Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies

There are many “what might have been” incidents in the Bible. This section of the Bible records one such event. According to the record in Numbers, God commanded Moses to send spies into the land of Canaan to assess the difficulties that they would face as they entered the land. The result was a disaster resulting in the people revolting against the Lord and against Moses. However, when we consider the commentary on this event recorded in Deuteronomy 1:19-23, we find that it was the people who wanted to send spies into the land. God allowed them to do so. Upon their return, the majority reported that the land was indeed a land of “milk and honey” but that the inhabitants of the land were much too formidable for Israel to conquer. The minority report, given by Caleb and Joshua, expressed the faith that since God was with Israel they were well able to take the land and overcome the Canaanites who were living in the land. Caleb actually said that Israel was “able, able” to conquer the land. He used the superlative by repeating the term able, i.e., we are more than able to do it. The people obviously received the majority report.

Joshua and Caleb were able to “see” in a deeper spiritual sense than were the other spies. They were much like the prophet Elisha in a later incident recorded in II Kings 6. Elisha’s servant was alarmed when he saw the Syrian army circling the city. Elisha prayed that God give the servant the ability to see in a much broader sense.

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (II Kings 6:17)

As believers, we need to see and think in terms of God’s “horses and chariots of fire” today.

God’s plan for Israel to conquer the land was very simple. Recorded in Exodus 23:29-30, God would give them possession of the land, little by little, as they because fruitful and possessed it. They were approaching the land from the south, from the desert. God would bless them while He judged the Canaanites. They would possess the land as they moved northward through the land. This would, most likely, be accomplished slowly. I call this the “Holy Ooze” plan. The Canaanites would hate this “holy” community and be repulsed by it and, thereby, be pushed northward out of the land.

The people rejected this “much too slow” plan. They embraced the typical human view of a brisk military campaign to take the land. Viewed from a normal human perspective, they concluded that they would not be able to overwhelm the Canaanites. They failed to take into consideration that God was in their midst and He would make the difference. Caleb and Joshua recognized this fact while the other ten spies did not. Caleb ben Jephunah and Joshua ben Nun have become the heroes of the modern settlement movement in Israel because the modern Israelis face a very similar situation today. The stated will of God is clear; however, the opposition is great.

The lesson to be derived from this section is that we must not over analyze the “faith assignment” (Romans 1:17) given to us by God. If God is the lord of our endeavors, He will cause us to prevail without regard to the opposition. We must take a step in faith and trust Him for the outcome.

One final thought recorded in this section that is worthy of our attention today. Here God again said to Moses that He had decided to wipe out Israel and “start over” with Moses and his descendants. In an earlier event recorded in Exodus 32:9-10, God declared that He was about to do the same thing. These two incidents amount to what is called “Replacement Theology” which is common in Christianity today. That doctrine declares that God has given up on Israel as a covenant partner in the plan of redemption and has now replaced Israel with the Church. Moses was given the test of Messiah. Would he be impressed with God discernment and pridefully accept God’s proposal or would he plead with God to remember His revealed plan of redemption and maintain it. Moses did the latter and gained God approval. Much of Christianity has done the opposite today by embracing “Replacement Theology”. What is the position of the church which you are a part of?

This week’s Bible section reveals something about the relationship of believers from the nations with God and with Israel.  The setting for this section is Mt. Sinai.  Israel had been at Sinai for almost a year and was preparing to depart for the “Promised Land”.  As they were being prepared to enter the land, God ordered that the men suitable for military service be numbered.  Men from 20 years old were numbered.  This speaks to the idea of an age of accountability.  We believe that God ordered the men to be numbered to serve as a testimony to future generations and to assign responsibility to each individual.

Levites were omitted from this numbering process.  They were treated separately because they were set aside for special service to God.  They rendered help to the Priests and handled the work around the tabernacle.  Levites had replaced the firstborn sons of Israel due to the rebellion concerning the “Golden Calf”.  Evidently, the firstborn sons of the tribes had forfeited their natural leadership position by failing to oppose idolatry.  The function of the Levites was to “come near to God” and to handle the things of God.  Please note that the Levites were numbered from one month old and older.  They “belonged” to God for their entire life. 

Later, King David instituted continual praise and worship in the tent that he erected when he brought the Ark to Jerusalem (I Chronicles 15-16).  The duties of the Levites were expanded to include this praise and worship.  Musicians and singers ministered continually before the Ark which, of course, represented the throne of God.  These practices were continued during the first and second Temple eras.  

We believe that real believers from the nations (followers of Messiah Jesus) have been called to a parallel function.  The true essence of such believers is to “know” God (John 17:3).  The word, know, here means much more than a simple intellectual knowledge; it means an experiential knowledge.  This is much more profound than simply adopting a Christian creed or adopting a Christian philosophy of life.  

The format for Christian worship was also defined by the pattern set by King David in the tent in Jerusalem.  David must have been given a vision of heavenly worship.  John recorded a vision of worship by the host of angelic beings as well as the redeemed before the throne of God (Revelation 4-5).  This pattern of worship should serve as a vision for any church body.  As the church offers up praise to God, their head, Jesus the Messiah, brings them into the Most Holy Place in worship.  This is Davidic worship.

We are now approaching the second major festival established in terms of days, weeks and months on God’s calendar.  This is Shavuot.  Shavuot falls on the anniversary of the date when God cut a covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai.  It is also the anniversary of the date when God separated believers (~ 1479 years later) who would be the followers of Messiah Jesus.  God indwelled these believers and they “experienced” Him (to know God as referenced above) in an awesome personal way. 

I consider the small book of Ruth to be the first book of prophecy in the Bible.  It illustrates how believers from the nations must relate to Israel and to the God of Israel.  Ruth represents true spirit-filled believers who become special servants not only of Israel but also to God.  Ruth gleaned in the fields to help sustain Naomi (symbolic of Israel returning to her land from the dispersion) and also became the great-grandmother of King David who uniquely foreshadowed Messiah Jesus.  In the same account traditional Christianity is portrayed by Orpah.  She had the opportunity to serve but turned back when it became evident that there was apparently nothing for her in association with Israel and its God.

Are you an Orpah or a Ruth?

In the Bible, special occasions are built on periods of seven. This is the reason that the number seven takes on a special meaning. Usually this is interpreted as “divine completion”. Last week we saw the weekly pattern (Shabbat) and the monthly pattern: first month – Pesach; third month – Shavuot; and seventh month – Sukkot. Shavuot occurs seven weeks after Pesach. Sukkot occurs in the seventh month. The Scripture section this week details the years being numbered in seven year periods for a Shabbat for the land. The land is not tilled but remains fallow in this year. Modern agriculture procedures incorporate this pattern to prevent the depletion of the soil. Finally seven periods of seven years (49 years) brings us to the “year of Jubilee” when the land returns to the family that it was originally allocated to. God declared that He owns the land and that the Israeli’s are “settlers” with Him (Leviticus 25:23). He also promised to walk in their midst (Leviticus 26:12). Because God declared that He owns the land, many today argue that it is sin to attempt to surrender sovereignty over any part of the land.

Leviticus 26 should be understood in relation to the blessing and curses stated in Deuteronomy and the covenant addendum (Deuteronomy 29). The Lord makes bold promises to Israel if they walk in obedience to the covenant. In addition, He gives awesome warnings if Israel rebels against God. There are four levels of discipline listed by the Lord; each becoming more and more severe (Leviticus 26:14-33). The ultimate discipline is dispersion from the land. These are provisions for Israel to occupy the land and do not have implications relative to God’s covenant relationship with Israel. In other words, Israel’s election is eternal without regard to their ability to hold the land of Israel. Sometimes we get lost in the maze of regulation found in Leviticus. We need to back away and see the broader picture revealed in this book. In Exodus 25, immediately following the consummation of the covenant between God and His people, God instructed Israel to build a “Holy House” for His habitation. God said that He had brought Israel out of Egypt so that He could dwell in their midst(Exodus 29:46). This reveals an eternal purpose of God desiring to dwell in the midst of man. Exodus 40 records God moving into His “house” after Israel had completed it. Immediately following this event, God exhorted Israel to “approach” Him in His house. Basically, He is saying (in Kentucky farmer language) “y’all come to see me”. Five basic steps or approaches are outlined in the beginning chapters of Leviticus. These are usually seen as mechanical sacrifices viewed without symbolic meaning. Actually, these five steps to approach God represent the progressive steps of maturation in the life of a believer proceeding from the sin condition to complete consecration to God.

Following the steps of “approach” to God, we have the discussion of the issue of “clean and unclean” along with the list of prohibited practices. Basically, God is declaring that there are some limitations on the one who approaches. The one who approaches God cannot bring “death” with him. The Holy One of Israel if the “Living God” (Jeremiah 10:10) and will not permit death to be associated with Him in any way. Also there are a number of abominable social practices which God will not allow in His camp. This should speak volumes to America today.

Finally, God outlines the special occasions, His festivals, which reveal insight into the redemption process. We discussed these festivals last week.

With the threat of judgment leading to expulsion from the land, God indicated that, ultimately, He would gather His people back into His land. If Israel repented,

Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land. (Leviticus 26:42)

A more complete statement of God’s intention to bring His people back to the Land after the exile is indicated in Deuteronomy 30:1-6.

The unconditional, eternal nature of God’s covenant with His people Israel is confirmed in spite of their sins leading to expulsion from the land.

Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. (Leviticus 26:44)

Church theologians of the Second and Third Centuries AD/CE ignored statements like these concerning Israel. They concluded that God had severed relationship with Israel and had chosen the Church in its place. This is the unscriptural doctrine of “replacement theology” which is still common in Christian thought today.

This section includes the festivals or times of the Lord (Leviticus 23). I will concentrate on these times in this study. Often these times are referred to as “Jewish” festivals. This is incorrect. They are the times designated by the Lord and all believers should give careful attention to them.

Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations – My appointed times are these:… (Leviticus 23:2)

The festivals of the Lord count days, weeks, months, years and multiple years in cycles based on the number seven. In the Bible, the number seven appears to represent Godly completion. Festivals associated with years and multiple years will be addressed later. 

The first festival is counted in days and is the weekly Shabbat.

For six days work may be done; but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. (Leviticus 23:3a)

The second series is based on weeks and months. The cycle begins with the first month of the year (spring) and includes Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits.

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. (Leviticus 23:5-6)

Firstfruits is observed during the week of Unleavened Bread.

Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” (Leviticus 23:10-11)

From the time of the waving of the Firstfruits offering, Israel was commanded to count seven complete Shabbats (i.e., seven complete weeks) and on the following day observe Shavuot.

You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord. (Leviticus 23:15-17)

The next cycle counts months from the first month. The seventh month festivals include Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, “In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. (Leviticus 
23:24)

On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 23:27) 

And,

Speak to the sons of Israel saying, “On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:34)

On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. (Leviticus 23:39-40)

and,

You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 23:42-43)

Interpretation

The weekly festival ending in Shabbat is the easiest to understand. This follows the creation account in Genesis 1 and 2. By resting at the end of the week, we follow the pattern set by God. By doing so we declare that we serve the God of creation.

The festivals that occur in the first, third and seventh months rehearse the plan of redemption that God has implemented. Passover represent redemption purchased. The slain lamb whose blood was sprinkled on the doorpost of the Israelis in Egypt purchased freedom for the inhabitants of that home. 1500 years later, the blood of the Lamb of God was sprinkled on our hearts and we were redeemed. Messiah is our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7). Unleavened bread commemorates the fact that Israel fled Egypt in a hurry when they were freed.

The festivals are built around the agriculture year. Winter grain crops would be about fully grown but not ripened at Passover. A sheaf of grain was waved by the priest as a prayer for a good harvest. This was waved on the morning following the Shabbat after Passover. 2000 years ago, as the priest was waving the firstfruit offering, Jesus was raised up from the dead. He represents the firstfruits of the resurrection (I Corinthian 15:20). This obviously points to the hope that many will be raised up in the resurrection.

Following the waving of the firstfruits offering, Israelis count seven complete Shabbats (weeks). On the following day (the 50th day) is the day of Shavuot (weeks). By this time of the year the grain harvest has been completed. Flour from the grain is used to bake two loaves of bread with leaven. In the Temple era these two loaves were waved by the priest like the firstfruits offering had been. This day coincides with the day that God cut a covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai. On the anniversary of this event, God brought the believers in the upper room into covenant relationship by filling them with the Holy Spirit. Thus, Shavuot represent the anniversary of God choosing covenant partners who will be used to accomplish redemption. The first and third month festivals have been fulfilled. Now only the seventh month festival remains to be fulfilled.

The seventh month festivals represent the completion of redemption. The three festivals of Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Sukkot remain unfulfilled at this time. We believe that Trumpets represents the Last Trumpet which will herald the return of Messiah Jesus. We suspect that Yom Kippur represent final judgment by God and that Sukkot represents the New Creation which is the end product of the redemption process.

Thus, God’s festivals reveal a picture of the redemption process. As God’s people observe these festivals year by year, the hope for the completion of redemption is renewed in the hearts and minds of His people. I maintain that the Church has done itself a great disservice by ignoring the “times of the Lord”.