Torah Portion: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Pinchas (‘Phineas’)

At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, Phineas is commended by the Lord because he was zealous for the honour of his God. Later, we read that Moses could not enter the Promised Land, but could only look into it, because he had disobeyed the Lord’s command at Meribah-Kadesh and had not honoured Him as holy before the people.

The rebellious community had been complaining about the lack of water, so Moses and Aaron went to the Lord. As they were face down before the tabernacle, the glory of the Lord appeared and Moses was told to take his staff, gather the people together and then, as they watched, to speak to the rock, which would pour out all the water they needed.

Moses did take his staff and assembled the people who, presumably, were still complaining so, instead of speaking to the rock, he spoke to the people in his anger and struck the rock twice. He had just come from the glory of the Lord, but it was as if that had been completely forgotten. Water did flow, but the miracle had not been done in the way that would have brought the greatest glory to the Lord (Num 20:2-13).

Reverencing God Rightly

In between the accounts of Phineas and Moses are the lists of the second census. Here, again, are reminders that the Lord requires reverent, obedient holiness. 250 men had died at the time of Korah’s rebellion when they thought that they were as holy as Moses and Aaron. They did not want to come under the authority of those that the Lord had appointed. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, had been anointed as priests but then died when they acted of their own initiative in offering unauthorised fire, instead of keeping to the Lord’s detailed instructions.

Only Caleb and Joshua were still alive of those who had been counted in the first census. Only they had believed that the Lord would give them the land, as He had said, despite seeing the strength of the people living in Canaan. “Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us” (Num 14:9). Unlike the other 10 spies, Joshua and Caleb honoured God as they acknowledged His power.

Honouring Him as Holy

Moses had a unique relationship with the Lord, speaking with Him face to face and interceding for the people when the Lord had threatened to wipe them out because of their repeated rebellion. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded…” (Luke 12:48). Moses had gone from the glory of the Lord’s presence but had then acted out of his own frustration. That was not the way to honour God as holy.

What about the way that we live? Do we uphold the Lord’s reputation and sanctify His name through what we say and what we do day by day? “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…”

Author: Catharine Pakington