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Life doesn’t always give us time to plan—and that’s often where God’s provision becomes most visible. This Crosswalk Devotional centers on Exodus 12:31–39, reminding us that when preparation is impossible, God still provides exactly what we need. The Israelites left Egypt abruptly, carrying unfinished dough into an uncertain future, yet God faithfully supplied every step of their journey. Their hurried departure wasn’t an oversight—it was an invitation to trust. This Christian devotional speaks to seasons of disruption, loss, and uncertainty, when routines fall apart and control slips through our fingers. Whether facing sudden change, grief, or exhaustion, Scripture shows us that God uses moments of unpreparedness to reveal His character. When we can’t rely on our plans, we learn to rely on His promises. Highlights God often works powerfully in moments when we feel least prepared The Israelites’ rushed escape reveals God’s intentional provision Loss of control can become an invitation to deeper trust God’s provision is not limited by our circumstances or planning Seasons of uncertainty help us remember we are God’s children, not slaves Dependence on God strengthens faith and reveals His faithfulness When preparation fails, prayer becomes our lifeline Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: God Provides When We Cannot Prepare By Deidre Braley Bible Reading:During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. - Exodus 12:31-39 Our family recently traveled 300 miles north to spend the holidays at home, where my husband and I both grew up. Though we had planned for an extended stay, we did not sleep well on the first or second night, and on the following morning, my husband woke with a terrible bout of food poisoning. Exhausted, exasperated, and with a terribly achy back, I couldn’t imagine being away from home for even another moment. Before the sun had even risen, I announced, “That’s it. We need to leave—today.” In a rush, I threw apples and slippers and dog food into any spare bag I could find. I stuffed dirty clothes back into suitcases and rummaged in the fridge for anything that could qualify as breakfast for the kids. I promised myself we’d all brush our teeth later. And then, with our odds and ends shoved into every spare crevice of the car, we sped off, not even stopping to say goodbye to our family on the way out of town. All day, I felt unsettled. Our luggage was disorganized, we were subsisting on a bag of chocolate-covered espresso beans, and, as I discovered later, two out of our three kids weren’t even wearing socks! Our careful routines—and my sense of any control—had gone out the window. And it was deeply uncomfortable. It made me sympathize with the Israelites, who were pushed out of Egypt in such a hurry that they weren’t even finished making the dough for their bread; they swept it up onto their shoulders and lugged it off into the great unknown. They did not have time to prepare provisions for themselves. But their journey was more than just one long day down the interstate. It was forty years of wandering. Forty years of being unsettled. Forty years of not being in control. Forty years of having to depend on Someone Else to provide for them. I think their rapid departure from Egypt was an intentional move on God’s part. I believe he wanted to make sure they did not have time to prepare—not because he wanted them to feel uncomfortable, but because he wanted to show them that he would provide everything they needed. He wanted to show them what it meant to be the people of the One True Living God. He wanted to position them to understand that they were not slaves any longer: they were his children, and they could trust him to take care of them. Intersecting Faith & Life: There are times in our lives that we simply cannot prepare for. A loss of a job. The death of someone we love. Or maybe just a husband waking up with food poisoning. Though we might despise the situation and wish to cling to control with everything we’ve got (which are very natural and human responses!), in moments of disquiet, may we find the courage to look at God and ask him what he wishes to show us about his character in these times. When he puts us in positions of total abandon—where our illusions of control and carefully measured procedures have been stripped away—may we learn to pray: God, Show me your goodness. I have nothing. You are in control. I need you. Please provide. Amen. Further Reading:Throughout the Bible, people find themselves in situations where their only hope is to trust God to provide. Consider: Daniel telling Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his dream (Daniel 2) Joshua’s army marching around the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6) Mary learning that she will give birth to Jesus (Luke 1) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Story book - Egyptian mythology Isis and Osiris 01
A young man told me how deeply he had been hurt by a close family member, and how difficult it was for him to move on. He wished he could forgive and let it go, but it felt almost impossible. I told him that perhaps Hashem was giving him an opportunity to do something extremely difficult, and through that, to access an abundance of blessing waiting for him in Shamayim. We then opened the אור החיים in this week's parashah, Beshalach, on the pasuk " מה תצעק אלי ". There, he quotes from the זוהר הקדוש that when the Jewish people were trapped at the edge of the ים סוף , there was a מידת הדין upon them. They were considered unworthy of salvation because they too had been involved in idolatry like the Egyptians. The זוהר explains that to access the mercy needed to overcome מידת הדין , a person requires great merits. Since Hashem wanted the Jewish people to be saved, He gave them an opportunity to perform a heroic act. They were commanded by משה to march into the sea and rely on Hashem to split it. They would be entering the water until it reached their nostrils, placing their lives at risk. The great emunah and bitachon they demonstrated enabled them to overcome the דין and merit salvation. Similarly, the זוהר writes in parashat Vayera on the pasuk describing the destruction of Sedom, that " וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹקים אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת לוֹט ". The זוהר explains that when Hashem has a special love for a person, He sends him a "present." What is this present? A poor and needy individual who requires help. If מידת הדין would come upon that person, the act of chesed he performs can provide the merit needed to overcome it. When Hashem was bringing דין upon Sedom, He first gave Avraham a present in the form of the three angels who appeared as ordinary guests. Through Avraham's extraordinary hospitality, Lot would later be saved. This is the meaning of "Hashem remembered Avraham"—He remembered the chesed Avraham did for his guests. The mefarshim point out that in both cases—the Jewish people at the ים סוף and Avraham Avinu—the opportunities Hashem gave were extremely difficult. Avraham was on the third day after his brit milah, in intense pain at age ninety-nine, on the hottest day, yet he ran to serve his guests like royalty. The Jewish people were asked to walk into a raging sea, relying purely on Hashem. These were not simple acts; they required going far beyond normal limits. Yet they were gifts from Hashem that brought salvation. A man once told a rabbi about a relative who had to care for a sick patient around the clock, and how overwhelming it had become. The rabbi immediately shared these words of the זוהר and said that apparently Hashem has a special love for this relative, and is giving him a great gift through this opportunity. When a person is given a very difficult task, it is often a sign of Hashem's great love, granting him a chance to earn enormous merit. Shabbat Shalom.
In this invited lecture at Marist College, hosted by the Catholic Studies Program as part of their Marcelin Lecture Series, I narrate some of the key points and developments in the story of how we ended up with the current list of the Seven Deadly Sins, which are: Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Originally, these start out as the Eight Capital Vices, a list which includes sadness, acedia, and vainglory, and which does not include envy. So, how did we end up with the list we know today? The story involves Christian monks in the Egyptian desert, Benedictine monks, a reluctant pope, poets, scholastic professors, confessors, and mystics, and ranges over a millennium of thinkers and texts. In the process, I discuss some of the key players: Evagrius Ponticus, John Cassian, Gregory I, Alcuin, Peter Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, and Dante Alighieri This portion of the talk discusses the treatments of the seven deadly sins by poets ranging from Prudentius to Chaucer and Dante, and by mystics like St. John of the Cross. We also conclude by examining a few additional topics raised by questions from the audience. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
In the public eye, Najati Sidqi was known as a journalist and writer, a translator of Russian classics, and an outspoken opponent of Nazism. However, Sidqi concealed a critical component of his life from the world and his family. He was an underground activist for the Palestinian Communist Party, a risky and influential pursuit that took him to early Bolshevik Moscow, British courts and prison cells in Palestine, Nazi Germany, intrigue-heavy interwar Paris, and Civil War Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. Throughout his journey, Sidqi continued to write, even as he faced fascism, intense surveillance, active warzones, the death of friends, and exile. Memoirs of a Palestinian Communist: The Secret Life of Najati Sidqi (U Texas Press, 2025) brings Sidqi's incredible life and work to light, wryly narrating his international travels, his work as an activist, and his political dealings at a crucial moment for Palestine and the international fight against fascism. Translated from Arabic into English for the first time, it is a riveting firsthand account of an often-overlooked aspect of the history of the global left. Generous supplementary materials make the memoir accessible to students and non-specialist scholars: a preface by Sidqi's grandson, a foreword by renowned historian Joel Beinin, a translators' introduction that presents new research on Sidqi's family history, a map of his travels, and a timeline, as well as a bibliographic essay offering pointers for further research.In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Margaret Litvin to talk about The Memoir of Najati Sidqi as a powerful Palestinian life narrative and a groundbreaking collaborative translation project. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer. His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Send us a textWe look at the role of performance in government going back to the Egyptians, Akkadians and fast forwarding to FDR.
In the public eye, Najati Sidqi was known as a journalist and writer, a translator of Russian classics, and an outspoken opponent of Nazism. However, Sidqi concealed a critical component of his life from the world and his family. He was an underground activist for the Palestinian Communist Party, a risky and influential pursuit that took him to early Bolshevik Moscow, British courts and prison cells in Palestine, Nazi Germany, intrigue-heavy interwar Paris, and Civil War Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. Throughout his journey, Sidqi continued to write, even as he faced fascism, intense surveillance, active warzones, the death of friends, and exile. Memoirs of a Palestinian Communist: The Secret Life of Najati Sidqi (U Texas Press, 2025) brings Sidqi's incredible life and work to light, wryly narrating his international travels, his work as an activist, and his political dealings at a crucial moment for Palestine and the international fight against fascism. Translated from Arabic into English for the first time, it is a riveting firsthand account of an often-overlooked aspect of the history of the global left. Generous supplementary materials make the memoir accessible to students and non-specialist scholars: a preface by Sidqi's grandson, a foreword by renowned historian Joel Beinin, a translators' introduction that presents new research on Sidqi's family history, a map of his travels, and a timeline, as well as a bibliographic essay offering pointers for further research.In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Margaret Litvin to talk about The Memoir of Najati Sidqi as a powerful Palestinian life narrative and a groundbreaking collaborative translation project. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer. His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies
In the public eye, Najati Sidqi was known as a journalist and writer, a translator of Russian classics, and an outspoken opponent of Nazism. However, Sidqi concealed a critical component of his life from the world and his family. He was an underground activist for the Palestinian Communist Party, a risky and influential pursuit that took him to early Bolshevik Moscow, British courts and prison cells in Palestine, Nazi Germany, intrigue-heavy interwar Paris, and Civil War Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. Throughout his journey, Sidqi continued to write, even as he faced fascism, intense surveillance, active warzones, the death of friends, and exile. Memoirs of a Palestinian Communist: The Secret Life of Najati Sidqi (U Texas Press, 2025) brings Sidqi's incredible life and work to light, wryly narrating his international travels, his work as an activist, and his political dealings at a crucial moment for Palestine and the international fight against fascism. Translated from Arabic into English for the first time, it is a riveting firsthand account of an often-overlooked aspect of the history of the global left. Generous supplementary materials make the memoir accessible to students and non-specialist scholars: a preface by Sidqi's grandson, a foreword by renowned historian Joel Beinin, a translators' introduction that presents new research on Sidqi's family history, a map of his travels, and a timeline, as well as a bibliographic essay offering pointers for further research.In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Margaret Litvin to talk about The Memoir of Najati Sidqi as a powerful Palestinian life narrative and a groundbreaking collaborative translation project. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer. His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography
Author and journalist Aymann Ismail wants his kids to grow up with a real connection to their Egyptian roots, including speaking Arabic. For his family, that means committing to a private Islamic school -- and figuring out how to afford tuition.Reema sits down with Aymann as he walks through his family budget and the financial trade-offs that decision requires. They talk about what's at stake for him, financially and culturally, and why holding onto Arabic feels especially urgent right now.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you want to tell us what you thought about the episode or about a tricky financial decision you've made, email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or call 347-RING-TIU. And follow our new social accounts on Instagram and Tiktok @ThisIsUncomfortablePod
Author and journalist Aymann Ismail wants his kids to grow up with a real connection to their Egyptian roots, including speaking Arabic. For his family, that means committing to a private Islamic school -- and figuring out how to afford tuition.Reema sits down with Aymann as he walks through his family budget and the financial trade-offs that decision requires. They talk about what's at stake for him, financially and culturally, and why holding onto Arabic feels especially urgent right now.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you want to tell us what you thought about the episode or about a tricky financial decision you've made, email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or call 347-RING-TIU. And follow our new social accounts on Instagram and Tiktok @ThisIsUncomfortablePod
Led by God through a pillar of cloud and fire, the Israelites find themselves at the edge of the Red Sea, pursued by the Egyptian army. God miraculously parts the sea and saves His people. As they continue their journey through the wilderness, the Israelites face challenges and tests of faith. They grumble for water, and God sweetens the bitter water to quench their thirst. God provides manna, bread from heaven, to sustain them despite their complaints. All the while, they are headed ever closer to Mount Sinai.Bible ReadingsExodus 14:1-31Exodus 15:22-26Exodus 16:12-25Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://bibli...
What if healing did not have to take years? What if you could clear deep trauma, shift your beliefs, and even impact your lineage in a matter of moments? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with energy healer and spiritual guide Oliver Dolby, known as the Soul Doctor. Oliver shares how he went from lifelong asthma to complete healing, and how that awakening opened his ability to see and change energy in the aura, release etheric trauma, and support rapid transformation for his clients. We talk about why healing is often much faster than we think, how belief structures our reality, and how clearing your field can ripple healing out to your family, relationships, and even the collective. Oliver also shares about his connection with Isis and the Egyptian pantheon, the rise of divine feminine energy, and how current planetary energies are accelerating our awakening. If you are ready to move beyond repeating the same patterns, reclaim your heart, and remember how powerful you truly are, this episode will really speak to you. In this episode with Oliver Dolby, we explore: • Why healing does not have to take a long time • Oliver's miraculous journey healing asthma through energy work and homeopathy • How he learned to see energy, entities, and blockages in the aura over time • The Etheric Trauma Release Method and clearing deep emotional and energetic blocks • How changing your beliefs changes your body and your reality • Heart healing, mending "broken pieces" and the power of self love • A beautiful story of heart healing that transformed a family and lineage • Masculine and feminine energies within us and why balance is essential • Working with Isis and the Egyptian pantheon as a living spiritual "team" • The acceleration of time, 2025 energies, and why corruption is being revealed • How buried trauma is surfacing now for healing at both personal and collective levels • Practical ways to anchor more magic, wonder, and childlike awe in daily life About Oliver Dolby Oliver Dolby, known as the Soul Doctor, is an energy healer and spiritual guide with nearly three decades of experience helping people awaken to their true potential. As the creator of the Etheric Trauma Release Method, he specializes in clearing deep emotional and energetic blockages so people can live more freely, fully, and authentically. Through multidimensional awareness, spiritual insight, and precise energy work, Oliver supports clients in rapid and lasting transformation.
Egypt's January 25 revolution was 15 years ago. Since then many of its young leaders have been persecuted and the history of what happened distorted or denied. After spending over a decade in prison, the activist and writer Alaa Abd El-Fattah was finally released from prison in September, and allowed to travel outside Egypt in December. We are re-running an episode we did about Alaa's 2021 book You Have Not Yet Been Defeated, and other writing on the Egyptian uprising and its aftermath. Show Notes Alaa Abd El-Fattah's You Have Not Yet Been Defeated was translated by a collective, and is out from Fizcarraldo Editions in the UK. A US edition is forthcoming in March 2022 from Seven Stories Press. There is also an Italian translation by Monica Ruocco.Ahmed Douma's second poetry collection, Curly, was set for release in September 2021 by Dar Maraya. But on the eve of its publication, state security officials confiscated copies of the book. Read Elliott Colla and Ahmed Hassan's co-translations of a poem from this collection, and an excerpt from Douma's “Blasphemy,” on ArabLit. Basma Abdelaziz's Here is a Body, which chronicles the Rabaa massacre and its aftermath, was published in Jonathan Wright's translation by Hoopoe Fiction. You can read an excerpt on the Hoopoe website.Also, join our #bulaqbookquiz for a chance to win a release from one of ten participating publishers. Send your answers to bulaq@sowt.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Parshas Beshalach 5786 ספר שמות פרק יד פסוק יג ויאמר משה אל העם אל תיראו התיצבו וראו את ישועת יקוק אשר יעשה לכם היום כי אשר ראיתם את מצרים היום לא תספו לראתם עוד עד עולם׃ Sefer Shemot Chapter 14 Verse 13 But Moses said to the people, “Have no fear! Stand by, and witness the deliverance that Hashem will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.
The Bible is full of hidden gems and Exodus 13 is one of them. This passage gives us profound insights into the meaning of redemption and helps us understand what it means that we have been redeemed by Christ. Join us for this important study in Exodus 13! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Exodus 13 lays out for us the principle of particular redemption. While that's definitely a weighty idea, it is key to understanding who we are in Christ. So, let's think back to the final plague of Exodus 12, what "price" did the Egyptians have to pay for the redemption of Israel? Did any of the Jews have to pay this same price? Why not? 2. According to verse 12, who belonged to the Lord? Why? 3. The podcast explained that if God saves a person from destruction, they owe their lives to Him. In light of the final plague, what did these Jews owe to God? How does this principle relate to us who have been saved through Christ's death on our behalf? 4. The podcast referred to Exodus 34:19-20 for the redemption price that parents were to pay the Lord for their children. What was this price and why did they have to pay it? 5. The podcast also mentions Numbers 18:16 and Deuteronomy 15:19. What do these passages teach us about the principle of redemption? Why were some redeemed and some not? 6. All of these redemption passages teach the principle that a redemption price must be paid. Amazingly, New Testament tells us that the Father has given His Son Jesus to pay our redemption price! If Jesus is our redemption payment, do we still have to make that payment too? Why or why not? Why is Jesus' payment sufficient for the rest of His spiritual family? 7. In Exodus 13:8, why was the father to instruct his children of the Passover by saying "It is because of what the Lord did for *me* when *I* came out of Egypt?" Why should the father say *he* came out of Egypt when only that first generation did? How would this identify future generations with that first generation of the Exodus? How does this help us understand the New Testament teaching that we were in Christ when He made His payment for us? 8. In verse 19, when Moses brings Joseph's bones back to the Promised Land, what principle can we learn about faith and trusting God? 9. When God went before the people as a Pillar of Smoke & Fire, what did He presence signify? How was this different from the fact that God is everywhere at all times (i.e. omnipresence)? Could these people have been assured of God's presence if they went off and did whatever they wanted? In our life today, how do we need to walk to be assured of God's presence in our lives? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
REM-SS85-08 The Torah tells that as Beneh Yisrael stood at the shores of the sea, and they saw the Egyptian army pursuing them, they cried out to G-d – "Va'yis'aku Beneh Yisrael El Hashem" (14:10). Rashi comments: "Tafesu Umanut Abotam" – "They took hold of their forefathers' craft." Meaning, Beneh Yisrael here followed the example set for them by the patriarchs, who likewise prayed to G-d. Rashi then proceeds to cite verses from the Book of Bereshit showing that the three patriarchs – Abraham, Yishak and Yaakob – prayed. When reading Rashi's brief remark, we must wonder what point he wishes to make, which difficulty in the text he is trying to resolve. Why must we be informed that Beneh Yisrael's prayers at the shores of the sea followed the patriarchs' example? How does this enhance our understanding of the text? Probing a bit deeper, Rashi's comments become even more perplexing. As mentioned, Rashi cites verses that speak of the patriarchs praying. Surprisingly, however, Rashi specifically does not cite the more obvious sources of the patriarchs' prayers. Instead of pointing to Abraham's prayer on behalf of the city of Sedom, Rashi instead brings the verse that tells of Abraham returning the next day to the spot where he had prayed for Sedom (Bereshit 19:27). Instead of noting Yishak's prayer for a child, Rashi instead cites the Torah's vague description of Yishak "conversing" in the field (Bereshit 24:63), which the Sages interpret as a reference to prayer. And instead of mentioning Yaakob's plea for help when Esav was approaching with an army, Rashi brings the verse that tells of Yaakob's evening "encounter" ("Va'yifga" – 28:11), which is understood to mean that he prayed. Why did Rashi not cite the clearest references to the patriarchs' prayers? More generally, why did Rashi need to bring textual proof to the fact that our righteous Abot (patriarchs) prayed? Do we not already know this? The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, 1902-1994) answered all these questions by establishing that Beneh Yisrael's cries were not actual cries for help. We must remember that these events transpired after G-d had brought the powerful Egyptian Empire to its knees with ten miraculous plagues, after Moshe had informed the people that G-d was bringing them to their homeland, and after they had taken the Egyptians' possessions with them to bring to the Holy Land. They knew that G-d would help them and save them from the pursuing Egyptian army. They did not have a doubt. (Although the Torah relates that the people turned to Moshe in panic, asking why he had taken them out of Egypt to perish, Rashi explains that this was a different group than the group who responded by praying.) They had complete faith in G-d. This was the point that Rashi wished to clarify – that the people prayed even though they were confident that they would be saved. These prayers were not a prayer for help, for rather "Umanut Abotam" – the "craft" taught to them by their forebears. A person with a profession goes to work every day. He doesn't show up only when he runs out of money; he knows that he needs to tend to his profession consistently. The same is true of our connection to Hashem. We cannot build this connection only by turning to him when we face some kind of problem. We need to practice the "craft," or "profession," of prayer each and every day, even when we have no particular, pressing issue that concerns us. This is what Rashi is teaching us. Beneh Yisrael turned to Hashem in prayer not because they were frightened, but rather because prayer was an "Umanut" – a "profession," something that they knew they must consistently do. And they learned this "profession" from the patriarchs. Abraham prayed even after Sedom was destroyed, when he could no longer save the city. Yishak prayed in the field regularly. And Yaakob prayed before going to sleep. These weren't prayers for help, but rather part of the Abot's ongoing, persistent efforts to build their relationship with Hashem. This is the "profession" that they taught us, and that we must follow. The Lubavitcher Rebbe applied this idea to the Misva of Torah study. This obligation is not limited to practical knowledge. It goes without saying that in order to practice Judaism properly, we must learn and familiarize ourselves with Halacha, and practical Halacha must certainly take priority in our Torah curricula. However, this is not the sole objective of Torah study. We are required to learn as much as we can even about subjects that are not practically applicable. Torah learning is not only about knowledge, but also about our connection to Hashem who gave us the Torah. When we pray and learn Torah not only in moments of need, but with constancy and devotion, we cultivate a living, daily bond with Hashem – and this is the lifelong, sacred "profession" which we've inherited from our righteous forebears.
n this invited lecture at Marist College, hosted by the Catholic Studies Program as part of their Marcelin Lecture Series, I narrate some of the key points and developments in the story of how we ended up with the current list of the Seven Deadly Sins, which are: Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Originally, these start out as the Eight Capital Vices, a list which includes sadness, acedia, and vainglory, and which does not include envy. So, how did we end up with the list we know today? The story involves Christian monks in the Egyptian desert, Benedictine monks, a reluctant pope, poets, scholastic professors, confessors, and mystics, and ranges over a millennium of thinkers and texts. In the process, I discuss some of the key players: Evagrius Ponticus, John Cassian, Gregory I, Alcuin, Peter Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, and Dante Alighieri This portion of the talk discusses the origin of the eight capital vices that precede the schema of the seven deadly sins. We look first at Evagrius Ponticus and then at John Cassian, both important monastic writers. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Desert Imaginations: A History of Saharanism and Its Radical Consequences (U California Press, 2025) traces the cultural and intellectual histories that have informed the prevalent ideas of deserts across the globe. The book argues that Saharanism—a globalizing imaginary that perceives desert spaces as empty, exploitable, and dangerous—has been at the center of all desert-focused enterprises. Encompassing spiritual practices, military thinking, sexual fantasies, experiential quests, extractive economies, and experimental schemes, among other projects, Saharanism has shaped the way deserts not only are constructed intellectually but are acted upon. From nuclear testing to border walls, and much more, Brahim El Guabli articulates some of Saharanism's consequential manifestations across different deserts. Desert Imaginations draws on the abundant historical literature and cultural output in multiple languages and across disciplines to delineate the parameters of Saharanism. Against Saharanism's powerful and reductive vision of deserts, the book rehabilitates a tradition of desert eco-care that has been at work in desert Indigenous people's literary, artistic, scholarly, and ritualistic practices. In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Brahim El Guabli to talk about Saharanism, energy extraction, borders, and the ways deserts have been imagined as zones of sacrifice and permission. Brahim El Guabli also reflected on how these imaginaries shape migration, war, and ecological futures—from North Africa to Gaza. Brahim El Guabli is Associate Professor of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns Hopkins University. He is author of Moroccan Other-Archives: History and Citizenship after State Violence. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer based in Boston. He is the translator of Hassan Akram's A Plan to Save the World (Sandorf Passage, 2026). His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Desert Imaginations: A History of Saharanism and Its Radical Consequences (U California Press, 2025) traces the cultural and intellectual histories that have informed the prevalent ideas of deserts across the globe. The book argues that Saharanism—a globalizing imaginary that perceives desert spaces as empty, exploitable, and dangerous—has been at the center of all desert-focused enterprises. Encompassing spiritual practices, military thinking, sexual fantasies, experiential quests, extractive economies, and experimental schemes, among other projects, Saharanism has shaped the way deserts not only are constructed intellectually but are acted upon. From nuclear testing to border walls, and much more, Brahim El Guabli articulates some of Saharanism's consequential manifestations across different deserts. Desert Imaginations draws on the abundant historical literature and cultural output in multiple languages and across disciplines to delineate the parameters of Saharanism. Against Saharanism's powerful and reductive vision of deserts, the book rehabilitates a tradition of desert eco-care that has been at work in desert Indigenous people's literary, artistic, scholarly, and ritualistic practices. In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Brahim El Guabli to talk about Saharanism, energy extraction, borders, and the ways deserts have been imagined as zones of sacrifice and permission. Brahim El Guabli also reflected on how these imaginaries shape migration, war, and ecological futures—from North Africa to Gaza. Brahim El Guabli is Associate Professor of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns Hopkins University. He is author of Moroccan Other-Archives: History and Citizenship after State Violence. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer based in Boston. He is the translator of Hassan Akram's A Plan to Save the World (Sandorf Passage, 2026). His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/native-american-studies
Today's podcast has an "*" next to Exodus 12 because this chapter is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. It shows us God's work of redemption specifically through the blood of a lamb. This key chapter points us to Christ who is our true redemption. Join us for this study in this key chapter! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. The podcast mentioned that Exodus 12 is one of the most important chapters in the Old Testament. Why do you think this is the case? 2. Early in the podcast, it explains what the term "Passover" means and what it refers to. What explanation was given? How does Isaiah 31:5 help us understand the concept of "sparing someone"? 3. How does the Passover event show us what redemption looks like? In light of what we've seen so far in our study of God's Word, who are some other people back in Genesis who were redeemed by God? What were they redeemed to or for? 4. 1st Corinthians 5:7 calls Jesus our Passover lamb. What were some of the ways discussed in the podcast for how the Passover meal pictured Jesus and His life and ministry? 5. What were the specific steps given in verses 3 – 12, that these first Jews were to follow with that first Passover? What promise did the Lord give to them in verse 13? 6. We know later from passages like Hebrews 3:16 and Hebrews 4:3 that these people were not truly going to follow and obey the Lord throughout their lives. What explanation did the podcast give for how a person could enter into a physical covenant with the Lord but not automatically be in a spiritual covenant with Him? What has to happen to be in a true, spiritual covenant with the Lord? 7. Why were the people commanded to wait inside in Exodus 12:23? What do you think it would have been like, to be safe inside while hearing the agony of people outside as God's judgment fell upon them? 8. According to the podcast, what might be some reasons why God brought this judgment of death upon the Egyptians? How do we see God's mercy leading up to this judgment? How did the people respond to God's warnings? 9. What reason was given in the podcast for why the Lord might have brought the death of the firstborn? How did this finally break the Egyptian hold on the Jewish slaves? 10. Although this passage is about the physical redemption of Israel, it ultimately points to our spiritual redemption that is found in Christ. What is this spiritual redemption that Paul talks about in Ephesians 1:7? What is its basis? What does it accomplish? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
What took you so long? Lois gets possessed by an Egyptian goddess named Isis, real classic Smallville plot line, who is needing to resurrect her husband Osiris. Nope, it's not Black Adam like it should be but who cares? Not us, that's for sure. Oliver starts acting a little more douchey, so Tess calls him out on it. Clark respects that and wants to be bros with Tess. Clark decides to finally come out of the closet to Lois. The last ten minutes of this episode is a pure masterpiece
This week on the Exciting & New podcast, Jason, Andy and Dana welcome Mike back on the show to discuss the 1986 fantasy flick The Highlander. In this time-spanning epic, a French dude plays a Scottish dude. A Scottish dude plays an Egyptian dude disguised as a Spanish dude, and Mr Krabs plays the bad guy. In a movie that purports that there can only be One, there does seem to be a lot of these guys kicking around. There are some women in this movie, but they are just there so there is no mistaking the sexuality of the protagonist, because if they weren't there, mistakes would be made. Enjoy the podcast. Jason, Andy and Dana will discuss a 1986 movie weekly, breaking down all the nonsense there within. The 3 hosts all work together and everyone else around them was getting really annoyed at all the movie talk, so they decided to annoy the world in podcast form.Check out previous seasons to hear them discuss 1982, 1983, 1984 & 1985 movies, as well as a full season of Love Boat episodes (if that is your thing). Plus one-off specials and a weekly mini "what are we watching" podcast.#jezoo74 #aegonzo1 #danacapoferri #exciting_new
EPISODE 155 | Mummy Mia: King Tut's Tomb Guest: Neil Laird, Emmy-nominated TV producer (Discovery, BBC, PBS, History, National Geographic), author of the Prime Time novel series Since its discovery in 1922, the tomb of King Tut has captivated people, with research simply leading to more questions? How did he die? Was he murdered? Was he really born in Arizona and later moved to Babylonia? And is there a curse? Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee. Review us here or on IMDb. And seriously, subscribe, will ya? Like, just do it. SECTIONS 03:09 - The discovery, the Curse of the Pharaohs, the Toxic Tomb theory 13:47 - The first autopsy (1925), the Boy King; mummies were not worth much; the second autopsy with X-rays (1968), was he murdered?; the third autopsy (2005) with CAT scans; accidental death?, walking canes, did he have a clubfoot? 24:06 - A new investigation, new evidence, a new theory 30:44 - Hidden chambers in the tomb, possibly Nefertiti, underground scans 36:01 - The mass appeal of historical treasures, Deir el-Medina - the lost village of the artisans and the Great Pit 43:25 - The Egyptians and the West have an uneasy history, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) 45:35 - Egypt is his obsession Music by Fanette Ronjat More Info Episode 59 - Atlas Sank: Titanic Conspiracies The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Prime Time novels Neil Laird on IMDb Lost Treasures of Egypt (2019-2025) Tutankhamun: Secrets of the Tomb (2022) Tut's Toxic Tomb (2022) Tut: A Century of Secrets (2022) Tut's Lost City Revealed (2022) Valley of the Queens (2021) Valley of the Kings: The Lost Tombs (2021) Lost Tombs of the Pyramids (2020) Cleopatra: Sex, Lies and Secrets (2020) Tut's Final Secrets (2020) Lost Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs (2019) Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence (2017) Egypt: What Lies Beneath (2011) National Geographic: King Tut's Final Secrets (2005) Into the Great Pyramid (2002) Saving the Sphinx (1998) Follow us on social: Facebook X (Twitter) Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of a Gold Quill Award, Gold MarCom Award, AVA Digital Award Gold, Silver Davey Award, and Communicator Award of Excellence, and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. PRAGUE TIMES - A city is more than just a location - it's a kaleidoscope of history, places, people and trends. This podcast looks at Prague, in the center of Europe, from a number of perspectives, including what it is now, what is has been and where it's going. It's Prague THEN, Prague NOW, Prague LATER
Desert Imaginations: A History of Saharanism and Its Radical Consequences (U California Press, 2025) traces the cultural and intellectual histories that have informed the prevalent ideas of deserts across the globe. The book argues that Saharanism—a globalizing imaginary that perceives desert spaces as empty, exploitable, and dangerous—has been at the center of all desert-focused enterprises. Encompassing spiritual practices, military thinking, sexual fantasies, experiential quests, extractive economies, and experimental schemes, among other projects, Saharanism has shaped the way deserts not only are constructed intellectually but are acted upon. From nuclear testing to border walls, and much more, Brahim El Guabli articulates some of Saharanism's consequential manifestations across different deserts. Desert Imaginations draws on the abundant historical literature and cultural output in multiple languages and across disciplines to delineate the parameters of Saharanism. Against Saharanism's powerful and reductive vision of deserts, the book rehabilitates a tradition of desert eco-care that has been at work in desert Indigenous people's literary, artistic, scholarly, and ritualistic practices. In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Brahim El Guabli to talk about Saharanism, energy extraction, borders, and the ways deserts have been imagined as zones of sacrifice and permission. Brahim El Guabli also reflected on how these imaginaries shape migration, war, and ecological futures—from North Africa to Gaza. Brahim El Guabli is Associate Professor of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns Hopkins University. He is author of Moroccan Other-Archives: History and Citizenship after State Violence. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer based in Boston. He is the translator of Hassan Akram's A Plan to Save the World (Sandorf Passage, 2026). His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory
Desert Imaginations: A History of Saharanism and Its Radical Consequences (U California Press, 2025) traces the cultural and intellectual histories that have informed the prevalent ideas of deserts across the globe. The book argues that Saharanism—a globalizing imaginary that perceives desert spaces as empty, exploitable, and dangerous—has been at the center of all desert-focused enterprises. Encompassing spiritual practices, military thinking, sexual fantasies, experiential quests, extractive economies, and experimental schemes, among other projects, Saharanism has shaped the way deserts not only are constructed intellectually but are acted upon. From nuclear testing to border walls, and much more, Brahim El Guabli articulates some of Saharanism's consequential manifestations across different deserts. Desert Imaginations draws on the abundant historical literature and cultural output in multiple languages and across disciplines to delineate the parameters of Saharanism. Against Saharanism's powerful and reductive vision of deserts, the book rehabilitates a tradition of desert eco-care that has been at work in desert Indigenous people's literary, artistic, scholarly, and ritualistic practices. In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Brahim El Guabli to talk about Saharanism, energy extraction, borders, and the ways deserts have been imagined as zones of sacrifice and permission. Brahim El Guabli also reflected on how these imaginaries shape migration, war, and ecological futures—from North Africa to Gaza. Brahim El Guabli is Associate Professor of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns Hopkins University. He is author of Moroccan Other-Archives: History and Citizenship after State Violence. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer based in Boston. He is the translator of Hassan Akram's A Plan to Save the World (Sandorf Passage, 2026). His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies
Desert Imaginations: A History of Saharanism and Its Radical Consequences (U California Press, 2025) traces the cultural and intellectual histories that have informed the prevalent ideas of deserts across the globe. The book argues that Saharanism—a globalizing imaginary that perceives desert spaces as empty, exploitable, and dangerous—has been at the center of all desert-focused enterprises. Encompassing spiritual practices, military thinking, sexual fantasies, experiential quests, extractive economies, and experimental schemes, among other projects, Saharanism has shaped the way deserts not only are constructed intellectually but are acted upon. From nuclear testing to border walls, and much more, Brahim El Guabli articulates some of Saharanism's consequential manifestations across different deserts. Desert Imaginations draws on the abundant historical literature and cultural output in multiple languages and across disciplines to delineate the parameters of Saharanism. Against Saharanism's powerful and reductive vision of deserts, the book rehabilitates a tradition of desert eco-care that has been at work in desert Indigenous people's literary, artistic, scholarly, and ritualistic practices. In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Brahim El Guabli to talk about Saharanism, energy extraction, borders, and the ways deserts have been imagined as zones of sacrifice and permission. Brahim El Guabli also reflected on how these imaginaries shape migration, war, and ecological futures—from North Africa to Gaza. Brahim El Guabli is Associate Professor of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns Hopkins University. He is author of Moroccan Other-Archives: History and Citizenship after State Violence. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer based in Boston. He is the translator of Hassan Akram's A Plan to Save the World (Sandorf Passage, 2026). His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies
Desert Imaginations: A History of Saharanism and Its Radical Consequences (U California Press, 2025) traces the cultural and intellectual histories that have informed the prevalent ideas of deserts across the globe. The book argues that Saharanism—a globalizing imaginary that perceives desert spaces as empty, exploitable, and dangerous—has been at the center of all desert-focused enterprises. Encompassing spiritual practices, military thinking, sexual fantasies, experiential quests, extractive economies, and experimental schemes, among other projects, Saharanism has shaped the way deserts not only are constructed intellectually but are acted upon. From nuclear testing to border walls, and much more, Brahim El Guabli articulates some of Saharanism's consequential manifestations across different deserts. Desert Imaginations draws on the abundant historical literature and cultural output in multiple languages and across disciplines to delineate the parameters of Saharanism. Against Saharanism's powerful and reductive vision of deserts, the book rehabilitates a tradition of desert eco-care that has been at work in desert Indigenous people's literary, artistic, scholarly, and ritualistic practices. In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy sat with Brahim El Guabli to talk about Saharanism, energy extraction, borders, and the ways deserts have been imagined as zones of sacrifice and permission. Brahim El Guabli also reflected on how these imaginaries shape migration, war, and ecological futures—from North Africa to Gaza. Brahim El Guabli is Associate Professor of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns Hopkins University. He is author of Moroccan Other-Archives: History and Citizenship after State Violence. Ibrahim Fawzy is an Egyptian literary translator and writer based in Boston. He is the translator of Hassan Akram's A Plan to Save the World (Sandorf Passage, 2026). His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history
Ever heard of the unsuccessful Dutch painter who decided to humiliate his critics by forging Vermeers, which the artworld subsequently dubbed 'masterpieces'? Or the businessman who bought a Marc Chagall painting that he displayed with pride for years, before a television investigation revealed to his horror that it was a fake?Today we're exploring the scientific techniques used to reveal forged artworks - and bring down scammers still trying to make millions from fake masterpieces.Jehane Ragai is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Cairo, with a passion for science matched by her love of arts and culture. Early in her career Jehane helped analyse the Great Sphinx of Giza and later became fascinated by the world of art forgery, leading to her acclaimed book, ‘The Scientist and the Forger'. Her life has not been without its difficulties, but - perhaps unsurprisingly, as the daughter of renowned Egyptian feminist Doria Shafik - she's not one to shy away from a challenge. And as she tells Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Jehane feels priveleged to have been able to integrate her twin passions into a career; advice she now passes on to her students.Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Lucy TaylorA BBC Studios production for Radio 4
Human civilization is built on pyramids. Not just the stone ones baked under the Egyptian sun, but invisible structures of thought, meaning, and awareness.From raw impulse to true revelation, most people never make the climb. Despite unprecedented access to information and powerful tools, society still operates at the lowest levels of thinking. Not learning, but repeating. Not understanding, but regurgitating.Why that is, and what it takes to move upward, is the question.
So, we're deep into the plagues and we're seeing God's work to deliver His people, and while Exodus 10 & 11 are both key chapters, they're short enough to combine into one study. So, today we'll cover both chapters and see God's power in delivering His people. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. In Exodus 10:2, what Moses was supposed to do with the record of the event of the Exodus? What reason does the Lord give Moses for doing this? How do Jewish people still carry this out today? 2. As we consider the events leading up to the Exodus, how has God demonstrated His authority over all nations? 3. What can we learn of the Lord's attitude towards the importance of women's worship in Exodus 10:9-11? 4. Why was Pharaoh's repentance in verse 16-17 a false repentance? What would true repentance have looked like? How do people often give similar surface-remorse but not true repentance? 5. Why do you think verse 21 describes the plague of darkness as something that could be "felt"? 6. The plague of darkness zeroed in on Pharaoh who was supposedly the son of the sun; or more specifically he was supposed to be the son of Ra, who was supposed to be the god of the sun. What impact would this have on the people's view of Pharaoh if even he could not get the sun to shine? 7. What window do we see into the workings of God, that He would specifically address the strongholds that are keeping people in bondage? Are there areas that the Lord has addressed in your life that He is calling you to bring under His authority? 8. What explanation did the podcast give as to why Exodus 11:8 is not a contradiction with Exodus 10:29? 9. Exodus 11:4 says that Moses' reputation was increasing among the people. How did God use Moses' faithfulness in the midst of suffering to increase Moses' impact on the people of God? How does He do this in our lives today? In your own life, how has your faithfulness in suffering deepened your impact on those around you? 10. In the wrap-up portion of the podcast, it points out that although the Egyptians were worshipping their gods, this worship was not valid. How does this help us answer a common opinion that God will honor sincere worship, even if it's not directed towards Him? 11. The podcast also mentions that all these plagues show us the lengths that God has gone through to establish His people. As New Covenant believers, what lengths has He gone through to establish His New Covenant community? 12. As we reflect on the plagues, what kind of mental gymnastics do you think Pharaoh and his servants went through, to dismiss what they were seeing? 13. What would it have been like, to be an Israelite, and witnessing all of this? How does God's reliability impact the way we believe God's promises and how we live in light of them? 14. Why do we sometimes struggle to believe God, even when He's proven Himself so trustworthy? How can we respond faithfully to God and His revelation? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
When you think of Mummies you might think of the ancient Egyptians and their sarcophagi, but these 300 year old mummified bees have just as much a right to be remembered alongside Tutankhamun as anyone else! It's the who, when, why, how and WOW of Mum-bees! Check Wow in the World activities at https://bit.ly/3V5YCgw. Originally aired 1/15/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
They tried to buy him off, but it didn't workhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast
The Exodus was for keeps. Although Pharaoh regretted his decision to allow the Israelites to leave and chased them down, setting up a stand-off at the Sea of Reeds, once the sea split for the Israelites and crashed down upon the Egyptians, the Israelites were forever freed from the clutches of Egyptian bondage. Following that […]
In this invited lecture at Marist College, hosted by the Catholic Studies Program as part of their Marcelin Lecture Series, I narrate some of the key points and developments in the story of how we ended up with the current list of the Seven Deadly Sins, which are: Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Originally, these start out as the Eight Capital Vices, a list which includes sadness, acedia, and vainglory, and which does not include envy. So, how did we end up with the list we know today? The story involves Christian monks in the Egyptian desert, Benedictine monks, a reluctant pope, poets, scholastic professors, confessors, and mystics, and ranges over a millennium of thinkers and texts. In the process, I discuss some of the key players: Evagrius Ponticus, John Cassian, Gregory I, Alcuin, Peter Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, and Dante Alighieri This portion of the talk discusses the origin of the eight capital vices that precede the schema of the seven deadly sins. We look first at Evagrius Ponticus and then at John Cassian, both important monastic writers. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Ancient Roots of Life Ep 32In this episode of the Ancient Roots of Life and Wellness podcast, hosts JT and Josh delve into the intriguing genealogies found in Genesis, particularly focusing on the kings of Edom mentioned in Genesis 36. They discuss the implications of these genealogies, questioning the authorship of Genesis and whether Moses could have known about future kings in Israel, especially since he died before entering the Promised Land. The conversation shifts to the significance of the Septuagint and the Masoretic text, exploring how different translations can alter interpretations of biblical events. They also touch on the historical context of the Israelites and their relationship with surrounding nations, pondering the timeline of events leading to the establishment of kings in Israel and the implications of these narratives on modern beliefs about lineage and faith. In this episode, Josh and JT delve into the intriguing connections between ancient civilizations, pyramids, and their cultural significance. They discuss the retrofitting of Egyptian tombs and the possibility that pyramids served as altars for sun worship rather than mere burial sites. The conversation shifts to the architectural similarities between pyramids in the Americas and those in Egypt, suggesting a deeper connection between ancient cultures and their worship practices. They also explore the influence of lunar and solar worship in various civilizations, including the Sadducees and the Ottoman Empire, and how these beliefs have permeated modern interpretations of scripture. The discussion then transitions to the impact of color and frequency on health and well-being. Josh shares insights on the benefits of copper, its role in the body, and how it can influence pH levels and inflammation. They touch on the significance of colors in clothing and their psychological effects, as well as the importance of sound frequencies in promoting plant growth and overall health.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-s-mix-tape--6579902/support.Please support our sponsor Modern Roots Life: https://modernrootslife.com/?bg_ref=rVWsBoOfcFJESUS SAID THERE WOULD BE HATERS Shirts: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/mens-shirts/WOMEN'S SHIRTS: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/womens-shirts/JT's Hats: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/hats/
Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women who changed paths to design and manufacture their own shoes in their own countries. A former environmental engineer in India and former interior designer from Egypt explain how they found their passion.Anita Soundar was a chemical engineer before deciding to follow her need for self-expression and footwear design. While working at her father's small factory in Chenai she studied footwear design from Italy to the Netherlands to China, learning about design to pattern making, hand crafting to mass production. In 2023 she won a global footwear award for natural material vegan footwear and an International Design Award in 2025. Her quirky designs for her company The Disobedience are made from natural materials like cotton, tomato and banana skins, have featured in high-fashion magazines like Elle India.Reem Hamed is Egyptian. She trained as an architect and set up an interior design company before turning to shoe design and manufacture. Her shoes are handcrafted and embroidered by artisanal Egyptian women. She says “comfort is not just about the way they make your feet feel… Comfort is a state of mind.” She's wants to ensure the craftswomen that make shoes for her company, Ramla, are valued, working in good conditions and passionate about what they do.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Reem Hamed, credit Malak Hammouda. (R) Anita Soundar credit Team Disobedience.)
In this Parshas Bo review, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the final three plagues (locusts, darkness, death of the firstborn) and the dramatic prelude to the Exodus. The core message centers on chen (favor/grace): despite centuries of enslavement and hatred, the Jewish people suddenly found favor in Egyptian eyes ("Vayiten Hashem et chen ha'am be'einei Mitzrayim"), leading them to freely give gold, silver, and valuables as they left.The rabbi explains this reversal was not due to assimilation or currying favor—quite the opposite. The Jews remained distinct: they did not change their names, language, or clothing (lo shin'u et shemam, et leshonam, et malbusham). Their steadfast commitment to identity and Hashem earned divine favor, turning enemies into benefactors overnight. Assimilation backfires; authentic pride in Judaism draws chen from Hashem, which then reflects in the eyes of others.The episode ties this to modern life: don't hide Judaism (yarmulke, tzitzit, tefillin) out of fear—wear it proudly as a badge of honor. True Jewish pride comes from living mitzvot openly, not blending in. The rabbi shares personal stories (putting on tefillin publicly in airports, inspiring others) and urges embracing Jewish identity without shame, as Hashem controls the "favorability knob."_____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on January 25, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 26, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #TenPlagues, #Bo, #Favor, #Pride, #Exodus, #Miracles, #StayDistinct, #AuthenticJudaism ★ Support this podcast ★
In this Parshas Bo review, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the final three plagues (locusts, darkness, death of the firstborn) and the dramatic prelude to the Exodus. The core message centers on chen (favor/grace): despite centuries of enslavement and hatred, the Jewish people suddenly found favor in Egyptian eyes ("Vayiten Hashem et chen ha'am be'einei Mitzrayim"), leading them to freely give gold, silver, and valuables as they left.The rabbi explains this reversal was not due to assimilation or currying favor—quite the opposite. The Jews remained distinct: they did not change their names, language, or clothing (lo shin'u et shemam, et leshonam, et malbusham). Their steadfast commitment to identity and Hashem earned divine favor, turning enemies into benefactors overnight. Assimilation backfires; authentic pride in Judaism draws chen from Hashem, which then reflects in the eyes of others.The episode ties this to modern life: don't hide Judaism (yarmulke, tzitzit, tefillin) out of fear—wear it proudly as a badge of honor. True Jewish pride comes from living mitzvot openly, not blending in. The rabbi shares personal stories (putting on tefillin publicly in airports, inspiring others) and urges embracing Jewish identity without shame, as Hashem controls the "favorability knob."_____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on January 25, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 26, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #TenPlagues, #Bo, #Favor, #Pride, #Exodus, #Miracles, #StayDistinct, #AuthenticJudaism ★ Support this podcast ★
Exodus 9 is not your run of the mill "Plagues of Biblical Proportions" story. No indeed! And as we study Exodus 9 together, we'll see that it's filled with several points and insights that show us what was really going on with these plagues, why Pharaoh's repentance didn't cut it, and even some key principles about our own pursuit of the Lord. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. This podcast episode began with a quick overview of the Egyptian gods that were defeated by the Lord. What does the fact that the Lord dominating their supposed sphere of sovereignty demonstrate about His reality and their falsehood? 2. The podcast mentions that the "livestock" was destroyed in verse 4 and again in verse 19. What were some of the possible reasons given in the podcast as to why this is the case? How does this help us understand occasional gaps when translating ancient Hebrew into modern English? 3. What did the fact that the plagues came upon the Egyptians and not the Jews show about the power and plan of God for His people? How did this fact show that these weren't natural phenomenon that Moses was trying to co-opt and claim to be of the Lord? 4. Sometimes we think that everyone from these days were really just ignorant people who were overrun with superstitions. How do the Egyptian's responses show us that this is not the case? How does their response show mankind's tendency to be disinclined to believe the Lord? 5. The podcast explains that Pharaoh's repentance was not accepted by God because it was over the wrong things. In other words, Pharaoh may have been sorry before God, and even feared the Lord, but Pharaoh was not seeking to repent and enter into a covenant with the Lord to obey Him from now on. How do people still offer this kind of repentance today? 6. How do we see God's mercy in these plagues? How do we see His mercy in warning Pharaoh ahead of time? How did Pharaoh disregard the mercies of God? How do people do this in our day today? 7. The podcast explained the paradox of the Lord hardening Pharaoh's heart whereas other times Pharaoh hardened his own heart. The podcast explained that the Hebrew word means "made strong." How did Pharoah harden his own heart and how did the Lord strengthen him in that inclination? 8. The podcast also pointed out that we are heavily influenced by the people we allow into our lives. Who was influencing Pharaoh to disobey the Lord? What impact did this influence have on Pharaoh and the nation? Who should Pharaoh have been listening to? 9. The podcast ended by encouraging us to examine our own heart. When it comes to the things of the Lord, are you hardened to Him or softened? How might you submit to Him that He might soften you to obey His Word and His ways? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
Most people don't lose their power overnight—they slowly forget who they are. This message reveals what happens when identity is stolen… and how it gets restored. Most people don't lose their power in a dramatic moment. They adapt. They adjust. They survive. And over time, they forget who they were always meant to be. In this message, Eric Thomas exposes what happens when people forget they're royalty—how identity gets robbed quietly, how survival replaces authority, and why remembering who you are changes everything. This isn't about hype. It's about identity, responsibility, and living from who God intended you to be—not beneath it. If you've ever felt like you're living below your potential, shrinking to fit environments, or settling for less than what you know you're capable of… this message is for you. CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome: The Gift of Today 00:00:39 Exodus 12:35 - Following Instructions Without Question 00:01:46 It's Gonna Be Big: The Power of Obedience 00:03:10 Ask the Egyptians for Gold and Silver: When God's Instructions Don't Make Sense 00:04:58 Stop Asking Why: Moving From Questions to Obedience 00:06:32 Preparation Is the Process of Being Ready Before Arrival 00:10:18 Fix Your Eyes on the Unseen: What Is Seen Is Temporary 00:11:50 Through Faith We Understand: The Worlds Were Framed by God's Word 00:14:37 For In This Hope We Are Saved: Hope That Is Seen Is No Hope 00:16:07 God Doesn't Ask You Where You're Going: Pre-Gentle Parenting 00:18:50 The Church vs The World: When Habits Are Stronger Than the Word 00:19:15 Every Instruction You Keep, Big Happens 00:19:30 The GED Story: When a Person Gives You Instruction, They Already Have the Vision 00:21:07 You Must Be Used to Food: The Danger of Getting Comfortable 00:23:01 Now Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For 00:35:06 It Can't Be Two Supporters: The Revelation About Leadership 00:25:51 God Wasn't Releasing Them From Slavery - He Was Restoring Them to Royalty 00:26:35 They Didn't Leave Egypt With Slave Clothes: The Emancipation Proclamation vs God's Freedom 00:31:07 The Tina Turner Principle: I Just Want My Name 00:28:38 You're Leading From Trauma, Not Royalty 00:42:35 Slaves Move in Panic, Royalty Moves in Purpose 00:44:50 1 Peter 2:9 - You Are Chosen People, A Royal Priesthood 00:49:43 Proclaim Without Apology: Public, Authoritative, Intentional, Unashamed 00:50:09 Royalty Is Responsibility: No Crown Without Character 00:51:38 Exodus 19:5 - If You Obey Me Fully and Keep My Covenant 00:52:30 Insecurity Is Not Your Personality: You Were Interrupted 00:53:12 What You've Gone Through Should Equip You, Not Devalue You 00:53:48 Bondage Trains You to Doubt, Freedom Trains You to Decide 00:54:27 Don't Get Stuck in the Season: Prepare for What's Coming 00:56:48 You Are Royal No Matter What You've Been Through 00:48:21 The Crowning Ceremony: Stepping Into Your Royal Identity 00:58:19 Closing Prayer and Next Steps ✅ Subscribe to this channel for weekly sermons, motivation, and faith-based leadership content. https://www.youtube.com/@ApocMinistry?sub_confirmation=1
Parshas Beshalach may be the most action-packed parsha in the Torah. After the Exodus, God directed the people to not take the shortest route to the Land in order to facilitate the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and the final destruction of the Egyptians. After those unprecedented miracles, the trouble began: Twice […]
In this invited lecture at Marist College, hosted by the Catholic Studies Program as part of their Marcelin Lecture Series, I narrate some of the key points and developments in the story of how we ended up with the current list of the Seven Deadly Sins, which are: Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Originally, these start out as the Eight Capital Vices, a list which includes sadness, acedia, and vainglory, and which does not include envy. So, how did we end up with the list we know today? The story involves Christian monks in the Egyptian desert, Benedictine monks, a reluctant pope, poets, scholastic professors, confessors, and mystics, and ranges over a millennium of thinkers and texts. In the process, I discuss some of the key players: Evagrius Ponticus, John Cassian, Gregory I, Alcuin, Peter Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, and Dante Alighieri This portion of the talk introduces the topic and discusses briefly how the conceptions of eight capital vices and seven deadly sins become so important within western culture. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
God will use all kinds of ways to get our attention, and today as we study Exodus 8, we'll see that God get's Pharaoh's attention through an total abundance of things they do not want, in order to show everyone, Jew and Egyptian, that there is no God but the Lord. There's a lot here, and it would be a privilege to have you listen in. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. What did the podcast suggest were the reasons why God brought these miracles upon Egypt? What was their role for the Egyptians? What was their role for the Jews? 2. How does Ezekiel 20:5-8 shed light on the spiritual condition of the Jews at this time? 3. Likewise, how does Deuteronomy 4:37 help us understand why God still chooses to deliver these people? How does this help us understand God's mercy and His love for His people even when they sin and rebel against Him? 4. In these passages, how did the so-called "gods" of the Egyptians respond? Why didn't they respond more dramatically? 5. The podcast mentioned that the Egyptians didn't worship frogs and snakes and all that stuff because they loved those things, but because they thought those animals represented the gods who provided wealth and prosperity. These days, we don't look to frogs and snakes for prosperity. Instead, where do people look for these things, instead of the Lord? 6. The podcast mentioned that the goddess Heqet was the goddess of fertility and was represented by frogs. What did the piles of dead frogs show the Egyptians about the Lord's power over life and fertility? 7. Verse 16 Aaron struck the ground and gnats came up. This took on an Egyptian god named "Geb". Were the Egyptian magicians able to create a similar miracle? In verse 19, what did they say about this miracle that God performed through Aaron? 8. The podcast mentioned that the plague of the flies took on the god of creation and rebirth and rising sun named Khepri, who was represented by the face of a bug. What did God's control of the flies show the people about their belief that Khepri controlled the daily cycle of life? 9. In all of this, what was the condition of Pharaoh's heart in verse 32? How do people response similar today, despite seeing God's handiwork all around them? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
Joseph's journey from favored son to Egyptian ruler reveals that God's delays aren't discipline but development. Through slavery, false imprisonment, and years of waiting, God developed Joseph's character by breaking his pride, his competence by teaching leadership skills, and his calling by showing him how to serve others. When we shift from asking 'Why me?' to 'Who's next?', we discover that waiting seasons become preparation seasons. God doesn't create evil, but He can restore what others meant for harm into something good. Instead of feeling abandoned during delays, we can actively ask what God wants to develop in us.
This Law of One study night explored a bold cosmological thesis: that Earth, far from being a "prison planet," may serve as a pivotal catalyst for the Logos itself—a location where the Creator is learning something genuinely new at the macro scale. The Premise of Earth's Anomalous Position Doug opened by noting that while Earth is not unique as a third-density planet (Ra states that 33% of life-bearing planets host third-density experience), nor unique as a mixed-polarity planet, something extraordinary is occurring here. He proposed that Earth represents an extreme case—a location where the consequences of the veil experiment have reached their furthest expression. Ra describes the Logos as "a Protean entity that learns upon the macro scale"—and Doug invited the group to consider what kind of catalyst might provoke learning at that level. If we as individual beings learn through the intensity of our experiences, what experiences might teach the Creator itself? The discussion traced the composition of Earth's original third-density population at the beginning of the 75,000-year Master Cycle: One quarter: Native ape-body graduates from Earth's own second density One half: Souls from Mars, whose bellicose civilization destroyed their atmosphere mid-cycle One quarter: A mixture from thirteen other planetary groups—some third-density repeaters who didn't graduate with their home populations, others from planets whose aging suns could no longer support development As Troy observed, this created an unusually heterogeneous population—a "motley crew," in Doug's words—that has contributed to Earth's distinctive challenges. The Veil as Logoic Learning The conversation situated Earth's current condition within the larger context of the veil's implementation. Demarcus explained that prior to the veil, third-density beings experienced no forgetting: they could perceive the Creator directly, understood their purpose, yet felt no impetus to polarize. As Doug noted, Ra describes these pre-veil civilizations as existing in "monochrome"—without intensity or hue. Ra addresses this directly: "The first beings of mind, body, and spirit were not complex. The experience of mind/body/spirits at the beginning of this octave of experience was singular. There was no third-density forgetting. There was no veil." (Ra, 82.12) The veil's introduction created the conditions for genuine choice by separating the conscious mind from the unconscious—making each mysterious to the other. This generated the tension necessary for polarization, which in turn provided the "work" that allows consciousness to evolve. Doug likened this to the positive and negative charges in electromagnetism—polarity creates the capacity for movement, for transformation. The Paradox: A New Logjam Doug posed a provocative question: What if Earth represents the opposite extreme of the original logjam? Prior to the veil, beings were stuck in contentment, unable to polarize—like students born into wealth who see no need to study. Now, on Earth, we have a different kind of stuckness—millions of years of third-density repetition, where even our spiritual institutions can become entrapments. Doug pointed to the irony: "I know people who go to church... never miss a Sunday mass... and yet when you listen to them, oftentimes they're the most judgmental, the most alienating." The very structures meant to foster growth can perpetuate the same lower-chakra blockages they were designed to transcend. Barbara reflected on how "history, since the beginning of time has repeated itself, and still appears to be repeating itself." Yet Doug noted something new is emerging alongside the repetition: "We're repeating. But we're also increasing our self-awareness. So we know, maybe we're repeating." This is the peculiar gift of our moment—a growing gnosis within the repetition itself. Ra's Karmic Investment in Earth The discussion turned to Ra's own relationship with Earth. Doug highlighted that Ra, as late sixth-density beings, recorded their experience with Earth's population in "the great record of creation"—language suggesting implications beyond this solar system or galaxy. Ra's statement that "never again will any other group have to make the same mistakes" implies this situation is unprecedented. Ra became karmically entangled through their well-intentioned but naive interventions with the Egyptians. Yet this entanglement serves their own curriculum: "In learning how to balance the karmic imbalances that their influence created in earth's humanity... to try to redress those imbalances actually is their curriculum—how they're learning about the fine nuances of Karma in the universe." Ra's lesson, it seems, is unity—not merely within their social memory complex, but across the sphere of their influence. Their mistakes with us became their teacher. Ascension as Incarnation Perhaps the most practical teaching emerged around the concept of ascension itself. Doug cautioned against the desire to escape: "Ascension in the name of getting the heck out of here is exactly the thing that keeps us entrapped all the more in third density... If you want to ascend, you better learn how to incarnate all the more—into this body, into this thisness, and see the beauty of it all right here." This aligns with Ra's teaching that the harvest comes not through escape but through polarization achieved within the veil's constraints. Ra confirms Earth's birth into fourth density will occur through the beings who have learned to embody love here: "The earth, as you call it, is ready to be born, and the delivery is not going smoothly. When this entity has become born it will be instinct with the social memory complex of its parents which have become fourth-density positive." (Ra, 65.17) The way up, it turns out, is the way down—deeper into matter, into presence, into the very thisness we might wish to transcend. The Dignity of Being God's Sense Organs RuDee raised the question of whether Earth's role—being part of a larger cosmic learning process—diminishes individual experience. If we're like children playing with Fisher-Price versions of higher concepts, what's the point? Doug's response reframed the relationship entirely: "We are God's sense organs." He used the analogy of cutting a fingernail or accidentally pricking a finger while cross-stitching—if those cells were sentient, they might experience tremendous suffering. Yet from the perspective of the whole being, these small losses serve the larger movement of life. This is not to minimize our pain, but to situate it: our pain is God's pain; God's ecstasy is ours. We participate in "one divine sweep," a flow of purpose and meaning that gives our experience its ultimate dignity. Duncan noted that while Earth's intensity can produce incarnations where little is learned (due to overwhelming catalyst), it can also be "extremely profitable" for those able to process the experiences consciously. Doug went further, suggesting that the psychological and philosophical sophistication emerging on Earth—the capacity for deep self-reflection, contemplative practice, and nuanced understanding of self—may actually be "fourth-density and fifth-density stuff, right here." The presence of millions of wanderers—sixth-density souls incarnated under the veil—has created communities where conversations about karma, unconditional love, and the nature of consciousness occur as naturally as discussions of weather. This is not normal for third density. This is Earth's strange gift. The New Creation Afoot The session concluded with an affirmation: "Something magical is happening, something new. There's a new creation afoot—precisely at the place of the centermost stuckness of it all." Rather than viewing Earth's difficulties as evidence of failure, Doug invited the group to see them as the very conditions from which something unprecedented can emerge—just as the pre-veil logjam eventually birthed the veil itself. The cornerstone the builders rejected may yet become the foundation of what comes next. Doug referenced Michael's sharing from the previous week—his commitment to emit unconditional love wherever he goes, knowing from lived experience what conditional love feels like. This, Doug suggested, is God's own growth occurring through us. Barbara closed with the Prayer of St. Francis, a fitting summary of the night's theme: that where there is darkness, the call is to bring light; where there is despair, hope; where there is hatred, love—not through escape, but through engagement. "You can feel the groan like St. Paul says—that the very universe groans with this Eros, God's own divine Eros groaning and moving into completion. Like we are that groan... where God's lament and God's ecstasy exist at the same time." — Doug Scott
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God's deliverance of His people from Egypt was a form of spiritual warfare; and today as we look at Exodus 7 we'll discuss how Satan tried to confuse Pharaoh and the Egyptians back then, and how he's doing the same kinds of things today. And to be strong in the face of spiritual warfare, we need to be on guard and have pure faith and trust in God. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: Exodus 7 1. For the past several days, we have been studying the Book of Exodus, however, we haven't discussed what the name means. What does the name "Exodus" mean and what was the "exit" that it is referring to? What was the initial reason that this Exodus was to take place? 2. The podcast gave a quick review of Exodus 6 & 7. What was Pharoah's first response to Moses in Exodus 5:2? How did the Jews respond to Moses in Exodus 5:21? Was Moses receiving this flack from these people because he was obeying God or disobeying Him? How did Moses respond in Exodus 5:22? How did the Lord respond to Moses in Exodus 6:1 and following? How do you think you might have reacted to Pharaoh and the people if they responded this way to you? 3. What did God warn Moses about in Exodus 7:3-5? In what ways did this come true? 4. In Exodus 7, how were the Egyptian magicians able to counterfeit the miracles of God? The podcast mentions that Moses and Aaron's age help us answer the question about magic tricks. What was the point that the podcast made about the true source of Moses and Aaron's miracles? 5. The podcast mentioned that the 10 Plagues are excellent examples of spiritual warfare because often Satan seeks to confuse the situation. How did Satan confuse these first plagues and how did Pharaoh and his servants respond? How do people today respond similarly to these kinds of attempts at confusion in their lives? 6. Strength and courage often comes from a strong sense of obedience to God and anticipation that He will work. What commands was Moses obeying in this passage and how was he anticipating the Lord to work? In your day today, are there clear commands from scripture that relate to what you will likely encounter? How might the Lord work in those situations? 7. The podcast mentioned that these plagues all were assaults on the Egyptian false gods. Why did the Jews need to see God's power over Egypt's false gods? What does this show us about God's care and compassion for His people, even when they are struggling in the faith? 8. The podcast mentioned that Hapi was the god of the Nile and fertility. Also, Khnum was the god of the Nile. The Nile was supposed to produce life, but what did it produce instead? How does this show the Lord's power over Hapi, Khnum and also Osiris (who supposedly had the Nile flowing in his bloodstream)? 9. The magicians could turn water into "blood" but could not turn it back. How did this fact demonstrate the reality of Moses' miracles versus the fakery of the magicians? 10. The podcast suggested that the world creates all kinds of fake fantasies to compete with the truth of God. How do people sometimes look at the world's fantasy and think it's more appealing than God's actual truth? 11. Through these miracles, the Lord was calling His people to leave Egypt and not be entangled in their religions. Along these lines, how do His people get entangled in the world today? What is God's call for them today? 12. Although we may not often see God work in such dramatic ways, He does still work in our lives. How have you seen God work in your life? How should that galvanize your own commitment to Him? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
Let's take a journey into some of the most occult corners of the Enlightenment, all leading to contraband Gnostic and Hermetic secrets. For this tour, I am joined by art dealer and expert Christopher Bishop. He'll show us the hidden world of Enlightenment Naples through Fedele Fischetti's rediscovered masterpiece, The Triumph of Night, a rare visual record of secret networks where alchemy and Masonic philosophy intertwined. We'll also delve into the legacy of the painting's "extravagant" patron, Prince Raimondo di Sangro—a practicing alchemist and "necromancer"—who commissioned the work to encode a path toward the Philosopher's Stone and spiritual immortality. We will decode the painting's complex "hieroglyphic puzzle," tracing the four stages of the Magnum Opus through symbols ranging from the Egyptian god Harpocrates to the alchemical hermaphrodite. And that's just the tip of the revelatory ice berg. More on Christopher: https://www.christopherbishopfineart.com/ Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ Gnostic Tarot Readings: https://thegodabovegod.com/gnostic-tarot-reading/ The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.