Naso Make an Accounting

Bamidbar

Naso

Num.4:21-7:89 Ju.13:2-25 Jn.18:1-40

Not sure if anyone noticed but HaShem counts His children like a hen cares for its young and keeps an eye on each single one of them under the wings.  From a practical human point of view one can say that counting anything gives the person counting a sense of possession, when I was a youngster I would count my marbles, although some may say I’ve lost some, I also counted my chrome cards and toys etc.  As I grew up I started counting my pennies saving for my first card, and then musical instruments, as you may gather I am like most normal individual.  We always count that which we think we posses, and why is that, but we do as our creator does; we are made in His image.  It is for this reason that it was not permissible to count people as in a census, not unless it was done by the commandment of HaShem Himself and according to his instructions.  As fellow human beings we are not to count our brothers as we do not own them nor they are our possession.

In this Torah portion there a few interesting topics that could keeps us engrossed in discussion for weeks, however we do not have that luxury of weeks so lets look at briefly the reason why HaShem has chosen to count and instruct Israel on what he wants.  When HaShem redeemed the Levites instead of the first born to be priest and stewards in his service he had a schedule for all the families that belong to the tribe of Levi.  Some were specifically chosen to carry the tent, others the poles and the items, others however were chosen to carry the service of the tent in their shoulders.   To each were given a responsibility that needed to be done, no one was above the other they are all essential in their role of servitude to HaShem.  In our current days under the umbrella of Yeshua our Messiah we are no different we all have our roles, some teach some worship lead and serve with their voices, others with the gift of healing etc.  We all have a place in our Holy assembly.  The reality is that we are set apart a Holy nation just as Israel was chosen to be a Priestly nation in Yeshua we are also called to the same task to be a Holy priestly people, with Yeshua the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. 

Further to this concept we also see instructions on how to perform vows to honor HaShem and serve him with our lives.  Those that choose to set their lives apart and be Holy for HaShem are given very strict instructions to be able to accomplish his vows and even further that that if in case the is an inadvertently death near someone fulfilling the vows there is a way of ending.  The reason for this is that such undertaking to attain holiness is taken serious in the eyes of HaShem, he has set us apart to a level, but if we wish to attain a higher level there is a way, a way that pleases HaShem and allow us to come closer into his presence.  The whole purpose of His instructions is the set apart a chosen people, they are neither better nor worse, but are His chosen people, as are we all we need to do is walk in obedience into His presence and serve. 

Many of these korban that were presented to HaShem were done so as to allow the giver of the korban to approach HaShem’s presence, Repentance, purification, korban are some of the steps that needed to taken, the washing at the Laver, the offering of incense and the sprinkling of blood, all steps before one could approach the King of Kings the very presence of HaShem.  Nowadays we do not have the temple and we could not offer a korban, but in our prayers and with our lives we are able to emulate the same service as in the tent of the meeting or the temple itself.  Contrary to what many believe one cannot just barge into HaShem’s presence, if there is sin in our lives one must repent, yes we have attained salvation in Messiah, but we continue to live in the flesh and in this world, we may no longer be of this world but we are still in it.  As a matter of fact we have become ambassadors of the world to come.  As such our lives should be in constant self analysis as we come before HaShem’s presence through Yeshua Israel’s Messiah, we repent of our shortcomings and coming, short of the prescribed lifestyle required of us, and offer the Korban, Yeshua’s sacrifice, our life, Yeshua in us.  From there we follow into Laver and the incense and finally into his presence all through prayer and a life centered in Yeshua fenced in by a Torah lifestyle.  I John 2:3: This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.  Additionally John 15:10: If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.  Let us hope that we are found keeping His and the Fathers commandments at the time of Naso “Make an accounting”.