God is in Control – Matot/Masei – July 18

Government and politics are part of the world we live in, whether we like it or not.  We may not always approve of the decisions and actions of certain governments but in general we are to submit to them and show them proper respect.  Government is part of the authority structure that God has established and the foundations of government are actually God-given.

I’m currently reading a book titled The Book That Made Your World, which I highly recommend.  In the pages of this book the author makes the following statement explaining how government has its beginnings in the Bible:

The giving of the Ten Commandments is recorded in the Bible’s second book – Exodus.  Moses put that Law into the Ark of the Covenant and placed it at the very heart of the nation to make the point that durable freedom is possible only under the rule of God, the rule of law, and the rule of elders (representatives). – (Mangalwadi, Vishal. The Book That Made Your World, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2011, p. 337)

Just as God appointed Moses, and later the elders of Israel, to govern the people of Israel according to His Law, so government is instituted today to implement law so that people can live in an orderly way, hopefully in freedom and for the glory of God.

The Bible teaches very clearly that we should be submissive to governing authorities and pay taxes because all authority is established by God (Romans 13:1-7).  The Bible also teaches that governing authorities are instituted to reward good and punish evil:

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. – Rom. 13:3-4

As clearly worded in these verses, government is a minister of God who praises good behavior and at the same time acts as an avenger to the one who practices evil.  The ruling authorities are supposed to dispense justice in a God-like manner, including executing vengeance.

The avenging nature of God is not something that is taught on a regular basis, however, whenever someone wrongs us we seem to remember that God is the Avenger: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).  This comforts our soul, knowing that even though someone my have taken advantage of us or have done something in an unjust manner toward us, we know that God has seen it and will bring it to account.  Part of God’s character is as an Avenger.  Another Scripture that defines this aspect of God quite clearly is found in the book of a minor prophet named Nahum:

A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;

The LORD is avenging and wrathful.

The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries,

And He reserves wrath for His enemies. – Nahum 1:2

The character of God as an Avenger gives peace to our souls knowing that He will make things right in the end.  I was especially reminded of this truth this past week as several world powers were finalizing an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Iranian Situation

On July 14, 2015, a deal was signed between Iran and six governing world authorities (the P5 + 1 – US, Britain, Russia, China, France, + Germany) along with the EU, which will supposedly make the world a safer place by keeping Iran from pursuing the production of nuclear weapons.  US President Obama was the main force behind this deal and he was thrilled to announce to the US and to the world how this agreement is a “win-win” situation as it keeps Iran from building nuclear weapons and prevents military action against Iran.  Is the world really a safer place as a result of this deal?

The Deal

The US and the other global world powers persuaded Iran to slow down its uranium enrichment which will keep it from producing a nuclear weapon over the next ten years.  In return, Iran will receive the following:

1. A clean slate from the UN having all of the resolutions against it erased
2. All sanctions against Iran will be lifted 
3. Over $100 billion dollars in compensation will be paid to Iran 
4. Iran will gain international support as a key player in the Middle East.  

Iran has gained everything it wanted and has given up virtually nothing.  Iran has snubbed its nose at both the US and the world leaders for decades and now it is being rewarded for doing as it pleases and holding out until the end.

The Iranian regime is a known supporter of terrorism around the world.  Here is a short list of some of their activities:

1. Iran supported militias which fought against the US and allied forces in Iraq.
2. Iran has supported and continues to support both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, both of which are fighting for the destruction of Israel.
3. Iran is a supporter of the Assad regime in Syria, which is guilty of grave human rights violations.  To read more about Iranian connection to Syria read this article: Iran Deal Will Save Assad 
4. Today on the national website of Iran President Rouhani, the president of Iran, encourages his people and all muslims to maintain the “jihadi spirit” in relation to bringing Jerusalem back under Muslim control.
5. Iran is a sworn enemy of Israel and denies Israel’s right to exist.

Beyond these atrocities mentioned above, Iran is also guilty of grave human rights violations in its own nation and toward its own people.  None of these issues were dealt with in this most recent deal.

Is the world really a safer place now?  Have President Obama and the other world leaders acted justly in brokering this deal? Are these governing authorities acting as true ministers of God; rewarding good and avenging evil?

God’s Perspective

This week’s Torah Portion is a double Torah Portion, combining Matot (tribes) and Masei (Journeys), and is found in Num. 30:1 – Num. 36:13.  I will be focusing on just one chapter from these two Torah Portions, Num. 31, which touches on this subject of avenging evil.

Click here to view a video summary of this week’s Torah Portion

Avenging Midian

Moses was in his last days but the LORD had one more assignment for him before He would call him home: “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people” (Num. 31:1-2).  Moses knew that he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land and that he would eventually have to make his exit.  The time was drawing near but first God wanted Moses to lead the people in avenging the Midianites.

The Midianites were responsible for deceiving the children of Israel, leading them astray into idolatry, and enticing them into sexual immorality (Num. 25:1-9), as we read about in the last two Torah Portions.  The LORD had previously spoken to Moses about taking vengeance on the Midianites:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Be hostile to the Midianites and strike them; for they have been hostile to you with their tricks, with which they have deceived you in the affair of Peor and in the affair of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister who was slain on the day of the plague because of Peor.” – Num. 25:16-18

God explained to Moses that the deceit and trickery of the Midianites could not go unpunished.  They caused the death of 24,000 men in Israel and God commanded Moses to strike them.

God didn’t command Moses to go and talk to Midian or try to make a deal with Midian.  There was nothing left to talk about.  Midian’s actions were evil and God called for vengeance on a national level.

God is a jealous and avenging God.  God uses nations to execute His vengeance and that is why Moses spoke of God’s vengeance when he instructed the people to go out to battle against the Midianites:  “Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD’s vengeance on Midian” (Num. 31:3).

Biblical Vengeance

The Bible can seem paradoxical at times.  On one hand there is teaching on love and forgiveness and on the other hand, judgement and vengeance.  There is a clear verse in the Law that teaches to not take vengeance: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:18).  God clearly taught the children of Israel in the Law to not take vengeance on others.  Is God now going against His own words by instructing Moses and the children of Israel to take vengeance on the Midianites?

One obvious distinction in the verse above is that it teaches to not take vengeance against one of the sons of Israel and also to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  On a personal level we need to forgive and not take vengeance, however, this does not mean that justice is not carried out.  Even on a personal level, when the law is broken the authorities need to be called in to deal with the transgression in a just manner and to carry out vengeance when necessary.  This is true justice.  We need to understand our role as individuals and the role of God working through established authorities and governments.

God is a God of justice and vengeance and will not let the guilty go unpunished:

Rejoice, O nations, with His people;

For He will avenge the blood of His servants,

And will render vengeance on His adversaries,

And will atone for His land and His people. – Deut. 32:43

The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;

He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;

Surely there is a God who judges on earth!” – Ps. 58:10-11

The God of the Bible is an Avenging God.  Until the Messiah comes to reign with perfect justice, God has established governments to govern the people, rewarding those who do good and executing vengeance on those who do evil.  It seems to me that the world leaders have done just the opposite regarding the Iranian agreement by rewarding those who have done evil.

The Hope of the Messiah

In the beginning of Yeshua’s “ministry years” on earth, He entered the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day and read the following words from the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD. – (Luke 4:18-19)

After reading these verses Yeshua sat down and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).  Yeshua was declaring that He was the Anointed One of God, the long expected Messiah of Israel.  It is intriguing to note, however, what Yeshua did not read from Isaiah 61.

Yeshua began to read from the first two verses of Isaiah 61 but then He stopped in the middle of verse 2.  Isaiah 61:2 reads as follows, “To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn…”  Yeshua didn’t include the last two phrases about taking vengeance and bringing comfort.

Yeshua came to this world the first time to preach good news to the poor, to set people free physically and spiritually, and to provide eternal freedom from the penalty of sin through His sacrifice.  When Yeshua returns to reign on this earth, He will take vengeance on the nations (Psalm 149:7. Isaiah 34:8. 59:15-20. Micah 5:15. Rev. 19:2) and will fulfill these last two phrases of Isaiah 61:2.

Even when the governments of this world don’t properly execute judgement, It is good to know that God is the ultimate judge and that the Messiah will one day come to execute righteous judgement.  God is in Control!

The truth of God’s control in this world should not make us apathetic toward the situations in the world but rather spur us on to pray for the current governments and world leaders to act in a God-like manner, praising those who do good and avenging those who do evil.

Shabbat Shalom!

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Torah Portion: Num. 30:1 – Num. 36:13

Hafatara: Jer. 2:4-28. 3:4

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