A Journey Through Torah: An Introduction to God’s Life Instructions for His Children

By Michael G. Wodlinger and Glenn Sikorski

A Journey Through Torah is a must read for all who are interested in discovering knowledge hidden within the pages of this fourth book of the Pentateuch. HaSefer B’Midbar, The Book of Numbers, contains God’s instructions for His children to follow, even today. Understanding these will enable its readers to have a more fulfilled and enriched life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781664292796

Michael G. Wodlinger

Michael has an extremely strong desire to understand how God works in man’s mind and heart. His latest works focus on understanding God’s instructions to His children, as outlined in the first 5 books of the Bible. Michael comes to this task with a Masters of Theological Study, a Masters of Education and a PhD in Educational Administration. He has led a group of Messianic believers in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Quebec Canada.

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A

JOURNEY

THROUGH

TORAH

An Introduction to God’s Life

Instructions for His Children

VOLUME 4: HASEFER B’MIDBAR /

THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

MICHAEL G. WODLINGER

Copyright © 2023 Michael G. Wodlinger.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from

the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000,

2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are

federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9280-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9279-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023903139

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/22/2023

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1:     Parashah B’midbar (In The Desert)

Numbers 1:1–4:20

As we enter our first reading, we encounter

the first census of all the males in the

community over the age of twenty.

Clearly, ADONAI knew His children

would rebel against Him and have to

face the consequences of wandering

many more years in the wilderness;

thus, they needed to be trained for war.

2:     Parashah Nasso (Take)

Numbers 4:21–7:89

In our second reading of Sefer B’Midbar /

book of Numbers, we are shared with the

census of other clans of the tribe of Levites.

These other clans are responsible for the

less valuable articles and elements of the

Tabernacle. Nonetheless, their roles are of

equal value to the clan of K’hat, indicating

how God views the work of all His children.

3:     Parashah B’ha‘alotkha (When You Set Up)

Numbers 8:1–12:16

There are several issues discussed in our

third reading of the book of Numbers. These

include the handling of the Tabernacle

menorah, the issue of apprenticeship and

responsibility, the Passover ceremony,

the trumpets and their use, the order of

breaking camp, the ongoing dissatisfaction

of the Israelites, and the pressures upon Moshe.

4:     Parashah Shlach L’kha (Send On Your Behalf)

Numbers 13:1–15:41

In this, our fourth reading of Sefer Bamidbar,

the book of Numbers, we are introduced to

the pivotal moment in Israel’s journey toward

the Holy Land. Moshe’s role as leader is

again questioned, and Adonai’s fury is seen

in the response given to His people’s complaints.

5:     Parashah Korach (Korah)

Numbers 16:1–18:32

In our fifth reading of Sefer B’Midbar, the

book of Numbers, we are presented with a

rebellion from a group of leaders, Kohanim,

who believed they were more capable of

leading Israel than were Moshe and Aharon.

6:     Parashah Hukkat (Regulation)

Numbers 19:1–22:1

Our sixth reading of Sefer B’Midbar,

the book of Numbers, introduces to

us the red cow. As we read in these

chapters, the ashes of the red cow/heifer

cleansed those who became contaminated.

7:     Parashah 40: Balak

Numbers 22:2–25:9

In this reading of Sefer B’Midbar, the book of

Numbers, we are introduced to Bala’am. Here

we find a prophet for the world, representing

many gods to those outside Israel. Although

Bala’am saw himself as Adonai’s prophet, he

did not have the same status as Moshe, but

he was able to speak the words placed in his mouth.

8:     Parashah: Pinchas (Phinehas)

Numbers 25:10–29:40

In our eighth reading from HaSefer

B’Midbar, we once again read of Israel’s

poor judgment. Israel was infiltrated by

Moabian temple priestesses who seduced

both men and women to worship Ba’al

and engage in sacred prostitution as part

of their worship. Adonai stepped in

and placed a plague within the community.

9:     Parashah Mattot (Tribes)

Numbers 30:2(1)–32:42

Our ninth reading of HaSefer B’Midbar,

the book of Numbers, introduces us

to a much deeper meaning of vow or

oath. Before this portion of Torah,

only Adonai had the right to change a

commandment or instruction. Here, in

this reading, we read of human beings also

given this right under certain circumstances.

10:   Parashah Masa’ei (Stages)

Numbers 33:1–36:13

This reading reviews for us all the masa’ei,

stages, of the journey from Rameses, in

Egypt, to Abel-Shittim, by the shores

of the Jordan, in the territory of the

Moabites. Ancient scribes tell us the list

of stages shows us Adonai’s compassion

for His people. Throughout the forty

years of travel, the Israelites enjoyed

extended periods of rest, sometimes months.

Conclusion

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Glenn and Michael acknowledge the direct influence

ADONAI

Elohim has made in the creation of this fourth volume of the series A Journey through Torah. A huge thanks to our wives, who have put up with us as we journeyed. We also wish to acknowledge the time and efforts of those who reviewed the prepublication manuscript, making necessary recommendations for revisions. We have enjoyed this process and hope our love for understanding

ADONAI

’s Word will transfer to you. We pray you enjoy your reading.

May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bless you fully and richly.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to HaSefer B’Midbar, the book of Numbers. In the following pages, you will be introduced to an overview of the forty years of wandering of Israel and the mixed multitude as they traveled toward the promised land.

This was not an easy journey, as you know, if you have read HaSefer Shemot, the book of Exodus. It appears the travelers, Israel and the mixed multitude consisting of fellow slaves from much of the neighborhood, and Egyptians, whose gods met the King of kings, had difficulty trusting in either Moshe or

ADONAI

, the Lord God. As we read within the pages of Numbers, they challenged both all through their time in the wilderness, until the first generation died, as a consequence of their constant complaining. Only the second generation was allowed to complete the journey and enter the promised land.

The consequences of their complaining and of their betrayals are well documented in the book. As you will read, they were to enter Cana’an just after their second year of wandering; however, their lack of trust resulted in their having to wander another thirty-eight years. However, as you read through the thirty-six chapters of the book, please also focus on

ADONAI

’s love for His children. This may be difficult to discern, as the Hebrew scriptures are not as emotionally charged as are the apostolic scriptures. Thus, a good deal of reading between the lines is required to gain a full grasp of what is written in these pages.

HOW THE BOOK IS STRUCTURED

Why would this be called the book of Numbers and HaSefer B’midbar, the Book in the Wilderness, in Hebrew? All through your reading, you will find Moshe and the leaders of Israel engaged in a good deal of number counting—a census of men for the army, a census of the Levites for Tabernacle service, and a census of the whole community; the numbers of those who died as a result of the consequences of their lack of trust; the numbers of animals sacrificed and the bowls of fellowship offerings at each celebration. Many commentators¹ divide the book into three parts: part I, the time at Mount Sinai; part II, Kadesh Barnea; and part III, plains of Moab. Each of these parts of Numbers includes travel times as well as negative events that caused significant loss of life. Others² divide the book into two sections, the first being the travels of the first generation, the disobedient generation, and the second generation, the obedient generation. Thus, the book takes on a theological tone to it, making clear distinctions between differences between disobedience and obedience.

There are ten chapters or weekly readings, each called a parashah, that structure the reading. As you will see, as you enter the book, each parashah chapter, is divided into two sections. The first provides an overview of the events detailed, while the second, titled Deeper Understandings, digs a little deeper into these events and attempts to make connections with our current times.

It is intriguing for me to learn that events that occurred almost five thousand years ago have direct relevance to us and our lives today. I know many of you find this hard to believe; however, a good deal of the book focuses on human nature and how people’s focus on their state of living changes when they encounter hardships, tests, and trials. Incredibly, human nature seems not to have evolved much during all the time that has passed between then and now.

Scripture cited and used in this small book has been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. I have found this translation to be the most easily read volume, which reflects accurately the Hebrew of the Masoretic Text.

I trust you will enjoy your reading of HaSefer B’Midbar, the