Al McCarn: Dilemna of the Ger

Return of the Prodigal Son by James Tissot

by Al McCarn, The Barking Fox

The Torah Awakening among Christians is creating something the world has not seen for two thousand years:  a growing body of non-Jewish people who are doing the best they can to live by God’s eternal standards (His Torah – Law, Teaching, Commandments), but who do not intend to convert to Judaism.

What is the world to do with such people?  Perhaps the more immediate question is, what are the Jewish people and the State of Israel to do with such people?

Ephraim Frank on the Sanballot spirit

Written in 2004, the following article, written by Ephraim Frank, posted on Etz B’ney Yosef, stands as a solemn warning that the plans to rebuild will not go unhindered. As it was in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, we, too, must hold our swords in one hand and our trowels in the other as we work together to protect the infant that was born in Tampa on March 6 and rebuild the northern kingdom of the House of Israel. “And our adversaries said, ‘They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease’” (Nehemiah 4:11). The Sanballot attitude of being “deeply disturbed” over the king’s plan to allow the restoration of Jerusalem is as prevalent today as it was in the days of Nehemiah. Now it makes sense why, after I repented of my sins in 1998 and began to hungrily read my Bible, it was the Book of Nehemiah that over and over drew my attention.

History of Ephraim and Manesseh by Linda Watson

Linda Watson, a history buff from New Orleans, has spent years researching the history and migration of Jacob’s descendants. Her website 12tribehistory.com is brimming with articles and radio archives. You can hear her programs on Hebrew Nation Radio, both live and by podcast. In light of the recent B’ney Yosef Summit and the birth of the nation of Ephraim, it seems appropriate to post Linda’s fascinating findings. As with everything else, do your own research. Books by Steven M. Collins and Yair Davidy are a good place to begin.

Job’s Daughters-A picture of Ephraim?

Cathy Helms

March 11, 2016

In the particular read-through-the-Bible-in-a year-assignment which I happen to be following this year (recommended by Al McCarn), it so happened that the final chapters of the book of Job coincided with the readings for parshas Vayakhel and Pekudai, as well as the close of the Bney Yosef Summit in Tampa (March 4-6 2016).

The final verses of the book captured my attention when I noticed that Job’s three daughters are named in the text–but his seven sons, curiously,  are not. As the number three always reminds me of the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua, I was provoked to start digging into the meanings of the names. To my great surprise, a clear picture of returning Ephraim emerged. Come, please, examine what I have found.

Yitro – Jethro

Torah Portion:  Exodus 18:1 through Exodus 20:23
Haftarah Portion:  Isaiah 6:1-7:6 and Isaiah 9:5-6
New Testament Portion:  1 John 1:1-6, 1John 2:2-11, 1John 2:24-26

Due to the earth-shaking (pun intended) ramifications of the events, it would seem logical that the name of this portion of Torah should be “commandments,” “Mount Sinai”, “betrothal” or “ketubah.” That it is named for Moses’ father-in-law, the “priest of Median” to whom we were introduced in Shemot a few weeks ago,  leaves us scratching our heads.

Vayechi – And he lived

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-12

New Testament: Hebrews 11:21-22, 13:14

In last week’s lesson, Joseph not only revealed his identity to his brothers; but, more importantly, he revealed his forgiveness for their sins against him. Joseph embraced them and kissed them and urged them to bring their father and their families to Goshen, where Joseph provided all the food that the family needed and “gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded” (Gen. 47:11).

Vayigash – he came near

Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27

Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28

New Testament: Luke 15:11-32, John 20:14,25-28, Romans 11, Rev. 12:1-6

The story of Joseph and his brothers will come to a dramatic climax this week as Joseph, at last, reveals his identity.   Last week, the brothers went to Egypt to buy grain and there encountered the brother they had sold and thrown into a pit, though his Hebrew character was concealed by his highly Egyptian appearance.

Miketz – at the end

Torah Portion: Genesis 41:1-44:17

Haftarah: Zech. 2:14-4:7 special reading for Sabbath during Hanukah

New Testament: Mat. 12:39, 17:22-23, Mat. 20: 18-19, Luke 10:2, 11:30, 13:32,

We ended abruptly last week with Joseph in prison, the cupbearer having forgotten all about him, and the sages commenting that God added two more years to his time in jail because he looked to the cupbearer for help instead of continuing to trust in God. But, perhaps, instead, circumstances were not yet ripe for Joseph’s reappearance. In this week’s lesson everything will suddenly and completely change.