Noach 5777

Torah Portion:  Genesis 6:9–11:32

Haftarah Portion:  Isaiah 54:1–55:5

New Testament Portion:  Luke 17:26-27, Hebrews 11:5-7, 1Peter 3:20, 2Peter 2:5, 3:9-14

This week as I pondered the assigned Scripture and Ray Gardner’s rich and detailed  study notes , a few thoughts came to mind.

“Noah walked with God.” This phrase is used only for one other person in Scripture–Noah’s great-grandfather Enoch, the one who lived 365 years “and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen. 5:24)  Scripture emphasizes Enoch’s righteousness by TWICE stating “Enoch walked with God.” [Gen. 5:22,24). The name Enoch means “dedicated, initiated, trained.”  In Hebrew, to “walk” [halak הלך Strong’s H1980]  means much more than to put one foot in front of the other and shuffle along. Rather, it is a euphemism for a manner of thought and, therefore, a manner of life. It is a life view or paradigm and, also, hints at one’s ability to influence.

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.