The Jerusalem Prayer List – July 14 2011

by Joseph Shulam

This next Shabbat (Saturday) every Synagogue in the world will hear the story of Phinehas from Numbers chapters 25. This story is very enigmatic because when any law abiding and law respecting citizen reads the story he comes from it with a mixed feeling. First, it is always good to know that God will rise up someone to do the job even when the leadership is weak and silent. Second, God can over-ride the norm and even the Law that He gave to Moses in order to promote justice and righteousness. The case of Phinehas is actually just such a story.  The story starts with one of the Bible’s arch villains.  Balaam was hired by Balak the king of Midian to put a curse on Israel as they were about to enter the land of Canaan.  Balaam could not put a curse on Israel but he wanted the reward money that Balak had offered him.  So, Balaam gave Balak advice how to make the Israelites fall.  He told him send your beautiful Midianite women to seduce the men of Israel. Here comes the part of the story involving Phinehas.  The President of the Tribe of Simeon who’s name is Zimri son of Salu took Cozbi the daughter of Zur; who was head of the people of a father's house in Midian and right in front of the Tabernacle of God cohabitated in public.  As the texts says: “And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”  (Num. 25:6)  Apparently Moses was there looking on to what is going on and doing nothing.  Most probably Moses was totally frozen and did not know what to do.  “Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.” (Num. 25:7-8)

Phinehas actually took the law into his own hands.  He was a Priest.  He did not have the authority to take the lives of Zimri and Cozi who were having sex in public in front of the House of the Lord.  In Israel today Phinehas would have been taken to court and put in jail for taking the Law in his hands and executing the criminals who caused God’s anger to be kindled against Israel.  Even though the plague was stopped after twenty-four thousand people died in Israel. Today there would be an investigation and Phinehas would have gone to jail.  In this case in the time of Moses the word says: “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. Therefore say, "Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace;”  (Num 25:9-10)

There is a very dangerous lesson to be learned from this story; albeit dangerous it is very important.  God rewarded Phinehas for the Zeal of the Lord that motivated him to take action when Moses and the other leaders of Israel were frozen with indecision and did not know what to do.  God gives Phinehas something very special.  God says: “I give to him My covenant of peace.”

Here is the question that we all have to ask ourselves.  When is it right to break the order and laws of human beings and be consumed with the zeal of the Lord and take action in ways that might be questionable in a state of law and order?  I don’t have a clear and decisive answer for you, but I do know that we have to keep an open mind and attitude toward ourselves and toward others that might have more zeal than Moses had and not be condemning of people who are willing to sacrifice their reputation and their freedom in order to do the will of the Lord.  This is not situation ethics, this is a zeal for righteousness that when one sees horrible and terrible things happening the fire of God’s justice and righteousness is kindled and takes action.  Note that Moses is passive in the story and he does not react at all either for or against the action that Phinehas took.  I am sharing this story with you because I have serious doubts that you have heard preaching on Phinehas from the pulpit of your church any recent time.  You should read the story from chapter 25 of the book of Numbers and see for yourself the fascinating implications of this word of God.

I am asking you to pray for my family, especially for Danah.  She has not been in Israel for eight years and there is a whole lot of administrative tasks to take care of, and they are urgent and we need God to help and open doors for Danah.

The time with our grandchildren and our daughter and daughter-in-law is blessed and the children are enjoying the land of Israel and their grandfather and grandmother.  We are also enjoying the grandchildren and a chance to spend a little more family time with them. We thank you all of praying for our family.

We have some serious prayers for Liora our dear sister.  Her health is failing and we are concerned for her life.  Pray for Liora’s family.  We continue to pray for our sick both in Israel and around the world.  We pray for Ahuva who is also getting up in the years, and we pray for Sara and Zvi, and Ilana, Leah, Sarit, and David S., they are all getting older and sick and need a touch of divine mercy and healing.  We pray for Paulo, Tim Tucker, David, Liz, Ishiida San, and Sadako San.  We are praying for many other people who don’t want to have their names mentioned and I suggest that you make yourself a list of those listed above and all those whom you know personally and pray for all of the sick that you know.

The Lord’s work in Israel is continuing to be a blessing to many here in Israel and also around the world.

Please continue to bless us and bless Israel in all the ways that you can think of and you will bring a blessing upon yourselves.

God be with you and with yours,

Joseph Shulam

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