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June 21, 2025: Torah Portion Parashat Shelach Lecha - "Send for yourself!"

In this study, we will explore the Torah Portion Shelach Lecha - "Send for yourself!"


  • Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41

  • Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-2:24

  • Brit Chadashah (New Testament): Hebrews 3:7-4:1

Torah Portion Parashat Shelach Lecha - "Send for yourself!"

Shelach Lecha - "Send for yourself!"


📖 Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41

The Israelites had been through a lot after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt by the Hand of the LORD! First they were led to Mount Sinai, where Moses was given the Torah and the people were ratified as God's covenant children.

Next, the Levitical priesthood was established and the tribes of Israel were meticulously arranged into military camp formation around the Mishkan (Tabernacle) - the dwelling place of the LORD.

After camping at Sinai for nearly a year, the Israelites were led by the Shekhinah cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night enroute to the Promised Land - the land of Canaan which the LORD swore to give to Abraham and his descendants forever.

All these events happened during the first 13 months after leaving Egypt!


Our parashah today opens with the Shekhinah leading the Israelites near the land of Canaan and the LORD instructing Moses to send twelve spies - one nassi (prince) from each of the twelve tribes, to go into the land of Canaan and to bring back a report:

Numbers 13:1-2

The spies returned 40 days later after exploring the land, saying that was indeed fruitful and zevat chalav u'devash, "flowing with milk and honey."

an illustration of the ten spies who returned to the camp of Israel at Kadesh carrying an enormous cluster of grapes, a giant-sized pomegranate and a huge fig.

The spies returned to the camp of Israel at Kadesh carrying an enormous cluster of grapes, a giant-sized pomegranate and a huge fig. The Torah states that the fruits were so large, it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs!


However, ten of the spies also gave a discouraging report, indicating their lack of confidence that the people could conquer the land. They went on to say that the inhabitants of the land were fearsome, and there were even giants who lived there.

In short, they concluded that it would be impossible for Israel to conquer the seven Canaanite nations who lived there, especially since they lived in fortified cities.


But Kalev (Caleb) and Yehoshua (Joshua), tried to encourage the people:

"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30


The other ten spies contradicted Caleb, however, and stirred up greater fear in the people by describing the giants as descendants of the nefilim -- the supposed survivors of the great flood (Genesis 6-8) who were so named because they caused those who saw them to fall down (nafal) in fear for their lives.


"We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33


Only Joshua and Caleb kept faith in ADONAI and insisted that the land could be vanquished, just as the LORD had promised!


Upon hearing the report of the ten spies, however, the people rebelled and cried out to return to Egypt. Angered by their lack of faith, God sought to destroy the people, but Moses interceded on their behalf. The LORD then decreed to lengthen the Israelites' wandering in the desert to 40 years - one year for each day the spies were in the land.


All of the faithless generation of the Exodus over the age of 20 would die in the desert, except for Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who kept faith with the LORD.


The people's lack of faith in God's power serves as a profound and very sober warning, and indeed is a primary warning for all of us, regarding the dreadful sin of unbelief. The New Covenant warns us about this, using this very example from the Israelites:


"7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:


“Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion,

during the time of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,

though for forty years they saw what I did.

10 That is why I was angry with that generation;

I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,

and they have not known my ways.’

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”


12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said:


“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion.”


16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief." Hebrews 3:7-19


The tragedy of the sin at Kadesh ultimately has a happy ending, however, not without its consequences for the lack of faith, even after Moses interceded on behalf of the people:


"The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they." Numbers 14:11-12


Moses interceded for Israel, reminding the LORD that His reputation would be tarnished if He did not succeed in bringing these people into the land which He had promised to them.

Would not the Egyptians believe that the LORD could not overpower the gods of the Canaanites if the people were destroyed before Him? (Numbers 14:13-16)


The LORD accepted Moses' intercession but decreed that Israel's entry into the land would be delayed for another 38 years - for a total of forty years - a year for each day that the spies were in the land (Num. 14:32-35).

During this exile, every person 20 years of age and older was fated to die in the wilderness - except for Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the two spies who showed emunah (faith) in the word of the LORD (the other ten spies were immediately killed by a plague sent by the LORD).

After hearing the judgment of God, a group of remorseful Israelites decided to "repent" by taking matters into their own hands. Without either the "ark of the covenant of the LORD" or Moses' leadership, they presumptuously decided to storm a mountain on the border of the land, but were defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.


Unfortunately, the first battle for the Promised Land, was done in the strength of "the flesh" and resulted in disaster for Israel.


So then, the conclusion we learn from this important life lesson, is one given by Rabbi Shaul (Apostle Paul), in Romans 10:17:


"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Messiah."


There is power in the Word of ADONAI! Power to strengthen our faith, power to be obedient to His Word, and power to be set free!

By the same token, the LORD also transferred to each of us the AUTHORITY to speak words of life, words that speak truth, and that calls things forth into existence, as we exercise our faith!


"Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Proverbs 18:21


This verse underlines the foundational principle that our words carry spiritual weight. They can bring blessing or curses, healing or destruction. Just like the 10 spies who invoked fear into the hearts of the people, and caused them to doubt and succumb to the spirits of fears, doubts and unbelief, which ultimately lead them to their deaths - causing them not to fulfill the destiny, the plans and purposes ADONAI had for them to fulfill!


We too need to be very careful with the words that we speak, so that we do not bring down curses upon others or ourselves!


"17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Yeshua Messiah foretold. 18They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua Messiah to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:17-21


After the 38 years of exile were complete, Moses' successor Yehoshua (Joshua) sent a second spying expedition to the promised land, though this time God led the spies to a prostitute named Rahab, a direct ancestor of Yeshua the Messiah, who later identified her faith in the LORD's victory by displaying the scarlet cord during the fall of Jericho (Joshua 2).

Rahab was the grandmother of Boaz, who later married Ruth, the great grandmother of King David!

May ADONAI likewise give us courage to walk in the power of His promises, even if our present circumstances are challenging. May the LORD clothe each of us with the "spirit of David" to stand before all the giants of the land who defy the LORD and His power, being victorious not only in our actions, but also in our words!

WHY?

Because every word spoken, will be held to account. Words are not neutral — they reveal the state of the heart and influence judgment.


"But I tell you that on the Day of Judgment, men will give account for every careless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36–37


This is why Rabbi Shaul (Apostle Paul) calls the Body of Messiah to be a holy community where the tongue is disciplined. Therefore, we need to declare the Word of ADONAI!


A Prophetic Reflection on Zechariah 3–4 and the War in Israel:


In the midst of war and spiritual battle, we declare:

The filthiness of Israel is already removed — not by human works, but by the eternal blood of YESHUA HA'MASHIACH, already shed for her redemption.


As it is written:


“See, I have removed your iniquity from you and will clothe you with rich garments.”

Zechariah 3:4


But there remains a veil — a blindness upon the Two Houses of Israel:

• Judah, who guards the Torah but does not yet recognize the Messiah.

• Ephraim / the Ten Lost Tribes, who received the Messiah but have lost connection to their Hebraic roots.


This veil must be lifted. The Two Olive Trees seen in Zechariah’s vision must be reunited (See Zechariah 4:3, Revelation 11:4), just as Ezekiel prophesied:


“Take the stick of Judah and the stick of Ephraim, and join them into one in your hand.”

Ezekiel 37:19


Only then will the Bride be made ready!

Only then will the King of Glory return!


The Time Is Now!


This is not just a theological hope—it is a prophetic urgency. The return of the King of Kings is near. The nations rage, the earth groans, and the Spirit is calling:


“Awake, O Israel! Return to your Redeemer!”

“Unite, O scattered ones! Rebuild the altar together!”


Let the Body of Messiah cry out in unity. Let Judah and Ephraim arise. Let the blindness be broken, and let the glory of YESHUA shine upon all Israel and the nations! Let's pray for Israel's restoration! Our words and our prayers will cause YESHUA to act on our behalf!


"See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day." Zechariah 3:9


Those who enter the Promised Land had the sword in their mouth with the good declarations of faith, and the sword in their hands to fight, in order to conquer the enemy. This can be applied to what Israel is facing today in this war with Iran!


"May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,7 to inflict vengeance on the nations    and punishment on the peoples,8 to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron,9 to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people.

Praise the Lord." Psalm 149:6-9


LORD, we thank you for these important life lessons You give to us in Your Word! They are fundamental in how we navigate through this life! Help us, Oh LORD, to take Your Word and apply it to our lives, so that we are not just hearers of Your Word, but doers also, so that we do not deceive ourselves, in YESHUA'S MIGHTY NAME!

AMEN and AMEN!



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