Beth Emunah Drash, July 2019

God gives Phineas a covenant of peace; The numbering of the second generation. God explains the apportionment of the Land of Israel; the daughters of Zelophehad petition to inherit their father's portion; Moses appoints Joshua his successor. So much to discuss in this parasha, but today, I want to focus on two things. A new generation and a new leader for that generation.

After the death of a generation of Israelites, God told Moses to take a count of the entire community of the sons of Israel from 20 years old and upward, according to their father’s houses. Each of the families was counted and numbered as God commanded.

After listing the tally for each of the tribes, the total number of men between the ages of 20 and 60, not counting the tribe of levi was 601,730. The new census confirms that all those who rebelled against God by refusing to enter the land when they first came to it were now dead. Verse 65 tells us “because Adonai had said they would surly die in the wilderness. Not one of them was left except Caleb and Joshua. An entire generation had passed away and a new generation was poised in front of the promised land, ready to take possession.

In Chapter 27, verse 12 Adonai then said to Moses, “Go to the Mountain of the Abarim range  and look at the land that I have given to the sons of Israel. And when you have seen it, you too shall be gathered to your people as your brother Aaron was gathered

Moses responded, “May Adonai, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community to go out and come in before them, who will lead them out and bring them out so that the people of Adonai will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” .”

Moses’ time was drawing near, but he was still cared of what would become of his people. In response to Moses’s appeal, God identified Joshua Bin Nun as the one to serve as the new leader of Israel. To lead a new generation of people. Joshua was not a zealot, but rather, “a man of inspiration”– he had the spirit of God in him. Joshua, who served Moses faithfully, did not leave the tent, and learned all the Torah, shall inherit the leadership of Moses and shall lead a new generation of Israel into the Land. Joshua may not have been the obvious choice from a human perspective; but as far as God was concerned, he was the right man for the job.

Adonai said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Ruach, and lay your hand on him. You will have him stand before Eleazar the kohen and the entire assembly and commission him before their eyes, “a formal laying on of hands if you will”. Give to him some of your authority so that the whole community of Bnei-Yisrael will obey him. Moses did with Joshua as God commanded.

The question for all of us is this…How are God’s people at Beth Emunah responding to the new leadership that God has placed for our best to bring us to our promised land? Are we a generation that is walking in faith and righteousness as a witness to our community here at Beth Emunah? Are we preparing a generation to thrive?

Much prayer is essential to anchor our relationships with one another; but consistent choices, standards and practice are also necessary to demonstrate what we do and to develop habits that will last a lifetime in our synagogue. Are we staying in the tent and learning all we can learn. Are we sitting at the feet of our Savior and listening to His words. God said in Gen 18:19, "I have chosen [Avraham], that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the L-RD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the L-RD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him" and Yeshua told the disciples in John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you. I selected you so that you would go and produce fruit, and that your fruit would remain. Then the Father will give you whatever you asked in My name".

The next generation is our most important budding fruit; let us renew our commitment to serving both them and the Lord today.