The Book of Bemidbar, or Numbers, which begins with the reading this week (Numbers 1:1-4:20) is apropos both in English, and in the Hebrew names. It certainly has LOTS of Numbers, and for very good reasons, and it takes place ‘B’midbar,’ or “In the Wilderness.”

Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship and the Erev Shabbat reading:

The Sabbath Day midrash is about more than just the significance of the ‘Numbers’ that make up so much of the story. If “faith” was all that matters, why would He spend so much ink on numbers?

And why is there so much information in here that doesn’t really merit much attention from so much of ‘christianity’ anyway? What can we really learn from things that most would evidently prefer to ignore?

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash: