by David Klug
Torah Naso – Elevate, Lift up;
Paleo Hebrew meaning – Life support
Numbers (B’midbar) 4:21 – 7:89
Judges (Shoftim) 13:2-25
Acts 21:17-26
On this journey in the wilderness of the peoples, we often encounter people who just can’t bear their heavy burdens on their own. What do we do?
The One to Lift up First!
And YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying, “Naso Alef Tav-Rosh (Lift up the head, take the sum) of the sons of Gershon also…” (B’midbar (Numbers) 4:21-22) Like the last Torah portion, this one starts with the same command – to lift up the Alef Tav-Rosh (Head). We know the exalted Alef Tav-Head to be the Messiah, the exalted Lamb of God. Because He humbled Himself on the cross, YHWH lifted up our Messiah to be seated upon the throne of Heaven (Rev 1:8-11; 5:6,13; 21:6; 22:13). Praise His mighty Name!
What people has this Alef Tav-Rosh become the Head of? The Torah foreshadows this answer with the sons of the Levitical priest Gershon, the son of Moses. The instructions to the Gershonites are prophetic words for the family of believers in Messiah, the High Priest after the order of MalchiTsedek, who serve as a royal priesthood in our day. How can I be sure of this?
The root word for Gershon is the Hebrew word ger – meaning:
1) a sojourner
1a) a temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights
1b) of foreigners in Israel, though conceded rights.
Sounds like us scattered exiles of Israel, right?
Ger of Gershon is spelled gimel resh. The Resh, the exalted Head, gimels, travels abroad to seek out the scattered, lost sheep of the house of Yisra’el. Through the power (alef) of the cross (tav), by redemption through the blood of His cross, believers in the Messiah are connected to Him as Rosh, their Head. Though our ancestors lost our inheritance and rights as citizens of His Kingdom, the
Alef-Tav Rosh, Yeshua, has redeemed us. Through His new covenant, He has conceded citizenship rights to the members of His Body, no longer to be considered foreigners.
The good news is that He adopts those who put their trust in Him and grafts us into His family. Although we were separated from the Messiah and excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, we have been brought near by His precious blood. (Eph 2:12-
13) Thank Yah for the Gospel!
Now by His Spirit, He raises up a royal priesthood (Exo 19:5-6; 1 Pet 2:9) brought into His marvelous light to shine out to a dark world. As priests in His Kingdom, we have a job to do.
What Gershonites Do
As born-again believers in exile, we are now tasked with the same responsibility as a family of Gershonite priests. What is our service in the Temple of the Holy Spirit today? This is the service of the clans of the Gĕrshonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:
And they shall bear the curtains of the Dwelling Place and the Tent of Meeting with its covering, the covering of fine leather that is on it, the covering for the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the screens of the courtyard and the covering for the door of the gate of the courtyard, which is around the Dwelling Place and altar, and their cords, all the equipment for their service and all that is made for them – so shall they serve.
Aharon and his sons are to command all the service of the sons of the Gĕrshonites, all their burden and all their service. And you shall appoint to them all the duty of all their burden. This is the service of the clans of the sons of Gĕrshon in the Tent of Meeting. And
let their duties be under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.
(B’midbar (Numbers) 4:24-28)
As exiled Gershonites, our priestly service still is “in serving and bearing burdens.”
So what burdens do we bear today as followers of Yeshua
Bearing Burdens
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the Torah of Messiah. (Galatians 6:2)
Bear others burdens? It’s hard enough to bear our own burdens, let alone others. What does Abba empower and motivate us with that enables us to bear the burdens of other people?
She (love) bears all things, she believes all things, she hopes all things, she endures all things. Love never fails… (1 Cor. 13:7-8a)
I love it! Love is the answer! As Gershonites, what is a covering in the Temple of the Holy Spirit that we cover others with?
Whoever covers up an offense seeks love. Whoever repeats a matter separates
close friends. (Prov 17:9)
Again, the answer is in pursuing the selfless, agape love of Elohim with people. His redeeming love is what connects us and keeps us connected together. The Gershonites faithfully connected the coverings in the Tabernacle with silver clasps every time they set up the tabernacle in the wilderness. Silver is the metal of redemption. Every time we gather together, may we cover each other with the love of our Redeemer.
Out of love for others, may we be faithful to stop the gossip that could divide even the closest of friends. May we uphold their reputations and only seek to build them up in love. How do we stop lashon hara? Love is the answer.
Strong in the Faith
Anyone who talks like he is strong in his faith will back up his talk by bearing the burdens of others in the Spirit of Messiah. This truth is something that keeps me humbly serving the best I can. Paul said it really well:
But we, the strong ones, ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to please ourselves. For let each one of us please his neighbor for good, tobuilding up. For also Messiah did not please Himself… (Rom 15:1-3a)
One thing I love about the instructions of the Messiah to His disciples is how practically we can bear burdens and build up one another. We find out from Him that in the end what really matters is not what we know, but how we have born the burdens of others.
Yeshua often talked about and demonstrated bearing the burdens of feeding others by clothing them, helping the poor financially, the sick with their health, and even providing shelter – a place of healing, provision and grace.
Our Messiah also demonstrated bearing the intangible burdens of others- emotional, psychological, relational, religious and even the political burdens people carry in life. In the Messiah, we can bear up those who are oppressed by the devil and burdened by the
tyrannical forces of darkness
It's Too Much!
On the other hand, not any one of us can even hope to carry all the burdens for
everyone we encounter in life. Let’s keep in mind the Master’s encouraging words:
“Come to Me, all who are weary andheavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (Jer6:16)For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30, NASB).
Together We Can Do It!
But the Body of Messiah under His Headship istasked with these duties out of love for Him and for one another. As a royal priesthood of exiled Gershonites, we can keep His commandments on loving one another by His enabling grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Even the powerful apostle Paul needed someone to share with his troubles: And I know to be humbled, and I know to abound; in everything, and in all things, I am taught both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound, and to lack. I have strength for all things in Messiah the One strengthening me. Yet you did well in sharing my troubles. (Philippians 4:12-14)
Even though Paul knew how to be content in whatever state he was in, even though the Messiah strengthened him to do all things he was told to do, he still needed the Body of Messiah to share with him in his troubles. Maybe they were just emotional or
psychological burdens that Paul couldn’t carry on his own. Regardless, he needed the brethren to come alongside to help shoulder his burdens. We all do.
Now the people I’ve known to be best at carrying the burdens of others are those who love their Elohim and who love others as they love themselves. His burning love never burns them out! Their hearts are full of His unfailing, empowering love.
There by the grace of Yah go I! B’rakhot BaShem Yeshua Ha’Melek Yisra’el, Blessings be to you and your household in the Name of Yeshua, the King of Israel!
David Klug