The book of Bamidbar outlines methods of survival in troubled times, times of exile in the dry desert, times when evil engulfs us. The desert is the home of snakes, serpents, and scorpions that threaten to burn us from within with their bite; it is a place where there is no water to cool us off and quench our spirits. These four dangers typify the four general forces of evil and destruction that we must learn to ward off.

Although the forces of destruction vanquish us, even when the Angel of Death has taken his toll and spiritually contaminates us, still we must fight fire with fire. Indeed, there is a holy fire that corresponds to those fires of annihilation and which can overcome them. This fire of holiness is based on the number five, not four. There are five double letters in the Hebrew alphabet that when placed at the end of a word are written differently. Their joint numerical equivalent is 280, and with the five letters themselves spell the word Parah, a heifer. When such a heifer is purely red naturally, the color of stern justice, these five letters can be joined into one to spell the word ashes, 'Efer', by burning the heifer ceremoniously: It is slaughtered and burnt outside the sanctuary, in the desert that it needs to overcome, but in full view of the dwelling place of Holiness. Then, when these ashes are mixed with water, the ultimate of limitlessness yet limited in a vessel, and are sprinkled on someone constrained by the spell of death, he is set free.

The prophet Eliyahu escaped the Angel of Death. His anger was never tainted by self-interested emotions. Moshe Rabbeinu would have similarly escaped death if his nation had not sinned. As a faithful shepherd, Hashem wanted him near his flock in death as in life, and He did not protect him when his personal emotions became involved over the people showing a lack of trust in His Hashem's providence.

We are all in exile, physically and spiritually, by our physical surroundings and by our spiritual poverty. We must be brave in our service of Hashem and withstand the large and small trials that we continually face. We must purify our motives, and make sure our emotions are truly worthy of nobility.

Adapted from Rabbi Vali's book on Bamidbar. Questions and subscriptions can be mailed to: the Yeshiva