Torah Study Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the
universe, who sanctifies us with Thy
commandments and commanded us
to engross ourselves in the words of the
Torah.
Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh haolam, asher kiddeshanu be'mitzvotav,
ve'tzivanu la'asok be'divrei Torah.
Beha'alotcha | | ‫בהעלותך‬
"When you set up "
Torah: Numbers 8:1-12:15
Prophets: Zechariah 2:14-4:7
Gospel: Luke 17:11-18:14
Following the Cloud
God’s Leadership and Rebellion in
the Camp
• Today’s Torah portion is about leadership; we witness the
establishing of the Sanhedrin, the consecration of the
Levites, establishing tribal leadership, and the inner circle
of Moses.
• However, the most important theme of this portion, is the
ultimate authority, and that is YHVH. Knowing how to
discern, when His presence is with us, and when He decides
for us to move is critical to knowing the plans He has for
our lives.
• In the middle of the establishing of His authority and
leadership, a rebellion breaks out – one on the fringes of
the Congregation, and the other at the center of leadership.
• Challenging our Elohim’s leadership has been front and
center since the establishing of the First Congregation at Mt.
Sinai. The enemy is always trying to bring rebellion to the
camp.
God’s Leadership and Rebellion in
the Camp
• Isaiah 14: 12: How you have fallen from heaven,
O brighstar[b], son of the dawn! How you are cut down
to the earth, you who made the nations prostrate!
13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit
upon the mount of meeting, in the uttermost parts of
the north.
14 I will ascend above the high places of the clouds— I
will make myself like Elyon.”
• The original rebellion, the pattern that all other
rebellions are based on, happened here in the Third
Heaven.
• Before we speak of the rebellions, let’s talk first about the
Leadership that was established at Mt. Sinai
Following the Cloud
• Numbers 9: 15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up,
the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony.
And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the
appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the
cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by
night.
• 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after
that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the
cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At
the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and
at the command of the Lord they camped.
• As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they
remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over
the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the
charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the
cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to
the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then
according to the command of the Lord they set out.
Following the Cloud
• Numbers 9: 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from
evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the
morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a
night, when the cloud lifted they set out.
• 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time,
that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding
there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not
set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the
command of the Lord they camped, and at the command
of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord,
at the command of the Lord by Moses.
One of the hardest things for most believers to
understand, are the plans that YHVH has for us. Here at
Mt. Sinai the Cloud was very visible – and if you weren’t
paying attention there was always someone in the camp
to tell you – its time to go or stay, or at least you would
here the Trumpets, and begin to pack.
Following the Cloud
Today in order for us to follow the prompting of the Ruach
Hakodesh, we must be in relationship with Him. When we
are distracted by life, we can miss His prompting.
Being part of a Congregation that is walking in His
Commandments – will have people who are watchmen,
intercessors, those with faith, and other gifts puts us in a
place where they can assist in YHVH’s leading.
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say,
rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all people. The
Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything—but in
everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God. 7 And the shalom of
God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.
• We don’t always know why things happen the way they do, but
trust me – our King has everything in control.
Establishing the 70 Elders of Israel
Establishing the 70 Elders
• When Moses begin writing this section of Numbers, the
establishing of the Sanhedrin or the Seventy Elders of
Israel’s leadership was created out of controversy. Ephraim
was challenging Moses leadership, on the fringes of the
camp, while Aaron and Miriam indirectly were doing it at
the center of the camp.
• It doesn’t surprise me that today, the Sanhedrin was
disbanded in the midst of crisis, and will be put back into
place in the midst of a crisis.
• We started with following the Cloud or the Presence of
YHVH in our lives – but man unfortunately falls into the trap
of worrying about every crisis, and not trusting their one
true King.
• YHVH established the leadership, and eldership of Israel –
for Israel to follow Him. Those 70 Men, to include Moses
and Aaron had to answer directly to our Elohim, but Israel
was given directions since they lacked the ability of
discernment.
Establishing the 70 Elders
• Numbers 11: 16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather
for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you
know to be the elders of the people and officers over
them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let
them take their stand there with you.
• 17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I
will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on
them, and they shall bear the burden of the people
with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. …
• Anyone who tells you that 70 Elders, or Sanhedrin wasn’t
established by YHVH, or has no authority, is speaking Lashon
Hara. This body was anointed, by the Ruach Hakodesh and
given authority along with the Leadership that Moses and
Aaron provided.
Establishing the 70 Elders
• Numbers 11: 24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of
the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people
and placed them around the tent.
• 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took
some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.
And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they
did not continue doing it.
• 26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the
other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among
those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they
prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua the
son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord
Moses, stop them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my
sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord
would put his Spirit on them!” 30 And Moses and the elders of Israel
returned to the camp.
• One of the precedents or patterns that was established, was that the Spirit of
Elohim would be on them, and a special anointing would be in place. Here
we see Moses Prophesying of a day that the Spirit would pour out on all men.
Establishing the 70 Elders
• Luke 10: 1 Now after these things, the Lord assigned
seventy[a] others and sent them out by twos before Him
into every town and place where He Himself was about to
go. 2 And He was telling them, “The harvest is plentiful, but
the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Lord of the harvest
to send out workers into His harvest….. 17 Then the seventy
returned with joy, saying, “Master, even the demons submit
to us in Your name!”
• 18 And Yeshua said to them, “I was watching satan fall like
lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority
to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,
but rejoice that your names have been written in the
heavens.”
• It is YHVH that establishes His leadership. These 70 elders, acted in
the pattern established at Mt. Sinai. Appointed, Anointed, and
prompting of the Ruach Hakodesh.
• These 70 did not replace the acting Sanhedrin, but were acting in
the pattern or Tavnit established 1500 years prior.
Establishing the 70 Elders
• When the Sanhedrin betray their anointment and position
– We have Stephen speaking before the Sanhedrin:
• Acts 7: 51 “O you stiff-necked people! You uncircumcised of
heart and ears! You always resist the Ruach ha-Kodesh;
just as your fathers did, you do as well. 52 Which of the
prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed the
ones who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. Now
you have become His betrayers and murderers— 53 you
who received the Torah by direction of angels and did not
keep it!”
• 54 When they heard these things, they became enraged
and began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full
of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, gazed into heaven and saw the
glory of God—and Yeshua standing at the right hand of
God. 56 And he said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and
the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Establishing the 70 Elders
• With the destruction of the Temple, both the
authority of the Sanhedrin, and the Levites was set
aside. Neither was done away with, but suspended
because they were not acting by the prompting of
the Ruach Hakodesh.
• Just as the Levites, and Temple service will be
brought back, so to will the Sanhedrin, and their
authority will be put back into place. This time we
pray that they will be acting by the direction of the
Ruach.
Consecration of the Priesthood
Consecration of the Priesthood
• The authority of the Priesthood and the Seventy Elders were
intertwined, but each had it’s own purpose and anointment:
• Numbers 8: 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Take
the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse
them. 7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle
the water of purification upon them, and let them go with
a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and
cleanse themselves. 8 Then let them take a bull from the
herd and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and
you shall take another bull from the herd for a sin offering.
9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting
and assemble the whole congregation of the people of
Israel.
• As you know, there was a change after the golden calf – only the
tribe of Levi would now be able to operate in and around the
Presence of Elohim. In order for the entire congregation to
understand this, there had to be a public anointing of Levi.
Center of Government
Consecration of the Priesthood
• Numbers 8: 14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from
among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.
15 And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of
meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a
wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among
the people of Israel.
• Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the
people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. 17 For all the
firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and
of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, 18 and I have taken
the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel.
• 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons
from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people
of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the
people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people
of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”
Center of Government
• So much of the Levites responsibility was to preserve the
sanctity where are King’s Presence would reside. For you and I,
it would be life and death if they were not given this position of
authority.
• Up to this point, we see three levels of leadership for Israel:
1. First we have our King, and His presence which resides in the
Temple/Tabernacle, or His Ruach Hakodesh in us.
2. Then we see through the language of adoption, Levites who
operated everything, from legal matters, to physicians, to
religious activities, tax matters or collection of the taxes, to
the most important ministering before our King.
3. Then finally, 70 elders from all 12 tribes, operating the courts,
determining legal interpretations of scripture, settling both
criminal and civil matters, to tracking the times and seasons.
• This system that was established on Mt. Sinai – will be the
pattern that returns during the Millennial Kingdom.
• One of the main actions of the “Seven years of Tribulation” will
be to begin restoring His Millennial Government.
Rebellion against our King
Rebellion against our King
• Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you
nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put
Him to death.
• Matthew 13:41 "The Son of Man will send forth His
angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all
stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,
• 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with
unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness
and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with
darkness?
• 1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices
lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
• Matthew 24:12 "Because lawlessness is increased,
most people's love will grow cold.
Rebellion against our King
• Rebellion against leadership, rejection of Torah, godless
practices, the practice of sin all are categories of
“Torah-lessness” or Lawlessness.
• Moses mentions two primary rebellions one that
comes from Ephraim, and the other from inside his
own household.
• The enemy is always trying to divide – the tactics are
varied, and often. Many times we don’t even see them
coming – the first thing we must do is be aware that
they will come.
• A congregation must work together, or the enemy will
pick us off one at a time.
Ephraim’s Rebellion
• Ephraim came out of Egypt wounded. Moses along
with Levi, Simeon and Reuben were leading the
nation.
• Like many rebellions, the thing that the rebels
complain about, is not the real reason why they are
rebelling.
• YHVH provided every aspect of the needs for the
nation, food, water, clothing – to their very sandal
that would not need to be replaced for 40 years.
So what really was the root of Ephraim’s rebellion?
Ephraim’s Rebellion
• Numbers 11: 1 And the people complained in the hearing of
the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard
it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned
among them and consumed some outlying parts of the
camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses
prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. 3 So the name
of that place was called Taberah, [4] because the fire of the
Lord burned among them.
• 4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong
craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said,
“Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we
ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons,
the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength
is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look
at.”
Ephraim’s Rebellion
• Numbers 11: 10 Moses heard the people weeping
throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And
the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was
displeased.
• 11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with
your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight,
that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Did I
conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you
should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse
carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give
their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this
people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat,
that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to carry all this people
alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat
me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I
may not see my wretchedness.”
• Moses was overwhelmed by the rebellion – even though the people
cried about not eating meat – their true complaint was against their
King, YHVH.
Ephraim’s Rebellion
• It would take us 400 years later to find out who was
the true culprit in this rebellion.
• Psalms 78: 8 So they will not be like their fathers—
a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation
that did not prepare its heart, whose spirit was not
loyal to God. 9 The sons of Ephraim were archers
armed with bows, yet they turned back in the day
of battle. 10 They did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to walk in His Torah….
Ephraim’s Rebellion
• Psalms 78: 14 By day He led them with a cloud
and all night with a light of fire. 15 He split apart rocks
in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as
the depths. 16 So He brought streams out of a rock, and
made waters flow down like rivers. 17 Yet they added
more sinning against Him, rebelling against Elyon in the
desert. 18 They put God to the test in their heart by
demanding food for their craving. 19 Then they spoke
against God, saying, “Can God set a table in the
wilderness?
Moses assumed that they were rebelling against His
leadership, and yes to a degree they were; ultimately
they were rebelling against the leadership that our King
sat up – fish and meat were only pretenses….
Ephraim’s Rebellion
• Psalms 78: 67 Then He detested Joseph’s tent and
chose not the tribe of Ephraim. 68 Instead He chose the
tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.
69 He built His Sanctuary like the heights, like the earth
that He established forever. 70 He also chose David His
servant and took him from the sheepfolds, 71 from
following nursing ewes. He brought him to shepherd
Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.
• Ephraim was given a second chance to redeem themselves.
Joshua was brought in for the conquest – eight out 12 Judges
came from Joseph – but ultimately nothing really changed
from their time in the wilderness – Shiloh was given to the
House of David.
• The rebellion started at the fringes, than spread like a fire,
just as their punishment spread amidst the camp.
Rebellion in the Inner Circle
• Sometimes the enemy, deceives those who are far from the
Presence of YHVH, other times, he brings the dagger directly
within the inner circle. Aaron and Miriam were tempted in a
different manner, that ultimately led to their physical death.
• Numbers 12: 1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because
of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had
married a Cushite woman.
• 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through
Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord
heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all
people who were on the face of the earth.
• 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and
Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the
three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar
of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron
and Miriam, and they both came forward.
Rebellion in the Inner Circle
• 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a
prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known
to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
• 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all
my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth,
clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the
form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to
speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger
of the Lord was kindled against them, and he
departed.
Conclusion
• Unlike the situation with Ephraim’s rebellion, Elohim spoke
directly to Aaron and Miriam. Nothing was left to figure out 400
years later. The rebellion that Satan had started on the fringes,
now had reached the center of the camp.
• YHVH, had to put an end to it immediately or the nation would be
destroyed.
• Patterns are established in scripture to teach us how to deal with
unseen crisis that may come. In Philippians, Paul writes for us not
to be anxious, but put our whole trust in Him. Make him the
center of our camp. We must respect the leadership He puts into
place, sometimes even when it’s difficult.
• My prayer is for us to be discerning about the enemies intention,
on guard through prayer and fasting, and always concerned about
both the physical and spiritual needs of our community.