The first topic deals with the truthful nature of YHVH's men. It wasn't all that long ago the the "word" of a man was considered binding. I remember as a young child my father fueling up his vehicle at a local gas station. Each time, he would put his purchase "on a tab" he had verbally created with the station owner. True to his word, he promptly paid the station owner upon receipt of his paycheck.
However, the society within which we live is replete with contracts of all kinds and sizes, and teams of lawyers to service and enforce their terms. In regards to our current legal position as a society, it is what it is. Yet, with or without a legal, written contract, the quality of a man being true to his word is still, and always will be, at the very heart of a true man of YHVH.
In regards to vows, Yeshua counseled that our conversations should be "yes, yes and no, no"--very simple indeed. In this statement, He fully supported the wisdom of Solomon.
"...a fool's voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to Elohim, do not delay to pay it, for He takes no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed. It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay." Ecclesiastes 5: 3-5
The writer of Proverbs puts it this way.
"When words are many, transgression is not absent, but he who restrains his lips is wise."
Proverbs 10: 19
There is infinite depth of wisdom in these instructions. True men of YHVH are defined by the words they speak, and the keeping of the same. It's like a line from a song on my "Tsiyon Bound" album. "Men of the Great Yahweh"..."men who mean just what they say, truthful men of the great Yahweh".
In the topic considering the battle against the Midyanite kings, we see a blessed benefit of the former truth. Truth in the words and deeds of a Godly man is simple and pure. It is devoid of mixture. It was not so with these Midyanite kings that were acting upon the counsel of Balaam. The prophet couldn't do or say anything to level a curse on the people of YHVH. So, he suggested mixing their pagan ideals with Yah's people--with a deadly end result.
Now, the time has come to "pay the piper". The twelve thousand soldiers in this chapter are chosen equally from each tribe to exact the judgment of YHVH on these kings for their treachery. The victory is complete. Every man of Midyan is slaughtered, along with every man child, and woman who had "known a man". Only 32,000 young girls were spared. Make no mistake; YHVH hates mixture and will judge it today just a surely and He judged the Midyanites.
There is another point of interest concerning the account of this battle. The soldiers chosen were not just your average soldier. These were more likely the elite of their soldiers--the best of the best. I may well have been akin to turning Chuck Norris loose twelve thousand fold on the Midyanites at the same time. It is also noted that all twelve thousand men returned home alive. Because they were "truthful" men doing battle in the name of YHVH, they reaped the blessing of His hand of protection.
There is a parallel point of interest concerning these elite soldiers of Israel. As Moses put together a fighting group of twelve thousand just prior to the first entering of the Promised Land, YHVH will very soon put together an elite fighting group of 144,000--twelve thousand from each tribe. Standing between the enemies of the God of Israel and His remnant, these elite soldiers will do battle in His name and lead His chosen as they re-enter the Promised Land, there to remain forever.
I am continually amazed at the wisdom of the Father. As finite humans, we seldom see His wisdom, even years after it has been manifested. As Father made known to SueJean she was of the tribe of Gad, He made known to me I was of the tribe of Reuben. Hence, this part of our Torah portion has a very special meaning to both of us--His wisdom of joining us together as man and wife. Its, therefore, with strong resolve we stand together to recommend not holding the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Mannaseh accountable.
There is error with the teaching that these tribes somehow fell short of God's intended destiny by not entering the land. The men respectfully made their request of Moses to allow them to remain on the east side of the Jordan River. Agreement was made between Moses and the tribes in question that they would arm themselves for battle along with the other tribes, and not return to their land until the other had received their inheritance. Scripture clearly shows these men upheld their end of the bargain and were held "blameless" (Numbers 32: 22).
By doing what was right, they enables our generation of Reuben, Gad, and Mannaseh to inhabit the same land. For the "right" choice, I will forever be grateful. I've seen some of this land and am looking forward to building my ranch and golf course on its spacious expanse.
There is a point of interest regarding the choice of these tribes to remain east of the Jordan which many may be unaware of and/or on which are afraid to speak because of the threat of political correctness. According to Scripture, the Jordan River IS NOT the eastern boundary of the Promised Land. It is, however, the border of a down payment on the future land of Israel.
Father clearly defines the boundaries of the Promised Land to be inherited by the descendants of Abraham.
"On the same day YHVH made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Mitsrayim (Nile) to the great river, the River Euphrates...'" Genesis 15: 18
These men didn't fail to enter the Promised Land as they are often accused. They just chose not to cross the Jordan. Just lood at a world map. Everything from Bagdad to the Sinai, for parts of Saudi Arabia not to Syria and parts of Tukey is within the boundaries YHVH says belongs to Israel (Sons of Jacob) and his people.
There is one final thought I would like to inject here, one that can be and usually is very easily overlooked. Although these men were held blameless in the eyes of all Israel, Moses did have one correction in their thinking--one that a lot of men and women of our day desperately need to address.
The tribesmen said to Moses in 32: 16, "Let us build sheep-enclosures here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones..." After the agreements were made, Moses replied as follows in 32: 24. "Build cities for your little ones and enclosures for your sheep, and do what you have promised."
The question here is one of priorities. I have heard it rightly said, "the proper order of priority is God first, family second, job or career third, and self last". The thinking of these men had wrongly put their career ahead of their family, necessarily including self along with it. In v. 24, Moses respectfully corrected them with the proper order of priority. In the same spirit, I challenge each man and woman of YHVH. Set a proper order of priority "and do what you have promised".
In closing, I would encourage everyone concerned to quit maligning these men of YHVH and unashamedly grasp the truth. There are many like SueJean and I that stand to inherit this same land and would be equally appreciative of such consideration. Very soon the "Midyanite 2" war (Ezekiel 38-39) will occur and judgment of the enemies of Israel will again fall, this time on an even larger and more devastating scale. Shortly thereafter will be the blessed day we all get to go home!!
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