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?

Vayetse [and he departed] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10 through Genesis 32:3
Haftarah: Hosea 12:13 through Hosea 14:10
New Testament: Mat 21:42, Mat 27:57 through Mat 28:6, Luke 1:33, John 1:45-51

Last week, in Toldot, after falling into Rebekah’s snare, Jacob was forced to flee for his life from his brother, Esau.  Before sending him away, Isaac granted the blessing intended for Jacob all along.

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?

 

What Does the Bible Say About Keeping the Commandments?

The following is an exhaustive list of verses containing the word “commandments” obtained by my use of E-Sword, a free Bible software program available on the Internet, and The Blue Letter Bible Online, a web site that provides extensive Bible study materials at no charge. Programs like these are invaluable for examining the whole counsel of God in regard to specific subjects. When I began to examine the “sum of Thy word,” which, according to the psalmist, is “truth,” my perspective of the Scriptures, and what is expected of believers, drastically changed, as did my walk with the LORD. It is my prayer that this article will prompt much thought and searching that we might say, as did Peter and the apostles, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts. 5:29)

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).

Ki Tavo – When You Come

Torah Portion: Deut. 26:1-29:8
Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9
New Testament: Matthew chapter 13

This week, during the Hebrew month of Elul, when “the King is in the field,” that is, He is nearer to us than any other month, listening to the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart, we are studying the 50th Torah portion of the year. Ki Tavo means “when you come,” referring to the day when Joshua will lead the children of Israel across the Jordan to take possession of Canaan.  

Ki Tetze – When You Go Out

Torah Portion: Deut 21:10-25:19 August 6, 2014
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:10 (suggest beginning at 52:13)
New Testament: Mark 10:2-12, Luke 15: 11-20:27-38

Last week’s parsha was Shoftim, or “Judges.” This week Abba’s instructions to the judges continues. One of the laws most often brought up by people who claim the Torah has been done away with or nailed to the cross is in this week’s lesson, the law of the rebellious son.