LIGHT OF MENORAH

Exodus - 16 - 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 part 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-exodus-lesson-4-part-1-exod-211-25/

Link part 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-lesson-4-part-2-exod-211-25/

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 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jB6z9CgKI

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 in this verse.  I was helped by excellent Jewish Torah/Hebrew scholars.  One thing as Christians we are never taught is 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 do the one thing God commanded.  On top of that Moses gets so angry with the Lord at the end of the chapter that Moses implies that God did EVIL just like Pharaoh.  It's as if Moses is saying that 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 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

Five Small Stones Episode 9 - ”IT IS FINISHED” - Rom. 10:4

Episode 9 in the video series, "Five Small Stones," is now ready.  Again, we are studying the question of how does the Bible help us understand that Jesus is the FIRST and that Jesus is the LAST.  In this lesson we probably have heard some say that Jesus did away with the law or the Torah.  (Note: in many English translations one reads the word LAW.  This refers to the TORAH, the 1st five books of the Bible.  TORAH does not mean law but instruction.) That is interesting since Paul teaches us that Jesus "completed" the Torah and that the TORAH helps us to come to Jesus.  This is found in his letters and the only Bible they had when he wrote his epistles was the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament where the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, the TORAH, was the foundational books of the Bible in Jesus' day and Paul's.  But, more than what Paul wrote and taught us, Jesus said He came to fulfill the TORAH.  In Greek this means that He would live out the TORAH as an example to all of us.  So, Jesus did not come to do away with the law, the TORAH, He came to "finish it."  This is so evident if you study the text of His word in its historical context.  This is so awesome.

Here's the link to video #9 in the series, "Five Small Stones," - https://youtu.be/-FSJ0GytjSo

Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?  What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Five Small Stones Episode 8 - The Last Adam - 1 Cor. 15:45

Genesis - 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 – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Views_of_the_Dead_Sea_from_Masada

Link to Wikimedia views of the mountains surrounding the Dead Sea – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mountain_around_Dead_Sea

Link to Wikimedia views of the caves near Qumran where many of the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Caves_of_Qumran

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? 

Rev. Ferret in an ancient tomb somewhere in Galatia

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

 

 

 

Five Small Stones Episode 7 - The Last Redeemer - Psm. 118:22-24

Exodus - 15 - VIDEO Exod. 5:1-2 THE PALACEOF THE KING

This is lesson 15 in the Bible study series, "The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus." In this 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 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-exodus-lesson-5-part-1-the-archaeology-of-the-exodus/

     Part 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-exodus-lesson-5-part-2-1446-bc/

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 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4489-digging-for-truth-episode-41-what-is-the-biblical-date-of-the-exodus-part-one 

     Video 2 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4536-digging-for-truth-episode-42-what-is-the-biblical-date-of-the-exodus-part-two

     Video 3 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4538-digging-for-truth-episode-43-archaeological-evidence-for-the-early-date-of-the-exodus-part-one

     Video 4 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4544-digging-for-truth-episode-44-archaeological-evidence-for-the-early-date-of-the-exodus-part-2

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

Rev Ferret teaching on top of a mountain in Mexico!

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

Five Small Stones Episode 6 - First Fruits 1 Cor. 15:20-23

Five Small Stones Episode 5 - The 1st and Only - John 3:16-18 & Exod. 4:22

Genesis - 39 - Gen. 19:1-16 Lot Sat in the Gates in Sodom - Assimilation?

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.  It's as if Lot assimilated into the culture of Sodom.

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? (Ferret - teaching His word on a mountain)

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

 

 

Exodus 62 - Exod. 25:1-8 - "BUILD ME A DWELLING PLACE" - THE WAYPOINT ON THE HIKE THROUGH TORAH

THE WAYPOINT OF OUR JOURNEY

If you are a hiker like me there are times you are hiking on a trail and come across something special.  It might be a great look out on a high hill or a beautiful pond or a rock structure that has a unique shape.  It might be so cool you want to remember it, you want to make it a WAYPOINT.  If you do a search on the internet you might come up with the following description generated by AI of a WAYPOINT ...

In the context of hiking, a waypoint is a specific point of interest that you can mark on a map or in your GPS device, often used to track progress and navigate trails. These can be anything from a landmark to a campsite, water source, or a turning point. 

This podcast Bible study on Exod. 25:1-8 is a WAYPOINT for our journey through Exodus.  It is a significant and critical set of verses that mark the rest of the "trail" to be of major importance.  Because now יהוה‎ Yahvay, the LORD, works with Moses to give him the details to make יהוה‎ Yahvay a TABERNACLE and the LORD with thus dwell among His people.  

Image - permission to use - FreeBibleImages.org

 

We're going to find however, that the word TABERNACLE is not Hebrew nor Greek nor English.  It's Latin.  What is a Latin word doing here? So what does this word mean and why does it "hide" a more awesome way of looking at God's dwelling place?

 

And we will also find that "dwell" is not a good translation from the Hebrew in the phrase in Exod. 25:8 that יהוה‎ Yahvay will dwell among His people..  In the Hebrew it means something that we don't see - it means more than dwell - and when we see it this provides an expanded and enriched understanding of God among us.  On top of that we'll see that these verses testify of Yeshua, our Bridegroom, who came to "dwell" among us and with us and in us (John 14:20).   The Greek word translated as "dwell" in John 1:14 also translates the Hebrew word that is translated as "dwell" in Exod. 25:8.  Does this provide the connection?  What is going on?  You won't believe it!  

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?

(John & Robin somewhere in the Middle East)

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