Rico Cortes of Wisdom in Torah Ministries

05/30/2026

In this Torah Portion Naso teaching, we study Numbers 5:1–4 and the command to send the unclean outside the camp. Why did God command Israel to separate those with skin disease, bodily discharge, or co**se impurity? Was this punishment, or was something deeper happening in the theology of sacred space?

This study explores the ancient biblical meaning of ritual purity, holiness, and the presence of the LORD dwelling among Israel. The camp was not ordinary space. It was sacred space because the Tabernacle stood at the center, and the presence of God dwelled among His people. Because of that, death, decay, disease, and impurity could not remain within the holy boundaries of the camp.

We will examine how Torah Portion Naso reveals the difference between impurity and sin, why separation was not condemnation, and how Numbers 5 connects to Leviticus, the Tabernacle, ancient Near Eastern purity concepts, the prophetic hope of Isaiah, and the ultimate defeat of death through Messiah.

Topics covered include:

Numbers 5:1–4 explained
The separation of the unclean
Ritual purity in the Torah
Sacred space and the Tabernacle
The meaning of “outside the camp”
Death as the supreme impurity
Leviticus 13–15 and priestly inspection
The holiness of God among Israel
How Yeshua/Jesus fulfills the purity system
Hebrews 13 and Messiah outside the camp
Revelation 21 and the New Jerusalem, where nothing unclean enters

This teaching is based on the Torah portion Naso and focuses especially on the theology of divine presence, sacred boundaries, and the hope of restoration found throughout Scripture.

05/30/2026

Why were the unclean sent outside the camp?

In Torah Portion Naso, Numbers 5 tells us something that sounds harsh at first:

Those with skin disease, bodily discharge, or co**se impurity were to be sent outside the camp.

But here is the question: was this punishment?

No.

This was not about condemnation. It was about sacred space.

The camp of Israel was not just a collection of tents in the wilderness. The Tabernacle was in the center. The presence of the LORD dwelled among His people. That means the camp became holy space.

And in holy space, death, decay, disease, and impurity could not remain.

Why?

Because the LORD is the God of life.

Death is not just a biological reality in the biblical worldview. Death is the great enemy. It is the opposite of the presence, holiness, and life of God.

So when Numbers 5 commands separation from the camp, it is teaching Israel something profound:

Holiness and death cannot coexist.

But here is where it gets even deeper.

The story does not end outside the camp.

The prophets speak of the day when death itself will be swallowed up forever. Paul connects that promise to the resurrection. Hebrews tells us that Messiah suffered “outside the camp” to sanctify the people through His own blood.

Do you see the pattern?

The unclean were sent outside the camp because death could not enter sacred space.

But Messiah went outside the camp to conquer death itself.

That is the power of this Torah portion.

Naso is not only about separation. It is about the hope of restoration. It points us to the day when nothing unclean enters the New Jerusalem because death itself has been defeated.

Messiah conquers death.

Watch the full teaching here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/mfbstZmSoVY?si=SgfsT5K5msbi5R0u

05/29/2026

Shabbat Shalom!

May this week’s Torah Portion Naso remind us that drawing near to the Lord requires holiness, order, and a heart ready to walk in His covenant.

05/29/2026

Torah Portion Naso is one of the most detailed portions in the book of Numbers, and many of its commandments only make sense when we read them through the framework of the camp, the priesthood, the Tabernacle, and the holiness of the Lord’s presence.

In Naso, the Lord gives commandments connected to the order of the camp, ritual purity, confession, restitution, priestly service, the Nazarite vow, and the blessing spoken over Israel by Aaron and his sons.

These are not random instructions. They teach us that approaching the Lord requires order, holiness, accountability, and covenant faithfulness.

One of the major lessons in Naso is that sin and impurity were not only private matters. They affected the community and the sacred space where the Lord dwelt among His people. That is why confession, restitution, and proper priestly mediation were so important in Israel’s worship system.

This Torah portion also helps us better understand several important biblical themes that appear later in Scripture, including repentance, consecration, priestly authority, vows, and the blessing placed upon the people of Israel.

When we study the commandments of Naso in their proper context, we begin to see the Torah not as a disconnected list of laws, but as a covenant system designed to teach Israel how to live near the presence of the Lord.

I go deeper into these commandments and their meaning in the full teaching.

Watch it here:
https://wisdomintorah.com/naso-2022-miztvots/

05/28/2026

Shalom everyone,

We want to invite you to consider joining us for our Israel tour this November.

We also want to be honest and transparent: there is uncertainty in the Middle East right now, and we are continuing to monitor the situation carefully. At this time, we are still planning to move forward with the tour and cover the places, teachings, and biblical context we have prepared.

Of course, safety and wisdom remain very important to us. We will continue watching developments.

If this tour has been on your heart, we encourage you to register, stay connected, and prayerfully consider joining us for this powerful journey through the land of the Bible.

For more information and registration details, please visit the event page:

Updated February 2026 Questions? Email us at: [email protected] Travel to Israel with us! History Temple Culture Context Let's go back to the Land of our King, because the Land is good, very good, and if you connect with the Land, the

05/26/2026

Join Rico Cortes for two special teaching events:

📍 Goodlettsville, TN — June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
📍 Crossville, TN — June 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM

Come ready to learn, fellowship, and dig deeper into the Word. Invite a friend!

05/24/2026

WHY DOES GOD KEEP MAKING HIS PEOPLE CROSS WATER?

Have you ever noticed this pattern in the Bible? Abraham crosses over. Israel crosses the Sea of Reeds. Joshua leads the next generation across the Jordan. Elijah and Elisha cross the Jordan. Naaman dips in the Jordan seven times. John baptizes in the Jordan. Yeshua Himself enters the Jordan before beginning His ministry.

Coincidence?

Absolutely not.

In the ancient world, crossing a river was not just “travel.” It was covenant language. Kingdom language. Conquest language. Resurrection language.

The Hebrew word avar means “to cross over,” “to pass through,” and even “to transgress a boundary.” From that same root we get the idea of the Hebrew — the one who crosses over.

Now think about Abraham. God calls him from beyond the river, away from the gods of his fathers, and into covenant destiny. He crosses a boundary, not just geographically, but spiritually, legally, and covenantally.

Then Israel comes out of Egypt. They do not simply “escape” through the Sea of Reeds. No, no, no. God brings them through the waters as a declaration that Pharaoh, Egypt, chaos, death, and every false god have been defeated.

Then comes Joshua. The Jordan is overflowing its banks, and the Ark of the Covenant goes first. Why? Because the King goes before His people. The waters stop. The people cross. The land promised to Abraham becomes covenant inheritance.

And then Yeshua comes to the Jordan. This was not merely about water. This was about authority. This was about kingship. This was about the Father publicly declaring, “This is My beloved Son.”

The Jordan becomes the threshold of Messiah’s mission.

And now baptism makes so much more sense. When we are immersed, we are not doing an empty religious ritual. We are crossing over — from death to life, from exile to covenant, from chaos to order, from slavery to inheritance, from the old identity into the kingdom of Messiah.

That is why Torah matters. That is why holiness matters. That is why we cannot treat God’s holy things casually. Because the One who brings us through the waters also gives us the boundaries that keep us in life.

The pattern has been there all along. God does not just deliver His people. He brings them through the waters, defeats chaos, establishes His kingship, and gives them an inheritance.

Watch the full teaching here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpieD10jPW4

05/23/2026

Why does God keep making His people cross over before they enter the promise?

From Abraham crossing from Mesopotamia, to Israel passing through the Reed Sea, to Joshua leading the people across the Jordan, to John baptizing in the wilderness, and finally to baptism into Messiah—Scripture reveals a powerful hidden pattern: before covenant inheritance, there is always a crossing.

In this teaching, we explore the biblical meaning of “crossing over” through the lens of the ancient Near Eastern world, where rivers were more than water. They were boundaries of kingdoms, identity, authority, life, death, and sacred space. But the Bible transforms that ancient idea completely. Human kings do not conquer the waters— the LORD Himself goes before His people.

You will discover how the Jordan River, the Exodus, baptism, covenant, and new creation all connect into one powerful biblical pattern: God brings His people out of the old world, through the waters, and into a new identity under His kingdom.

This teaching covers Abraham, the Exodus, the Jordan crossing, Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, Paul’s teaching in Romans 6 and 1 Corinthians 10, and the deeper covenant meaning of crossing over.

05/23/2026

Why does God keep making His people cross over?

Have you ever noticed the pattern? Before the promise, there is usually a boundary. Before inheritance, there is water. Before a new identity, there is a crossing.

Abraham crossed over from Mesopotamia into covenant destiny. Israel crossed through the Reed Sea and left Pharaoh’s dominion behind. Joshua and the new generation crossed the Jordan before entering the land. John the Baptist stood in the Jordan calling Israel to repentance. And Yeshua Himself entered those waters before beginning His ministry.

Now, family, is that random?

No. That is biblical pattern.

In the ancient world, rivers were not just water. They were boundaries of kingdoms, authority, identity, and sacred space. So when the LORD brings His people through the waters, He is doing more than moving them geographically.

He is changing their status.

Old world on one side. Promise on the other.

Slavery on one side. Covenant on the other.

Death on one side. Life on the other.

But in the middle, there is always a crossing.

Many people want the promise, but they do not want to cross. They want inheritance, but they do not want to leave Egypt behind. They want resurrection life, but they do not want the old man buried.

But biblically, you cannot enter the new while still clinging to the old.

Watch the full teaching:

Why God Makes His People Cross Over: The Hidden Pattern in the Bible

Teaching: https://youtube.com/live/jpieD10jPW4?feature=share

Share this with someone who needs to remember: before the promise, there is always a crossing.