Don't Forget to
This Parashah covers the Balak summoning Balaam to curse Israel, the beating of Balaam's donkey, the offerings by Balaam, the three oracular blessings of Balaam over Israel, the end time prophecy against Moab and Midian, and the incident of Ba'al Peor and Pinchas' skewering of Cosbi and Zimri.
One of the focus in the Nugget Portion will be on the last 9 verses of the Torah Portion with the incident at Ba'al Peor. Ba'al worship was relatively new to the Canaanite region and Israel was not prepared to deal with the issue and so they were enticed through their eyes and they stomachs into committing ritual sexual intercourse and eating meat sacrificed to idols, thus coming in covenant with Ba'al; it was only the zeal of Pinchas that spared the entire nation. Where does this leave us today? Are we too supposed to have the zeal of Pinchas and strike down those who are breaking Torah or are living in idolatry? Do we have the LEGAL right? Did Pinchas have the legal mandate? We need to know our role and duty in God's kingdom so that we do not encroach upon the duties which YHVH has assigned to others.
This page includes Torah Portions from multiple years covered by Wisdom in Torah. Each year we covered the Torah from a different perspective so you can explore each Parashah from a different perspective and focus.
- 2010 Portions: Focus on Messianic connections in the Parashah
- ANET Portions: Focus on the ancient Near Eastern cultural context of the Parashah
- Mitzvot Portions: Focus on explaining and exploring the commandments found in the Parashah (in progress)
- 2015 Portions: Revisiting the Parashah looking at the ancient cultural context more in depth with additional areas that have been researched
- Brit Portions: Focus on connecting the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) to the Parashah
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55 thoughts on “Torah Portion Balak Complete”
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On the concept of spirits, have you ever asked yourself why Abraham, Issac and Jacob up thrugh Moses, Joshua, King David the whole TaNaK were never bothered by demons? Why are demons only mentioned in New Testament?
The “Spirit” of; is most likely a result of the Egyptian Book of the Dead’s, influence over the Greek world; and perhaps from Gnostics. Is very similar to pagan thinking their wood or stone idols possed an influence or power. I don’t believe they so so (spiritualize everything) knowiglng; is just a poor form of communication that came from pagan influence. Is also an influence of Greek to English language. Poor communication. A teaching with Elohim, is THE Only Power, who is Echad of all Powers.
Messianic Movement wants to be more balanced???? That term is relative; what does balance mean? How to quantify? The term balance is often used to really mean compromse. The usual means of evangelization most of us are used to; don’t work well. Yeshua said He’d gather us from out the nations; and He’s doing it; we learned Jesus one way, but then like Abraham we were called out, called aside and now Yeshua is leading back to the His teaching and instruction and eventually to the land. If someone ask you fne, give a respectful answer; don’t try to convience; only causes arguments. Don’t share too much; leave them wondering more perhaps for another time; letting the Spirit work on him. Fishing is an art of patience, sometimes we have a bite, then latter another bite, and then eventually they fish will jump in your net.
I have found it more than beneficial, a necessity to use various maps in studying the scriptures. You need to see what the ancient nations looked like, thru the various journeys of the Hebrew peoples, the Israelites, times of judges, the Kingdom under Saul and David, and Solomon, it helps you understand that until they entered their own land and established it, they journeyed through land of different laws and customs and how they worked wiith it yet stayed tru to HaShem. Along with Riccos teachings of various pagan ways. This was a real world, real people; and helps you identify why certian things are done in US amoung a diverse people; espcially when peoples entering our country today, still hold to ancient customs. Just like US has some laws rooted in Torah; so too muslims in our country thou they appear modern; their base values rooted in ancient ways, same for Christianity who roots are in the Pantheon or Rome We can see traces of Essau, Jacob and Ishmael. There is no such thing as 3 Abrahamic faiths; is political manufacture. Abraham’s first born was Ishmael but both his mother Eqyptian Hagar, dishonored her mistress Sarah, she was sent out the camp for a time; Hagar was basically a surrogate womb; Ishmael also dishonored Issac;covertness over the inheritance; but in both cases they eliminated an inheritance position over their dishonor. Essau yes was the first born; although some dispute as perhaps Essau jugled for postio in the womb;however first out the womb; however Essau dishonored the way of his father, he did not perform the actions of the first born; out hunting game not in the tent learning his responsibities; following his animal lusts, lust for blood, and the Caanite women were in the area of his hunting, he then dishonors his parents by marring a cannite women. They did not then; nor now; follow in the ways of the fathers, Abraham , Issac; not in the same ways; not of the same emunah or faith.
I wonder if Ruth was allowed because she forsook Moab? In essence when she says/vows your people will be my people she is no longer a Moabite but joining the covenant people. Just a thought
Where was the “land of Moab” at the time of this account? Who lived there at the time of Judges? Who did Israel disposes from that land? Why after more than 300 years was the land still called the ‘land of Moab’ instead of the land of the Amorites or Reubenites or Gadites? Did Naomi, her husband, and sons crossed the River Arnon all the way into the territory Moab occupied at that time (which was by then south of the Arnon River) or did they in fact went into the fertile land ‘good for cattle’, still known back then as the “land of Moab” which was between the river Jordan and Jericho? Wasn’t that the reason Ruben, Gad and Manasseh wanted that the fields of Moab, because it was good for cattle? Would Moabites at that time allow Jews to dwell in their country anyhow? Weren’t they the ones that would not allow Israel to even cross their territory to begin with?
If Israel took from the Amorites all the territory from the Arnon River to the Jabbok, and Moses standing in the field of Moab, gives this same territory (and then some more to the north of it) to the tribes of Ruben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, why must we presume that ethnic Moabites still occupied the area when earlier on the Amorites took over it and Israel killed ALL the Amorites? In Cuba the native Siboneyes and Tainos were killed by both illnesses and abuse brought about by Spaniards. Does that mean that present day Cubans are either Taino or Siboney? After all the patronymic ‘Cuba’ is a Taino native word… Present day Cubans are descendants of European (mostly from Spain) and African with a sprinkle of Middle East and Oriental. You would be hard pressed to find any Tainos or Siboney descendant in Cuba yet Cubanos/Cubanas, what the natives would have been called, is what the present day Cubans are known as. Same situation appears to have happened in the former Moabite territory from the Arnon to the Jabbok which went from the hands of Moab, who was later relegated to south of the Arnon by the Amorite king Sihon, to Israel in whose hands it stayed for about 300 years.
The Moabites, who would not even allow Israel to cross past its borders and were later fearful of what Israel did to the Amorites, may have wanted to curse Israel as we see in this parasha and the incident in Numbers 25:1-5 of Israel prostituting itself with Moab undoubtedly play a big part in this. However did this happen after or before Yah’s injunction for Israel to NEVER ever marry a Moabite? Are these accounts chronological? Was this the reason why Yahveh said for a Moabite to never enter the assembly of Israel, Deu 23:3?
Thank you Rico for Standing True FOR HIS WORD!..We Appreciate your dedication. ..
We need more Leaders who Will Stand for The One True YAH and be mindful of what the Ha satan is trying to do to split the camp.
Blessings to you and your family..The Bell’s in California.
Being the father of a daughter who is in a Messianic band– you just made a huge conformation for me – thank you Rico.
awesome teaching as USUAL. thank you!!
Thank you so much Rico for this years teaching on the Balak portion, I could never figure out about Bil’am whether he was a prophet or a true divinar , because of YHVH speaking to him the way he did. Also the entrails & why the sacrifices especially “7”. You have answered a lot of questions & resolved the mysterys. I am so blessed to have you as a teacher.
Shalom, Carrol
Shalom Rico! What a wonderful and insightful study of this week’s Torah portion. You are truly a blessing to the congregation of Yahweh! Never in all my reading of Balak and Balaam have I been so blessed!!!! Thank you for all you do to bring us “Wisdom in Torah.” May Yahweh continue to bless you, your family, and this ministry.
Thank you so much for your boldness! I’ve been walking in this Way for some years, now, and have experienced some wonderful things. But, I have also heard people sharing that they want this to be more “balanced” and more palatable to the church. I’m very thankful to hear you speaking the Truth without compromise. As we are walking against the grain of society, it’s just not easy sometimes. We are the bushwhackers that are doing the hard stuff! I found what you said to be very encouraging, and really respect you and your ministry for saying the difficult things that need to be said, rather than caving to the pressure of conforming. Blessings to you!