From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parashah) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The reading for this week 12-18 June 2011 is Sh'lach L'cha-"Send for yourself" (men that they may scout out the land of Canaan)

TORAH: Numbers 13:1-15:41

HAFTARAH: Joshua 2:1-24

This week's reading focuses on the 12 spies sent out by Moses at the command of the LORD to spy out the land of Canaan soon after Israel left Mt Sinai. It relates the differing reports which were brought back and the spirit behind those reports-and the judgment released over the entire adult generation of those who followed the spirit of fear and unbelief. In the Haftarah, it is almost 40 years later and spies are once again being dispatched, but from the next generation and from a different border.

*Numbers 13:16: "These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua."

Hoshea means "Salvation". Joshua (in Hebrew pronounced YehoSHUah), means "The LORD SAVES". Thus, over a 1500 years later a shortened form of that name, Yeshua, will be given by the angel to Joseph (and in Luke 1:31 to Miriam (English: Mary) his wife), ".and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

*Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9: "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..Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh.spoke to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.'"

It is remarkable that in Hebrew the root for the word "War" and that for "Bread" are identical (The two-edged sword in the hands of God's warriors (Psalm 149:6) is literally a "many mouthed" sword to devour His enemies-while the mouths of the warriors themselves are filled with His praise!

*Numbers 14:24: "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it."

Pray against Israeli believers responding to the giants we face in a spirit of fear.that we realize that if we trust in God, He will not allow the land to devour us. Pray against cynical conversation amongst older believers in the Land about the land devouring those within it; this only serves to discourage and dishearten the generation God wishes to raise up for strength, victory and governance here. Please pray that men and women of "a different spirit" would rise up in Israel, not focusing on the giants but trusting in the God who made the heavens and who has promised to give us a land flowing with milk and honey in which righteousness dwells.

*Numbers 15:38-40: "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God."

The "blue" thread in these tassels or fringes (Hebrew: tzitzit) was "tehellet", a sky-blue dye thought to have been made from a particular species of snail (For centuries this creature was assumed to be extinct and consequently the colored thread was not placed in the fringes of observant Jews. In the past decade the crustacean is believed to have been rediscovered in the Gulf of Aqaba; now many are again wearing the "sky blue" thread in their "tzitzit"). Much of the specific significance for the fringes and the colored thread remains uncertain-some have suggested that they served as a reminder that because of the "harlotry to which our hearts and our own eyes are inclined" victory in overcoming these inclinations can only be obtained by calling on the Holy One who dwells in the heavenlies (sky-blue). It was these 'fringes' on the garment of Yeshua which the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25, Luke 8:43) touched and "power went out of Him" and healed her. Please Pray that Israelis would be convicted of their need to obey God, but also aware of their "inclination" against doing so. Pray that they would seek salvation in the One out of whom comes power to be Children of God (John 1:12), to please and draw near to the Father.

*Joshua 2:12; 2:18: RAHAB: "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token." SPIES: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home."

There is a wonderful picture here. Rahab requests that the spies show her and her family Lovingkindness (Hebrew: hesid) and give her a token of Truth (Hebrew: emet). The token of Lovingkindness and Truth (hesid and emet) is a scarlet thread which, when seen, will protect them from a destruction of judgment soon coming upon all of her wicked nation. When the Father sent His Light into the world, we are told that although the Torah had been given through Moses, "Lovingkindness and Truth (Hebrew translation: hesid and emet) came through Yeshua the Messiah" (John 1:17)-"in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of God's Lovingkindness (Hebrew: hesid) (Ephesians 1:7). Please pray for revelation in Israel regarding the urgent necessity of being saved from the wrath to come-and of theLovingkindness and Truth which are offered to those who will put their trust in the finished work of the Messiah!