Torah Portion SHELACH – Bamidbar (Numbers) 13:1-15:41 Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24
“For everything in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the boasting of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away along with its desire, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17 TLV
Shabbat Shalom, dearly beloved,
What motivates you? Motivation is everything. What is the motor that actually propels your life to do what you do, say what you say, and move forward—or not? Motivation is the number one question that every one of us should ask ourselves.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will discover what the motor of our life is. For that, we need to seek Yah. We cannot assume that we fully know our hearts. Only Yah does.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and incurable—who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 TLV
In fact, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which many people quote nowadays—and rightly so—it says:
“When My people, over whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 TLV
The truth is that we can easily forget the instruction to “seek My face.” We have to seek His face because there is no way we can get rid of false motivations unless we come before Him, naked so to speak, and ask Him to shine His light on the motor of our lives. What is it that truly moves us?
The Word of God tells us:
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.” Proverbs 25:2 TLV
Since we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation, we need to search this out. We need to discover the deepest motivations of our hearts. For some people, that may be a little scary because all of a sudden, the things they have been doing or saying may be found to originate from false motivations.
That reminds me of a heavenly proverb my Father in heaven gave me:
”The good is the enemy of the perfect.”
I was just a young pastor then when He told me this. He said, “Dominiquae, the good is the enemy of the perfect.” Of course, it took me quite some time to fully understand what that meant. In other words, we may be doing many good things, but they may not be the perfect thing. They may not be perfect because the motivation behind them is false, selfish, or fleshly, even though they appear spiritual.
The Desire to Be Rich
For example, there are many people who want to have a lot of money “for the Kingdom,” they say. That’s great. So do I. I believe it is important to have all the finances possible to advance Yah’s agendas.
But the question is this: Is our desire for wealth coming from a place of wanting to be rich and powerful, from the love of money? Or is it truly because Yah Himself has placed that desire in our hearts?
Do you have a gift of giving? Are you generous? In that case, He may want to fill your hands with finances so that you can fund His covenant projects.
I believe we cannot assume to know our motivation unless we are tested and seek His face. It is necessary to seek His face and say:
“Abba, why am I desiring so many worldly riches? Is it because I love mammon, or is it because You have placed this in my heart? Have You given me a gift of generosity and giving so that You can use me as a vessel to funnel Your resources into the places where they are needed?”
If the motivation is selfish, having too much money will corrupt you. If the motivation is pure and He can demand anything from you, then you may be eligible for Kingdom wealth.
“Direct those who are rich in this present age not to be proud or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Direct them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous, sharing, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future so they might take hold of the true life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 TLV
If you are not a giver and generous when you have little, you will not be a giver or generous when you have much. Then wealth will corrupt you because it has your heart.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21 TLV
Generosity and obedience in tithing and giving need to be practiced when you seemingly have nothing. Then you will grow in obedience and generosity until He can entrust Kingdom wealth into your hands.
This is preceded by much testing that we must pass before that kind of wealth can be entrusted to us. Our hearts need to be free from the love of money, luxury, and possessions.
“For everything in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the boasting of life—is not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16 TLV
Rubbing Shoulders with the Famous
There are people who want to be close to a famous minister or celebrity, seemingly to help them, assist them, intercede for them, and do them good.
The question is: Why do you want to be close to that leader? Is it because you genuinely care for them, or is it because you want to get ahead and rub shoulders with someone famous so that you can feel important?
If your motivation is to ease their burden, that is commendable. But if it is driven by selfish ambition, it is perverted.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the Torah of Messiah.” Galatians 6:2 TLV
Are you seeking something for yourself when you do good to others, or are you motivated by the love of Messiah, who laid down His life for us?
“No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 TLV
Running After Signs and Wonders
Some people have a great desire for signs and wonders. They run to every meeting where they can experience them and become enthralled by them.
Yet when they return home, away from the excitement of the dramatic experience, their lifestyle does not necessarily improve, nor their godliness or obedience to Messiah.
Signs and wonders do not necessarily transform you unless you surrender your whole life to Him.
What is propelling you to run after signs and wonders? Is it a pure desire to see people touched and healed and for Yah to glorify His name? Or is it simply spiritual entertainment and a quick fix, even though it may appear spiritual?
Can we see this in Scripture? Many people followed Yeshua because of the signs and wonders.
“Knowing this, Yeshua went away from there. And large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all.” Matthew 12:15 TLV
However, when He demanded covenant commitment and obedience, many disappeared.
“So when many of His disciples heard this, they said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can listen to it?’ From this time, many of His disciples left and quit walking with Him.” John 6:56-57, 60, 66 TLV
Did Yeshua teach us to run after signs and wonders? No. He said that signs would follow those who believe and pursue His will.
“These signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak new languages; they will handle snakes; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17-18 TLV
He did not call us to run after signs or after the preachers who perform them. Rather, He called us to follow Him. Then the signs will follow us.
Let Us Address Flattery
When we speak well of someone and tell them how great, beautiful, or impactful they are, are we complimenting them from a pure heart?
Are we seeking to edify and encourage them, or are we doing it because we want favor from them?
Is it flattery or genuine encouragement?
“For such people do not serve our Lord the Messiah but only their own bellies. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:18 TLV
We need to be careful not to flatter people but rather encourage them from a heart of love and purity. Flattery is fake and false, and the Word of Yah warns us against it.
Selfish Ambition
What is really guiding us? Why are we doing what we are doing? Is it because Yah called us, or because we thought it would be a good thing to do?
Is it because we are obedient or because we are merely interested?
Many people operate from selfish interests. They do what they do so they can get ahead in life—even in ministry.
But why do we want to get ahead? Ahead of whom?
Are we trying to get ahead of Yah? Are we trying to get ahead of Yeshua? Or are we walking in step with Him?
Are we jealous of the apparent success of others and trying to prove that we are also special?
“Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 TLV
It is written that man plans his ways, but Elohim orders his steps. If we are planning our ways, are we waiting on Yah to order our steps? Are we surrendering to Him and to the Holy Spirit so that He may direct every step we take?
Again, what moves you?
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice.” Jacob (James) 3:16 TLV
Bless me, Lord!
Many people want to walk in the blessing, but do they want the Blesser? That is the question.
The true covenant blessing comes through a Shema relationship—an obedient and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit and with Yeshua.
When we live a life that depends on His guidance and are willing to simply do what He says, then I believe the amazing promises given to Israel through Moses can be fulfilled.
If we truly Shema—listen, hear, and obey—then these blessings will come upon us and overtake us.
There is a direct relationship between listening, hearing, obeying, and blessing.
Likewise, there is a direct relationship between believing in His name, casting out demons, laying hands on the sick, and seeing signs and wonders follow.
We cannot separate an intimate relationship with Yeshua from our actions. Our actions must be motivated by that intimate relationship that propels us into obedience.
Anything else falls into the category of “the good is the enemy of the perfect,” which ultimately becomes idolatry.
“Now if you listen obediently to the voice of Adonai your God, taking care to do all His mitzvot that I am commanding you today, Adonai your God will set you on high—above all the nations of the earth. Then all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you listen to the voice of Adonai your God:” Deuteronomy 28:1-2 TLV
Pray with me:
Abba Father,
I thank You for Your revelation concerning motivation. Today I realize that I have not sought You enough regarding what truly motivates me. I ask Your forgiveness for the times I have acted, spoken, planned, or pursued things without first connecting intimately with Your Holy Spirit.
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. Shine Your light upon every hidden motive, every ambition, every fear, every selfish desire, and every false intention that may be lurking within me.
I choose today to seek Your face. I choose to listen, hear, and obey. I choose to walk in a covenant relationship with You and not merely pursue Your blessings.
Purify my motivations so that everything I do, everything I say, every decision I make, and every step I take will be led by Your Spirit.
May my life be motivated by covenant love, covenant faithfulness, and covenant truth. May I desire only what You desire for me. May I seek not my own will, but Your perfect will. May I pursue not my own glory, but Your glory alone.
Teach me to walk in step with Yeshua. Teach me to wait upon You so that You may order my steps. Let my obedience flow from intimacy, and let my service flow from love.
May the motor of my life be love for You and for others, devotion to You, and faithfulness to Your voice.
In the mighty name of Yeshua the Messiah, I pray. Amen.
Your Israeli mentors and friends,
Archbishop Dominiquae and Rabbi Baruch Bierman
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