

“Then YHVH appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he (Avram – Abram) was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted his eyes he saw that three men were standing not far from him; and when he did see them, he ran from his tent door to meet them.” Bereshis - Genesis 18:1-2.

As we know that the three men in this chapter were angel’s sent by YaHVaH Elohim, and they ate with Avraham. They also discussed the child Avram and Sarai – Sarah would have a little later, but upon hearing this Sarai quietly laughed, and the angels challenged her on this, etc!

Having eaten, the angels together with Avram went down towards Sodom and Elohim had clearly indicated that Sodom and Gomorrah sins were most “grievous.” For Avram this was sad to hear for his beloved nephew Lot and his family lived in there.

Bereshis – Genesis 18: 20-26:

“Then YHVH said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.’ The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Avram remained standing before YHVH. Then Avram approached Him and said: ‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?.’ YHVH said, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.’”

However, Avram was not content with fifty being able to save Sodom and received agreements from Elohim for forty-five people in verse 28, this bartering continued down to forty people, thirty people, twenty people and finally just ten people in verse 33, after which Avram returned to his tents.

We know that only two of the angels went to Sodom and Lot met them and took them to his house, soon enough evil came to their home of an evil sexual nature, that reminds me of this age as there was rampant homosexuality at the door! The angels had Lot call all of his family, but all thought he was joking, but worse was to come, for even Lot and his family was not too keen to go with the angels of YHVH Elohim!

Bereshis - Genesis 19:16-20:

“When he (Lot) hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for YHVH was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, 'Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!’ But Lot said to them, ‘No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favour in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it, it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared.’”

What we have read above is simply astounding, for this is supposed to be a man of faith in his Elohim, but 1. he did not want to leave his home and he not only hesitated, he did much more than just that, he was reluctant and even dared to question or oppose the angels, therefore his Elohim! You see, this place had become his home over a period of time and he had brought up his family and his daughters were about to get married and he had his own home. His wife, well she was settled just like the typical wife and had all her things all over the place and she was very comfortable thank you very much, and her husband, well he had good work and was earning well for the household! Why leave now, why believe these men who say they are angels from the Almighty who will destroy this place in the morning!

You know, we can be like that for we can get just too comfortable and when challenged by our heavenly Father to do something for Him that could take us away we don’t do it, all because it may just change our lifestyle and that would not fit in well with what he has for us right now living in this comfortable environment, would it? Thus Lot not only hesitated whilst he was in the city but there was so much more for he continually fought back! Elohim had told him where to go and that was up in the mountains, but no, Lot told Elohim that it would be too dangerous up there and instead he would go to a small town in the valley were he thought where he would be safe. But the very opposite was the truth! If Elohim sends you somewhere it is for a reason and He will be with you, but poor Lot, there was far too much flesh in him and thus he went down into that valley where things in due course went very wrong! But that is another story.

But in chapter 19: 26 states that …

“His wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Amazingly a good 95% of the people who read and know this scripture well in reality do not fully understand its full meaning of what is meant here. If we go back to the literal Hebrew translation, this verse actually reads as follows: “But his wife looked back (Hebrew: “Nabat”) the word contains a tense of pleasure; from behind him (Hebrew; Me’acha’rav), and she became a pillar of salt.” The point is this, she simply did not want to leave, thus she lingered some way behind Lot and the girls and remained in what we may call the firing line. Thus when the city was finally destroyed due to her not wishing to “let go” she was caught up in the destruction and was therefore turned what appeared a white salt pillar in a shape of a person. The whole story is a sad one and I am afraid to say that this family did not learn their lesson well, for Lot had a great deal more evil to befall on him very soon, all due to him not heeding to YaHVaH Elohim, and we should be learning from this lesson, and so should the Children of Israel to this day!

Moshe - Moses:

Let me just sum up the timeframe; at this time Moshe - Moses is now 120 years of age and he has only two months to live, yet he remains strong and is of remarkably good health, as he still seems to be able to climb up the mountain! He continues all of his duties and he is still writing this book, and he does so up to a point, for the final chapters of the Davarim - Deuteronomy were not by his hand, but we know that he had already chosen his successor Yahushua - Joshua to lead the Children of Israel home into the Land that Elohim had given unto Avraham and his generations forever and for all eternity! And Yahushua - Joshua would complete Moshe’s ending the mountain story. But we should now ask what land was given to Israel and what were its borders?

“On the same day YHVH made a covenant with Avram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates, the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” Bereshis - Genesis 15:18-21 - NKJV.

When Elohim Avram was shown the land that would be his and for his generations to come forever; covering from the River Euphrates taking in all of today’s Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon all the way to the Mediterranean to Sidon, from the Hills of Lebanon down to Negev at the border of Sinai. However amazingly, Israel has to date still has not obtained all of the land that YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sacred Name, has rightly given the land to Avram and to the Children of Israel forever! Believe it or not, but there was a single opportunity when Israel was in reach of their objective and they could have had it all, which was during the days of King Dovid - David, but it was not to be!

End of Part One:

You will find that Part Two will have some very powerful new and very exciting teaching, the kind that you may never have heard before and a great part of it will relate directly to your life today! Yes, I will continue what occurs in the wilderness, but I pray that all who will be reading this is NOT living in the wilderness, for if we know His Word and live according to the Word than we should be covered by the shed blood of the Lamb of YaHVaH Elohim, being Yahushua the Messiah! HalleyluYAH.

Lessons in the Wilderness - Part One - This Page

Lessons in the Wilderness - Part Two

Forty Days ~ Years List - Part Three

Also read - The Shemos - Exodus Series

The Waters of Meribah

Bamidbar - Numbers Chapter 20

Echad - ONE - Deut 6:4 - Study

“Hear O Israel, YHVH Elohim, YHVH is ONE”

Shalom In Yahushua THE ONE and ONLY Messiah!

“Teach me Your way, O YHVH. I will walk in Your truth.
UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME!”

Tehillim - Psalms 86:11

May YHVH Elohim bless and keep you in the palm of His hand always, in Messiah Yahushua’s loving Name!

The RETURN Movement name was founded in 1978.

RMI Ministries International - The International Ministry.

Search our Site

search this site the web

site search by freefind

*************************************

Return to our Site Index

Or our MainPage

www.rmi-ministries.com

Yahushua said; “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by Elohim. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me. No one has seen the Father except the One who is from Elohim; only He has seen the Father. I tell you the truth he who believes has everlasting life.” Yochanan (John) 6:43-48.

Please Note: RMI Ministries International and associated ministries are 100% non-profit outreach ministries.

As we do not market, or sell anything or ever request funds by any means, including the sending of any of those

so called “News,” or better said; “Beg-letters.” Upon receipt of an email we do not retain any details on a database,

neither will we ever send any follow up emails, but only reply if we have been requested

Do you have any questions? You are welcome to email us …

Click the inkbottle to email us!

info@rmi-ministries.com

The RETURN Movement International

--Established in 1978--

Quotations are derived from various versions of the Word
including KJV/NKJ/NIV/Hebrew/Greek translations by the Webmaster, and Messianic versions.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright his studies, but there have been occasions where parts

of this studies have been taken and quoted out of context under his name, and thus he has been misquoted by

those who had their own reasons for doing so. Thus, it is only for this reason these works