Whatever our pasts, whether we leave the depths of Egypt or the heights of Mt. Sinai, we are offered a new beginning of our own – a chance to turn and get moving toward the future God has prepared for us.

The Torah restrains vengeance and establishes justice. The Prophets call Israel to embody righteousness with compassion. Messiah carries that same calling into the hidden places of the heart, where anger, pride, bitterness, and hatred first take root. God’s purpose has always been to form a people who bear his likeness.

As we see throughout our texts, zeal can take on a wide variety of forms. It does not mean one must go and pick up a spear . . . consult your local rabbi before doing this! Every moment of every day is a great moment to ask how we can take a stand for Hashem through our actions.

All of us would benefit from understanding the way Moses and the people employed negotiations during their journey across the land. Two different sections of land, two different communities, two different responses from the occupants of the land, and two very different outcomes.

We measure our days in hours and moments, rushing from one thing to the next, yet the Creator moves with eternal purpose—never late, never early, always perfect. In the noise of life, it is easy to forget that his timing is not only different from ours … it is holy.

It is good to be concerned with our safety and the safety of those we love. But we cannot allow our concerns to impede our response to something God is trying to do or to show us. Indeed, sometimes God’s directives, when we view them without faith, might seem dangerous. This is why belief is so paramount.

As the old saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Or free fish. Or free bread. There are costs attached. There are debts owed. The quality of the freebies doesn’t matter when only one path leads us to eternal sustenance.

The Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6 is among the oldest liturgical texts in biblical history. Archaeologists have recovered it inscribed on silver amulets dating to the seventh century BCE, predating even the Dead Sea Scrolls. Its age, however, is not its most striking feature.

“Shema” means to hear or listen, but ancient Hebrew is a language of action. Hearing and listening are passive activities. When we find the word “shema” in the Bible, it can mean “to hear,” but oftentimes it is translated as “listen” when there is an active component of obedience or some form of action attached to the meaning.

God is not just a God of order; he desires for us to draw near to him. As we begin the Book of Numbers, we remember how he cared for our ancestors by numbering them and giving them freedom from bondage.  Further, he invites them into intimacy, into a covenant that is alive and well today. Our challenge is: Will we accept it?