LIGHT OF MENORAH

The Jewish feast of Purim פּוּרִים‎ (pronounced in Hebrew Poo Reem) commemorates the deliverance by Esther of all the Jews from annihilation.  It has been glamorized recently in the movie called, “One Night With the King.”  It is also celebrated among the Jewish people annually.  But, the book of Esther has always been problematic for the rabbis.  It is totally secular in that God is never mentioned nor any aspects of the Jewish faith or ritual.  This is one reason why the book of Esther nearly didn’t make it into the Jewish canon, the accepted books of the Hebrew Scriptures.  It is also possibly why no portions of the book of Esther were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

The other issues in the book of Esther, her being in the pagan harem of king Ahasuerus, better known as Xerxes, or spending one night with the king sexually, were also very problematic with the rabbis and they tried to make up new made up interpretations to make Esther the Bible’s Cinderella; to make Esther a pure, devout, Godly, young lady.  These rabbinic views have affected the way both Jews and Christians understand the story to such an extent that the real meaning of these events has been lost amidst Jewish tradition and legend.

In this podcast we will put the book of Esther into its historical context.  We will not ignore the difficult aspects that are presented in The Very Words Of God.  And as we do we will come to see and understand the bigger picture of the book and what it means.  For me after studying these events in their historical context, I have been overwhelmed by the glory of the Lord in this book.  For me I will not be surprised to one day see Esther (she’ll probably being using her Hebrew name then, Hadassah) in the wedding party on the day of the wedding feast of the Lamb. 

In this podcast I mentioned a paper detailed the harems of ancient Persia.  The link is shown below. 

Link –  https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/harem-i

Also, some of you may like to see the archaeological site of ancient Susa.  Check out this short video on ancient Susa and the remains of the palace of Darius the king before Ahasuerus or Xerxes, the king in the book of Esther.

Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwkTCPELkvI

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... in Petra Jordan on a research trip)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

There is a concept so prevalent in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament - nothing "old" about it) and in the Messianic Texts (the New Testament) and my 1st teacher in Israel, Ray Vander Laan, termed it as, “Head and Heart and Hands and Feet.”  Over and over again we read the about being righteous and it is pictured in the way we talk or hear or listen (our head) or in our work or results of what we do (hands)  and in the ways we walk (feet) – walk in the commands of the Lord and walk in our own ways.  It is also pictured in the way we think or our emotions of feelings (heart).  Just consider the text in the prophet Isaiah.

"Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, ... So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood." (Isa 1:5-15)

In one chapter we see this concept played out quite clearly.  The rebelliousness against God is pictured using the concept “head and heart and hands and feet.” 

Another place this is seen is in the consecration of the high priest Aaron and his sons.  Consider …

"Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. "You shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the lobes of his sons' right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the rest of the blood around on the altar. (Exo 29:19-20)

In the Torah Commentary by the Messianic Jewish scholar, Tim Hegg, he says that these body parts in the ancient Middle East and among the ancient Hebrews came to mean hearing and obeying the Torah of the Lord using the ear (Head).  The right hand symbolizes one’s work.  Aaron had his hand dedicated to the daily work of the sacrifices of the Lord (Hand).  His feet symbolize that he walk according the God’s ways and maintain his right standing before God in his daily movements in life (Feet). 

There are two verses that you may remember that deal with the heart.  In these verses we see that the heart is the source of our wickedness and our evil ways and thoughts.  Consider …

"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways (feet), According to the results of his deeds(hands). (Jer 17:9-10)

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth(head) come from the heart, and those defile the man. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts (heart), murders(hands), adulteries(hands), fornications(hands), thefts (hands), false witness(head)., slanders(head). (Mat 15:18-19)

In Psalm 15:1-3 we again come across this "picture" of head and heart and hands and feet.  Let's delve into this and see the dramatic place it takes us.  Let's study this idea God seems to use to teach from Genesis to Revelation.  Come let's learn about Head and Hearts and Hands and Feet.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - on the Nile at Luxor Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

Jesus teaches a harsh fact, a standard of measure He gives us.  It is a tough thing to grasp and to apply in our lives especially in days like today in the USA of 2021.  Jesus said …

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mat 5:43-45)

So, good things happen to the righteous and the unrighteous.  They both experience bad things as well.  There is no difference between Godly Christians and the ungodly, the ones who are anti-God or anti-Christ.  On top of that we are to love our enemies.  No where in the entire Bible do we read such a statement except here.  Jesus does not negate the Torah, God’s instruction in the books of Moses. He does not negate the law in Lev. 19:18 that says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” but He adds to it.  Jesus is saying our neighbor is our enemy, one who persecutes us and may even be out to do us harm and even kill us.  It is Jesus’ requirement of us if we are to be true Christians, real disciples. 

This is harsh.  It is tough reality.  We live in a fallen world and Jesus’ does not mince words.  To be a disciple and take on His “standard of measure” is not easy; it is a matter of life and death.

But THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.  There is an amazing reality that separates the Godly person from the ungodly, the righteous person following the Good Shepherd from the unrighteous person who follows the false shepherd.  What is that difference?  We see it in one verse in Hebrew in Psalm 4:3 and in the historical context of Jesus’ day.  How might a disciple of Jesus understand Psalm 4:3? I suggest to you we need to grasp what they may have understood.  It truly makes all the difference.

I mentioned in this lesson to consider listening to a podcast I did entitled, “For Such a Time as This.”  It is a study on Phil. 4:6-7 …

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)

 

Listening to this podcast (in four parts) will add so much more to this lesson.  If you click on the link below it will take you to the series, “For Such a Time as This.”  They are in reverse order – session 4 is first and you need to “slide down” to access session 1 and begin the study. 

LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=for+such+a+time

 

To complete your study even more, I also suggest you listen to the podcast series on the Lord’s Prayer.  It is so related to Psalm 4:3 and the concepts in this verse and the concept of being a true disciple of Rabbi Yeshua, our Lord, our Savior, our God, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  See the link below to access the sessions on the Lord’s prayer.  Once again they are in reverse order.

LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=the+lord%27s+prayer 

Other Truth Nuggets on the Psalms ...

Nuggets 10 - Psalm 1 - I Am and Acacia Tree - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-10-psalm-1-a-beatitude-of-the-acacia-tree/

Nuggets 2 - Psalm 23 and 91 - God's Hidden Tents - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-2/

Nuggets 1 - Psalm 118:24 - This is the Day - But It Isn't Today - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-1/

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... teaching on the Giza Plateau in front of Kufu's Pyramid)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

 

This is like God's intro to the world.  He meets Moses at the burning bush and it's kind of like God saying to Moses and to the world, "Hi y'all.  Wanted to introduce myself.  I am God."  Moreover, God tells Moses and us that He is the God of Moses' father and the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.  Why repeat?  He is God.  He is the only God.  Why say He is the God Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?  Why not say He is God, the God of Moses' father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Makes more sense, right?  But, perhaps something else is going on.  Perhaps Adonai says it the way He says it for a very distinct purpose we miss.  Not perhaps.  Better is, God did it on purpose for a very specific reason.  

Here, for the first time, the Lord gives some detail about the Promised Land.  He mentions six pagan clans that He will remove so Israel can take over the land.  Later in Deuteronomy God does it again but this time ...

"When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the 1) Hittites and the 2) Girgashites and the 3) Amorites and the 4) Canaanites and the 5) Perizzites and the 6) Hivites and the 7) Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, ..."(Deu 7:1)

We have the addition of one more clan, the Girgashites.  You will find this also to be true in the book of Joshua as well.  I bring this up since another goal of this Torah study series is to try and grasp how Jesus' disciples, the twelve, may have understood this.  Is it possible that Girgashites, where they lived in Israel, and the seven pagan clans or nations might have something to do with Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ?  We did not live 2000 years ago?  The geography of Israel and our Jewish roots are so foreign to us.  But, those 12 disciples perhaps got it.  Let's return to those days, let's return to understand the Girgashites, where they lived and the SEVEN pagan clans to see how it may be part of two significant events and miracles in the life of Jesus.  This is too awesome.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret teaching in the Galilee)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

God said to Adam and Eve that on the day they eat from the special tree they would die.  They did not die the day they ate the "forbidden" fruit.  Adam lived a long time - 930 years.  The Hebrew word for day is -  יום - YOM.  Does it mean a 24 hour period?  Does it mean one day from midnight to midnight?  If so then we have a problem with Gen. 2:4 - it clearly states that God created the heavens and the earth in a day. 

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. (Gen 2:4)

But in Genesis 1 it took 6 days.  So, is this an issue with the word of God?  Did God make a mistake?  Did God mean it when He said to Adam and Eve they'd die the day they ate from the special tree?  

Another thing we will consider is John 5:39.  Jesus says this in 24-30 A.D. to those Jews THEN that all scripture testifies of Himself.  What scripture did they have THEN?  All they had was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  I don't like calling it the Old Testament since there is nothing "old" about it - it is God's word!  The foundation of the Hebrew Scriptures is the Torah, the first five books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  As we focus on Genesis 3 we will see Jesus like never before as He said He is the only WAY to the Father.  In Genesis 3 we will see the GOSPEL as God inspired Moses to write it - the Gospel According to Moses.  Here's a link to a website that helps with understanding Hebrew words like יום - YOM - click the links to study the Hebrew word YOM …

Link 1 from GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/Genesis-days.html

Link 2 from Facts and Faith.com –

http://factsandfaith.com/does-the-hebrew-word-yom-translated-day-in-genesis-1-mean-a-24-hour-day-or-something-else/

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Jesus is said to have taught the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  It is as if we think Jesus invented the beatitudes and a grammatical form to teach us about what a real disciple is like.  Well, he did not.  David used the format and so did other writers of the psalms.  Solomon uses it also in Proverbs.  Psalm 1 is a beatitude.  It is a picture of what a righteous man or woman is like who is one of God's people, one saved and part of the everlasting Kingdom of the Most High.  Such a one is like a tree planted by streams of water.  Once again, David gets it.  Adonai inspired David to probably associate a righteous disciple of Yeshua with a particular tree found in the wadis of the Judean wilderness.  So, you are like this tree.  So come and join us in this podcast to understand what God says we are like even in days of difficulty and distress.  We are not taken out of these difficult days but we live in them and through them to show the world what it is like to be HIS disciple, HIS righteous people.

Click here for my paper on the acacia tree - https://www.dropbox.com/s/z8p8guvg9r2lqol/The%20Acacia%20Tree%20.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Jesus teaches His disciples that they are the BRANCHES and He is the TRUE VINE.  On top of that these branches are "clean" because of what they learned from their rabbi, Rabbi Jesus.  Clean?  You mean somehow Jesus' words gave them a bath?  Huh?

He was teaching Jews in Israel about 2000 years ago.  We are so disconnected from those days that much of what Jesus taught simply escapes us.  So, if you thought you understood everything in John 15:1-11 wait till you watch this vidcast!  The church has abandoned understanding the Bible in its ancient historical and cultural context.  There are so many misconceptions that we are taught mistakenly and without the knowledge of the teacher.  It is time once again to reconnect to those days and study His word in context and grasp the original intended meaning by the Lord.  Ready?  Let's go.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... taking a break in Jerusalem)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

TRUTH NUGGETS #8

Mary gave birth to her son, Jesus, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and He was laid in a manger.  This is so familiar to any and all Christians from and early age and throughout our lives.  It is part of the “Christmas” story so much a part of our lives every year. 

But, is there more that we can’t see?  Is the manger and Jesus in the manger, does this relate to something more; something so common to our Christian experience? 

This vidcast from Light of Menorah takes us back to ancient Israel to understand what a manger is and what it is used for.  It takes us to Bethlehem to locate where mangers are found.  This video takes us back 3400 years to ancient Egypt and the words of Adonai given to Moses in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible just before they left Egypt.  And as we study the archaeology in Jesus’ day and the Torah, as we remember that Jesus said all scripture testifies of Him - He said this 2000 years ago when all they had was the Hebrew scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament) – this along with the picture of Jesus just born and lying in a manger explodes with meaning.  We missed it since the “church” has been disconnected from its Jewish roots for hundreds and hundreds of years.  

Are you ready for this?  Let’s go.

I mentioned in the video that I would provide scholarly links to study the events and the archaeology of Jesus’ birth from the Associates for Biblical Research.  These are a must if you want to come to grips with the reality of His birth and to expand your understanding of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Link 1 to an article by Dr. Ken Bailey entitled, “The Manger and the Inn.”  -  https://biblearchaeology.org/new-testament-era-list/2803-the-manger-and-the-inn?highlight=WyJtYW5nZXIiLCJtYW5nZXInIl0=

Link 2 to a video by Gary Byers entitled, “Away in a Manger but Not a Barn.” -

Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YveeRv50lmg

Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzRG6jIVGoY

Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I-YhXcx0qU

Link 3 to an article by Gordon Melish, “There Wasn’t an Inn.” - https://biblearchaeology.org/research/devotionals/3643-there-wasnt-any-inn?highlight=WyJtYW5nZXIiLCJtYW5nZXInIl0=

Link 4 - Joel Kramer's video on the archaeology of Bethlehem - https://sourceflix.com/our-video/born-in-bethlehem/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

There are 52 occurrences of the phrase "the angel of the Lord" in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament.  You can see the verses starting in Genesis to Exodus 3 which is the focus of this lesson.

Gen_16:7  Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.

Gen_16:9  Then the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority."

Gen_16:10  Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count."

Gen_16:11  The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.

Gen_22:11  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

Gen_22:15  Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,

Gen_24:7  "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.

Exo_3:2  The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

Moses sees the burning bush and in the bush is this enigmatic character, the Angel of the Lord.  Who is this?  What is it?  What do the rabbis say?  Some Christian scholars say it is Jesus!  How can that be if one studies and asks the question what does the Bible say?  No where in the Bible does it even hint at the fact that the angel is Jesus.  

Once again we need to BRING OUR BRAIN  to the Bible.  We all agree this is the inspired word of God.  In short we say the Bible is God's word.  If so and God never said the angel of the Lord is Jesus, then how do some of our so called Christian scholars say it is Jesus?  It is dangerous to put words in the Bible that are not there.  I would rather it be taught with words like "is it possible that the angel of the Lord might be a manifestation of Jesus.  Perhaps some Bible verses suggest this might be true."  But there are many that seem to say they know the answer and it is their way or the highway.  Not a good way to teach God's word. 

In this lesson one question I pose, and I will again and again, who do you believe?  Do you believe the orthodox rabbis?  Do you believe so called Christian scholars?  Or do you believe in THE VERY WORDS OF GOD?  I suggest to you it must be the latter.

An excellent article on this topic can be found at this link.  

Link - https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/who-is-the-angel-of-the-lord.html

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... leading a Bible study tour in Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

God creates whales and seals and sharks and lobsters and walleye and catfish and cows and dogs and lions and tigers and pigs ... He creates all the "living creatures."  In Hebrew the word is נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  But, God also "forms" man and man is called נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  Are animals and man the same?  Today some say this is the case.  Today some say animals have the same rights as humans since animals and humans are the same.  How can this be?  Moreover, Jewish and Christian translators translate נֶפֶשׁ nephesh as soul!  For example in Deut. 6:5 it says we are to love God with are whole heart and soul or נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  So, the Bible in English could be used to justify the crazy world view that animals and humans are the same.  They are living creatures and they have souls! 

How does God distinguish man from the animals?  Is there something we are missing?  You bet.

Another thing we will study in lesson 9 is that God uses His Torah as a polemic against Egypt.  Again, a polemic is a strong truth claim attacking an opposing truth claim.  God is inspiring Moses to write a polemic against Egypt.  An example is in Egypt there is a god called Khum.   See the royalty free picture below of the god Khum from CLKER.com.

He is a creator god and in one of the creation stories in ancient Egypt, Khum is called the POTTER in that Khum formed all creation, stars, planets, sky, the earth, the oceans, and all animals and plants and man and woman and all the gods on his potter wheel.  Here is a link to an article about the Egyptian god Khum that you may be interested in as an addition to your study -  https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/khnum/

But the Bible says that the God of the Bible is the potter and we are the clay.   But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isa 64:8) How does God come against Khum?  How does God inspire Moses to help the Hebrews coming out of Egypt see that Khum is not the potter, not the creator, and a false god?

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0