Your Daily Pesuk SHABBAT June 30, 2018

Parashat Balak / פרשת בלק

The Daily Pesuk for, June 30, 2018 / 17,Tamuz 5778 

Numbers 24:14-25:9 (21 p'sukim)

maf: 25:7-9 (3 p'sukim)

Numbers 24:14-25:9 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

14 Now, behold, I am going back to my people. Come, let me counsel you what these people will do to your people in the latter days. 15 Then he uttered his oracle:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

    the strong man whose eye is opened,

16 the oracle of one hearing God’s speech,

one experiencing Elyon’s knowledge,

one seeing Shaddai’s vision,

one fallen down,

yet with open eyes:

17 ‘I see him, yet not at this moment.

I behold him, yet not in this location.

For a star will come from Jacob,

    a scepter will arise from Israel.

He will crush the foreheads of Moab

    and the skulls of all the sons of Seth.

18 Edom will be conquered—

his enemies will conquer Seir,

but Israel will triumph.

19 One from Jacob will rule

    and destroy the city’s survivors.”

20 Then he saw Amalek,

so he uttered his oracle and said:

“Amalek was the first of nations,

    but will come to ruin at last.”

21 Then he saw the Kenite,

so he uttered his oracle and said,

“Your dwelling is secure.

Your nest is set in the rock.

22 Yet Kain will be destroyed,

when Asshur captures you.”

23 Again he uttered his oracle and said,

“O, who can live when God does this?

24 Ships will come from Kittim’s shore.

They will afflict Asshur and Eber,

but they too will come to destruction.”

25 Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his own place, and Balak went on his way.

Moabite Seduction and Phineas Arises

25 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the people began to have immoral sexual relations with women from Moab. 2 Then they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, so the people were eating, and bowing down before their gods. 3 When Israel became bound to Baal of Peor, the anger of Adonai grew hot against Israel.

4 Adonai said to Moses, “Seize all the ringleaders and hang them before Adonai facing the sun, so that Adonai’s fierce anger may be turned away from Israel.”

5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you, kill your men who have been joining themselves to Baal of Peor.” 6 Then behold, a man from Bnei-Yisrael came and brought a Midianite woman to his brothers before the eyes of Moses and of the whole assembly of Bnei-Yisrael, while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting!

7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the kohen saw it, he arose from the midst of the assembly, took a spear in his hand, 8 and went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced them through—both the Israelite man and the woman’s belly. Then the plague among Bnei-Yisrael was stopped. 9 However, 24,000 were dead because of the plague!

14 וְעַתָּ֕ה הִנְנִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לְעַמִּ֑י לְכָה֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֜ה הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה לְעַמְּךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃

15 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּלְעָם֙ בְּנ֣וֹ בְעֹ֔ר וּנְאֻ֥ם הַגֶּ֖בֶר שְׁתֻ֥ם הָעָֽיִן׃

16 נְאֻ֗ם שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֔ל וְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַת עֶלְי֑וֹן מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃

17 אֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א עַתָּ֔ה אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א קָר֑וֹב דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗ב וְקָ֥ם שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמָחַץ֙ פַּאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְקַרְקַ֖ר כָּל־בְּנֵי־שֵֽׁת׃

18 וְהָיָ֨ה אֱד֜וֹם יְרֵשָׁ֗ה וְהָיָ֧ה יְרֵשָׁ֛ה שֵׂעִ֖יר אֹיְבָ֑יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹ֥שֶׂה חָֽיִל׃

19 וְיֵ֖רְדְּ מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֑ב וְהֶֽאֱבִ֥יד שָׂרִ֖יד מֵעִֽיר׃

20 וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֔ק וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר רֵאשִׁ֤ית גּוֹיִם֙ עֲמָלֵ֔ק וְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ עֲדֵ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃

21 וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַקֵּינִ֔י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵיתָן֙ מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וְשִׂ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖לַע קִנֶּֽךָ׃

22 כִּ֥י אִם־יִהְיֶ֖ה לְבָ֣עֵֽר קָ֑יִן עַד־מָ֖ה אַשּׁ֥וּר תִּשְׁבֶּֽךָּ׃

23 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר א֕וֹי מִ֥י יִחְיֶ֖ה מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹ אֵֽל׃

24 וְצִים֙ מִיַּ֣ד כִּתִּ֔ים וְעִנּ֥וּ אַשּׁ֖וּר וְעִנּוּ־עֵ֑בֶר וְגַם־ה֖וּא עֲדֵ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃

25 וַיָּ֣קָם בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיָּ֣שָׁב לִמְקֹמ֑וֹ וְגַם־בָּלָ֖ק הָלַ֥ךְ לְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃ פ

25 וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּשִּׁטִּ֑ים וַיָּ֣חֶל הָעָ֔ם לִזְנ֖וֹת אֶל־בְּנ֥וֹת מוֹאָֽב׃

2 וַתִּקְרֶ֣אןָ לָעָ֔ם לְזִבְחֵ֖י אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אכַל הָעָ֔ם וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּ֖וּ לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶֽן׃

3 וַיִּצָּ֥מֶד יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֥ף יְהוָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

4 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה קַ֚ח אֶת־כָּל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הָעָ֔ם וְהוֹקַ֥ע אוֹתָ֛ם לַיהוָ֖ה נֶ֣גֶד הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְיָשֹׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהוָ֖ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

5 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־שֹׁפְטֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִרְגוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֲנָשָׁ֔יו הַנִּצְמָדִ֖ים לְבַ֥עַל פְּעֽוֹר׃

6 וְהִנֵּ֡ה אִישׁ֩ מִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בָּ֗א וַיַּקְרֵ֤ב אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֶת־הַמִּדְיָנִ֔ית לְעֵינֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהֵ֣מָּה בֹכִ֔ים פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

7 וַיַּ֗רְא פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיָּ֙קָם֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וַיִּקַּ֥ח רֹ֖מַח בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

8 וַ֠יָּבֹא אַחַ֨ר אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־הַקֻּבָּ֗ה וַיִּדְקֹר֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֚ת אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־קֳבָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּֽעָצַר֙ הַמַּגֵּפָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

9 וַיִּהְי֕וּ הַמֵּתִ֖ים בַּמַּגֵּפָ֑ה אַרְבָּעָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף׃ פ

Shabbat Shalom.  Today is 17th of Tammuz, a day of "Fasting", known as "Tzom Tammuz" / צום תמוז

The Seventeenth of Tammuz (Hebrew: שבעה עשר בתמוז‎, Shiv'ah Asar b'Tammuz) is a Jewish fast day commemorating the breach of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple. It falls on the 17th day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz and marks the beginning of the three-week mourning period leading up to Tisha B'Av. Like other minor fasts, Tzom Tammuz begins at dawn (first light) and ends at nightfall (full dark).  Tzom Tammuz begins at dawn on Sun, 01 July 2018, as Jews never fast on Shabbat, (except only for Yom Kippur).

Now we come to the pesukim for this Shabbat and we find one of the most significant Messianic prophecies of Tanakh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim,).  The prophecy of the Star out of Jacob and a Scepter from Israel, very much related to Jacob's blessing to Judah in Genesis 49, which is how we know with certainty that it is "Messianic".  

Delitzsch says, "The prophecy itself commences with a picture from the “end of the days,” which rises up before the mental eye of the seer. “ I see Him, yet not now; I behold Him, but not nigh. A star appears out of Jacob, and a scepter rises out of Israel, and dashes Moab in pieces on both sides, and destroys all the sons of confusion .” The suffixes to אראנּוּ and עשׁוּרנּוּ refer to the star which is mentioned afterwards, and which Balaam sees in spirit, but “not now,” i.e., not as having already appeared, and “not nigh,” i.e., not to appear immediately, but to come forth out of Israel in the far distant future. “A star is so natural an image and symbol of imperial greatness and splendor, that it has been employed in this sense in almost every nation. And the fact that this figure and symbol are so natural, may serve to explain the belief of the ancient world, that the birth and accession of great kings was announced by the appearance of stars” (Hengstenberg, who cites Justini hist . xxxvii. 2; Plinii h. n. ii. 23; Sueton. Jul. Caes. c. 78; and Dio Cass . xlv. p. 273). If, however, there could be any doubt that the rising star represented the appearance of a glorious ruler or king, it would be entirely removed by the parallel, “a sceptre arises out of Israel.” The sceptre, which was introduced as a symbol of dominion even in Jacob's blessing (Genesis 49:10), is employed here as the figurative representation and symbol of the future ruler in Israel. This ruler would destroy all the enemies of Israel. Moab and (Numbers 24:18) Edom are the first of these that are mentioned, viz., the two nations that were related to Israel by descent, but had risen up in hostility against it at that time. Moab stands in the foremost rank, not merely because Balaam was about to announce to the king of Moab what Israel would do to his people in the future, but also because the hostility of the heathen to the people of God had appeared most strongly in Balak's desire to curse the Israelites. מואב פּאתי , “ the two corners or sides of Moab ,” equivalent to Moab on both sides, from one end to the other. 

Interestingly, Delitzsch translates the pesuk 17 from "sons of Seth" from the TLV, as "sons of confusion".  What could this mean?  The true enemies of Israel are Hasatan and his minions of demons.  Flesh and blood are not our enemies, however there are those who follow Satanic spirits and do put themselves into the catagory of "sons of confusion".

As Shaliach Shaul taught us:

1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but shalom.

Delitzsch continues:

כּל־בּני־שׁת does not mean “ all the sons of Seth ,” i.e., all mankind, as the human race is never called by the name of Seth; and the idea that the ruler to arise out of Israel would destroy all men, would be altogether unsuitable. It signifies rather “ all the sons of confusion ,” by which, according to the analogy of Jacob and Israel (Numbers 24:17), Edom and Seir (Numbers 24:18), the Moabites are to be understood as being men of wild, warlike confusion. שׁת is a contraction of שׁאת (Lamentations 3:47), and derived from שׁאה ; and in Jeremiah 48:45 it is correctly rendered שׁאון בּני .

(Note: On the other hand, the rendering, “all the sons of the drinker, i.e., of Lot,” which Hiller proposed, and v. Hoffmann and Kurtz have renewed, is evidently untenable. For, in the first place, the fact related in Genesis 19:32. does not warrant the assumption that Lot ever received the name of the “drinker,” especially as the word used in Gen 19 is not שׁתה , but שׁקה . Moreover, the allusion to “all the sons of Lot,” i.e., the Moabites and Ammonites, neither suits the thoroughly synonymous parallelism in the saying of Balaam, nor corresponds to the general character of his prophecies, which announced destruction primarily only to those nations that rose up in hostility against Israel, viz., Moab, Edom, and Amalek, whereas hitherto the Ammonites had not assumed either a hostile or friendly attitude towards them. And lastly, all the nations doomed to destruction are mentioned by name. Now the Ammonites were not a branch of the Moabites by descent, nor was their territory enclosed within the Moabitish territory, so that it could be included, as Hoffmann supposes, within the “four corners of Moab.”)

In the announcement of destruction which is to fall upon the enemies of Israel through the star and scepter out of the midst of it, Moab is followed by “its southern neighbor Edom.”

So how do we see Messiah fulfilling this prophecy?  

Well one way we can view it is if we subscribe to the Jewish tradition that Rome descended from Edom, the children of Esau.  That is a stretch however; the required Messianic ultimate victory of Edom can be fulfilled in the struggle between Yeshua, and Herod, and his sons.  

According to one Source: "Herod the Great was born in the land of Idumea or Edom around 74 B.C. which is about when he appears on the Bible Timeline Chart. He was the son of Antipater of Idumaean, who was a high-ranking official for Hyrcanus II. Herod was an Edomite that had adopted the customs of the Jews. In the past, the Edomites were ancient enemies of the Jewish people but they no longer were relevant as a people during this era. Many of the Edomites were absorbed into other cultures of the time. The Jews had conquered these people around 140 B.C. and forced many of them to accept their religion or to leave the region. Though many Jewish people didn’t care for foreigners worshipping God and adopting their customs Herod was made governor of Judea when he was 25 years old." (by the Romans).

This same Herod wanted to kill the infant Messiah in Matthew 2, and his son years later also wanted to kill this same, Messiah Yeshua:

Luke 13:31-33 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

In that hour, some Pharisees came up and said to Yeshua, “Get out and leave from here, because Herod wants to kill You!”

32 But Yeshua said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Indeed, I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’ 33 But I must keep going today and tomorrow because it just can’t be that a prophet would perish outside Jerusalem.

Neither the wicked Edomite father nor his son or grandson were able to defeat the Messiah, and the Kingdom of God established here on this earth by Yeshua.  And in this light, we see the star from Jacob ruling with the Scepter out of Israel...

Revelation 19:11-16 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Final Battle of this Age

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One riding on it is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and many royal crowns are on His head. He has a name written that no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is “the Word of God.”

14 And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword—so that with it He may strike down the nations—and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and He treads the winepress of the furious wrath of Elohei-Tzva’ot. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”

Lookout Hasatan - your days are Numbered!!!

Hallelujah!  Shabbat Shalom!

"The Strong Man" Your Daily Pesuk June 29, 2018

Parashat Balak / פרשת בלק

Numbers 23:27-24:13 (17 p'sukim)

Numbers 23:27-24:13 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

27 Balak said to Balaam, “Come with me to another place. Perhaps it will be pleasing to God and you may curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.

29 Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”

30 Balak did just as Balaam said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

24 When Balaam realized that it was pleasing in the eyes of Adonai to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorceries as at the other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 Lifting up his eyes, Balaam saw Israel dwelling by tribes. The Ruach Elohim came over him. 3 He uttered his oracle and said:

“This is the oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

    and the oracle of a strong man whose eye has been opened,

4 the oracle of one hearing God’s speech,

one seeing Shaddai’s vision,

one fallen down, yet with open eyes:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,

    and your dwellings, O Israel!

6 Like valleys they are spread out,

like gardens beside a river,

like aloes planted by Adonai,

like cedars beside the waters.

7 Water will flow from his buckets,

his seed by abundant water.

His king will be greater than Agag,

    his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God is bringing him out of Egypt.

like the strong horns of a wild ox.

He devours nations hostile to him.

He will crush their bones.

His arrows will pierce them.

9 He crouches like a lion or a lioness—

who would rouse him?

He who blesses you will be blessed,

and he who curses you will be cursed.”

10 Then Balak became furious at Balaam, and struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them these three times! 11 Now, go home! I said I would reward you, but see, Adonai has kept you from reward!”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I indeed tell your messengers whom you sent to me saying: 13 ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the mouth of Adonai, to do good or bad from my own heart? Whatever Adonai may speak, I will speak!’

27 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם לְכָה־נָּא֙ אֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔ אֶל־מָק֖וֹם אַחֵ֑ר אוּלַ֤י יִישַׁר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃

28 וַיִּקַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק אֶת־בִּלְעָ֑ם רֹ֣אשׁ הַפְּע֔וֹר הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃

29 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃

30 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

24 וַיַּ֣רְא בִּלְעָ֗ם כִּ֣י ט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ כְּפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם לִקְרַ֣את נְחָשִׁ֑ים וַיָּ֥שֶׁת אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר פָּנָֽיו׃

2 וַיִּשָּׂ֨א בִלְעָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֹׁכֵ֖ן לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃

3 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּלְעָם֙ בְּנ֣וֹ בְעֹ֔ר וּנְאֻ֥ם הַגֶּ֖בֶר שְׁתֻ֥ם הָעָֽיִן׃

4 נְאֻ֕ם שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃

5 מַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

6 כִּנְחָלִ֣ים נִטָּ֔יוּ כְּגַנֹּ֖ת עֲלֵ֣י נָהָ֑ר כַּאֲהָלִים֙ נָטַ֣ע יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲרָזִ֖ים עֲלֵי־מָֽיִם׃

7 יִֽזַּל־מַ֙יִם֙ מִדָּ֣לְיָ֔ו וְזַרְע֖וֹ בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וְיָרֹ֤ם מֵֽאֲגַג֙ מַלְכּ֔וֹ וְתִנַּשֵּׂ֖א מַלְכֻתֽוֹ׃

8 אֵ֚ל מוֹצִיא֣וֹ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם ל֑וֹ יֹאכַ֞ל גּוֹיִ֣ם צָרָ֗יו וְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛ם יְגָרֵ֖ם וְחִצָּ֥יו יִמְחָֽץ׃

9 כָּרַ֨ע שָׁכַ֧ב כַּאֲרִ֛י וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֣י יְקִימֶ֑נּוּ מְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָ בָר֔וּךְ וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָ אָרֽוּר׃

10 וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיִּסְפֹּ֖ק אֶת־כַּפָּ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם לָקֹ֤ב אֹֽיְבַי֙ קְרָאתִ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּה֙ בֵּרַ֣כְתָּ בָרֵ֔ךְ זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִֽים׃

11 וְעַתָּ֖ה בְּרַח־לְךָ֣ אֶל־מְקוֹמֶ֑ךָ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ כַּבֵּ֣ד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֔ וְהִנֵּ֛ה מְנָעֲךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּבֽוֹד׃

12 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א גַּ֧ם אֶל־מַלְאָכֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥חְתָּ אֵלַ֖י דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי לֵאמֹֽר׃

13 אִם־יִתֶּן־לִ֨י בָלָ֜ק מְלֹ֣א בֵיתוֹ֮ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָב֒ לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת טוֹבָ֛ה א֥וֹ רָעָ֖ה מִלִּבִּ֑י אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

In today's pesukim we find the infamous blessing which has become one of the most widely pesukim of the Torah to be used as a liturgical song within our Jewish tradition.  Pesuk 5 says: "Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yakov, Mishkenotecha Yisrael!  "How lovely are your tents oh Jacob, your dwelling places Oh Israel."  While these pesukim are very near and dear to our hearts as Jews and Messianic believers, we are nonetheless drawn to the significance of its introduction and how this "prophet" is described...

First, Balaam is called by the Torah: "strong man whose eye has been opened".  It is noteworthy to mention the Hebrew word here for "man" - as some Biblical English translations just says "man".  However, the Hebrew is more specific: גֶּבֶר  "Gever" which is more defined as: "properly a valiant man or warrior". (Strong's #1397).  This is the same root for Gibor "Great".

So it's not just a "man" but Balaam is described as a strong man!  Certainly, we know that Balaam was a heathen prophet, and he was a sorcerer.  Something that really doesn't sit well with Adonai.  We also know at that time, Balaam was considered one of the greatest heathen prophets which is why Balak hired him in the first place; and promised him great reward for his services.  

The phrase "eyes have been opened" means that as a false prophet who practiced divination and sorcery, now he sees and hears clearly from the mouth of the One True Almighty God, instead of demons.  Even pesuk 1 of chapter 24 describes him this way: "Balaam realized that it was pleasing in the eyes of Adonai to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at the other times"...

So we know this time he was not dabbling in magic arts or some kind of false trickery that he had traditionally been accustomed to for his own financial gain; which is what really made him a "Strong Man" Gever.

In other words, a strong man as described here refers to one who is great in false spirituality, sorcery, magic arts, divination, and all other kinds of demonic practices.  It is really a "negative" description.  Strong Man = False Prophet.  But on this one occasion, he is really being used as a True Prophet, remarkably, and miraculously!

If we understand the label "Strong Man" this way, we can get greater understanding of the spiritual reality that was taught by the Master Yeshua Hamashiach...

Mark 3:22 The Torah scholars who came down from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by beelzebul,” and, “By the ruler of demons He drives out demons.”

23 He called them and began speaking to them in parables: “How can satan drive out satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but his end has come.

27 “But no one can enter a strong man’s house to ransack his property, unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will thoroughly plunder his house.

The context of what is being discussed here regarding the "strong man" is this title Beelzebul.  Who and what is Beelzebul?

According to Dr. David Stern, "Ba'al-Zibbul or Ba'al-z'vuv (the manuscripts differ); usually seen in English as "Beelzebul" and "Beelzebub": derogatory names for the Adversary (see 4:1 N). The latter is the name of a Philistine god (2 Kings 1:2) and in Hebrew means "lord of a fly." The Ugaritic root z-b-l means "prince," making the former name imply that the Adversary has a measure of status and power; but in post-biblical Hebrew the root z-b-l means "dung," with "Ba'al-zibbul" meaning "defecator." Other interpretations are possible."

In other words the context of this discussion in Mark 3 is regarding Hasatan (the Satan).  Furthermore, if we go back to the context of our pesukim in today's Torah reading and that of this entire Parasha this week, we see it is clearly a Spiritual Battle taking place between the evil (Satanic) forces of Balak & Balaam and the God of Israel, who defends His chosen Nation.

The lesson for us is that this entire Parasha Hashuvah is all about Spiritual Warfare, and just about everything in the life of Messianic believers is about this struggle.

The Good News is this.  While we do struggle against these same evil and demonic forces (all you have to do is look at the world and the amount of evil, murder and violence and Anti-Semitism), the ultimate victory has already been achieved, by the Messiah Himself.  As we are taught by the Shaliach Shaul who was one of the greatest Shaliachim who himself was taught by Rabban Gamaliel...

Colossians 2:11-15 - וּבוֹ גַם־נִמַּלְתֶּם מִילָה שֶׁלּא בְיָדָיִם בְּהַפְשָׁטַת גּוּף הַבָּשָׂר (הַחוֹטֵא) הִיא מִילַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ׃[12] כִּי נִקְבַּרְתֶּם אִתּוֹ בַּטְּבִילָה אַף־קַמְתֶּם אִתּוֹ בַּתְּחִיָּה עַל־יְדֵי הָאֱמוּנָה בִּגְבוּרַת אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר הֱעִירוֹ מִן־הַמֵּתִים׃[13] גַּם־אֶתְכֶם הַמֵּתִים בַּפְּשָׁעִים וּבְעָרְלַת בְּשַׂרְכֶם הֶחֱיָה אִתּוֹ בִּסְלֹחַ לָכֶם אֶת־כָּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם׃[14] וַיִּמְחַק אֶת־הַשְּׁטָר הַמֵּעִיד בָּנוּ בְּחֻקֹּתָיו וַיִּשָׂאֵהוּ מִתּוֹכֵנוּ וַיִּתְקָעֵהוּ בַּצְּלוּב׃[15] וַיַּפְשֵׁט אֶת־הַשָׂרִים וְהַשַּׁלִּיטִים וַיִּתְּנֵם לְרַאֲוָה בָּם רַבִּים וַיּוֹלִיכֵם בּוֹ שֶׁבִי׃

Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision done not by hand, in the stripping away of the body of the flesh through the circumcision of Messiah. 12 You were buried along with Him in immersion, through which you also were raised with Him by trusting in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. 14 He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 After disarming the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.

Let's rely on the Victory we have inherited from our Messiah, and continue to resist the Strong Man, bind him up with the authority we've been given by Yeshua, and be more than a conqueror in this struggle!

Amen.

Pesukim פסוקים are the "verses" of Scripture divided into Parashaot (Portions) read in the synagogue each week.  On Monday's & Thursdays there are 3 divisions of the week's Parasha read and on Shabbat all 6 are read including a Maftir (added), which makes up the final Pesukim (verses) of the Parasha totaling (7) Aliyot each week.  Rabbi Eric will give a short d'rash on each of the daily Pesukim that make up the week's Parasha for a good daily dose of Torah.  For more explanation on how the Torah is read and divided daily and weekly in the Synagogue see the following links:

What is the Parasha Hashuvah?

Dr. Stern's Chart of the Weekly Parasha, Haftarah & Brit Chadasha Readings

How is the Torah Read in the Synagogues?

GOD IS NOT A POLYGAMIST! Your Daily Pesuk June 28, 2018

Parashat Balak / פרשת בלק

The Daily Pesuk for, June 27, 2018 / 14,Tamuz 5778 

Numbers 23:13-26 (14 p'sukim)

Numbers 23:13-26 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

13 Then Balak said to him, “Come now with me to another place where you can see a part of them only, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.”

14 He took him to Lookout Field on top of Pisgah. He built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15 “Stay here beside your offering,” he said to Balak, “while I am meeting over there.”

16 Adonai met Balaam there and put a message into his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak and speak thus.” 17 So he went to him, and behold, he and the princes of Moab were standing beside his offering.

Balak asked him, “What did Adonai say?”

18 So he uttered his oracle and said:

“Rise, Balak! Hear me, son of Zippor!

19 God is not a man who lies,[a]

or a son of man who changes his mind!

Does He speak and then not do it,

    or promise and not fulfill it?

20 Look, I received a command to bless.

He has blessed—I cannot change it!

21 No misfortune is to be seen in Jacob,

    and no misery in Israel!

Adonai their God is with them

    —the King’s shout is among them!

22 God is bringing them from Egypt

    with the strong horns of the wild ox!

23 There is no sorcery effective

    against Jacob,

    nor any divination against Israel!

Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel,

    ‘See what God has done!’

24 The people rise like a lioness,

    like a lion who does not rest

    until he eats his prey

    and drinks his victim’s blood!”

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them or bless them at all!”

26 Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Haven’t I told you, ‘All that Adonai says, I must do?’

13 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו בָּלָ֗ק ׳לְךָ־לְכָה־נָּ֨א׳ אִתִּ֜י אֶל־מָק֤וֹם אַחֵר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּרְאֶ֣נּוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶ֚פֶס קָצֵ֣הוּ תִרְאֶ֔ה וְכֻלּ֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִרְאֶ֑ה וְקָבְנוֹ־לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃

14 וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ שְׂדֵ֣ה צֹפִ֔ים אֶל־רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

15 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב כֹּ֖ה עַל־עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִקָּ֥רֶה כֹּֽה׃

16 וַיִּקָּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֑יו וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר׃

17 וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וְהִנּ֤וֹ נִצָּב֙ עַל־עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ וְשָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָ֖ב אִתּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ בָּלָ֔ק מַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃

18 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ק֤וּם בָּלָק֙ וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע הַאֲזִ֥ינָה עָדַ֖י בְּנ֥וֹ צִפֹּֽר׃

19 לֹ֣א אִ֥ישׁ אֵל֙ וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב וּבֶן־אָדָ֖ם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם הַה֤וּא אָמַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃

20 הִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃

21 לֹֽא־הִבִּ֥יט אָ֙וֶן֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־רָאָ֥ה עָמָ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וּתְרוּעַ֥ת מֶ֖לֶךְ בּֽוֹ׃

22 אֵ֖ל מוֹצִיאָ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם לֽוֹ׃

23 כִּ֤י לֹא־נַ֙חַשׁ֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־קֶ֖סֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כָּעֵ֗ת יֵאָמֵ֤ר לְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַה־פָּ֖עַל אֵֽל׃

24 הֶן־עָם֙ כְּלָבִ֣יא יָק֔וּם וְכַאֲרִ֖י יִתְנַשָּׂ֑א לֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּב֙ עַד־יֹ֣אכַל טֶ֔רֶף וְדַם־חֲלָלִ֖ים יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

25 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם גַּם־קֹ֖ב לֹ֣א תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ גַּם־בָּרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃

26 וַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃

Pesuk 21 offers the most eye opening and compelling thoughts of this day's reading.  It is very interesting to see all the differences in how this one pesuk gets translated.

The TLV Messianic rabbinical translators and scholars chose to translate the word אָוֶן "Av-e-n" as "misfortune".  Strong's concordance definition is:

"From an unused root perhaps meaning properly to pant (hence to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol: - affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners (-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked (-ness.)"

So this word "Aven" can be translated several ways, including iniquity, as is translated in the Chumash (Hebrew first 5 Books), by Jewish scholars.  There also seems to be a very similar connection to the more common word for "sin"...עָוֹן pronounced "Av-ō-n" (long O sound).  It is different in the sense that it uses an Ayin instead of Aleph, and the vowel marking is also different, but essentially very similar in it's meaning.

Delitzsch translates the pesuk even further, "God sees not און , worthlessness, wickedness, and עמל , tribulation, misery, as the consequence of sin, and therefore discovers no reason for cursing the nation."

Rashi says of this same pesuk:

"He does not look at evil in Jacob: According to the Targum [Onkelos it means: I have looked. There are no idol worshipers in Jacob]. Another interpretation: Its literal meaning can be expounded beautifully. The Holy One, blessed is He, does not look at evil in Jacob. When they transgress His word, He does not deal punctiliously with them to scrutinize their wicked deeds and their iniquity in violation of His law. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 14, Num. Rabbah 20:20]"

 

לא הביט און ביעקב וגו': כתרגומו. דבר אחר אחרי פשוטו הוא נדרש מדרש נאה. לא הביט הקב"ה און שביעקב, כשהן עוברין על דבריו אינו מדקדק אחריהם להתבונן באוניות שלהם ובעמלן שהן עוברין על דתו:

What seems to be common in both the rabbinical and the Messianic understandings is the theme of unmerited favor that Israel has with Adonai.  (i.e. Grace).  As then, I believe the same is true today regarding Israel's place and standing with God.  Many Bible translators and scholars, (at least on the Christian side), have traditionally placed Israel as a nation transitionally "under judgement" and condemnation.  Ignoring this passage along with thousands of other pesukim that speak to this same issue, these translators assume that since God did chastise Israel in the past, that He has forsaken them and is altogether finished with the Jews, and Has preferred to choose someone else in their stead: (i.e. the church).  Again, this leads to Replacement Theology, which we reject.

This pesuk gives us a true understanding of just how God looks at Israel's "Sin", whether it is translated "mischief" or "wickedness" or outright "sin".  

GOD PERCEIVED NO INIQUITY IN ISRAEL!

Does that mean that they were not "sinners"?  It is very much the same with us as believers today.  The Biblical concept is called "JUSTIFICATION".  Does Israel "deserve" or "merited" this kind of favor from God?  Do we?  Certainly not!  However, God's choseness and His ability to make us justified by His Righteousness, is what gives us this "Unmerited Favor" (i.e. Grace).

Israel had it then, and it also has it today - GOD IS NOT MAD AT THE JEWS! AND HE NEVER WILL REPLACE THEM!

GOD ONLY HAS ONE BRIDE - GOD IS NOT A POLYGAMIST!

The best way to understand this favor is Shaliach Shaul's explanation in...

Romans 8:29 [AMP] For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].

Judicially, in the court of Heaven, we as believers, both Jews and those from the nations have been declared free from the guilt of sin.  (i.e. acquitted in the courts of Heaven).  In our "Position" and "Status" we are Justified and Sanctified.  

If you have been Born-Again, you are a recipient of this same Divine Favor and Grace.  You may not "feel" like you deserve it, and certainly on our own, we do not.  But it is not based on us or the abilities of our flesh, anymore than it was dependent on that generation that was already judged to die in the Wilderness, yet God protected Israel from Balaam's curse!

We are Abraham's children, and as B'nei Avraham, we have the same favor and righteousness our ancestors had, and we need to keep in mind the process of how this happens spiritually:

Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed—to become heir of the world—was not through law, but through the righteousness based on trust. 14 For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, trust has become empty and the promise is made ineffective. 15 For the Torah brings about wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there a violation.

16 For this reason it depends on trust, so that the promise according to grace might be guaranteed to all the offspring—not only to those of the Torah but also to those of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”). He is our father in the sight of God in whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which does not exist. 18 In hope beyond hope, he trusted that he would become the father of many nations according to what was spoken—“So shall your descendants be.” 19 And without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body—as good as dead, since he was already a hundred years old—and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. 22 That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Pesukim פסוקים are the "verses" of Scripture divided into Parashaot (Portions) read in the synagogue each week.  On Monday's & Thursdays there are 3 divisions of the week's Parasha read and on Shabbat all 6 are read including a Maftir (added), which makes up the final Pesukim (verses) of the Parasha totaling (7) Aliyot each week.  Rabbi Eric will give a short d'rash on each of the daily Pesukim that make up the week's Parasha for a good daily dose of Torah.  For more explanation on how the Torah is read and divided daily and weekly in the Synagogue see the following links:

What is the Parasha Hashuvah?

Dr. Stern's Chart of the Weekly Parasha, Haftarah & Brit Chadasha Readings

How is the Torah Read in the Synagogues?

Your Daily Pesuk June 27, 2018

Parashat Balak / פרשת בלק

The Daily Pesuk for, June 27, 2018 / 14,Tamuz 5778 

Numbers 22:39-23:12 (15 p'sukim)

Numbers 22:39-23:12 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent some to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam with him to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw part of the people.

A Curse Turns to Blessings

23 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 2 So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering. I will go and perhaps Adonai will meet me. Whatever message He shows me, I will tell you. Then he went to a barren height.

4 God met with Balaam and he said to Him, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I offered a bull and a ram.”

5 Adonai put a message into Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and speak this.”

6 Balaam went back to him. Behold, he was standing beside his offering with all the princes of Moab. 7 Then he uttered his oracle and said,

“From Aram, Balak brought me,

    Moab’s king from the mountains of the east:

‘Come! Curse Jacob for me!

‘Come! Denounce Israel!’

8 How can I curse one

    whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce one

    whom Adonai has not denounced?

9 From the rocky peaks I see him.

From the heights I behold him.

Look, he lives as a nation apart,

    and does not consider himself

    as being like the other nations.

10 Who can count Jacob’s dust?

Who can number a fourth of Israel?

Let my soul die the death of the upright,

    and let my end be like his!”

11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you’ve actually blessed them!”

12 But in response he said, “Mustn’t I speak whatever Adonai puts into my mouth?”

39 וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בִּלְעָ֖ם עִם־בָּלָ֑ק וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ קִרְיַ֥ת חֻצֽוֹת׃

40 וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק בָּקָ֣ר וָצֹ֑אן וַיְשַׁלַּ֣ח לְבִלְעָ֔ם וְלַשָּׂרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

41 וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּקַּ֤ח בָּלָק֙ אֶת־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ בָּמ֣וֹת בָּ֑עַל וַיַּ֥רְא מִשָּׁ֖ם קְצֵ֥ה הָעָֽם׃

23 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃

2 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֨עַל בָּלָ֧ק וּבִלְעָ֛ם פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

3 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם לְבָלָ֗ק הִתְיַצֵּב֮ עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ֒ וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה אוּלַ֞י יִקָּרֵ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לִקְרָאתִ֔י וּדְבַ֥ר מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֶֽׁפִי׃

4 וַיִּקָּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֶת־שִׁבְעַ֤ת הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ עָרַ֔כְתִּי וָאַ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

5 וַיָּ֧שֶׂם יְהוָ֛ה דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֣י בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר׃

6 וַיָּ֣שָׁב אֵלָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֥ה נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֹלָת֑וֹ ה֖וּא וְכָל־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

7 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִן־אֲ֠רָם יַנְחֵ֨נִי בָלָ֤ק מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָב֙ מֵֽהַרְרֵי־קֶ֔דֶם לְכָה֙ אָֽרָה־לִּ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּלְכָ֖ה זֹעֲמָ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8 מָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃

9 כִּֽי־מֵרֹ֤אשׁ צֻרִים֙ אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ הֶן־עָם֙ לְבָדָ֣ד יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃

10 מִ֤י מָנָה֙ עֲפַ֣ר יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִסְפָּ֖ר אֶת־רֹ֣בַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תָּמֹ֤ת נַפְשִׁי֙ מ֣וֹת יְשָׁרִ֔ים וּתְהִ֥י אַחֲרִיתִ֖י כָּמֹֽהוּ׃

11 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃

12 וַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֤ים יְהוָה֙ בְּפִ֔י אֹת֥וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְדַבֵּֽר׃

What is the secret to Israel's "choseness" and favor with God?  Why are the Jews the "chosen people"?  Here in Today's Pesukim, we see the spiritual vulnerability of the nation quietly going about their lives in their camp, and Balak and the Moabite princes along with their hired heathen prophet, offer sacrifices in a high place in a demonic attempt to curse Israel.

Yet, God Himself defends Israel and turns the curse into a blessing.  Does this Divine Favor still exist today; and if so, how can it manifest in our lives today?

The key to understanding this is in pesuk 9 from the twenty third chapter (highlighted above).  Franz Delitzsch comments on this pesuk quoting one of his contemporary scholars, "There were two reasons which rendered it impossible for Balaam to curse Israel: (1) Because they were a people both outwardly and inwardly different from other nations, and (2) because they were a people richly blessed and highly favoured by God. From the top of the mountains Balaam looked down upon the people of Israel. The outward and earthly height upon which he stood was the substratum of the spiritual height upon which the Spirit of God had placed him, and had so enlightened his mental sight, that he was able to discern all the peculiarities and the true nature of Israel. In this respect the first thing that met his view was the fact that this people dwelt alone. Dwelling alone does not denote a quiet and safe retirement, as many commentators have inferred from Deuteronomy 33:28; Jeremiah 49:31, and Micah 7:14; but, according to the parallel clause, “it is not reckoned among the nations,” it expresses the separation of Israel from the rest of the nations. This separation was manifested outwardly to the seer's eye in the fact that “ the host of Israel dwelt by itself in a separate encampment upon the plain. In this his spirit discerned the inward and essential separation of Israel from all the heathen” (Baumgarten ).

Living separately, not considering themselves "like other nations" is what keeps a nation "Holy" (Kadosh).  #1 above is connected to #2.  If a people live in holiness, seperate, not trying to imitate the immorality and polytheism of all the other nations, then they will have "DIVINE UNBROKEN, UNMERITED FAVOR (i.e. Grace from God).

As Messianic Jews, and non-Jews who come "out" of the nations, we need to be a people that live this way if we want to have the Grace of God always on us.  We have many enemies in this world, many demonic spirits that want to destroy us, our lives and the message of light that we carry into this dark world.

There are those powers, demons, spiritual authorities, and even wicked people who submit to those spiritual authorities who's assignment it is to curse us and all that we stand for.  Their purpose is to completely destroy us and kill us.

1 Peter 5:8 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

8 Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour.

Messianic believers get into trouble when we are not alert, and aware of our enemies.  Also, we get into trouble when we forget who we are, and want to live and be like, and have a lifestyle that is secular and sinful, like all the other nations.

God will still have favor on us if we fail to stay alert, much like our ancestors in the pesukim above.  In fact there is so much God does to protect us that we don't even know about.  

But if we fall into the second category - "forgetting to be and live separate holy lives" then the K'vod (glory) of God departs from us, removing His favor and protection.

I want God's favor in my life.  When others curse me, I hope and pray that God will turn their curses into a blessing for me.  Isn't that something we all want for our lives?

As it is written in the Brit Chadasha:

Romans 8:28 Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say in view of these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? It is Messiah,[h] who died, and moreover was raised,and is now at the right hand of God and who also intercedes for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah?

Nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua.

Amen.

Pesukim פסוקים are the "verses" of Scripture divided into Parashaot (Portions) read in the synagogue each week.  On Monday's & Thursdays there are 3 divisions of the week's Parasha read and on Shabbat all 6 are read including a Maftir (added), which makes up the final Pesukim (verses) of the Parasha totaling (7) Aliyot each week.  Rabbi Eric will give a short d'rash on each of the daily Pesukim that make up the week's Parasha for a good daily dose of Torah.  For more explanation on how the Torah is read and divided daily and weekly in the Synagogue see the following links:

What is the Parasha Hashuvah?

Dr. Stern's Chart of the Weekly Parasha, Haftarah & Brit Chadasha Readings

How is the Torah Read in the Synagogues?

"Does God know the Future?" Your Daily Pesuk June 26, 2018

Parashat Balak / פרשת בלק

The Daily Pesuk for, June 26, 2018 / 13,Tamuz 5778 

Numbers 22:21-38 (18 p'sukim)

Numbers 22:21-38 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
21 So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the Moabite princes. 22 But the anger of God burned because he was going. The angel of Adonai stood in the road to oppose him—he was riding on his donkey and two of his servants were with him— 23 when the donkey saw the angel of Adonai standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off the road and went into the field. So Balaam beat the donkey to get her back onto the road.

24 Then the angel of Adonai stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of Adonai, she pressed against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam continued beating her.

26 The angel again moved. He stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, right or left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of Adonai, she lay down under Balaam. Balaam was very angry and beat the donkey with his staff.

28 Then Adonai opened the donkey’s mouth and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”[a]

29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you’ve made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you now!”

30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey which you have ridden as always to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?”

“No,” he said.

31 Then Adonai opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Adonai standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. So he fell on his face.

32 The angel of Adonai said to him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I came as an adversary because your way before Me is a reckless one! 33 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, by now I would have killed you indeed, but let her live!”

34 Balaam said to the angel of Adonai, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now, if this is displeasing in your eyes, I will go back home.”

35 The angel of Adonai said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s princes.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to greet him at the Moabite city on the border of the Arnon, the frontier of the territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really unable to reward you?”


38 “Look, I have come to you now!” Balaam said to Balak. “Can I just say anything? I must speak only the message which God puts into my mouth.”

1 וַיָּ֤קָם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ אֶת־אֲתֹנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ עִם־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

22 וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף אֱלֹהִים֮ כִּֽי־הוֹלֵ֣ךְ הוּא֒ וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֞ב מַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהוָ֛ה בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְשָׂטָ֣ן ל֑וֹ וְהוּא֙ רֹכֵ֣ב עַל־אֲתֹנ֔וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֥י נְעָרָ֖יו עִמּֽוֹ׃

23 וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָאָתוֹן֩ אֶת־מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ שְׁלוּפָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַתֵּ֤ט הָֽאָתוֹן֙ מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיַּ֤ךְ בִּלְעָם֙ אֶת־הָ֣אָת֔וֹן לְהַטֹּתָ֖הּ הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃

24 וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה בְּמִשְׁע֖וֹל הַכְּרָמִ֑ים גָּדֵ֥ר מִזֶּ֖ה וְגָדֵ֥ר מִזֶּֽה׃

25 וַתֵּ֨רֶא הָאָת֜וֹן אֶת־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַתִּלָּחֵץ֙ אֶל־הַקִּ֔יר וַתִּלְחַ֛ץ אֶת־רֶ֥גֶל בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיֹּ֖סֶף לְהַכֹּתָֽהּ׃

26 וַיּ֥וֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֖ה עֲב֑וֹר וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ בְּמָק֣וֹם צָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר אֵֽין־דֶּ֥רֶךְ לִנְט֖וֹת יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃

27 וַתֵּ֤רֶא הָֽאָתוֹן֙ אֶת־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה וַתִּרְבַּ֖ץ תַּ֣חַת בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הָאָת֖וֹן בַּמַּקֵּֽל׃

28 וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־פִּ֣י הָאָת֑וֹן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לְבִלְעָם֙ מֶה־עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי לְךָ֔ כִּ֣י הִכִּיתַ֔נִי זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ רְגָלִֽים׃

29 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ לָֽאָת֔וֹן כִּ֥י הִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּ בִּ֑י ל֤וּ יֶשׁ־חֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּיָדִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה הֲרַגְתִּֽיךְ׃

30 וַתֹּ֨אמֶר הָאָת֜וֹן אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם הֲלוֹא֩ אָנֹכִ֨י אֲתֹֽנְךָ֜ אֲשֶׁר־רָכַ֣בְתָּ עָלַ֗י מֵעֽוֹדְךָ֙ עַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה הַֽהַסְכֵּ֣ן הִסְכַּ֔נְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לְךָ֖ כֹּ֑ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹֽא׃

31 וַיְגַ֣ל יְהוָה֮ אֶת־עֵינֵ֣י בִלְעָם֒ וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ שְׁלֻפָ֖ה בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיִּקֹּ֥ד וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לְאַפָּֽיו׃

32 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה עַל־מָ֗ה הִכִּ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־אֲתֹ֣נְךָ֔ זֶ֖ה שָׁל֣וֹשׁ רְגָלִ֑ים הִנֵּ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ יָצָ֣אתִי לְשָׂטָ֔ן כִּֽי־יָרַ֥ט הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃

33 וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙ הָֽאָת֔וֹן וַתֵּ֣ט לְפָנַ֔י זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֑ים אוּלַי֙ נָטְתָ֣ה מִפָּנַ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֛ה גַּם־אֹתְכָ֥ה הָרַ֖גְתִּי וְאוֹתָ֥הּ הֶחֱיֵֽיתִי׃

34 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ חָטָ֔אתִי כִּ֚י לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י אַתָּ֛ה נִצָּ֥ב לִקְרָאתִ֖י בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְעַתָּ֛ה אִם־רַ֥ע בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ אָשׁ֥וּבָה לִּֽי׃

35 וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם לֵ֚ךְ עִם־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְאֶ֗פֶס אֶת־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אֲדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֹת֣וֹ תְדַבֵּ֑ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בִּלְעָ֖ם עִם־שָׂרֵ֥י בָלָֽק׃

36 וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע בָּלָ֖ק כִּ֣י בָ֣א בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵ֨א לִקְרָאת֜וֹ אֶל־עִ֣יר מוֹאָ֗ב אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־גְּב֣וּל אַרְנֹ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַגְּבֽוּל׃

37 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם הֲלֹא֩ שָׁלֹ֨חַ שָׁלַ֤חְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לִקְרֹא־לָ֔ךְ לָ֥מָּה לֹא־הָלַ֖כְתָּ אֵלָ֑י הַֽאֻמְנָ֔ם לֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל כַּבְּדֶֽךָ׃

38 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־בָּלָ֗ק הִֽנֵּה־בָ֙אתִי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַתָּ֕ה הֲיָכ֥וֹל אוּכַ֖ל דַּבֵּ֣ר מְא֑וּמָה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֧ים אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּפִ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

Today's pesukim starts off with a very eye opening statement about God's response to Balaam's actions immediately as the passage begins.  Pesuk 22 of chapter 21 says that God' anger burned against Balaam because he was going with the Moabite Princes!?!  Obviously, this generates a real question: "Why and how could God be angry with Balaam, when in yesterday's pesuk (20), it is written: "“Since the men came to you to summon you, arise and go with them."

This is where we begin to see an example of God's permissive will.  Previously, God had already told Balaam not to go with the first set of delegates and not to curse Israel because they are indeed "blessed".  Balaam knew it would be against the Will of the Almighty to go "with the intention" of still cursing.  And this is where we see God's amazing attributes of foreknowledge!

To man, we only see on the outside, we cannot judge the heart.  But God knows not only what is in the heart, but exactly what the man will ultimately decide to do, even though he gives all flesh the freedom to choose obedience rather than rebellion.

Rashi says the following on this Pesuk:
 

ואך: על כרחך את הדבר אשר אדבר אליך אותו תעשה, ואעפ"כ וילך בלעם, אמר שמא אפתנו ויתרצה:

But: In spite of yourself, “the word I speak to you-that you shall do.” Nevertheless, “Balaam went.” He said, Perhaps I can persuade Him and He will consent [to my cursing them].

Here we see that the sages, like Rashi agree that God is fully and completely Omniscient.  He knows the Beginning to the End, even though He asks us to make our own choice and follow or rebel.  

This question on how and why God can be angry with Balaam as he was simply "going", without having "done anything yet" - smacks against the heresy of "Open Theism".  

Pastor Gregg Cantalmo defines Open Theology this way, "Open theists maintain that God does not know what a given human being will do until he acts. They refer to such human actions as “possibilities.” Because God remains unaware of human possibilities, the future remains “open” in His mind. This means that rather than God knowing all things, He is in the process of learning new things as they take place. This is a significant redefinition of the classical doctrine of God’s omniscience. The open theist’s view of omniscience is that God has complete knowledge of the past and the present, but not the future." 

If Open Theism is true, then God has No Right to be angry or punish Balaam at all for simply doing what He already told him to do.  (Ridiculous this heresy is!).  

How do they not realize that this pesuk as well as many other countless examples within all Scripture give complete evidence of God's Almighty Omniscience?

1 Samuel 16:7 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
But Adonai said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have already refused him. For He does not see a man as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart.”

He can judge our hearts and minds and knows full well what we will ultimately do - EVEN BEFORE WE DO IT SO THAT WHEN HE DOES JUDGE HE JUDGES IN COMPLETE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE!!!

Psalm 92:16 They declare, “Adonai is upright, my Rock

—there is no injustice in Him.”

Just as God is 100% innocent for being angry with Balaam for doing what He told him to do -(BECAUSE GOD KNEW THE INTENTION OF BALAAM'S HEART!) - so too does He know the full intentions of all our hearts - including those who stupidly follow the false doctrine of "open theism".

God is BLAMELESS when He judges...

Psalm 51:6 Against You, You only, have I sinned,

and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are just when You speak,
and blameless when You judge.

If it is true that the Almighty Creator of the Universe is "limited" and cannot even know the events of His own creation before they happen (even though He transcends time and space), then God by His own "limited" nature is NOT "Almighty" and therefore can be wrong - and therefore, (God forbid), IMPERFECT.

But open theism is a complete "Demonic" lie of Satan, God is NOT IMPERFECT...

Deuteronomy 32:4 King James Version (KJV)
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

I want to make one last comment to completely Destroy and Bury the "open theism" heresy.  If a believer accepts that God is One, and that John 1 is true when it says that "In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with and and the Word WAS God"...

Then what the very Bible says about Itself must be considered...

Hebrews 4:12 New International Version (NIV)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Let us make no mistake that would put our own souls in jeopardy of diluting the Truth of Who God is and Forever Will BE.

Isaiah 41:4 King James Version (KJV)
Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am He.

May none of the readers of this blog fall into this ARROGANT HERESY AND DEMONIC THEORY!!!

Even if someone is questioning and doubting or leaning towards this direction may you consider these words spoken to Job, also spoken to all of us...

Job 38:2 “Who is this, who darkens counsel
    with words without knowledge?
3 Now gird up your loins like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you will inform Me!

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who set its dimensions—if you know—
    or who stretched a line over it?
6 On what were its foundations set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—
7 when the morning stars sang together,
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “And who shut up the sea behind doors
    when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made a cloud its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling cloth,
10 when I prescribed my boundary for it,
    and set bars and gates,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come, but no further;
        here your majestic waves will stop.’
12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
    or caused dawn to know its place;
13 that it would take hold of the corners of the earth
    and shake the wicked out of it?
14 It changes shape like clay under a seal—
    they stand out like those of a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld,
    and the upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you gone to the springs of the sea,
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanses of the earth?
    If you know it all, declare it!
19 In what direction does light dwell,
    and darkness, where is its place—
20 that you can take it to its borders,
    and discern the paths to its home?
21 Surely you know, for you were born then;
    and the number of your days is great!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of snow
    or seen the storehouses of hail,
23 which I reserved for a time of distress,
    for a day of battle and war?
24 In what direction is light distributed,
    or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the flood,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land,
    a desert with no one in it,
27 to satisfy a devastated and desolate land,
    and cause it to sprout grass?
28 Does the rain have a father,
    or who has birthed the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost of heaven,
30 when the waters hide like stone,
    and the surface of the deep is frozen?

31 “Can you bind the chains of Pleiades
    or loosen the belt of Orion?
32 Do you bring out the constellations in their season
    or guide the Bear with her cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
    Can you set up dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with an abundance of water?
35 Can you send out lightning bolts, so they go?
Will they say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who put wisdom in the secret place
    or gave understanding to the mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
    or tip over the water jars of heaven,
38 when dust hardens into a mass
    and clods of earth stick together?

39 “Do you hunt prey for the lioness
    or satisfy the hunger of young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens
    or lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who arranges provision for the raven,
    when its young cry out to God,
and wander about for lack of food?

Now please - tell me again - DOES GOD REALLY "NOT KNOW"?

Amen.

Pesukim פסוקים are the "verses" of Scripture divided into Parashaot (Portions) read in the synagogue each week.  On Monday's & Thursdays there are 3 divisions of the week's Parasha read and on Shabbat all 6 are read including a Maftir (added), which makes up the final Pesukim (verses) of the Parasha totaling (7) Aliyot each week.  Rabbi Eric will give a short d'rash on each of the daily Pesukim that make up the week's Parasha for a good daily dose of Torah.  For more explanation on how the Torah is read and divided daily and weekly in the Synagogue see the following links:

What is the Parasha Hashuvah?

Dr. Stern's Chart of the Weekly Parasha, Haftarah & Brit Chadasha Readings

How is the Torah Read in the Synagogues?