LIGHT OF MENORAH

As we enter our "journey" studying the details of the Mishkan KaKodesh Yahvay, the Holy Dwelling of the LORD,  known as the Tabernacle, we find just reading the details is not inspiring or exciting reading.  All this detail, however, must have its purpose.  We again recall Jesus' words ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (Joh 5:39) So for us, as aspiring disciples of Adonai Yeshua, would conclude these chapters related to the Holy Dwelling Place of the Lord will testify of Jesus.  Just like He said.   Thus, we need to pay attention to the words carefully and get help.  We need access to excellent and credible Christian Bible scholars or Messianic Jewish Bible scholars to help us "see" Jesus in these texts.  We need to make sure that what they present is solid and Biblically based and simply not their imagination or opinions of crazy flights of fancy.  For me, I will put the Bible back into its historical context and seek the help of archaeology, geography, history, the customs and the cultures of the ancient Middle East (in the case Egypt), and even the languages of the ancient Middle East to help us see the connections between the specific aspects of the Tabernacle.  I will access key scholars like Dr. John Currid or Dr. Craig Keener and his, "Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible," or such resources as the "Archaeological Study Bible" from either Zondervan or Crossway publishers.  I too want to "see" Jesus but I want to do it in such as way that it makes sense and connects us with the earthly dwelling tent of the Lord and all its rituals to give us a picture so we can be better able to understand the hidden spiritual concepts of the Lord and His redemption plan. I mentioned several links I would provide.  The first is a very special video podcast I did entitled, "The Chiasm of the Light."  It is a Bible study of a concept called CHIASMS.  It is a literary structure used again and again in the Bible.  It is amazing that this literary structure seems to be used by God to show us absolutely that from Genesis 1:1 (the 1st verse in the Bible) to Revelation 22:21 (the last verse in the Bible), that it is all about Yeshua HaMaschiack, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  Tis implies as we read on into Exodus and the details the Lord provides on His Holy Dwelling Tent, then we are trusting these verses will testify of Jesus as He said, as God said, in John 5:39.  Check it out. Link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-18-the-chiasm-of-the-light/ Another fun resource is from the website "Free Bible Images."  This link will provide you with amazing pictures of the Ark of the Covenant of the Dwelling Tent of Adonai (the Tabernacle).  I will be using this link again and again as we focus our study on a specific item in God's Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Dwelling of the Lord.    Link (pictures - look for with box on the upper right that says VIDEO LINK to also access an awesome video)) - https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/bs-tabernacle-ark-covenant/ I study and rely on professional archaeological journals.  One is "Bible and Spade," a publication from the Christian archaeological group called,"Associates for Bible Research."  The second is the journal called, "Biblical Archaeology Review," from "The Biblical Archaeology Society."  If you are serious about Bible study, if you are serious about getting the best resources available to help you go deeper, these two journals are a must.  A few pastors who have attended my classes now subscribe and have told me it has changed their sermon prep immensely.  In this podcast I access an awesome article from "Biblical Archaeology Review" addressing the Ark of the Covenant.  It is clear tha archaeology shows us that the Lord told Moses of specific things Moses was familiar with in Egypt to use as a model or a pattern for what the Lord wanted in the Beit HaMikdash, His Holy Dwelling.  In this way the people, the Hebrews would be able to easily make the connection as to God's purposes since they are seeing things that resemble things they saw in their 400 some years in Egypt.  Here's the link to the article. Link - https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/artifacts-and-the-bible/ark-of-the-covenant-in-egyptian-context/ In this podcast we dealt with CANOPIC JARS.  The jars contained specific body organs of a pharaoh that are removed from the pharaoh's body before mummification.  These organs are put in the canopic jars and are buried with the pharaoh in his tomb.  Below is a picture of canopic jars I bought in Egypt on one of my several study and research trips.    Many of us are familiar with King Tut.  His actual name is Too-tank-ham-moon.  Canopic jars were found in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings across from Luxor Egypt.  His jars were put in a special box, a special "ark" if you will, called the chest of Annubis.  This was found in King Tut's tomb along with the canopic jars.   Annubis is the Egyptian god of the underworld.  Annubis is to guard the four body organs of the deceased, the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines as they are removed from the body of the deceased so the body can be mummified or preserved to meet with the gods after death.  Supposedly then the four organs, the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines will be replaced into the body when the body is resurrected to live forever with the gods.   The Hebrews in the days of Exodus would have known this.  They would have understood the special nature of this box, the chest of Annubis. Here is a link to an awesome video about Canopic Jars.  It is made for kids but, for me, it is done so well I think you'll enjoy this wonderful scholarly video about these jars and the ancient Egyptian culture. Link to video - https://www.historyforkids.net/canopic-jars.html  So archaeology and history gives us added insight into what those Hebrews coming out of Egypt probably understood.  Yahvay, the Lord, God, wanted to give them something concrete, something they knew and understood, something physical that they could then be able to begin to grasp the Spiritual concepts of what God is teaching or things in the heavens.  God does not need box like the Ark of the Covenant.  He dies not need a tent or a Holy Dwelling Place where He is beyond the heavens and the earth.  But, His people need them.  Moses neds them.  We need them.  We'll see in this lesson the Spiritual aspects of God wanting to "camp out" with His people.  He needed a "TENT," that we call a tabernacle, to give His people a concrete object to grasp that the Lord was with them.  And, Yahvay used it again in John 1:14 in that He came to "camp out" with us again in His human tent.   God creates physical things for us to picture those difficult Spiritual concepts or things that are in heaven, or the places above.  He did this right from the get go in His Torah in the first verse of Genesis.  If you haven't studied these podcast Bible study lessons now is the time before you go on in these chapters on the "Beit HaMikdash" (בית המקדש), the Holy Dwelling Place.  Here's the links to these awesome lessons ... LINKS TO GENESIS LSS5 – CHOAS TO ORDER – PART 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genesis-5-part-1-gen-11-2-god-creates-the-heavens-and-the-earth/ PART 2 – video - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genesis-5-special-gen-11-2-polemic-theology-from-chaos-to-order/ Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?  Ferret someplace near the Jordan River What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Today is Shavuot (Pentecost) ... by God's own word in Acts 1:8 this feast is the Power Feast of the Lord. Jesus did not say to stay in Jerusalem till you receive tongues ... Jesus did not say to stay in Jerusalem till you receive spiritual gifts ... NO!! He said stay till the Holy Spirit comes to give us POWER to go and bring HIM to the ends of the earth.

Shavuot - Episode 7 Let's consider those amazing connections between what happened at Sinai and during Pentecost shortly after Jesus' ascension.  These amazing connections are pictures to us today of God's amazing power to bring us to a deeper and more enhanced understanding that the feasts of the Lord, all eight of them, are shadows of the Messiah.  Consider … Both events occurred on mountains known as "the mountain of God." Exo 24:13 So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. (Ex. 24:13; Isa. 2:3).  The mountain of God in the Sinai when the Lord gives the Ten Commandments. But, the mountain of God moves.  The Lord changes its location.  Consider what we read in the book of Isaiah, “And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.' For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”  (Isa 2:3 ) Or in the book of Joel we read, “Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy, And strangers will pass through it no more.” (Joe 3:17) Then again in the book of Micah, “And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths.' For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Mic 4:1-2) Both events happened on day 50. They arrived at Sinai in the third month on the very day (Ex. 19:1). “In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.” (Ex. 19:1) In Hebrew “on that very day” means they arrived on the third day of the third month exactly 50 days after their first Passover meal in Egypt. The feast of Shavuot is to happen on the 50th day after the weekly sabbath during Passover and Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:15-16). Both involved similar sounds and symbols, such as wind, fire, and voices (Ex. 19:16-19; Acts 2:1-3). Note that the Hebrew for "thunder" (kolot) means "voices" (Acts 2:4). Jewish tradition said that the Israelites heard God speak in 70 languages or, to translate direct from the Hebrew, God spoke in tongues! Both events involved the presence of God (Ex. 19:18,20; Acts 2:4). About 3,000 people died because of their sin when Moses received the Torah (Ex. 32:28). About 3,000 people believed (were born again into new life) when the Spirit came (Acts 2:41). At Mount Sinai, God wrote his revelation on stone tablets (Ex. 31:18). On the fulfillment of Pentecost, God wrote his law on people's hearts as he had promised He would (2 Cor. 3:3; Jer. 31:33). Torah means "teaching." The Spirit, given on Shavuot, also became the "Teacher" of the new community of Jesus' followers (John 14:26) Many Jews from all over the world heard in their own language from a bunch of kids, young men and women, who only knew Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew.  These 120 disciples of Yeshua received "power" and spoke in other language they didn't know or understand.   All the people, probably hundreds of thousands at the Temple on Shavuot, heard the Gospel!! Peter did a short five minute speech and 3000 wanted to be baptized.  It was as if it was SINAI REPEATED!! This is part of what Jesus meant when He said they'd receive “power.” Both events were times when God's people entered a NEW covenant with the Lord. Israel became a new nation, a nation of priests, and nation that would be the light of the world (Ex. 19:6, Isa. 49:6). And, for us, we have entered a NEW covenant with the Lord as we take the cup of Messiah in His Last Seder meal (Luke 22:20). We too become a new people, a new nation, a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9-10). We to are to be the light of the world (Mat.5:14, Acts 1:7-8).  But, this time, this covenant is the covenant to restore all people to Himself as our sins our totally cleansed and forgiven. This is the final covenant for Jew and Gentile to become one flock with one shepherd, the Good Shepherd, the Messiah Jesus (John 10:14-16). The Shadow of Messiah. On Shavuot there is a special sacrifice. Amazingly it uses two loaves of LEAVENED BREAD (Lev. 23:17). Is God giving us a picture that Jew and Gentile are a new people, a new culture, a holy nation, His two flocks coming together as ONE permeated and saturated with His Holy Spirit dwelling in us and through us?  Is God helping us see that His Bible is ONE book, about ONE God, about ONE Gospel, ONE Baptism, and ONE Savor of all – Yeshua!

Shavuot – Episode 4 In the previous episode we established the real possibility that the Hebrews arrived on the 3rd day of the 3rd month.   If this is the case then it seems as if יהוה Yahvay, the Lord, God, lead His people to His mountain to receive a new covenant at His mountain, Mt. Sinai, 50 days after Passover, after the first day of Unleavened Bread.  The Hebrews enter a new covenant relationship with the Lord.  This is an amazing event in that a new nation is born, a chosen people, and it's like a new beginning, a new start.  It reminds me of the Year of Jubilee - every 50 years it is the year of Jubilee. The Year of the Jubilee involved a year of release from indebtedness (Leviticus 25:23-38) and all types of bondage (vv. 39-55). All prisoners and captives were set free, all slaves were released, all debts were forgiven, and all property was returned to its original owners. (Like a new start) In addition, all labor was to cease for one year, and those bound by labor contracts were released from them. One of the benefits of the Jubilee was that both the land and the people were able to rest. (Accessed at https://www.gotquestions.org/Jubilee.html July 25,2022)  In this session we will see the awesome connection this has to the feast of Shavuot (Weeks) or Pentecost in Jesus' day.  Jesus rose from the dead on a Biblical feast, the feast of first fruits, the Sunday after Passover.  Then 50 days later the 120 disciples received the Holy Spirit and these 120 as the "light to the nations" spoke in tongues of the Salvation of the Lord, the "Yeshua" of יהוה Yahvay.  It was the New Covenant of the Lord at the mountain of the Lord, Jerusalem.   Peter became so inspired, he does a short sermon in Acts 2 and as a result 3000 were baptized on the 50th day, Shavuot or Pentecost.  Did he received the promised power to be the witness to the nations?  You better believe it.  So, the number 50 even takes on even more significance.  Now it seems to be related to the days of Messiah and the coming of the רוח הקודש Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit.   The Jubilee presents a beautiful picture of the New Testament themes of redemption and forgiveness. Christ is the Redeemer who came to set free those who are slaves and prisoners to sin (Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:1; 3:22). The debt of sin we owe to God was paid on the cross as Jesus died on our behalf (Colossians 2:13-14), and we are forgiven the debt forever. We are no longer in bondage, no longer slaves to sin, having been freed by Christ, and we can truly enter the rest God provides as we cease laboring to make ourselves acceptable to God by our own works (Hebrews 4:9-10). (Accessed at https://www.gotquestions.org/Jubilee.html July 25,2022)  God has clearly done something on purpose.  He has connected the New Covenant at His mountain, Mt. Sinai, to the New Covenant at His mountain, Jerusalem.  The giving of the Ten Commandments is intimately connected to Pentecost or Shavuot.   I taught this is a class.  Here's a link to the chapter from my class book.  If you need the bibliography email me and I will get it to you.  Link to the article from Light of Menorah on Shavuot - https://www.dropbox.com/s/2rs9dwl481eb9s1/Chapter%204%20-%20The%20Spring%20Feasts%20-%20the%20End%20of%20the%20Beginning.pdf?dl=0 Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  Ferret - someplace just north of Eilat, Israel in the Wilderness What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0    

Shavuot - Episode 3 They made it.  The Hebrews led by Moses by the hand of Yahvay, the Lord, finally arrive at the Mountain of God.  Here they will receive the Ten Commandments which the Lord says is His Covenant as we read … Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Exo 34:27-28) Israel comes to the Mountain of God in the Sinai and there they will enter a New Covenant - nothing like this ever happened before – and become a chosen people, a holy nation, and nation of priests.  But, wait a minute, that sounds so familiar.  It reminds us of Jesus and His lifting up His cup at His Last Supper – the cup of the New Covenant.  This happens in Jerusalem.  There's more.  It so happens that the Mountain of God was Mt. Sinai as can be found in Exod. 3:1 and 3:12 and 19:1-3.  We got this.  No problem.  But then we see that God moves His mountain to a new location.  Just consider a few proof texts … Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa 2:2-3) "I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. "Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. (Isa 66:19-20) And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Mic 4:1-2) He moved His mountain.  It is now the Temple Mount in Jerusalem also known as Mt. Zion.  (The term Mount Zion has been used in the Hebrew Bible first for the City of David (2 Samuel 5:7, 1 Chronicles 11:5; 1 Kings 8:1, 2 Chronicles 5:2) and later for the Temple Mount, but its meaning has shifted and it is now used as the name of ancient Jerusalem's Western Hill) And, this is where the New Covenant of God is given through Yeshua HaMashiach, Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  On top of that we read the following … But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Pe 2:9) Wow.  What an amazing connection between the New Covenant at the Mountain of God Mt. Sinai and the New Covenant at the Mountain of God Mt. Zion - a Biblical name for the Temple Mount.  God is connecting these covenants.  He is not replacing the latter with the former.  They are intimately related and you can not have on New Covenant without the other.  Is there more?  You won't believe it.  This is another awesome chapter in Torah that meets the goals of this podcast series.  Here are those goals.   So come and join us in this study.  This is another awesome example that there is ONE book, ONE Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, ONE God, ONE Lord, with ONE goal, Jesus!  Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?  Ferret teaching on the Baja Mexico What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background ... - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0      

This lesson is a prime example of the difficulty with taking the commentary from the rabbis on the Torah as the truth.  In this study the rabbis comment on these verses ... The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac." The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. (Gen 21:8-11) The rabbis conclude from these verses that Ishmael, he is now 14 years old, was doing evil to his baby brother.  The rabbis say that Sarah and Abraham saw this and knew that Ishmael had turned into a evil young man.  These conclusions are so far from the historical context and the ancient culture of that time.  It is clear the rabbis, whose commentary we read from the Middle Ages, are making up their own ideas and Christians get the impression they have to be right since it is the rabbis.  WRONG!   We will go back to Abraham's time and we will consider the culture of that day.  We will focus on the laws of those days like the Code of Lipit-Ishtar.  This law code (see the picture below of the code from Wikimedia) was in force in ancient Babylon of the area of the Chaldees.  This is where Abraham came from.  This is the law he is familiar with.  When we study this law and what it says about the first born of a concubine (like Hagar) and the first born of the real wife (Sarah), we see some amazing facts.  The laws of Lipit-Ishtar show that Ishmael, even though he was not the son from Abraham and Sarah, nevertheless was the real first born.  This means that Ishmael was the direct heir of Abraham as per the laws from the Chaldees where Abraham came from.  On top of that the English translation that says Ishmael was "mocking" his baby brother has another alternative meaning.  The Hebrew can also mean to play or have fun with in a good way.  It seems that Ishmael may have been playing nicely with his baby brother, Isaac, and Sarah saw that Ishmael was cementing his place in the family.  She just couldn't have this.  Isaac was her son.  She was the wife and not Hagar, the pagan Egyptian.  Hagar and Ishmael had to go.  Sarah could not have Ishmael be the heir - Isaac was the heir as the Lord promised.  But how?  This is where the laws come in.  John Currid in his Torah commentary "A Study Commentary: Genesis Vol.1" helps us with understanding the law and how it probably was applied to this situation.  See the picture below from his commentary. When one studies this it gives a whole new idea behind these events.  Abraham, the one man chosen by God to be the one whom all nations would be blessed, probably set Hagar and Ishmael free so that Isaac would have the legal right of the first born as per the law so Isaac would be the heir.  This makes so much more sense and provides a more realistic understanding in light of the culture in the 19th and 20th centuries B.C. But there is something else.  For Christians one verse that is probably a favorite verse is ... "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (Joh 3:16) Jesus said this when there was NO New Testament. Jesus was only teaching the Bible, His Bible, the Hebrew Scriptures or what Christians call the Old Testament.  John 3:16 is nothing new, it was not some new teaching but what is in the Hebrew Bible.  Consider some verses. The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked. (Psa 146:9) The Hebrew of the highlighted phrase is that יהוה‎ Yahvay (when you see the word LORD all in caps it is translating יהוה‎ Yahvay) the LORD is the SHAMAR of the GOYEEM.  יהוה שׁמר את גרים                   GOYEEM  ET  SHAMAR  YAHVAY This means He is the Keeper of even Gentiles - with no qualifications.  The LORD is the Keeper of all people, the Hebrews and all non-Hebrews, the GOYEEM, the Gentiles, whether pagan or not.  Keeper is the Hebrew word SHAMAR שׁמר which means the LORD acting as a guard, a protector, like a good a father or a good a shepherd.   Then we read these verses ... "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." (Lev 19:18) "The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God." (Lev 19:34) So we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  And, the next verse we are to love the stranger (Hebrew word is GOYEEM or any Gentile, pagan or not) as ourselves.  But combining the statements this means all non-Hebrews, pagan or not, are our brothers since we are to love the GOYEEM as ourselves; we are love them just as we love our brothers!!  This is John 3:16.  God loves Hagar.  God loved Ishmael.  He was their SHAMAR שׁמר - their keeper, their guard.  On top of that God loved all those HE sent to their death in the Great Flood.  He was not angry with the human race; HE was sad.  You can read it for yourself. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  (Gen 6:5-6) When Jesus taught us John 3:16 HE was only teach Torah!  HE was only telling us from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, what God is really like.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  Ferret teaching in an ancient theater in Turkey What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

THE WAYPOINT OF OUR JOURNEY If you are a hiker like me there are times you are hiking on a trail and come across something special.  It might be a great look out on a high hill or a beautiful pond or a rock structure that has a unique shape.  It might be so cool you want to remember it, you want to make it a WAYPOINT.  If you do a search on the internet you might come up with the following description generated by AI of a WAYPOINT ... In the context of hiking, a waypoint is a specific point of interest that you can mark on a map or in your GPS device, often used to track progress and navigate trails. These can be anything from a landmark to a campsite, water source, or a turning point.  This podcast Bible study on Exod. 25:1-8 is a WAYPOINT for our journey through Exodus.  It is a significant and critical set of verses that mark the rest of the "trail" to be of major importance.  Because now יהוה‎ Yahvay, the LORD, works with Moses to give him the details to make יהוה‎ Yahvay a TABERNACLE and the LORD with thus dwell among His people.   Image - permission to use - FreeBibleImages.org   We're going to find however, that the word TABERNACLE is not Hebrew nor Greek nor English.  It's Latin.  What is a Latin word doing here? So what does this word mean and why does it "hide" a more awesome way of looking at God's dwelling place?   And we will also find that "dwell" is not a good translation from the Hebrew in the phrase in Exod. 25:8 that יהוה‎ Yahvay will dwell among His people..  In the Hebrew it means something that we don't see - it means more than dwell - and when we see it this provides an expanded and enriched understanding of God among us.  On top of that we'll see that these verses testify of Yeshua, our Bridegroom, who came to "dwell" among us and with us and in us (John 14:20).   The Greek word translated as "dwell" in John 1:14 also translates the Hebrew word that is translated as "dwell" in Exod. 25:8.  Does this provide the connection?  What is going on?  You won't believe it!     Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? (John & Robin somewhere in the Middle East) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0        

The links for the two articles related to Easter from the website, "You Got Questions" are below.  Once again even though it has not been proven absolutely, there is a possibility the word Easter comes from the name of a pagan goddess in the early Roman church.  Thus, this possibility means we should consider not using the word Easter a possible name of a pagan goddess of fertility, to name the day Jesus rose from the dead.   Link 1 - the origin of Easter - https://www.gotquestions.org/easter-bunny-eggs.html Link 2 - is Easter pagan? - https://www.gotquestions.org/Easter-pagan-holiday.html I also mentioned the awesome teaching from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn entitled, "The Easter Bunny Heresy."  This is an great lesson that for me cemented my resolve never to use the word Easter again as it relates to the Resurrection of the Lord. Link to the video - https://youtu.be/be7F4xVOKDQ?si=Dmj9becTjTU8O0zC While we are returning to the regular schedule I am now republishing the Bible study series, "Fie Small Stones."  These are five minute Bible study videos.  The first one is now out.  In case you missed it at the website here's the lin to Episode 1 in the series - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-1-weak-vs-strong-1-cor-127-29/ Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  Rev Ferret in Hierapolis Turkey What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

  A Place Called Gethsemane The Passion Week account of Jesus happens during the annual feast of Passover for the Jews.  This is one of three times that every Jew was required to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.  Jesus being a devout Jew went to the city as well not only for the feast but to complete His awesome mission. Not every Jew in the world could possibly come but it is estimated that 1 to 1.5 million people would be in the city during Passover.  The picture below from the Temple Institute in Israel shows the 1000's entering the city at Passover.  Since Jerusalem was a city of perhaps an estimated population 35,000 to 80,000 depending on the archaeologist, it is clear that the city could not handle such a dramatic increase in population.  Every extra room was rented and those not finding rooms camped out on the hills nearby or they sought lodging in nearby towns like Bethlehem or Bethany.  Many of those who camped out in the hills around Jerusalem would more than likely camp on the beautiful slopes of the surrounding hills like Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem. (Vander Laan 177)       After Jesus and His apostles had completed the Passover Seder meal they went to the Mount of Olives to a place called Gethsemane at the Mount of Olives in an olive grove.  The account can be found in Matt 26:36, Mark 14:32, Luke 22:39 and John 18:1.  The word Gethsemane is the English transliteration of a Greek word which was based on two Hebrew words.  (Picture below from Permaculture Research Institute, is a good idea of what the side of the Mt. of Olives would have looked like in Jesus' day). The first was GAT.  The Hebrew word stands for a press.  The second word is SHEMIN which means oil – like olive oil.  The plural in Hebrew is Sheminim.  Thus, Gat Sheminim means a press for oils and referred to in most cases an olive press.  (Vander Laan 178) Today in Israel one can visit Tel Maresha in the Negev.  At this tel archaeologists found the remains of a perfectly intact olive press.  Olive presses were built in caves close to an olive grove.  The cave itself would have “windows” cut into the walls and an air shaft in the roof.  These “windows” and the airshaft were used to control the airflow and temperature since processing olives required a certain temperature range.  The olives themselves were processed by first smashing them with a millstone to break open the skins.   The smashed olives were then put into special porous bags and crushed under the weight of huge weighted down cypress logs in the main press room.  The olive oil would run down into a basin which had a drain directly into a collection jar below the pile of bags of crushed olive pulp.  The jar of oil would be sealed when filled and made ready to be taken to market.  (Vander Laan 178)  The picture below is of the Gat Sheminim at Tel Maresha Israel courtesy of Israel Travel Inc. Where is this exact location of where Jesus prayed and is there a connection to the Gat Sheminim and the word Gethsemane?  As far as location is concerned, “Christian tradition has always placed Gethsemane on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives – though today the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches hallow different sites.”  (Reader's Digest 186)  Recently, however, archaeologists working at the base of the Mount of Olives made a very interesting discovery.  “A cave nearby was recently identified as containing an ancient olive press.  Early 6th century tradition supports this cave as being Jesus' Gethsemane.” (Vander Laan 179)   Moreover, no archaeological evidence nor evidence from ancient descriptions of the city of Jerusalem and its surroundings as ever found a place called the Garden of Gethsemane.  This name is a modern label attached to an area that tourists would come to experience what the place called Gethsemane in the Bible was like.  “The designation ‘Gethsemane' does not occur outside the gospels.  Even Luke 22:39 omits the name, using the more general description, ‘the Mount of Olives.'”(Flusser 251) What we know for a fact is that the Mount of Olives had an olive grove and near olive groves one will find a Gat Sheminim or an olive press.   One might conjecture the following based upon the fact that in the Jewish culture God taught His people difficult theological truths with the use of pictures – as in the case of the word tekton and 1 Peter 2:4-6.  Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and entered the gat sheminim, or the olive press, to find a secluded place to pray.  He would prefer the seclusion of the press since there were many possible pilgrims camping out on the slopes of the hill for Passover and the press would be located in a quiet cave.  Perhaps Jesus knew the owner and was able to gain private access to the olive press.  Again, all of this is conjecture but it is based on the archaeological evidence that is factual.   In the gat sheminim, or in a location very close, we know that Jesus prayed and was in deep stress and anguish.  In the account found in Luke 22:44 Jesus' sweat was like drops of  blood.  What is intriguing about this picture is a verse found in Isaiah 53:5.  This verse for us Christians says He was crushed for our inequities.  When one makes the connection between the discovery of the olive press and how it was used and these verses it would seem that God is showing us how Jesus was crushed – like an olive crushed by the weight of a huge cypress log with heavy weights attached.  It would seem that God Himself is making use of the archaeological discoveries to open up the world of the Bible to us so that its meaning is enhanced.  Do we know for a fact that Jesus was in the olive press or the Gat Sheminim?  No we do not.  But, these discoveries perhaps are given to us to intensify our understanding of His word and the picture of the gat sheminim can simply be used to help us understand the scope of Jesus' stress and anxiety that horrible night. Works Cited * That the World May Know Set 3 Ray Vander Laan c 1996 Focus on the Family Publishing  Colorado Springs CO * Egypt and Bible History: C. Aling Baker House book Grand Rapids MI c 1981 * “Reader's Digest Atlas of the Bible”, C 1981 Reader's digest, Plesantville, NY * “Jesus”, David Flusser, Magnes Press, Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem, 1998 * Josephus WAR 5:141 * “First Easter: The True and Unfamiliar Story”, Paul L. Maier, Harper and Row, NY 1973. * Archaeology and the Bible: The Best of Biblical Archaeology Review, “The Garden Tomb: Was Jesus Buried Here?”, Gabriel Barkay, Vol. II, Archaeology in the World of Herod, Jesus and Paul.    Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? (John & Robin somewhere in the Middle East) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0      

Here's the schedule of Bible study podcasts (audio and video) coming soon.  One lesson per day starting on April 12th through April 20, Resurrection Sunday.  Remember.  Consider downloading the lessons.  You can find the download button at the end of each podcast before you actually hit the play button.   LESSON 1 APRIL 12 Did the Triumphal Entry of Jesus happen on a Sunday?  Could it have been a Monday? Does the TORAH hint at this event?  What year did this happen, 33 A.D. (traditional man made date) or 30 A.D.?  LESSON 2 APRIL 13 The TORAH in Exodus 12 commands fathers on a precise day of the month to find the perfect male lamb that would be sacrificed by each father on 4 days later.  Jews then in Jesus' day know this.  Is there some connection to “Palm Sunday” and this Torah law? LESSON 3 APRIL 14 The first Passover meal occurred in Egypt in 1446 B.C.  It seems the Lord used the Passover meal and certain key elements as a polemic against the gods of Egypt.  Once we get it, it has huge applications for us in the pagan culture we live in today. LESSON 4 APRIL 15 Some argue that Jesus' Last Supper was a Passover Seder.  Some say the Last Supper had no connection to a Seder.  But Jesus' Last Supper was the night before the evening when the Hebrews were to have the Passover meal.  On top of that Jewish sources shows unequivocally shows there was NO Seder in Jesus' day.  There was a Passover meal but not a Seder.   LESSON 5 APRIL 16 God comes to us and provides the WAY back to Himself via the Cross and the Lamb of God. As Paul teaches without the Resurrection all is meaningless.  So, this was the plan of the Lord from ages past.  It was now FINISHED.  The beginning was completed.  The Resurrection was the End of the Beginning. LESSON 6 APRIL 17 There is no Bible verse that says that Jesus is the Passover Lamb!  If your Bible says He is the Passover Lamb it is a proven mistranslation.  Jesus is the Lamb, He is the Lamb of God.  There is a significant difference between the Passover Lamb and the Lamb of God.  It is critical that we understand the difference.  It is critical to see that יהוה Yahvay, the Lord, used the 1st Passover as a model for the Passover of Messiah. LESSON 7 APRIL 18 There is no garden of Gethsemane.  No way.  But, there is a Gethsemane.  Gethsemane is a Greek word that comes from the Hebrew.  Wait till you see what a Gethsemane actually is!  LESSON 8 APRIL 19 (three short videos) The Bible says in ENGLISH that יהוה Yahvay, Adonai the LORD, hardened Pharaoh's heart.  Huh?  How can that be?  Did God take away Pharaoh's free will?  The problem is the text in English.  A great credible Jewish scholar, a Hebrew scholar, shows that the LORD did not harden Pharaoh's heart.  The LORD gave Pharaoh one chance after another.  יהוה Yahvay never took away his free will.  Video 1 is 27 minutes and video 2 is 14 minutes and video 3 is 19 minutes.   LESSON 9 APRIL 20 The Passover of Jesus was the End of the Beginning.  The way was open again back to the Father.  Through the Cross our sins can be totally forgiven and our debt to sin paid if we have Jesus as Lord.  But, God connects the Resurrection, the End of the Beginning, to the feast of Shavuot or Pentecost.  We'll see that Shavuot or Pentecost is the Beginning of the End – it is the time of the Wheat Harvest.

Shown below is the Psalms reading schedule for the month.  I also have below that the calendar for the month of Nissan.  We will read the Psalms for the month of Nissan. Also, here's some info from Hebrew4Christians.  It describes the typical Biblical day and week and month. Just as an fyi though, the Hebrew month is both Lunar and Solar. (Accessible from www.Hebrew4Christians.com under Holidays) Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0                  

In this podcast Bible study we are on Exodus 24.  This chapter in Exodus is not filled with amazing events or miracles.  It is not a chapter that is necessarily memorable like chapter 20 and the giving of the Ten Commandments or like Exodus 40 when God actually came down the first time to dwell among His people in the Tabernacle.  But, Exodus 24 is amazing in its own right.  For example there are two verses that challenge us right from the “get go” and seem to provide contradictions to the Bible.  They are … and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank. (Exo 24:10-11) They saw God?  Huh?  This is impossible.  God says … But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" (Exo 33:20) Or what about these two verses written by the disciple John … No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (Joh 1:18) No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. (1Jn 4:12) So in Exodus 24 the word says that they saw God but by God's own words this can't be along with the words in John's Gospel and in his letter of 1st John.  So, what is going on?  How can this be?  In this lesson we will again consider the Hebrew of Exod. 24:10-11.  We will find that there are two separate words that are translated as “they saw.”  Taken together and the fact that Hebrew words have no definitions like English words, the result is they did NOT SEE God.  What they experienced as a VISION.  The Hebrew is exact and precise.  We will get into this in detail in the lesson. These verses in Exodus 24 are a clear example that simple Bible reading does not make us “BIBLE LITERATE.”  I have heard one pastor say to me that he urges his congregation to read the Bible using the schedule of reading the Bible in a year.  You can find this as this link - https://bibleinayearonline.com/  This pastor's goal was to help his congregation become Bible literate.  In his church there are no Bible studies.  The only teaching is just the pastor's sermon on Sunday for 40 minutes or so.  The problem is just reading the Bible once or twice completely and listening to a sermon once a week does NOT make one Bible literate.  As one trusted scholarly source has commented … Knowing how to study the Bible is important, because determining the meaning of Scripture is one of the most important tasks a believer has in this life. God does not tell us that we must simply read the Bible. We must study it and handle it correctly (2 Timothy 2:15). (From GOTQUESTIONS.org link https://www.gotquestions.org/study-the-Bible.html) The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. (From GOTQUESTIONS.org link https://www.gotquestions.org/why-read-Bible.html) So the real definition of BIBLE LITERACY is … (numbers relate to the links o the references below) Biblical literacy refers to a person's ability to understand and apply the Bible, including its overarching story, key characters, events, themes, and literary elements. It's about comprehending the Bible's message and how it relates to one's life and faith. [1, 2, 5, 6] Beyond the basics: It also involves understanding the different literary genres and forms within the Bible, such as poetry, prophecy, and history, and how they contribute to the overall narrative. [3, 7] Examples: The Bible Literacy Project provides a course that uses a textbook, "The Bible and Its Influence," to teach the Bible narrative and its impact on history, literature, art, and culture. [8] Current trends: The Church of God International reports a decline in Bible reading engagement in the United States, with statistics showing a drop from 50% in 2011 to 38% in 2024. [9] [1] https://www.logos.com/grow/biblical-literacy/ [2] 

WHITE AND RED AND BLACK AND GREEN THE FLAGS OF THE BEAST REV. 6:1-8 HAVE THE HORSES ARRIVED   (Image above is public domain - accessible at Wikimedia) (NOTE - to watch the video click on the white arrow above in the orange circle on the left) There is an amazing connection between the Four Horses of the Apocalypse and the nations coming against Israel.  This video podcast delves into this connection.  It is recommended that you also check into the video Bible podcast on the Jewish feast of Purim entitled, "Purim: Not By Chance But By Design."  It also shows an amazing connection of Purim and to the enemies of Israel and to the color of the End Times - the color RED or in Hebrew Edom אֱדוׄם. Link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-15-vidcast-purim-not-by-chance-but-by-design/?token=bde2fde2d0c848fcba88d12d1f3354df    Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?  What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

  Moses is still in an intense conversation with the awesome God of the universe at the burning bush.  Moses learned of His name - he was the first human to encounter the Lord and be given His name.  But, the Lord tells Moses that He picked Moses to go up against Pharaoh to get Pharaoh to let God's people go; the give freedom to Israel.  Moses starts objecting.  Wouldn't you?  He is to return to Egypt.  Yes, the Lord said He'd go with him.  But, don't forget Moses killed an Egyptian and he faces death if he returns for this act.  But, on top of that this shepherd, this lowly man of the wilderness, is to go up against the most powerful king of the most powerful nation on earth at the time, and convince Pharaoh on letting the Hebrews go.  Moses knows this is futile.  He wants out.  Moses is thinking what is the matter with this God?  There is NO WAY Moses wants any part of this.  In this lesson we hear Moses' first two objections of five as he continues his intense dialogue with יהוה‎ Yahvay אֱלֹהִים‎ Eloheem, the LORD God.  Come join us as we continue as we have a front row seat to this amazing meeting at the bush that didn't burn.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

  “The Angel of the Lord”  - there are 52 occurrences of the phrase "the angel of the Lord" in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament.  You can see the verses starting in Genesis to Exodus 3 below.  Also, check out the links to two previous Bible studies that dealt with the Angel of the Lord.  Link – Gen. 15-16 – How to See God and Not Die - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-genesis-gen-15-16/ Link – Exod. 3 – Who is that in the Burning Bush? - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-exodus-lesson-7-part-1-xod-31-8-the-angel-of-the-lord/ Below are the verses with the phrase THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. Gen_16:7  Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. Gen_16:9  Then the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority." Gen_16:10  Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count." Gen_16:11  The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. Gen_22:11  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Gen_22:15  Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, Gen_24:7  "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. Exo_3:2  The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. Who is the Angel of the Lord?  What is it?  What do the rabbis say?  Some Christian scholars say it is Jesus!  However, they never ever give backup to support their view that it is Jesus.  They just say it.  This is so frustrating.  How can that be if one studies and asks the question what does the Bible say?  The question is does the Bible hint at the fact that the angel is Jesus?  If so this would be related to John 5:39 and Jesus teaching us that scripture testifies of Him.  How?  How does the Bible hint that the Angel of the Lord is a manifestation of Yeshua?   In this podcast we will get at this in detail. Once again we need to BRING OUR BRAIN to the Bible.  We all agree this is the inspired word of God.  In short we say the Bible is God's word.  If so and God never said the angel of the Lord is Jesus, then how do some of our Christian scholars say it is Jesus?  It is dangerous to put words in the Bible that are not there.  I would rather it be taught with words like "is it possible" that the angel of the Lord might be a manifestation of Jesus.  Perhaps some Bible verses suggest this might be true.  But there are many that seem to say they know the answer and it is their way or the highway.  Not a good way to teach God's word. An excellent article on this topic can be found at this link.  Link - https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/who-is-the-angel-of-the-lord.html I mentioned Rabbi Jonathan Cahn's book entitled, “The Return of the Gods.”  This is a must read to see what is happening in our day.  To know it is to understand a mystery – the mystery is that Yahvay, the Lord, God, is helping us SEE the return of the gods from ancient days.  The book is an awesome study that shows us the evil in our day was the evil in the ancient Middle East under the pagan nations and their gods which are only demons.  Here's the link - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+return+of+the+gods+jonathan&hvadid=701821827340&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019560&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14598189095742890310&hvtargid=kwd-2314157865763&hydadcr=8292_13544362&mcid=c8af577108d6391eb2f402d3d4271cae&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_4wmyc557fa_e Another interesting topic studied in this lesson is what is are boundaries of the Promised Land.   What did God say regarding the borders of the land He promised to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all Israel?  Check out the list of Bible verses at the link below.  It is a very comprehensive list that will give you a good understanding of the borders of the Promised Land. It goes way beyond the current borders of Israel today. LINK – Open Bible – the exact boundaries of the land - https://www.openbible.info/topics/promised_land_boundaries Below is a free download of what is likely the actual Promised Land as outlined in the Bible by the ord.  You'll notice it encompasses much more than the present land of Israel. Yahvay, the Lord, God, will bring back His people.  He'll do it in the true RAPTURE – the Jewish Rapture.  Check out the video series entitled “The Rapture Restored” –   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDIjNNTBWSQ_23MIODTFzknn It is known as the Day of the Lord when He gathers His people to the land.  Check out the verses below.  Gen 15:18  On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: Gen 35:12  "The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, And I will give the land to your descendants after you." Gen 26:3  "Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. Deu_11:24  "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours; your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea. Jos 1:3  "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. Jos 1:4  "From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. Jeremiah 16:15: "For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers." Isaiah 11:11: "He will raise a banner for the nations and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." Ezekiel 37:21: "Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land.'" Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8dy5sa2s&dl=0

SPECIAL LESSON In lesson 33 we will turn from our focus on the Torah and the book of Genesis to consider the answer to the question, “Why Do This?”  Why should we study the Bible in this manner?  Why should be put the Bible in its historical context and strive to hear the Bible on its own terms; that is, to hear the Bible as to what it says and what it does not say?    Since I returned from my first study tour to the Middle East in Israel years ago and continuing in my learning since those days, I have found that most lessons I hear from Christians are devoid of the historical context of the Bible.  I have found that most teach with no concept of how important it is to understand the word of God as the “first hearers” did.  A classic example is the picture of Jesus with the sharp two edged sword in Pergamum in Revelation 2.  No one ever has ever taught how the sharp two edged sword and Pergamum are related.  No one ever in teachings I heard makes the connection.  Why?  Since Pergamum was a center of the worship of the emperor of Rome, we learn that Caesar had the right of the sword; in Latin “ius gladii.” This means that he and his designates had the power of life and death; by his word a person could be immediately executed. This is why Jesus was brought before Pilate. In Greek this is called the right of the “rhomphaia” – this is the exact word found in Rev. 2:12!  Bible historians suggest that Jesus who has the sharp two-edged-sword or “rhomphaia” is in direct confrontation with the emperor. It is not Caesar who has the power over life and death, it is not a man who has absolute power over all. It is Jesus. Only Jesus has the power of the sword, the power of the “rhomphaia.” Amazingly, Jesus is writing this to the only city of the seven that is the center of imperial worship of the emperor. If you are an early believer in Pergamum, you get it, loud and clear!! (Note: the sharp two-edged sword Jesus had was not the word of God as in Eph. 6:17. The Greek word used there is “machaira” or a dagger or short sword. That is our sword – God's word.  No way do we get the sword of the King of Kings!) However, there is more. For at least the first 100 years of the “church” the only Bible they had was the Hebrew Scriptures commonly known as the Old Testament. Moreover, a majority of the early church were Messianic Jewish people who knew the Torah, the 1st five books of the Bible, as God's direct instruction (not law) for His chosen people. In the Torah we read … “See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand. Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say, as I live forever, If I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, And I will repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.” (Deu 32:39-42) A Messianic Jew in Pergamum would easily associate this verse with Rev. 2:12. Jesus had the sharp two-edged sword. Only He has the power of life and death. That is why murder is forbidden in the Ten Commandments. Thus, Deut. 32:39-42 and Rev. 2:12 proclaim Jesus as God, the God of the Bible, the one true God, God alone. When does Jesus ever say that He is God?? All the time!! But, He does it in the cultural context of the times. The Bible was written to them, those who first hear it, and not to us.  As my first teacher said that we must understand the who and the what and the where of the Bible event to understand the why.  This was Ray Vander Laan and I highly recommend you to connect with his ministry, “That the World May Know,” and to start purchasing his DVD's of Bible lessons in their historical context filmed on site in the Middle East.  Here's a link to his website.  Link - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/ I urge you to check out his free articles and audio lessons.  Click on LEARN at the homepage of "That the World May Know." In this podcast I brought up a story of a 12 year old boy who asked me if Jesus dwells in us.  Certainly the Spirit dwells in us; that is exactly what the Bible says (1 Cor 3:16 and 1 Cor 6:19).  But in one section of the Bible Jesus teaches us something totally amazing.  Check it out ... "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  (Joh 14:10-20) In these verses we see that the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father and we are in Jesus and Jesus is in us and thus the Father is in us since the Father is in Jesus.  On top of that the Holy Spirit will be given to us by the Father and the Holy Spirit will dwell in us as well!!  WOW!! All three in us at the same time.  So who dwells in you?  Just the Spirit?  Just Jesus?  Only the Father?  No.  Who dwells in you? God!  It's bigger than we thought.   So come and join me.  Let us consider the importance of hearing the Bible on its own terms.  Let us consider bringing our brain to the Bible and use our minds and intelligence that God gave us to come to know Him in a deeper and more passionate way so that the fire in us will begin to burn out of control and we will not be able to keep our mouths shut anymore. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In this lesson I mentioned articles available at the excellent scholarly Christian teaching website, “GotQuestions.org.”  The first (see link below) is comments and thoughts on the Lord's command to His people not to mention other false gods nor even use their names.  The article provides some interesting thoughts and ideas that will only add to your study of the Bible in this podcast. The 2nd article is related to the Canaanites.  Who are they?  What is so important regarding these pagan tribes who inhabited the “Promised Land” the Lord was to give to Israel.  Link 1 - NOT MENTION OTHER GODS https://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-other-gods.html Link 2 – WHO ARE THE CANAANITES https://www.gotquestions.org/Canaanites.html I would recommend the following historical article as well related to the Canaanites - CANAANITE CULTURE - https://biblechat.ai/knowledgebase/old-testament/pentateuch/what-were-religious-practices-beliefs-canaanites/ For the first time in the Bible in Exodus 23 the Lord, יהוה Yahvay, commands the Hebrews that they will do three celebrations only to HIM.  They are similar to the feasts practiced among the pagan Canaanites in the “Promised Land.”  We know them as the Feast of Unleavened Bread also known as Passover, the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot or Pentecost, and the Feast of Tents or Tabernacles in Hebrew as Sukkot.  These are three harvest celebrations in the spring, the early summer, and the fall.   At this time we will not go in depth into these festivals.  However, the lessons on all of God's feast (there are eight of them and not seven as taught by many in the church that do not read God's word carefully) are complete and ready.  I mentioned in this podcast that here in the “Comment Section” that I would supply the links to the Playlists for each feast.  See the links below. LOM PLAYLISTS FESTIVALS PASSOVER - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDKjl7iyVRRkXGHoHaPSPaJ5&si=xCL65TeoFeZBWSlL SHAVUTO (PENTECOST) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDJ31uU9AwdnzQLWJk3D4wtX&si=Nx2djS43D7jaFRq8 ROSH HASHANA - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDJybx4VnVFW5A9F4xD9DQaO&si=2cfxCkT4Kjtp4t9Q YOM KIPPUREEM - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDLzBQoWtJ0Fn5eP3u354rO1&si=UPia9hwCT4hnnAD6 SUKKOT (TABERNACLES – TENTS) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDKbIxWITDZMT87a0VGwzTvx&si=duR8PvhFPU3jz1UG SABBATH/SHABBAT - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDLshZetXi0avkG665YNcI5I&si=-8a_yRhEYbvxwkVd   Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?  What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0      

You may recall that the Hebrews were said to be building the storage cities of Pithom and Rameses.  You can read this in … Exo 1:11  So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. Problem.  We have studied that the Hebrews left Egypt in 1446 B.C. and Rameses the Great (a.k.a. as Rameses II), the supposed pharaoh of the Exodus as per the late date (the wrong date) did not come to power until 1279 B.C. reigned until 1213 B.C.  So there are no cities named Rameses in the Nile Delta in 1446 B.C.  The city, later called Rameses, is called Avaris in the 15th century B.C., the time of the Exodus.  You can visit this site today.  It is called Tel el-daba.  So, what's going on?  Also, in this lesson, we deal with the city of Dan in the days of Abraham.  The events in chapter 15 are close to 2091 B.C. when Abraham and Sarah entered Canaan.  The city of Dan was named by the tribe of Dan – Dan is the son of Jacob the grandson of Abraham – when they moved north and captured the city of Laish (pronounced Lay Esh).  This is clear when we read … Jdg 18:29  They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel; however, the name of the city formerly was Laish. So, Abraham comes to a city called Dan, as we read in the Bible, and the city of Dan is not even there yet!  This is nuts!  What is going on?  Is the Bible wrong? Was it written later in 3rd or 2nd century B.C.?  We need to find out and again show the truthfulness of the Bible.  In lesson 30 in Genesis 15 we then come across this verse … Gen 14:17  Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.   Who is this guy?  There are some who say it's Jesus!  That's crazy.  Some rabbis say it is Shem or the son of Shem the son of Noah.  Consider a few references from ancient Jewish (non-biblical) literature … Melchizedek was Shem the son of Noah, a priest most high." (Pirke De Rabbi Eliezari) "And Melchizedek is Shem, the son of Noah." (Rashi, Commentaries, Genesis 14:18) "And Melchizedek is Shem, the son of Noah." (Talmud, Tr. Nedarim32) That Melchizedek is Shem or his son is a major error since Melchizedek is the king of Salem.  Salem is probably Jerusalem.  At this time when Abraham and Melchizedek meet, Salem is a Jebusite city.  The Jebusites are a clan of the pagan Canaanites.  The rabbis show they dismiss real history and make up their own opinions which are in total conflict with historical truth. So, who is this guy?  Not Jesus.  Not Shem.  Not the son of Shem.  How do we understand this enigmatic Bible character?  Come and join us in lesson 30.  Come and do what your Lord commanded you to do if you are a TRUE Christian, a real disciple of Rabbi Yeshua. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

Ever since lesson 49 in this series entitled, “The Gospel According to Moses: Exodus,” we've been dealing with added laws to the Ten Commandments that Yahvay יהוה is giving to His people at Sinai through Moses.  For me I know I have read these chapters (chapter 21-23) in Exodus and have not been overly affected.  I mean I am reading laws and in some cases they mean little to me in the 21st century.  The content of chapters 21-23 was not very stimulating for my faith and understanding.  Once again it is incumbent on us to read the Bible but we can not stop there.  We need to go further and study the Bible if we are to be true disciples of Adonai Yeshua.  A number of years ago I began Torah studies “under” Dennis Prager, the famous and renowned conservative radio talk show host, who is also a Torah and Hebrew expert.  Matter of fact as a religious Jew (he's not orthodox) he has said that this is his life's passion; to teach Torah תּוֹרָה to all, both Jew and Gentile.  He has an audio series on the Torah תּוֹרָה that took him 25 years to complete.  He is now taking those study materials and bring them to books called the “Rational Bible” one for each of the books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  They are awesome and Dennis did this to help Jews in Judaism and Christians into a deeper and more profound understanding of God's Word in the Torah תּוֹרָה.  Like Dennis has said, Christians and Jews have the same God and the same Bible except for the New Testament of course.  For me my studies in my graduate program was focused on the historical context of the Bible.  So where Dennis stops his lessons because he is a religious Jew, I take up and take us to the Messiah, the Lord, Jesus. By knowing the New Testament and the Jewish culture of Jesus' day we find that indeed SCRIPTURE testifies of Jesus and we see His teaching and His words in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures, just like Jesus taught us in John 5:39 … "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” (Joh 5:39) So I listened to the audio lessons and use them as a foundation for this series in Exodus and the completed series in Genesis.  It has been my goal to share these awesome lessons from the true Jewish scholar but also to go beyond Dennis' lessons and commentaries and show how the words of Torah testify of Yeshua, our Lord, Jesus.  For these chapters in Exodus 21-23 I was amazed at how much I missed.  The laws, especially in the Hebrew, are more intense and explosive than in the English and so applicable to our day.  The Torah תּוֹרָה is God's instruction for them then and us now.  In this lesson, lesson 58 focusing on Exod. 23:6-12, we study and experience that same awesomeness to God's word.  More than that once we go into the Hebrew it takes us to the very words of Jesus again and again.  The Torah תּוֹרָה was Jesus' Bible and He tells us to immerse ourselves and base our entire life on God's Word when He said … "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (Joh 8:31-32) I mentioned in this lesson about the two Hebrew words one of truth and the other for a lie.  The Hebrew word for truth is AYMET and in Hebrew it is אֶמֶת – the first and middle and last letter in the Hebrew alphabet.  The word for lie is SHEKER and in Hebrew it is שֶׁקֶר – the last three letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  Is the Lord giving us a “picture?”  Perhaps.  Rabbi Daniel Lappin comments in this way … Truth or AYMET אֶמֶת comprises, in sequence, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the middle letter, and the final letter. The message is that truth fits into the entire story from A to Z as it were.  The word for LIE or SHEKER שֶׁקֶר is made up of the 2nd last, the 4th last, and the 3rd last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Since truth and lies are so incompatible, the last letter, having already been used for the final letter of AYMET, truth, cannot be used for falsehood. That leaves the next three letters, jumbled up to indicate that lies never go from A to Z but rather from Y to W to X.  (See Rabbi Daniel Lapin's website for his total teaching on the concept of truth and lies at https://rabbidaniellapin.com/) The Rabbi also provides a cool picture of Truth and Lie in the Hebrew alphabet.  See the picture below. https://rabbidaniellapin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HEBREW-ALPHABET-truth-600x565.png   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0  

What is wrong with Lot?  As we read the events in Genesis 13 without the understanding of the background of the ancient Near East, we do not grasp the full understanding of the answer to the question.  Yes.  Most agree Lot chose poorly; Lot decided to live in Sodom and Gomorrah.  But, is there more to these events that we can't see?  Once again, if you have been part of our journey through the Torah, the 1st five books of the Bible, with are focus on Genesis, you know that as we put the Bible in its historical context, we “see” things in a whole different manner.  It then helps us through the Holy Spirit understand His Word in a more expanded way. I mentioned a website one can go to study the ancient family structure called the בית אב - Beit Av – the house of the father – the extended family structure lead by the patriarch.  Here's the link to the article - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/family By studying the concept of the Beit Av we can perhaps get a better understanding of what we call the family of God.  We as disciples of Yeshua live in His House, the House of the Father, the Temple.  In Hebrew the Temple in Jerusalem was never called the Temple.  It was called the בית המקדש - Beit HaMikdash – the holy dwelling house of Adonai.  So, we are God's Temple, His בית המקדש - Beit HaMikdash - as Paul teaches in 1 Cor. 3:16. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In this podcast I mentioned the hatred between the Jews of Jesus' day and the Samaritans.  So, to add to your study here are two links to two articles at the wonderful scholarly site (GotQuestions.org).  Each article is different, even though they both deal with the Jews and the Samaritans.  This is all related to the verse … “You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'”(Mat 5:43) No where in the Bible is there a statement that we are to hate our enemies.  Not even hinting at such an idea.  It was something taught among certain rabbis, some of the Pharisees, and the congregation at Qumran, those who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. Here are the links … Article 1 – https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-a-Samaritan.html Article 2 - https://www.gotquestions.org/Samaritans.html Related to this is the article written by David Bivin.  He is the founder of the amazing scholarly site called Jerusalem Perspective.  The article is entitled, “Us and Them: Loving Both.”  His article sheds more light on the unbiblical teaching in Jesus' day to hate one's enemy.  To access this article use the link below.  But, this site is members only.  If you would like to join to access the 100's and 100's of articles and resources to enhance your Bible reading and study you'll have to register and pay an annual fee of $60.  If you are serious about your study of God's word then you MUST join Jerusalem Perspective. Link to Bivin's article - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/1873/?srsltid=AfmBOooN_sRB572G1-eJOOFgw9i3W-ZfxojtR5gsjri9fp8M4JCnQIiF I also brought up two Bible teaching videos by the Messianic Jewish rabbi, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn.  He has done two videos that relate to the pope's order that all priests in the Catholic church must bless LGBTQ unions; in other words to give their unions some semblance of respect from the Catholic church.  God has declared unequivocally that these unions are seriously sinful and totally forbidden.  Pope Francis is saying he has the authority to disregard the very words of God.  Below find the two links to the videos.  I highly recommend you watch both.  The second video is about a documented unbelievable event that seemingly is a sign from the Lord of His total rejection of what Pope Francis did.  You won't believe it.  But, make sure you watch video 1 and the video 2. Video 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES6SD6RVcuo Video 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1iCW5Lsd80 This Bible study podcast is about the Biblical concept of love.  Biblical love is not about emotions or feelings or physical desire or passion.  God want us to love regardless of how we feel or our emotions related to a certain person or group.  It has a lot to do with DOING and ACTING and not about feelings.  In this podcast I referenced two awesome articles that show that Jews in Israel do what the Torah says in that they do the right thing to another human even though they are Israel's evil enemy like Hamas in Gaza or the Palestinians.  Here are the two articles that you can read yourself that document that when Jesus orders us to love our enemy He is teaching right from the Torah and Jesus is adding to and enhancing His teaching that He gave us in the Hebrew Scriptures or God's Instruction or תּוֹרָה TORAH.  Article from the American Journal of Public Health - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5719710/ Article from Israel Forever Foundation - https://israelforever.org/interact/blog/caring_for_enemy_soldiers/ Related to the article above is the oath taken by the Israeli armed forces.  They truly live by God's Instruction or תּוֹרָה TORAH or the very words of Jesus – “love your enemy (do the right thing, act humanely, act with mercy and compassion even for your enemy) and pray for those that persecute you.”  Below is that oath referenced in the article above from the Israel Forever Foundation.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0      

In this podcast I urged all to listen to lessons 26 & 27.  They deal with scripture that testifies of Yeshua, they testify of the Messiah, just like Jesus teaches us in John 5:39.  If you haven't listened to 26 & 27 please don't miss them.  The links are below ... Link to lesson 26 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genesis-26-gen-124-6-avram-and-sarai-travel-to-canaan-scripture-testifies-of-jesus/?token=7b18a182c5ac60c64ffb923a5c8b09c3 Link to lesson 27 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genesis-27-gen-121-9-dating-the-bible-abram-enters-canaan-2091-bc/?token=5027c2566f44fa01e45abf9300d201a0 In the Ten Commandments we say God commanded us not to lie.  Sorry.  He never said that in the Ten Commandments. He said ...  לא תענה ברעך עד שׁקר Lo Ta'ahneh VayReckaka Ed Shaker Not Testify to Your Neighbor Falsely This is legal stuff meaning in court or in any legal proceeding you are not to testify with false statements against your neighbor.  This a commandment as related to legal proceedings.  (See the "Jerusalem Publication Society Torah Commentary Exodus," by Nahum Sarna, 1991).  The actual commandment of God not to lie is found in Lev. 19:11 - "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another."  So, we need to revise things gang!  We need 11 commandments to cover all the bases!   So, do not lie.  Some teach that no matter what you must not lie.  In a TV program there were three religious men, an orthodox rabbi, a protestant pastor and the priest.  The moderator, Dennis Prager, set up a situation to have the rabbi and pastor and priest comment on.  The situation was that a woman was being chased by a sadistic rapist in a lonely park.  She runs past you and asks you to help her.  She hides and thus you have a choice when the evil rapist finally reaches you.  You can lie and not tell him where she is hiding or you can not lie and thus put her in danger and perhaps serious injury and death.  The pastor and priest said you can not lie and must tell the truth.  They said you can tell the truth in such a way that perhaps will not give up her hiding place.  The rabbi, however, said he'd lie through his teeth to save her and protect this innocent women.  ("Torah Commentary Exodus," MP3 file, Dennis Prager, Part 14 of 57.  This is part of Dennis Prager's teaching series on the Torah available at the website store at https://pragerstore.com/product-category/the-torah/complete-torah).   So, we see a dilemma.  What would you do?  We are not to lie.  But, in this lesson we find that Abraham lies.  Sarah lies.  And yet God does not discipline them.  Moreover Abraham and Sarah do it twice!  What's going on?  Who is right?  The rabbi says he'd lie to save her.  The Christians say no, we can't lie.   On top of that the Catholic priest and the Protestant pastor are only teaching their opinion and not fact from the Bible.  One has to be very careful that one does not teach their own opinion as Bible truth.    The TORAH is the inspired word of God and it deals with real people in real life.  Abraham and Sarah find themselves in a situation where they are caught between a rock and a hard place.  This is just another example that God's TORAH is as applicable today as it was in 2091 B.C.  Amazing.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

AN IMPORTANT LESSON SHOWING THE VERACITY OF GOD'S WORD   Abram arrives at Shechem (lesson 26) in 2091 B.C.  Really?  Who says?  Time goes on and then we read in Exod. 12:40 that the sons of Israel (Jacob) lived in Egypt 430 years till they left with Moses.   Where does that number come from?  Why doesn't anyone explain it?  Also it is taught to us that the early date of the Exodus was 1446 B.C. and no one ever justifies this date.  It is just stated.  Why won't anyone help us understand that this date of 1446 B.C. is supported by REAL archaeology and not someone's opinion or speculation.  Well, I will.  This lesson is to show that the early date of the Exodus, 1446 B.C. is very likely considering the archaeology supporting it and the study of the events in their historical context.   I mentioned I will provide a number of links to resources to help you study further.  These links and resources are shown below. Link 1 - slides that may help you put all this together - https://www.dropbox.com/s/jdvuqdvqg6q88fh/Egypt%20W% Link 2 - an article on Edwin Thiele that shows how he connects the Assyrian King List (calendar) to 1 Kings 6:1 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/m9au2fpr9suktj8/Dating%20Old%20Testament%20History%20Thiele.pdf?dl=0 Link 3 - video from the Associates for Biblical Research on dating of Exodus Part 1 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4538-digging-for-truth-episode-43-archaeological-evidence-for-the-early-date-of-the-exodus-part-one Link 4 - part 2 of the previous video - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4544-digging-for-truth-episode-44-archaeological-evidence-for-the-early-date-of-the-exodus-part-2 Link 5 - Dr. Bryant Wood's article on setting the date for the Exodus - https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/exodus-era/3288-recent-research-on-the-date-and-setting-of-the-exodus Link 6 - Dr. Bryant Wood's video on the Hebrews in Egypt part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT6giGYerx4 Link 7 - part of of previous video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJn09u8cYRA Link 8 - part three of previous video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EMecjtl-MA Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

In this Bible study podcast we will complete Exodus 22.  Once again we will see that because Jesus' Bible, the Bible He had available when He was here among us, the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament, that Jesus is a great Torah teacher!  What we may think as NEW concepts and NEW ideas or teachings that we might assume are 100% Christian, are not.  Jesus is teaching Torah and Torah, sometimes the name for the first five books of the Bible, does not mean LAW but TEACHING (Hebrew word H8451 in Hebrew as תּרה Torah - pronounced TOE - RA and it means teaching or instruction coming from the Hebrew word meaning to teach).  Jesus in His own words said of the Torah ... "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill (the Greek word that translates into fulfill is G4137 or πληρόω play-ro'-o and means to complete, to finish). For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 5:17-20) In these words of Jesus the Greek word that is translated as LAW is G3551 or νόμος pronounced NO - MOS is the same Greek word used in the Septuagint (the Greek  translation of the Old Testament) to translate the Hebrew word תּרה Torah.  Jesus is not speaking about the laws in the first five books of the Bible but the actual words of God, the scriptures themselves, the very word of God, the Bible, God's teaching or instruction.  He came not to fulfill the teaching but to COMPLETE IT.  We'll see that in this lesson.  We will consider the law in Lev. 19:18 to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Who is our neighbor?  The Lord in the Torah says it is Egyptians besides one's fellow Hebrew.  Check it out in verses Exodus 3:22, 11:2-3, and 12:35.  The Lord is clearly implying the Egyptians are to be considered the "neighbors" of the Hebrews.  Then the Lord uses the parable of the "Good Samaritan" to take this idea deeper and finally these words of the Lord ... "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Mat 5:43-45) Jesus is not only saying that the hated Samaritans (Jews and Samaritans hated each other) were their neighbors but even our enemies!  So, from the Torah written in the 15 century B.C. to the days of Yeshua, we see how the Lord took the basic teaching and expanded upon it and completed it.  To understand Jesus, to understand the Lord we need to understand the Torah, the Hebrew Scriptures.  This is our foundation and the foundation of the New Testament.  This is so clear in this lesson as we complete Exodus 22.   Here's a great article that I urge you to access.  Again it shows that the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus, the Torah of Adonai, has its foundation in the Torah. Link - https://mymorningmeditations.com/2013/06/20/the-purpose-of-torah-in-new-testament-judaism-part-1/   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0  

If there is a Torah foundation related to Jesus' statement in John 5:39 that scripture testifies of Himself, this lesson and the previous are it.  If you haven't listened to lesson 25 yet, I urge you to do so since 25 and this lesson go together.  (Link for lesson 25 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genesis-25-gen-121-3-all-the-failies-of-the-earth-will-be-blessed-grafed-in/?token=d9d77c41f718882414251c4bc602ad22)  If you ever wanted to study scripture that testifies of Jesus' coming and His mission, these are two Torah lessons that are foundational to our understanding of the coming of the Messiah and the REASON FOR THE SEASON and a direct connection to John 5:39. In this lesson we will focus on one location.  We must turn to geography to see how God picks one place to help us SEE His redemption plan. Shown below are maps.  This shows the likely route Avram took from Haran to Canaan and his first stop, Shechem. Map 1 Map 2 Map 3 In this lesson I mentioned Joel Kramer.  He is an OUTSTANDING evangelical Christian archaeologist.  He did a Bible study tour recently to Israel when he was studying for his advanced degree in archaeology.  One spot they studied was Shechem – the location I mentioned above that God picked.  Below is a link to Joel's video on site in Israel at the ancient ruins of Shechem.  You won't want to miss this.  Also, I provided a link to Joel Kramer's website as well.  You MUST go to his website and see the free videos from Israel that will blow you away. Link to video lesson by Kramer at Shechem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Cp4dQvxJo Link to Joel Kramer's website - https://sourceflix.com/ Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0

Get ready for one explosive lesson.  It all focuses on Gen. 12:1-3 ... Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (NASB Gen 12:1-3) If there is one place in the TORAH, if there is one instance in the Old Testament where God proclaims "good news" for all of us, it is right here. I normally do not rely on Orthodox Rabbinic commentary to help me understand the Bible. Too many times rabbis interpret the Bible in ways that are not based on the historical or cultural context or make up explanations that they need to deal with a scriptural difficulties or issues too tough to answer rationally.  It is like the miracle of the oil at Chanukah.  It never happened.  I am not stating my opinion.  I am just telling you what scholarly Jewish sources teach.  We Christians fall into the trap of assuming the Orthodox rabbis are THE resource for understanding the Bible from a Jewish point of view.  Far from it.  For example the Orthodox say the 1st temple was destroyed in 423 B.C. based upon their personal interpretation of some verses in Daniel. However, they are wrong.  Archaeology and history prove the temple was destroyed in 586 B.C.  So, we need to be very very careful when accessing Orthodox Rabbinic Bible commentary. Here's a link to one of those sources to help you understand that the miracle of the oil never happened on Hanukkah.  Link - https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/transforming-hanukkah/ However, Rabbinic commentary is not always so off; that is not always the case.  I do access rabbinic commentary, not as my primary source, but I need to glean from their ideas and thoughts.  In the case of Genesis 12:1-3 their commentary blew me away as I think it will you.  Their contributions to understanding these three verses are truly amazing and show us that the foundation of the New Testament is the TORAH.  Here we will see, thanks to the rabbis, the gospel of the Kingdom, their view that this is a new start for all mankind, and that the Hebrew of these verses gave Paul insights into his picture of us Gentiles being "grafted in."  We recall the verse ...  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree ... (Rom 11:17) Here's a picture of branches grafted into an olive tree ... Here's an article you may find interesting that goes into the Hebrew of these verses that relate to the Gospel, the Good News, that God inspired Moses to write about. Link – https://moedtorah.blogspot.com/2012/10/torah-portion-lech-lecha-blessed-and.html Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0

The events of the Tower of Babel story are more applicable to us today than we may have imagined.  It is probably something we have not been taught or even considered.  For one thing, the people did not just build a tower.  They also built a city.  They built a city and a tower.  This is huge and must be taken into account.  What's this all saying? Also, as the events unfold there is no mention of God.  These people probably are not evil.  The Bible does not say they are evil.  But, these people do not seem to be one's who believe in God.  Verses 1-4 they seem to be godless. God shows up finally in verse 5 when He came and saw not just the tower, but the tower and the city.  God sees both.  The tower is not the focus but the city and the tower.   Some Bible teachers will say God was angry with the people and what they did.  Huh?  There is no mention of God being angry.  But God sees that they have one language and they are one people and they will not easily be stopped from doing whatever they wish if this continues.  God is saying this is dangerous.  Huh?  Why?  Why is is dangerous.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that humankind never changed after the flood.  In Gen. 6:5 and again after the flood in Gen. 8:21, God tells us through Moses' pen that the imagination of men's hearts is to do evil continually.  This idea is seemingly repeated here.  Is God warning us that mankind as one people with one language and one worldview without God will lead to uncontrolled evil?  Is this perhaps and prediction of the end of days when many will be without God and united as one people and one godless worldview?  Let's go see. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0

We are about to study three awesome verses, Exod. 22:18-20.  All three refer to commonly accepted practices connected to the immoral and sinful pagan culture in the ancient Near East.  All three demand death sentences.  What יהוה‎ Yahvay our Lord is teaching us is His total rejection of polytheism and its associated abhorrent practices and rituals.  In essence the Lord is teaching the Hebrews then coming out of Egypt that they are to be HOLY.  Not the way the church translates holy as without sin or being righteous before God or holy being pure of heart or other ways.  The church again dismisses the Hebrew and loses the real idea as to what יהוה‎ Yahvay our Lord is getting at.  The Hebrew word used for God wanting His chosen, His elect to be holy is the word קָדֹשׁ or kadosh H6918.  It gives us the idea of being separate or ones set apart or those who are distinctly and uniquely different than others.  The Lord wants His chosen, His elect, His people to live in such a way that they are not like the pagan polytheists around them.  He wants His chosen to be His, set apart, ones who live so that all know they belong to יהוה‎ Yahvay.  We remember when He said in His word, in the Torah ... "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy." (Lev 11:44-45) We are in His image and thus we are to exhibit those characteristics of our Father.  He is קָדֹשׁ kadosh and we are also to be קָדֹשׁ kadosh.  This idea carries us into the New Testament.  If we are to be disciples of Yeshua, talmideem of Rav Yeshua, then we are to be like Him.  Jesus said that He is not of the world and neither are we to be of the world.  We are in the world but we are separate, set apart, distinctly different, or not part of the world.  Jesus is only teaching from the only scripture they had when He was here, the Hebrew scriptures or the Old Testament and the תּוֹרָה Torah, the first five books of the Bible, considered the foundation of all of God's word in Jesus' day, when He said ... "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  (Joh 17:14-16) So as we study these verses in Exodus we see they are God's intention for them THEN and for us NOW since through the CROSS and the BLOOD of the LAMB, we have become "grafted in" to the olive tree of Israel and through Jesus have become יהוה‎ Yahvay's chosen, His elect, His sons and His daughters.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In this podcast we return to Genesis 9 and Noah's planting a vineyard and then getting drunk.  One asks why this story was highlighted in God's TORAH תּוֹרָה, His instruction?  And then what about the aftermath when his son Ham sees Noah drunk and naked in the tent.  What is going on?  This is one of several instances where the Lord our God, Yahvay יהוה, does not give us clear precise understanding.  Scholarship is all over the map in providing reasonable commentary on this event.  One concludes that there is no clear answer to all this.  One Jewish scholar, Leon Kass, in his Genesis commentary offers his view.  Kass seems to think this is all about family.  Ham brought shame upon his dad and over and over again TORAH תּוֹרָה,  Yahvay's יהוה instruction, has a lot to say about family.  Kass notes that in Genesis chapters 1-11 that this has nothing to do with the Hebrews or Judaism.  So this event in Genesis 9 is seemingly to teach all mankind.  Kass makes a superb added idea as to the purpose of this story.  But, once again, there are many other ideas and opinions.  Kass' opinion, however, makes a lot of sense as you will see as you join us in this study. We will also come to Genesis 10 and come face to face with the notorious Nimrod.  We are taught that Nimrod was pure evil was the guy who had the Tower of Babel built.  But, as we will see all this is pure fantasy.  These are legends made up by the rabbis in Rabbinic Judaism.  These legends then “slid easily” into the church as well and not we are teaching the Bible and pushing that legends and made up rabbinic views are truth.  They are not.  So, this lesson is quite important to study and consider the truth behind the word of God and the character of Nimrod and what the Bible says about him and not some rabbi who made up some fictional account since to that rabbi it seemed to fit his agenda or view.  We can not and should not teach that someone's opinion or made up views are truth.  That is why I focus on teaching the Torah in its historical context.  We must get at what God's original intentions were when He inspired Moses to write His Torah.  We need to focus on the words of our Lord and our God when He said … So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue (the Greek is MENO G3306 – it has the idea of relying or persevering) in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (Joh 8:31-32)   Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

This podcast deals with two verses.  The first is … Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you. (Gen 8:13-16) There is a possible amazing connection of these verses to the book of Revelation.  It's almost as if the “salvation” of the 8 people, Noah, his wife, his sons, and his daughter in laws, from the waters of the flood is a paradigm of the elect of Yahvay יהוה, the Lord our God, being “saved” as well.  In Revelation this is also related to the seas and dry land.  Wait till you see this.  It is so cool. But, are we surprised?  The Lord our God has already shown that there is a correlation between Noah and the Messiah, Noah and Jesus.  We will recall Jesus' own words when He made the connection between His return and the days of Noah.  On top of that check out the article at Hebrew4Christians.com.  It is amazing to see that Noah is a paradigm of the Messiah.  Here's the link … https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Noach/Noah_and_Jesus/noah_and_jesus.html So, perhaps there is a link of the “salvation” of the remnant in Genesis to the “salvation” of the remnant in the book of Revelation.  To me it shows again that in order to understand the book of Revelation you need to first study the book of Torah and the Prophets.  Again and again we see that the Revelation depends upon the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures, since that was the ONLY Bible when the Revelation was written – there was no New Testament. The second verse we'll focus on are … Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. (Gen 9:20-21) Noah lives another 350 years after the flood.  So the only event the Lord inspired Moses to record after the flood in Noah's life before he dies is that Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk.  What?  That seems ridiculous.  So the guy plants a vineyard and get drunk.  So what?  How does that help me with my life as one of God's people, a Christian, a disciple of Jesus today? What is amazing is Yahvay יהוה, the Lord our God, is again asking us to study this event in its historical context.  This is part of God's TORAH תּוֹרָה, which means “teaching” and not law.  Christians have translated TORAH as law not understanding the real meaning from the Hebrew.  It means teaching.  The first rive books of the Bible are Yahvay's יהוה, the Lord our God's, teaching.  His first audience were the Hebrews coming out of Egypt.  So, is there a possibility that this event for the Hebrews might relate to their yeas in Egypt where they had assimilated into the Egyptian culture and religion?  Would they look upon this event differently then us?  You bet.  And once we see how this makes sense to them then it'll become so understandable for us today, now, in the 21st century.  So, interested?  Come let's go study. Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

In John 5:39 Jesus says that scripture testifies of Him.  He said this between 24-30 A.D. and all they had THEN was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  He was teaching them then and His disciples went out and took the Good News and took it to the "ends of the earth" and changed the world.  This implies to us that we need to focus on the Hebrew Scriptures as they did then to see Jesus they way they did then.   In this Bible lesson we ask the question why did God chose Noah?  In this lesson we will hear and understand that Noah was like a foreshadowing of the Messiah, or Yeshua, Jesus.  This is not surprising.  The Lord, יהוה‎ Yahvay, does this with Isaac and Moses and Joseph of the many colored coat.  Check it out at these links ... Genesis 48 - Isaac foreshadows the Messiah -https://youtu.be/0sBrQoAFgPw Hebrew4Christians article on Moses as a foreshadowing of Messiah -https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Like_Moses/like_moses.html#loaded Hebrew4Christians article on Joseph as a foreshadowing of Messiah -https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Mashiach_ben_Yosef/mashiach_ben_yosef.html So, it isn't surprising that we see Noah as one who foreshadows the coming Messiah.  So come and join us and consider this man Noah and the message the Lord is giving us today about him.   Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0          

Across the world and in many ancient and modern cultures one finds stories of the ancient flood.  Some are similar to the Biblical account.  A credible scholarly website is “Answers in Genesis.”  One can find an article at this website entitled, “Flood Legends.”  Here's the link to this article - https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/  In this article it states that … “Did you know that stories about a worldwide flood are found in historic records all over the world? According to Dr. Duane Gish in his popular book, “Dinosaurs by Design,” there are more than 270 such stories, most of which share a common theme and similar characters.  So many flood stories with such similarities surely come from the Flood of Noah's day.” (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)   It is not surprising that this fact is used to conclude that the flood must have been worldwide; the flood we know so well in the Bible covered the whole earth.  The problem is there is NO scientific evidence that conclusively shows the flood was worldwide.  That it is worldwide is based many times upon the English translation of the Bible without taking into account the original Hebrew.  It only makes sense that the flood being worldwide can not be based upon the flood legends and stories that are found worldwide and in many diverse cultures.  The reason is simple as is stated in the article found at “Answers in Genesis.”  “The reason for these flood stories is not difficult to understand. When we turn to the history book of the universe, the Bible, we learn that Noah's descendants stayed together for approximately 100 years, until God confused their languages at Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). As these people moved away from Babel, their descendants formed nations based primarily on the languages they shared in common. Through those languages, the story of the Flood was shared, until it became embedded in their cultural history.” (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)   The article at “Answers in Genesis” included a great chart.  It shows the widespread belief in an ancient flood among many ancient cultures. (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)   The Bible says there were only 8 people left after the flood.  Moreover, the presence of humankind was regulated to the area of Noah's day.  Humankind was not the global in Genesis 6.  Humankind was just beginning to expand and the flood destroyed that expansion.  God started all over again with Noah and his family.  Thus, the story of the flood was passed down from generation to generation from one family.  Humankind expanded and it spread across the earth along with the flood story.  So it is not surprising that we see the widespread flood legends across the world and that these legends have similar concepts as in the Bible but have also changed as per the culture and perspectives of each tribe and group and nation.  So, this does not prove the flood covered the entire earth.  It shows that the real historical event of the flood in Genesis was passed down to generation to generation among humankind as it spread and expanded across the world.  The issue however is not if the flood was global or local.  I find this discussion rather pointless and seemingly the wrong thing to focus on.  For me it is taking our eyes off the real question which is “why the flood – what was its purpose?”   Come and join us in lesson 20.  This lesson along with lesson 19 tries to get at this more critical question.  Here's the link to Lesson 19 -  https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genensis-19-gen-65-821-and-john-529-the-flood-testifies-of-yeshua/?token=37a93cda3394b88790b3d0359cde7ba7  When we focus on this question we find it has a lot to do with Yeshua and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the Cross and the Gospel.  This is the big picture and arguing over  global or local flood to me clouds the real issue the Lord is trying to teach us in His TORAH which means “teaching” and not law.   Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0        

In John 5:39 we read the words of Yeshua when He said ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (John 5:39 NASB).  All they had was the Old Testament in Jesus' day.  Therefore, is there a connection with the purposes of the flood and the reason for the Cross?  There is.  It seems likely the flood testifies of the Messiah. There are two critical verses to consider.  Gen. 6:5 and 8:21.  The first describes mankind before the flood.  The second verse describes mankind after the flood.  After the flood there were only eight people left, Noah and his wife, his three sons, and their wives.  The verse are below. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (Gen 6:5) The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.  (Gen 8:21) So Yahvay, the Lord God, is sad and decides to destroy all mankind.  He does this and it is all because of the state of man as specified in Gen. 6:5.  The flood occurs and now we are left with eight people.  And God states that the condition of mankind (these remaining eight) hasn't changed!  They are still ones whose heart is intent on evil from their youth.  So, the flood did nothing.  It did not get rid of sin and evil and man's inclination to sin.  Is God saying that the only to get rid of evil, sin, and mankind's inclination to sin is to totally destroy all humans?  If He had, if Yahvay also killed Noah and his family, there'd be no more sin.  The Creator would've destroyed the Creature He made, man and woman, and we'd have a world with no sin and no evil.  But, He left eight live.  And they have the same condition as before the flood.   He left eight live.  Is this perhaps related to a famous verse we seemingly all know and that is John 3:16 or  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  (Joh 3:16) Is He saying that the answer to the dilemma of the curse on us, on all mankind, our inclination to sin, is the sacrifice of Messiah, the death of Yeshua?  So join us as we study the answer to the fact that the flood did nothing, it did not rid the world of sin and death and evil.  Join us as we again hear THE VERY WORDS OF GOD and see that scripture testifies of Jesus and the redemption plan of the Lord.     Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0        

So many times I hear Christians vehemently argue that the flood in the Bible is global as opposed to local.  They say sciences proves it and the Bible itself proves it.  But, I contend that this is the wrong argument.  It is not if the flood was real or if it was global or not, the argument is, WHY THE FLOOD.  What was its purpose? It seems clear God tells us.  The problem is the issue with mankind that saddened the Lord and this issue, the curse of mankind, did not disappear with the 8 survivors.  If you study the very word of God carefully we find that that which was inherent in mankind before the flood was not taken care of in Noah, his sons, their wives, and Noah's wife.  The flood did nothing.  This in itself is huge.  God is showing us something we missed.  God is teaching us about sin and evil.  God is teaching us there is only one way to get rid of sin and evil.  But, no, we miss it since we are too concerned with if the flood was global or local.  We simply can't “see” the forest through the trees. There are some great links that show clearly the flood was not global but local.  Check them out below.  But, again, the issue that the flood did occur, or if it did occur was is global or not, is not the issue!   The issue is God is showing us that sin and evil in us can be taken care of by God destroying all of us – ALL.  But, Yahvay left 8 alive.  There were eight with the same evil inclination the saddened God and thus He decided to destroy all mankind.  But, He didn't.  He preserved 8 with the same sinful evil inclination.  Now what? What will the Lord do now to get rid of sin and evil in us?  Simple.  Ever hear of the Gospel? Check this link out - an article by Dr. Hugh Ross, a brilliant and proven scientific scholar and devoted Christian.  His expertise and knowledge will blow you away.  Here's the link to his article ... https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/todays-new-reason-to-believe/does-the-bible-say-noah-s-flood-was-global-or-universal After you read the article check out this detailed lecture presented again by Dr. Hugh Ross to students and teachers at a Christian seminary regarding the flood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTuUCAkpHUQ Then, check out this article by a prove credible Christian geologist regarding the flood - it can't be global - https://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Carol%201.pdf   Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0    

In this lesson we confront some awesome questions?  The first is who are the Nephilim?  For us in the 21st century many say the nephilim are fallen angels.  Where did that come from?  We will see it is one opinion coming from both some non-Biblical literature of the late first century and the Zohar, a Jewish book of mysticism written in the Middle Ages.  Upon further study, however, we find that other great rabbis disagreed with this opinion and they offered two other views.  (For further study from a Jewish scholarly source I recommend this link - click here to read scholarly background on the nephilim from The Jewish Virtual Library - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nephilim).  Both views of these rabbis of the Middle Ages, Rashi and Ibn Ezra, great rabbis in their own right, disagree.  They also disagree with each other and with the view the nephilim are evil fallen angels.  So, in Jewish literature we have at least three distinct views and each of them contradict the others.  So, we Christians have bought into one view that has no Biblical basis at all.   Once again, let us confront this issue.  Let us see if God's word helps us with a more realistic view of the nephilim.  It does! The second question is why did God destroy all mankind with the flood except for one man, Noah?  Noah's sons and their wives and Noah's wife were rescued as well.  But, Noah is the ONLY righteous man of his time not his sons, their wives, or Noah's wife.  Why them?  Moreover, Genesis chapters 1-11 is about non-Hebrews.  Noah is not a Hebrew!  This is related to all of us, all mankind.   I agree that the flood did happen.  There is too much evidence from the cultures of the ancient Middle East that strongly suggest that the flood was real.  But, so many today focus on trying to prove the flood had to be worldwide, or others who argue the flood was local, and others who say it is a myth. (I think it was local based upon the Hebrew and not English.) I suggest this focus is clouding the real issue, why did God do the flood?  What was the result?  Is there something we are missing that we can't see?  I will present a view that relates to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (John 5:39 NASB).  All they had was the Old Testament in Jesus' day.  Therefore, is there a connection with the purposes of the flood and the reason for the Cross?  There is.  It seems likely the flood testifies of the Messiah.   Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0  

In Gen. 6:2 we come across a troubling phrase.  Let's look at it ... Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. (Gen 6:1-2) If we let the Bible translate the Bible we find that this exact phrase is used in four different ways in the Hebrew.  First, we find this Hebrew phrase in Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7 where it is used to describe spiritual beings, likely angels in heaven with God.  Second, it is used in a slightly different format meaning all of Israel in Deut. 14:1.  Third, in Psalm 82:6 the phrase is used to describe the sons of rulers or kings.  And finally, according to John Currid in his Torah commentary, "A Study Commentary: Genesis," it also can mean the descendants of Seth, the godly line directly from Adam who is called the "son of God" by Luke in his gospel in Luke 3:38. So, who are the sons of God or the sons of the gods in verse 6:2?  The phrase בני האלהים Benay Eloheem is made up to two plural nouns.  The first is sons, or Benay.  The second in Eloheem, translated commonly as God or gods.   Are these "sons of God" fallen angels?  Are they the Nephileem as noted in verse 6:4?  Are they some weird pagan spiritual beings? We will again put the Bible into its historical context.  We will again try and "hear" God's word like the intended audience of the Torah, the Hebrews coming out of Egypt.  Dennis Prager in his commentary on Genesis, "The Rational Bible: Genesis," comments that this is an ancient divine document and when God inspires Moses to write to the Hebrews coming out of Egypt 3500 years ago all this made sense to them.  Let us put the words of the Bible into their historical context and seek the way they may have understood the phrase the "sons of God;" how the Hebrews heard it coming out of Egypt may give us an alternative view that makes sense to us in the 21st century as well.  Come.  Join us.  Let's go see. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0    

In Genesis chapter 4 we come to an interesting character, Lamech. He's not the father of Noah since that Lamech was a descendant of Seth. This Lamech in chapter 4 is the great great great grandson of Cain. He seems to be an unforgiving character just like his ancestor Cain; Lamech talking to his two wives said if someone hurts him he will have his revenge seventy and sevenfold; that means a whole lot. His worldview was clearly not the worldview of the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, the worldview of Judaism; it was distinctly opposed to our Christian worldview and Jesus' teaching. Jesus uses this account of Lamech to give His disciples 2000 years ago the counter worldview to Lamech. As a Jewish rabbi He teaches from the Torah to help them and us know the truth of God's word and the truth of how we are to live as His holy people. Jesus uses the Torah, the only Bible they had in Jesus' day, to teach the gospel since the Father had already inspired Moses to write about the gospel in the Torah. But how? Come and join us and let's dig deep. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

In the previous lesson I mentioned two verses I wanted to emphasize. The first was Genesis 4:9 and in this lesson it is Genesis 4:10. God tells Cain that his brother's blood cries out to the Lord. For me as a Christian reading it in English it seems to mean to me that God is simply saying that He has witnessed Abel's murder. However, it has deeper implications. So deep, matter of fact, that this verse is related to the Bible's view that killing a baby in the womb is more than one death! But, the key is, NOT in English but in Hebrew. Once again we need to reconnect to those amazing scholars Jew and Gentile to help us see what the Hebrew means and how it was understood in Jesus' day and before. Thus, once we understand the Lord's original meaning it helps us today apply it the way it was intended. Many times in this series I bring up two sources that are so helpful for the study of the Torah for us Christians. One is the Torah commentary by Dr. John Currid. The second is the JPS (Jerusalem Publication Society) Torah Commentary. I recommend both of these resources for any of you who are serious Bible students. Another great resource is this web site (link below). It is entitled "Hebrew 4 Christians." At this website are amazing resources for you to go deeper in understanding the Jewish background of the Bible, to learn Hebrew, and to study Torah as a disciple of Yeshua. Here's the link - https://hebrew4christians.com/index.html   Rev. Ferret (above - in a tomb in the necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis in Turkey) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

God asks Cain where Abel was? He was not around? Something had happened. We know that something happened when we read ... "Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Gen 4:8) This was the first murder stemming from Cain's anger as recorded in the Torah. And we know that it says that ... "You shall not murder." (Exo 20:13). The King James got it wrong when it says thou shalt not kill. The Hebrew word is תרצח H7523 pronounced "tretzach" does not mean kill but murder as in the Gesenius Lexicon. And later in Exod. 21:12-14 we read ... "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die." (Exo 21:12-14) But, if God wants murderers executed why was Cain kept alive? Shouldn't have Cain been killed by God to maintain unity of His law and commands? Interesting. Let's go and explore this event in its historical context and in the Hebrew and not the English.     Rev. Ferret (above - teaching at the gates of the ancient city of Gezer) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him? Check it out at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0        

The way is closed to the Father and the Tree of Life.  This was the ending of Genesis chapter 3.  Now what?  This is where it is clear that Jesus, when He says in John 5:39, sometime between 24-30 A.D., that scripture (it was only the Old Testament then) testifies of Him, we see the GOOD NEWS, the GOSPEL according to Moses.  Jesus says He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.  He is the Way and the only way to the Father!  This is obviously so connected to the fact that the way is closed to the Father after the sin of Adam and Eve.  But, Jesus is clearly telling us the WAY is open, we can go back , we can enter Gan Eden, Paradise, if we chose Him.  Adam and Eve freely chose to disobey God and they lost it all.  Now, God sets up the same situation in reverse.  If we chose Jesus then we gain it all, we gain eternal life!   But, in Matthew's Gospel Jesus says that there are many who will come and say they did this or that in Jesus' name.  And Jesus said that is nothing.  It amounts to NIL.  Why?  Jesus said He did not KNOW them I wonder.  Jesus is speaking Hebrew and not Aramaic.  He says they did not KNOW Him.  The first time this word comes up in the Torah is Genesis 4:1, or Adam KNEW his wife.  Is there something about this word KNOW in Hebrew that will give us insight into our relationship with Yeshua?  You bet.      Rev. Ferret (above - teaching at the gates of the ancient city of Gezer) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him? Check it out at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0        

The way is closed to the tree of life and the Father.  How can we get back?  How do we come again to be with our Abba, to dwell with Him in His Kingdom?  There has to be a way?   In this lesson, in this verse of Gen. 3:24, we see what Jesus meant in John 5:39 when He said that Scripture testifies of Himself.  He said it between 24-30 A.D. in the Temple Courts.  The only Bible they knew then was the Torah, the Prophets (HaNevi'im) and the Writings (HaKetuvim) or the TaNacK, the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  Old?  Nothing old about it - it is God's word and God said His word is the Bread of Life. Rev. Ferret (above - in a tomb in the necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis in Turkey) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Some people think that the word "fornication" means sex outside of marriage. Some say that this is what it means in the Bible.  NOPE.  Sorry folks.  Fornication comes from Greek and from Hebrew that have nothing to do with sex before marriage.  God never states specifically that pre-marital sex or sex outside of marriage is a sin – even in the New Testament.  But it is  How does God teach us that sex before marriage is a sin?  How does He teach this in His Torah, His "instruction?"  How did He get this across to His chosen people, the Hebrews, coming out of Egypt?  How did God do this to His people in the 1st century A.D. when He, Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, God Himself, was here with us?  And remember, Jesus' Bible was the Old Testament and the Old Testament never specifically says that sex before marriage is a sin.  But it is We missed it.  He did teach it.  But, once again we need to put the Bible into its historical perspective.  You will NOT get this is you simply read the Bible in English.  Once again as it was understood in Jesus' day among the great Bible teachers, study to learn and learn to do.  One needs to understand how God taught them THEN, thousands of years ago, so we can understand NOW.  Sex outside of marriage is a sin and, on top of that, it looks as if it is something God hates.  Wait till you see. Here's a number of links I promised in the podcast you many find very enlightening.   The first ones relate to articles from Jewish scholarly sources that show the Torah is silent on sex before marriage.   MY JEWISH LEARNING – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-views-on-premarital-sex/#:~:text=When%20sex%20is%20reserved%20for,within%20the%20context%20of%20kiddushin. AISH – Orthodox Jewish Teaching Site – https://aish.com/premarital-relations/ JEWISH VIRTUAL LIBRARY – https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/premarital-sex The second set of links show that premarital sex was common in Greece and Rome and ancient Egypt and Canaan. Link 1 - the practice of sex outside of marriage, abortion, and infanticide in ancient Greece and Rome – https://soc.history.ancient.narkive.com/DIO506S4/world-before-christ-infanticide-and-abortion-in-ancient-pagan-world Link 2 - WORLD HISTORY ENCYCLOPEDIA – https://www.worldhistory.org/article/934/love-sex-and-marriage-in-ancient-egypt/ Link 3 - THE NOT SO INNOCENTS ABROAD – https://www.thenotsoinnocentsabroad.com/blog/the-sex-lives-of-ancient-egyptians Link 4-6 – Ray Vander Laan's article on ancient pagan religion and practices – https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/fertility-cults-of-canaan https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/hellenism-center-of-the-universe https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/innocent-blood Link 7 - my research article for my master's degree in Biblical history.  The focus is on adoption in ancient Turkey (Asia Minor) but relates to infanticide in ancient Rome.  The bibliography is invaluable - https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0fg3wwbm9xohzq/Ephesus%20Adopt.pdf?dl=0 Ferret - on top of Tel Azeka in the Shephelah in Israel Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

God said to Adam and Eve that on the day they eat from the special tree they would die.  They did not die the day they ate the "forbidden" fruit.  Adam lived a long time - 930 years.  The Hebrew word for day is -  יום - YOM.  Does it mean a 24 hour period?  Does it mean one day from midnight to midnight?  If so then we have a problem with Gen. 2:4 - it clearly states that God created the heavens and the earth in a day.  This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. (Gen 2:4) But in Genesis 1 it took 6 days.  So, is this an issue with the word of God?  Did God make a mistake?  Did God mean it when He said to Adam and Eve they'd die the day they ate from the special tree?   Another thing we will consider is John 5:39.  Jesus says this in 24-30 A.D. to those Jews THEN that all scripture testifies of Himself.  What scripture did they have THEN?  All they had was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  I don't like calling it the Old Testament since there is nothing "old" about it - it is God's word!  The foundation of the Hebrew Scriptures is the Torah, the first five books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  As we focus on Genesis 3 we will see Jesus like never before as He said He is the only WAY to the Father.  In Genesis 3 we will see the GOSPEL as God inspired Moses to write it - the Gospel According to Moses.  Here's a link to a website that helps with understanding Hebrew words like יום - YOM - click the links to study the Hebrew word YOM … Link 1 from GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/Genesis-days.html Link 2 from Facts and Faith.com – http://factsandfaith.com/does-the-hebrew-word-yom-translated-day-in-genesis-1-mean-a-24-hour-day-or-something-else/   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

TRUTH NUGGETS 19 part 1 In this vidcast (video), "Against the Gods,"  we will again study God's word in its historical context.  However, this time we add a new perspective to our study.  We will continue to ask what those early believers heard and saw and understood when they first heard God's word.  But, we will also see how God comes against the pagan gods and man made religions in the ancient Middle East in very unique ways in His word.  This time we will see how God taught His people, the Hebrews, in ways that would make sense only to them in their day.  We would not recognize it as we read the Bible.  God is writing to a people thousands of years ago using concepts only they understood and not us.  Dr. John Currid, a highly credible Egyptologist, archaeologist, and theologian, wrote a book entitled, "Against the Gods."  His thesis in the book is to show us how we in the 21st century miss how God taught His people in their time using things they were familiar with.  Here's an example Dr. Currid uses his paper, "The Nature of Polemical Thought and Writing."  He writes ... A STRONG HAND - Some common expressions found in ancient Egyptian texts to describe the power of Pharaoh over his foes are that the monarch had “a strong hand,” or “he possessed a strong arm,” or he was “the one who destroyed his enemies with his arm.” It is ironic that the author of the book of Exodus assigns the same features to the Lord as he humiliates and destroys Pharaoh and Egypt (Ex. 3:19–20; 6:1; 7:4; 15:6, etc.).  James Hoffmeier, a famous Egyptologist, comments on this parallel, asking, “what better way for the Exodus traditions to describe God's victory over Pharaoh, and as a result his superiority, than to use Hebrew derivations or counterparts to Egyptian expressions that symbolized Egyptian royal power?”  For most of us this would have escaped us completely.  We are not familiar with ancient Egyptian writings nor are we into the ancient culture and customs on Egypt in the days of Moses.  But, God is clearly inspiring Moses to use an Egyptian idiom that the Hebrews would have been familiar with.  God uses this to come against Pharaoh and show His power over Pharaoh and all Egypt.  In this way God uses something Egyptian to teach His people about Himself and His character.  However, we will also see that these amazing lessons that made sense to those first believers also make sense to us today in the 21st century.   Ready?  Let's begin our first lesson.  Let's see how God uses Genesis 1:1 to teach His people coming out of Egypt that He is God and not Amun Ra.  Let's also see how this relates to us today, us being His people, and knowing that God never changes (Mal. 3:6).  He was the same 3400 years ago and today.   Link to John Currid's article referenced above - https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/polemic.html Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

God creates whales and seals and sharks and lobsters and walleye and catfish and cows and dogs and lions and tigers and pigs ... He creates all the "living creatures."  In Hebrew the word is נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  But, God also "forms" man and man is called נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  Are animals and man the same?  Today some say this is the case.  Today some say animals have the same rights as humans since animals and humans are the same.  How can this be?  Moreover, Jewish and Christian translators translate נֶפֶשׁ nephesh as soul!  For example in Deut. 6:5 it says we are to love God with are whole heart and soul or נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  So, the Bible in English could be used to justify the crazy world view that animals and humans are the same.  They are living creatures and they have souls!  How does God distinguish man from the animals?  Is there something we are missing?  You bet. Another thing we will study in lesson 9 is that God uses His Torah as a polemic against Egypt.  Again, a polemic is a strong truth claim attacking an opposing truth claim.  God is inspiring Moses to write a polemic against Egypt.  An example is in Egypt there is a god called Khum.   See the royalty free picture below of the god Khum from CLKER.com. He is a creator god and in one of the creation stories in ancient Egypt, Khum is called the POTTER in that Khum formed all creation, stars, planets, sky, the earth, the oceans, and all animals and plants and man and woman and all the gods on his potter wheel.  Here is a link to an article about the Egyptian god Khum that you may be interested in as an addition to your study -  https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/khnum/ But the Bible says that the God of the Bible is the potter and we are the clay.   But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isa 64:8) How does God come against Khum?  How does God inspire Moses to help the Hebrews coming out of Egypt see that Khum is not the potter, not the creator, and a false god?   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0