The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus - Exod. 5:1-23 GET YOUR OWN STRAW!

In this session I brought up the fact that the Hebrews had assimilated into the Egyptian culture after Joseph.  It must've happened slowly but surely and it is easy to understand the lure and the attraction of the world's richest and most powerful kingdom on earth at the time, Egypt.  Who would want to go back to Canaan and the tough conditions of life back home? 

Here's the links to lesson 4 parts 1 & 2 in this podcast Torah Bible study series.  These previous lessons (part 2 only) show that the Bible text suggests they assimilated if you know the Hebrew and not the English.  

Link - lesson 4 part 1

Link - lesson 4 part 2

Another thing I brought was that even today in Egypt they still make mud bricks they way they did in Egypt 3400 years ago.  Imagine.  When I was in Egypt in 2014 and 2017 I actually made mud bricks at a mud brick facility. That's me on the west side of the Nile near Luxor making mud bricks.

It was not easy work.  And with all the traveling Robin and I did up and down the Nile, we saw many mud brick buildings, some homes and other were businesses.  It was totally cool.  Below please find a link to an awesome short video on making mud bricks in Egypt today.  We will meet Muhammed at his mud brick facility.  

Link - click here for the video of making mud bricks in Egypt today

In this lesson we return to Exodus 5.  We will start focusing our study on verse one.  I was so so amazed as to how much was n this verse.  I was helped by excellent Jewish Torah/Hebrew scholars.  One thing as Christians we are never taught how to study the Bible.  Exod. 5:1 is a classic example of NOT putting the text into its textual context.  Once we do in this example we will find that Moses did not do what God had previously ordered.  I mean Moses did NOT one thing God commanded.  On top of that Moses gets so angry with the Lord at the end of the chapter Moses is implying that God did EVIL just like Pharaoh.  It's as if Moses is say God and Pharaoh are both alike!  One top of that God doesn't punish Moses for this criticism.  

This is an amazing chapter of the Torah.  One thing it shows is that the two fundamental aspects of the Bible is to love God and love your neighbor.  You can't have one without the other.  Matter of fact a Jewish scholar brings this up as we study the last few verses of the chapter.  He was so fired up about the fact that the goal of Torah is to love God and love your neighbor.  Here's the two fundamental Torah laws of Judaism ...

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." (Deu 6:4-5)

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." (Lev 19:18)

This Jewish scholar said this is the GOAL of Torah.  GOAL?  One strives to reach a goal.  Jesus takes this and brings it up a notch.   You remember when you read ...

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." 
(Mat 22:36-40)

These aren't goals to strive for.  These are laws to obey.  If we are true disciples of Adonai Yeshua then we will hear His word and do it like when He said ...

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (Joh 14:15)

If we love Jesus we will not strive to reach the goal of loving God and loving our neighbor.  NO!!  WE will obey the Lord and DO HIS LAWS!  We don't strive to reach a goal to show our love to the Lord we obey His commandments.  Jesus shows He never left 2nd Temple Judaism but is in full agreement with 2nd Temple Judaism.  

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Lord’s Prayer - Lesson 5 part 2 - Hallowed Be Your Name

This is part 2 of the Lord's Prayer series as we focus on the phrase, "hallowed be Your name."  In this episode we turn to the Ten Commandments and to commandment #3 (commandment 2 if you are a Catholic) or "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain."   How is this related to us today?  If we reconnect to the Hebrew and the Jewish culture of the 2nd Temple Period, the days of Jesus, it is connected to being a true disciple of Yeshua, but how?  How is this related to the Lord's Prayer and "hallowing?" 

There are many links I mention in this podcast.  They are all listed below.  At this time I want to recognize these scholars and for their amazing credible Bible resources to help us reconnect to the Jewish culture of Jesus' day so we can have our understanding expanded and enhanced.  These amazing scholars are Lois Tverberg, Dennis Prager, Joseph Shulam, Dr. Brad Young, and David Biven.  This is just a few of the many scholars and teachers I have learned from.  I just needed to make sure I gave them the credit and recognition for most of what I present.  I don't teach my own opinion and try to teach with the backup of such great scholars as these.

Link - Lois Tverberg' article, "What Does It Mean to Hallow God's Name? - click here for Lois' article

Link - Lois Tverberg's website - https://ourrabbijesus.com/

Link - Dennis Prager's video "Misusing God's Name" - click here for Dennis' video

Link to Dennis' website and in the "store" you will find his 25 years of Torah lessons on a flash drive - click here for Dennis' website

Link to Joseph Shulam's ministry website - this is a great learning resource - https://netivyah.org/

Check out the free "journals" you can access at Netivyah - https://netivyah.org/library/

Link to David Biven's awesome article on the Lord's prayer found at Jerusalem Perspective - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/769/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis Lesson 40 -Gen. 19:17-38 LOT: A RIGHTEOUS MAN??

Is Lot a righteous man?  With all that we studied in recent lessons, it sure doesn’t seem so.  But, one thing for sure, we can’t find evidence that Lot in some way sinned.  The Bible is silent.  Lot seems to have made some poor choices.  First, he chooses to live in Sodom and Gomorrah and he must’ve known these were places where some bad stuff was going on.  Second, he becomes involved in the evil culture by being accepted as a city leader, elder, or official since we found Lot sitting in the gate in lesson 39.  Now, there is no sin in living in a place like Sodom.  There is no sin in being on a city committee or part of the elite class.  The Torah doesn’t say that Lot sinned.  The orthodox rabbinic view is that Lot is righteous but his character was not at the level of his uncle Abraham.  Hmmm, I think I can agree with that but I still have trouble with Lot being considered righteous as Peter writes in 2 Pet. 2:7-9.  Consider …

and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, (2Pe 2:7-9)

This will require further study and we must go beyond simple rabbinic opinion which offers no justification for Lot being righteous.  Let's bring our brain to the Bible.  

Another issue we will deal with is Lot’s daughters.  After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah they think there are no men left on the face of the earth.  They say this exactly …

Then the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth. "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father." (Gen 19:31-32)

The Hebrew is precise.  The first born girl said no man left on the earth implying anywhere on the globe!  Why did she think this?  The younger sister surely agreed with her older sister.  We don’t get it since we don’t understand the geography of the area.  If you knew the area of the Dead Sea these verses become crystal clear.  Here some links to check out on pictures of this area.  Check it out.  You’ll see that the sisters were in a deep, deep valley almost 1 mile below sea level. 

Link to Wikimedia views of the Dead Sea from the high rock bluff known as Masada – click here to view

Link to Wikimedia views of the mountains surrounding the Dead Sea – click here to view

Link to Wikimedia views of the caves near Qumran where many of the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered – click here to view

So, once again, if you lived in David’s day or Hezekiah, all this was easy to understand.  But for us we don’t get it.  It’s not our land, our culture, and we are not taught the geography of the Bible.  We are not taught the Bible in its historical context with a focus on the archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and the languages of the ancient Middle East. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Lord’s Prayer - Lesson 5 part 1- Hallowed be thy name

When was the last time you hallowed?  Is it allowed in your church?  Where you work?  Did you learn how to hallow in Sunday school?  Why aren't more 21st century Christians hallowing?  But, perhaps they are!  

In the 2nd Temple Period, the first century A.D. or Jesus' day, Jesus' talmideem, Hebrew for disciples, knew exactly how to hallow!  Jesus' fellow rabbis helped all know how to hallow the name of Adonai.  So when Jesus teaches His talmideem HaTehfeelah Adonai, the Lord's Prayer, and gives it to them so it becomes, HaTehfeelah Talmideem, the Prayer of the Disciples, the disciples understand clearly what all this means.  It was part of their culture and probably taught in their בֵּית סֵפֶר - pronounced  Bait Sefer, elementary school, so the Jewish kids right from the get go would know how to "hallow the name of Adonai." 

Now it's our turn - let's learn what they did.  Let's try and understand how they understood so that HaTehfeelah Talmideem, the Prayer of the Disicples, becomes that much more meaningful for us today.

Once again there are links I bring up in the podcast.  See below for the links for this lesson.

Link - Lois Tverberg' article, "What Does It Mean to Hallow God's Name? - click here for Lois' article

Link - Lois Tverberg's website - https://ourrabbijesus.com/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus - Exod. 5:1-2 THE PALACEOF THE KING

This is lesson 15 in the Bible study series, "The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus." You need to access the link below for this lesson since it is a video - I want you to SEE the archaeology and geography that shows that the exodus was a real historical event happening in the 15th century B.C. In this video we will study the archaeological discoveries that even give us the likely location of the palace of the Pharaoh where the events took place we are so familiar with.

Link to video lesson 15 - https://youtu.be/F_6Z9gObhsc

In the video lesson I refer back to lesson 5 parts 1 & 2 of this Bible study series.  I highly recommend you listen to these podcasts before continuing on in this series.

Links to Lesson 5 parts 1 and 2 of the series, "The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus," on the dating of the Exodus and more - 

     Part 1 - click here for part 1

     Part 2 - click here for part 2

Many links are provided for further study - check them out below.  These are the links to excellent and credible resources for you for further study into the archaeology that proves the Exodus, proves the Bible, and shows us the veracity of the very words of God, the Bible.

In the video lesson I referred to articles and websites and other amazing scholarly videos that add to and enhance what I taught in this video.  Here's the links ...

Link to Dr. Bryant Wood's (highly credible and renowned Bible archaeologist of the Associates for Biblical Research) article on the royal precinct of Avaris at Tel el Dab'a - https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/sojourn-of-israel-in-egypt/2249-the-royal-precinct-at-rameses

Link to Dr. Manfred Bietak's (considered one the five best archaeologists of the 20th century by Biblical Archaeology Review) report on the excavations at Tel el Dab'a - https://www.academia.edu/10074198/_Report_on_the_Excavations_of_a_Hyksos_Palace_at_Tell_el_Dabca_Avaris_23rd_of_August_15th_of_November_2011_Egypt_and_the_Levant_22_23_2012_13_18_52

Links to four videos from the Associates for Biblical Research discussing the REAL evidence and not the PATTERNS of evidence that show the high probability that Exodus was a real event in the 15th century B.C.  These are part of the video series from the Associates for Biblical Research called ,"Digging for Truth."  They are free and the scholars are all experts and scholars in archaeology and all are evangelical Bible believing Christians.  The four videos feature Dr. Scott Stripling presenting the real evidence of the date of the Exodus and the archaeology of the events and places.  Here's the links ...

     Video 1 - click here for video 1 on the date of Exodus 

     Video 2 - click here for video 2 on the date of Exodus

     Video 3 - click here for video 3 on the archaeology of the Exodus

     Video 4 - click here for video 4 on the archaeology of the Exodus

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Lord’s Prayer - Lesson 4 - “Who Is In Heaven”

We continue with the words of the Lord's Prayer, HaTehfeelah Adonai.  Our focus is now on the words, "...who is in heaven."  This begs the question where does God live?  Where is His abode, where does He dwell 24/7?  Isn't heaven the sky above and space with the moon and sun and planets and galaxies?  If so does God live out there behind a nebula or a galaxy hidden from our eyes?  Or, does the English language cause some issues?  We have put the Lord's Prayer into its historical context and we see that it was first taught in Hebrew to a specific group of people, the religious Jewish disciples, and in a specific culture and time; He taught it sometime between 24-30 A.D. to those who practiced Second Temple Judaism and who only had the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, as their only Bible.  So, let's jump in.  Let's see what they knew and understood in Hebrew.  Let's find out where God lives and dwells 24/7.  

Once again here's links I mentioned in the lesson.  Check them out as they hopefully will add and enrich your study of HaTehfeelah Adonai, the Lord's Prayer which He gave to us, His disciples, and we can now call it, HaTehfeelah Talmidim, the Prayer of the Disciples.

Link 1 - click here for the video "Where is the Garden of Gethsemane?"

Link 2a - Dr. Brad Young's videos on the Hebrew background of the Lord's prayer - click here for his video series

Link 2b - Dr. Brad Young's scholarly work on the Jewish background of the Lord's prayer - click here to access all his books in the bookstore  

Link 2c - Dr. Brad Young's article on the Lord's prayer at "Jerusalem Perspective" - click here for part 1 of this 10 part series

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis - Lesson 39 Gen. 19:1-16 WHAT’S WRONG WITH LOT?

OK, Lot, Abraham’s nephew.  He’s got to be an OK guy, right?  I mean look at his uncle.  Abraham!  I mean come on.  But, right from the get go we see that theirs is something wrong with Lot.  This becomes clear when Lot’s shepherds and herdsmen started arguing with the shepherds and herdsmen of his uncle.  Lot didn’t stop it as he was supposed to.  We are beginning to see that in that culture near 4000 years ago, Lot was supposed to support his uncle and Abraham’s house 100%.  For more on this check out lesson 29 – link = https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ynaz-f97c87  Make sure if you listen to lesson 29 before clicking to listen first click on “view more” and read the intro to the lesson.  If not, you will miss lots of info and links for further study.

Now Lot is in Sodom and Gomorrah.  And, we find him sitting in the gate! 

Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." (Gen 19:1-2)

If this guy is righteous then he surely is NOT living up to his uncle Abraham’s expectations and what God would require of us to be His righteous followers.  Sitting in the gate means Lot is now part of the upper wealthy class of the evil pagan community of Sodom.  It’s like Lot compromised his faith and walk with God. 

Gen_19:1-3. sitting at the gate. In ancient cities the gate area functioned as a public square. Its constant flow of people made it the ideal place for businessmen to set up their booths and for judges to hear cases. The fact that Lot is sitting in the gate suggests he was doing business there and had been accepted in the community of Sodom.  (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas)

Here’s a link to a great article on ancient city gates.  One needs to understand this archaeological fact of those ancient days to even begin to grasp the full aspects of these events.  Here’s the link for the article - https://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html

Here’s another link to an article by Lois Tverberg (if you haven’t connected with Lois, her website, and have not read her books, you are missing out on learning from one truly brilliant Bible historical scholar – here’s her website link - https://ourrabbijesus.com/

And here’s the link to the article Lois did on Lot and his poor decisions.  She helps us see that there is something wrong with this guy.  Link - https://engediresourcecenter.com/2015/07/03/lots-choice/

But before you start looking down on Lot consider the application of this story to us today.  We are witnessing the failure of the church and the rejection of what the church is “preaching” by the Millennials, Generation Xers, and the turning away of our youth, Generation Z.  Something has gone wrong and the data coming our from the Barna Group (website - https://www.barna.com/) supports this.  We live in Sodom and Gomorrah, we live in decadent, chaotic, violent, deadly, and evils times.  And it seems that like Lot we have a view that we should “go along to get along” – in other words many many Christians would chose to “sit in the gate” and compromise their walk as disciples of Rabbi Yeshua.  Join us in this podcast and in lesson 40 coming soon.  Let us learn the truth, the truth that sets us free, and see that the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah is so applicable to today. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Lord’s Prayer - Lesson 3 - “Our Father”

In this lesson we start our study of the exact words of the Lord's prayer.  This lesson will focus on the first two words, "Our Father." 

Is Jesus teaching something new?  Is Jesus bringing in a new idea?  Were the disciples of Jesus amazed at the start of the prayer when they heard the words, "Our Father?"

Again, we return to 24-30 A.D. - the time when Jesus was here as a rabbi, as a Torah teacher.  Torah does not mean law but instruction.  Jesus was teaching the Father's instruction and not laws.  That makes sense when you understand what Torah means and that all the had in Jesus' day was the Hebrew Scriptures that we call the Old Testament.  There is nothing OLD about it.  And, as we reconnect to those days we find that these two words, "Our Father," show that the Lord's Prayer that He gave to His disciple, and therefore to us, is a prayer coming out of a Jewish culture; we can therefore more fully appreciate the prayer when we understand its Jewish background and foundation.

I said I'd supply some links.  The links in this lesson are referenced below.

Link 1 - click here for the scholarly site for the Dead Sea Scrolls

Link 2 - click here for the Tobit fragment of Tobit 13:4

Link 3 - click here for the video "Where is the Garden of Gethsemane?"

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus - Lesson 14 Exod. 4:24-31 THE LIVES OF THE FATHERS ARE SIGNS FOR THE SONS

I began this lesson with a review of the purposes of the Bible podcast study series entitled, "The Gospel According to Moses."  There are two such series.  The one in Genesis and this one, on the book of Exodus.  I promised you a link to read the four purposes of this study.  Here's the link - click here for the four purposes of this series

We will deal with three verses in the Torah that are very perplexing and problematic, Exod. 4:24-26.  Real Hebrew scholars agree that in the Hebrew and not in the English these verses are puzzling.  There are many who offer their views and ideas on what these verses mean but, it is absolutely clear, they are ignoring the original text of the Bible and the Hebrew.  We will not.

This lesson is a prime example of how translators put in words in the Bible that are not in the original so that their view, their opinion is validated.  This happens in Exod. 4:24-26.  Just consider the verses ...

Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and threw it at Moses' feet, and she said, "You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me." So He let him alone. At that time she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood"--because of the circumcision. 
(Exo 4:24-26)

This is the translation from the NASB and it is also in other versions like the ESV, the Message, NET, Scriptures 1998, and , of course, the NIV.  The problem is that Moses' name NEVER OCCURS in the original Hebrew text nor is the Hebrew חתן דמים Chatan Dahmeem translated as the "bridegroom of blood" accurate.  These are examples of men, translators, with a preconceived view of the meaning of the verses.  Not only do they show their lack of Hebrew knowledge but they actually insert a word into the Bible text so the Bible text says what they want it to mean!  It is as if I was writing the New Ferret Version, NFV, and did the following in a verse you know well.  I added the word highlighted in black ...

Now in those cold days of December days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth on Christmas December 25th the year 0 to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luk 2:1-7)

I can't do this!  I can not add to God's word.  Doing this is a simple stupid example of me trying to provide Biblical backup for my preconceived views about the birth of Jesus.  (FYI - I don't hold to the belief that Jesus was born in December) This is almost, to me, a major sin.  By adding to God's word to prove my view - as the translators did by adding Moses' name in Exod. 4:24-26 - we distort God's word and perhaps even change the intended meaning that the Lord wanted us to understand.  But, that is exactly what happened in these verses.

Dr. John Currid, and amazing devout Christian Bible scholar, theologian, and archaeologist, has written a commentary on the Torah.  He proposes a solution to the questions that arise in these verses that really deals with the exact Hebrew and he does not offer hypotheticals.  Other scholars like Nahum Sarna in the JPS Torah Commentary offer their ideas and solutions but none compare to Currid's.  Of course the orthodox rabbis have their ideas.  They claim Moses was to be killed by God since when Moses arrived at the inn and (are you ready for this??) Moses was too concerned with making arrangements for their stay and delayed the circumcision.  This comes directly from the orthodox Torah commentary called the "Chumash" from Artscroll.  Huh? The Bible does not say that!  The Bible in Hebrew does not use Moses' name nor does it say Moses had to make hotel arrangements.  The orthodox rabbis are making up stuff to try and solve the dilemma posed by these verses.  This is an example of MIDRASH, Jewish rabbinic study, that is not sound midrash.  The orthodox rabbis offer a hypothetical as truth.  How come they can not suggest solutions from what the Bible actually says rather than suggesting solutions that are not credible?  And yet many gentile Messianic Christians buy into this since it's from the rabbis.  Well, they say.  It it's from the rabbis it has to be true, right?  Wrong.  One needs to also be very careful with Jewish rabbitical midrash and sort out the true and credible from the hypotheticals and contrived translations.  We have to do the same thing with supposed Christian Bible scholars as well since most completely avoid the study of the Bible in its historical context.  They also have no training in the Greek or the Hebrew.  They have very little in fact of the critical tools to help us grasp the meaning of God's word.  

In these three verses one question is who is God trying to kill?  Is God trying to kill Moses?  Gershom, his first born son?  One can not determine the answer in the Hebrew and the original Masoretic text of the Torah.  On top of that why did the translators translate the Hebrew חתן דמים Chatan Dahmeem as "the bridegroom of blood?" In these verses Moses' name it not brought up.  Even if was Moses he is not a bridegroom - he's been married for a number of years and has two sons!  He is not a bridegroom.  So, what alternative meanings are there for the Hebrew חתן דמים Chatan Dahmeem? 

Dr. Currid offers a possible real solution that takes us to the Cross.  I was truly amazed and it only makes sense in that God, Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord, stated that all scripture testifies of Him.  The primary books of the Bible then were the five books of Torah.  These verses seem to relate to the first born, blood, covenant, and being saved from God's wrath.  It's as if these are pictures that are like mirrors of future events.  Curious?  Wondering how the circumcision of Moses' son is connected to the crucifixion of the Lamb of God?  Come join us in the important podcast on three perplexing verses.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus - Lesson 13 Exod 4:17-23 JESUS AND ISRAEL

There are four purposes to the podcast teaching series on the Torah.  There are two studies, this one on the book of Exodus and a second on the book of Genesis.  The four purposes can be found at this link – click here for the four purposes of this study

A major purpose is to listen to THE VERY WORDS OF GOD when Jesus said …

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”(Joh 5:39)

Jesus said this between 24-30 A.D. and in those days there was no New Testament.  So, those first disciples, like the 120 who were on the Mt. of Olives the day Jesus ascended to the Father, all they had was the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament (nothing “old” about it), and this is what they used to change the world; they used the Old Testament to proclaim the Gospel, the Kingdom of the Lord, the crucifixion and resurrection of Messiah, they used it to testify about Jesus, who He is and why He came.  Just read what Stephen said before he was murdered in Acts 7 - all his scripture references are from the Hebrew scriptures.  Therefore, if this is the case, we should “see” Jesus in the Old Testament. 

In those days 24-30 A.D. the primary books of the Hebrew scriptures were the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers , and Deuteronomy.  And we ask ourselves the question again and again, how did they “see” Jesus, how did they hear the Torah that testifies of Him?  That is one of the main purposes of this podcast Bible study series. 

In this lesson focusing on Exod. 4:17-23 we read that Israel is God’s son, His first born son.  This is so amazing.  For us this reminds us of another son of God, His ONLY begotten son, Yeshua, our Lord, Jesus.  How are Israel and Yeshua connected?  It is almost as if you can’t take Israel out of Jesus and you can’t take Jesus out of Israel.  They are intimately connected.  Just consider a few verses in Isaiah that talk about Israel. God’s servant that also clearly mean Messiah, Jesus, God’s servant.

Isa_41:8  "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,

Isa_44:1  "But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:

Isa_44:21  "Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

Isa_45:4  "For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.

Isa_49:3  He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory."

And then we come to Isaiah 53 and we read about the ONE who has the following characteristics …

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Isa 53:3-6)

Is this “servant” of the Lord? Is this Israel?  But wait a minute.  Let’s study Isaiah 53 very closely and we find …

But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. (Isa 53:10-11)

The servant of the Lord is Israel.  The Bible says it.  But, the servant of the Lord is the ONE in Isaiah 53 who is Jesus.  How can Jesus be the servant when the servant is Israel?  How can the servant be Israel when the servant is this suffering one, Jesus?  How can Israel be God’s first born son when God’s ONLY begotten son is Jesus?  It seems that you can’t take Jesus out of Israel nor Israel out of Jesus. 

Come and join us. Be like one of those disciples in 24-30 A.D. who lived by obeying John 8:31-32 and studied Torah to see that all scripture testifies of Jesus.  In this lesson we will again see how the Torah testifies of Yeshua HaMasiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ in these dramatic events of the Exodus.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background