Taught Me About Jesus! But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Luke 6:35

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you?

Anyone can give it when reciprocation is expected. After all, the world teaches us to invest our money, time, and even our love where it will do us the most good in return. But to live as children of God, we must give as He does, without consideration of merit or return. After all, He freely gives to us, and we will never be able to repay all that He has given.

Today, there is a lot of talk about “Bible engagement,” and in the Western world, it usually is not associated with good news. But how do we define Bible engagement and how do we increase it?



A pastor friend of mine defines Bible engagement as “an encounter with God’s Word where no heart remains unchanged.”

I absolutely love that definition. And when someone encounters God’s Word, their heart will be affected. They may be convicted, they may become angry, or they may enter into a closer relationship with God. But something WILL happen. And hearts WILL be affected.

Currently, we have 500,000 measurable Bible engagements per month. Again, these are engagements we can actually measure. We do not count distributions where we have no way to measure, and we do not count if more than one person is watching at a time. So that number is probably far greater.

I never want to be just about the numbers, but if we truly believe hearts are affected every time someone encounters God’s Word, then those numbers are important.

In Isaiah 55:11 we read:
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. [NKJV]
God’s Word WILL accomplish what He has set out. It WILL accomplish His will. And we know from the commands of Jesus that we are to go into all the world, to every tribe and people, and proclaim God’s Word. By this we know that it is not God’s will that any should perish, and that all should have the opportunity to experience His Word and His free gift of salvation.

“Bible engagement across America and in the western world is down significantly among the next generation. Is this because young people are moving away from God, or is it because we have failed to engage them in a language [format] they understand?”

Lord, thank You for loving me, serving me, and giving abundantly to me even though I could never earn Your generosity. I confess that I am at times selfish and stingy with my resources. So empower me to be more like You, to give and love out of compassion, for the sake of Your kingdom, so that Your power may be revealed in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praying before Shabbat at the Western (Wailing) Wall.


Shabbat Shalom Delana,

Welcome to our Torah study on this week’s portion of Scripture, which is called Naso (Lift Up or Elevate).

Numbers 4:21–7:89; Judges 13:2–25; Ephesians 1:1–23

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  ‘Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses and by their clans.’”  (Numbers 4:21–22)

Reading the Torah in the synagogue Reading the Torah in the synagogue

Last week, in Parasha Bamidbar, a census was taken of the Israelite men of draftable age.  The Levites, who were given the duty to serve in the Sanctuary in the place of Israel’s firstborn, were excluded.

The title of this week’s Parasha, Naso, means lift up or elevate.  It was the term used to take a head count (census) of the children of Israel.  In the Hebrew it reads, “Lift up the heads” (נָשֹׂא אֶת רֹאשׁ — naso et rosh).

This week, the headcount of the Israelites is completed with a census of the Levites who are between the ages of 30 and 50.  They are to do the work of transporting the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

Besides discussing the duties of the Levites, this Scripture portion also provides the law of the nazir, or Nazirite, and the Aaronic Benediction (Birkat Kohanim — ברכת כהנים), more commonly known as the Priestly Blessing.

The High Priest Blessing Israel (Photo by the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life) The High Priest Blessing Israel (Photo by the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art
and Life)


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The Nazirite Vow

“When a man or a woman utters a Nazirite vow… he shall abstain from new and old wine… grape-beverages, grapes and raisins …”  (Numbers 6:2–3)

A man or woman who vows to abstain from cutting their hair, touching a corpse, and eating grapes and grape products, including drinking wine, is called a Nazirite, or Nazir (נָזִיר) in Hebrew.

The word comes from the root NZR (נזר), which means to dedicate or separate oneself (as in keeping oneself separate from grapes and wine).  Another word from the same root is nezer (נֵזֶר), which means crown, consecration, and separation.

We can see the intersection of these ideas in Numbers 6:7–8, which discusses the Nazir.  It reads, “They must not make themselves ceremonially unclean … because the symbol of their dedication [crown (nezer — נֵזֶר)] to God is on their head.  Throughout the period of their dedication [nezer], they are consecrated [kadosh / holy] to the LORD.”  (Numbers 6:7–8)

Through this vow, the layman’s status was raised to something approaching the status of priest.

This level of sanctity is seen in that, like the High Priest, the Nazirite could not contaminate him or herself by coming into contact with a corpse, even one of an immediate family member.

As well, the Nazirite abstains from intoxicants more stringently than the priests, who abstain only during their term in the Sanctuary.  Moreover, the focus of sanctity for both the Nazirite and High Priest is their head (compare Numbers 6:7 to Exodus 29:7 and Leviticus 21:10).

Jewish men pay respect to the Torah scroll at the Western (Wailing) Wall. Jewish men pay respect to the Torah scroll at the Western (Wailing) Wall.

Although most people are not to stay separate or aloof from society but, rather, to bring holiness into the world in which we live, Nazirites are allowed to do so.

Amos underlines the holiness of the Nazirites, connecting them to prophets:  “I set up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men.”  (Amos 2:11)

The rabbis believe that in the Messianic Era, there will be no need for separation from worldly matters since they will no longer negatively impact us.  Instead, since all will abound in peace and beauty, our single-minded focus will be to know God — to love, serve, and worship Him forever.  This will fulfill the holiness of the Nazirite vow.

Jewish People pray for the coming of that Messianic era and God’s salvation (in Hebrew, Yeshuah — יְשׁוּעָה) every day.  They say in their daily prayers, “Every day (and all day long) we hope for Your salvation”; or in the version of the Thirteen Principles of the Faith, they pray: “I await his coming every day.”

Delana, will you pray for the salvation of the Jewish people who wait with longing each day for the coming of the Messiah?

A father pulls his sons under his tallit (prayer  shawl) during the Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.  (Photo by Lilach Daniel) A father pulls his sons under his tallit (prayer shawl) during the Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. (Photo by Lilach Daniel)


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The Birkat Kohanim: Priestly Blessing

In this Parasha, God commands the Kohanim (Jewish High Priests / descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses) to impart a blessing (Numbers 6:24–26) called the Birkat Kohanim to the people of Israel through the following three-part benediction:

The LORD bless you and guard you.
The LORD make His face shed light upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace.

To impart this blessing, the priests lift their hands with palms outstretched and facing downwards.

While the Sephardic communities today simply raise their hands above their heads and separate their fingers with their arms outstretched, Ashkenazi communities see the hands of the Kohanim forming windows through which the blessings flow, as explained in the Midrash (Jewish commentary).

The Midrash compares this stance with a passage in the Song of Songs, which suggests that God’s Shekhinah (Divine Presence) stands behind the Kohanim who bless the people:

“… therefore the priests spread their palms, to say that the Holy One stands behind us.  And so it is written: ‘There He stands behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice.’  (Song of Songs 2:9)  ‘Gazing through the window’ — through the fingers of the priests; ‘peering through the lattice’ — when they spread their palms, therefore it says, ‘Thus shall you bless them.’”  (Tanhuma (Buber) Parashat Naso, Article 15, cited by netivot-shalom)

A mosaic of the positioning of the hands during the Priestly Blessing in Ashkenazi communities. A mosaic of the positioning of the hands during the Priestly Blessing in Ashkenazi communities.


The Difference Between Prayers and Blessings

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  (James 5:16)

The rabbis make a distinction between blessing and prayer.

The blessing of a tzadik (righteous man) imparts to us whatever God has intended for our life.

For example, when Jacob blessed his grandchildren, Menasheh and Ephraim, Jacob crossed his hands to give the greater blessing to Ephraim rather than Menasheh.  This was not his personal decision; he was being guided by Adonai to give the blessing He intended for these particular tribes.

Prayer, however, can also change circumstances for the better.

It can cause a sick person to recover, a single person to find their bashert (chosen match), and a person plagued by poverty to have their needs met.

The Birkat Kohanim, however, acts as both a blessing and a prayer.  The Kohanim blesses us with God’s peace, protection, favor, and grace; but as a prayer, it can also change our circumstances for the better.

Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh, by Marc Chagall Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh, by Marc Chagall


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Pronouncing the Blessing Today

“And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.”  (Mark 10:16)

Because their lineage has been preserved over thousands of years, the Kohanim still stand up to bless the people in synagogues and Jewish communities all over the world.

In Israel, the Western Wall Plaza is packed with people who come at special festival times to receive the Aaronic Benediction from the Kohanim in Jerusalem.

Although the blessing comes through the raised hands of the Kohanim, God makes it clear that it is His blessing being transmitted through the Priests as His chosen vessels. 

God said, “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”  (Numbers 6:27)

Not only did God place His name on the hands of the Kohanim, He also engraved the names of the children of Israel on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

A newborn’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncle recite the priestly blessing over her.  (Photo by Avi and Elina Flax) A newborn’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncle recite the priestly blessing over her. (Photo by Avi and Elina Flax)

This blessing continues to be recited today in Jewish families.

In the Brit Chadashah (New Covenant), we see that blessings are also imparted through hands.  Believers in Yeshua also have the power to bless and even heal by the laying on of hands.

“They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them.  They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”  (Mark 16:18)

Many Messianic congregations pronounce the Birkat Kohanim, blessing those assembled in their services.

Ultimately, the Birkat Kohanim is about experiencing intimacy with God.  May our lives be a living testimony of this intimacy — of a people with holy hands and sanctified hearts and heads who carry with them the Presence of the God of Israel.

Torah and Kiddish cup

Today, you can pray for the Jewish People to discover the true intimacy with God that is possible in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

“The LORD their God will save His people on that day as a shepherd saves His flock.  They will sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown.”  (Zechariah 9:16)

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Shabbat Shalom from the Entire Bibles For Israel Family!




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The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psalm 111:2

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

If you’ve ever visited an art museum, you know that some pieces are so expertly made that they make you stop and think. They invite you to consider the artist’s mind, passion, and purpose as you take in the intricacies of the finished work. God’s creation, from vast galaxies to delicate flowers, instills the same wonder in all who seek to know Him.

God, You are magnificent and awesome. As I look at the beauty of creation around me, I am overwhelmed by the power of Your hands and the creativity of Your mind. You’ve built beauty and grandeur into everything that You have made, and seeing Your work makes me want to know You even more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Marriage is meant to be one of the earthly representations of love. When a man and woman decide to come together as one, as one unit, one flesh, one family, and they decide to take on the world together. The best marriages are the marriages that are rooted in the love of God. Couples who choose to make Christ the center of their relationship make the journey slightly easier for themselves. Marriage is an illustration of God’s relationship with the church – we are the church.

Patience and forgiveness are major parts of marriage. Without them, no marriage is able to survive. You need to understand that there will be times where your spouse will disappoint you and you will disappoint your spouse. You will discover things about each other that will require a lot of adjusting. There are times where you will share opposing points-of-view. Instead of burning the house down with words of anger, you will have to work out your issues in love. Love is more than a feeling. It is more than the butterflies or sweet sensations you experience in your stomach. Love is a choice. Every day, you make the decision to love you partner and work with them as a team.

Love means that you are well aware of your partner’s flaws and shortcomings but you choose to see the better parts of them. Marriage is a joint effort at becoming better people. You challenge each other. You cheer each other one. When one of you is down, the other one pulls them up and vice-versa. Marriage is not 50/50. It is not about splitting the effort in half. Marriage is 100/100 – you both have to be all in all the time.

Prayers: We can’t walk out of our marriage because You said what You put together may no man take apart! I thank You for being here with us both and every marriage You have put together in Jesus name Amen