Vayera [ and He Appeared] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1 through Gen 22:24
Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37
New Testament: Acts 7:2-3, John 8:28-59, Jude 1:1-8, James 1:2-6

Returning to our quest to understand what caused God to passionately pursue Abraham. Thus far, we note the following:

Lech Lecha [Go Out For Yourself] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1 through 17:27
Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27 through 41:16
New Testament Portion: Mat. 8:21-22, Acts 7:2-6, Romans 11:24-26, 1 Peter 3:5-6, Rev. 7:9-10

In the span of two weeks, we have traversed the first 2000 years of human history in which the world was created in seven days, Adam and Eve succumbed to the guile of Satan and were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Subsequently, the world became so wicked that the Creator repented that He had made humans and sent a worldwide flood from which only Noah and his family were saved. 

Noach [Noah] 2015

Torah Portion:  Genesis 6:9–11:32 Haftarah Portion:  Isaiah 54:1–55:5 New Testament Portion:  Luke 17:26-27, Hebrews 11:7, 1Peter 3:20, 2Peter 2:5, 3:9-14

The concluding words of last week’s Torah portion read “but Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh.” (Gen 6:8)  We arrive this week at the building of the ark and the salvation of one family from a worldwide calamity.  Encompassed in the “secret place of the Most High. . . in the shadow of the Almighty,” Noah’s family rode out the mother of all storms. 

B’resheet 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8
Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 42:1-43:10
New Testament Portion: John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:1-22, Hebrews 1:2, 8-10

Rav Chanoch Waxman, in his commentary “And God Saw That It Was Good,” notes that concerning the creation of man, in stark contrast to the creation of the animals [1:25], there is no explicit statement that God saw that it was good. Was not man the crescendo of the creation narrative?

The Great Paradigm Shift

Courtesy of Wikipedia

The producers of the television program the West Wing mock and vilify God’s word and God’s people; but, the silver lining is that watching it gives us the opportunity to train ourselves to be ready to answer the difficult questions that we will now surely encounter more than ever in the wake of Supreme Court-sanctioned-same-sex marriage.

Examining the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Did you ever wonder how it came to be that as you turn the page from Malachi to Matthew that an entirely new group of religious leaders has replaced the Aaronic priesthood?  Did you blink when you encountered words that are foreign to what Christians call the Old Testament, such as Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, synagogue, rabbi?

 

The Last Great Day [Preparing for a new beginning]

Shalom talmidim (disciples)!

      The Last Great Day of the Feast of Sukkot is all about new beginnings. This is even more exciting when we consider that this year the Holy Day very possibly coincides with the end of a schmitta cycle. If Jonathan Cahn and others are correct, this means we are about to embark on a whole new cycle of seven years, which has tremendous implications for our welfare. The Last Great Day begins at sundown today 10/4/2015  and ends at sundown tomorrow.  As it is a commanded rest day and, as we have had to vacate our sukkahs due to the blessing of abundant rain, we are thus afforded the luxury of being able to spend the entire Holy Day studying Torah in the comfort of our homes.

       The opening chapters of Genesis contain obscure themes that, properly understood, can enable us to be the head and not the tail in our finances, relationships, health, and every other area of our lives. In fact, the opening portion of the new cycle contains so much information that it is impossible to cover adequately in a typical single Shabbat lesson. Indeed, these foundational chapters are brimming with ideas that could keep us busy with lessons for several months.

       To whet your appetite, please consider what Torah teacher Brad Scott has to say in regard to the subject of dividing or separating, a primary theme in this week’s portion. [Beginners, please consider investing time each week in learning from Brad’s free, in-depth, foundational teachings which you can find here on Yah-tube.]

        I urge you to begin today reading Genesis 1:1 thru 6:8, prayerfully, asking Abba to enable you to see it in a fresh way. Especially consider Yeshua’s role in creation by meditating on the haftorah portion, Isaiah 42:5:21, as well as John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:12-17, Hebrews 1:10.

       Before you begin, let me suggest a one hour youtube video by Kingdom of Messiah Ministries that may serve to alert the viewer to prophetic themes which the Body of Yeshua has largely missed.  Please please grab your pencil and paper and make notes as you watch and as you read the Scriptures. Study to show yourself approved and let us come together next Shabbat having done your homework and fully prepared for a lively discussion.

       I sincerely covet and appreciate your prayers as we begin this year’s cycle.  Shalom and bra’cha!