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The study of the Bible in its historical context - with a focus on the archaeology, history, geography, customs , culture, and even the languages of the ancient Middle East. WE ask what did they understand THEN - the original intent of the Lord - so that we can expand and enrich our understanding NOW and thus become true disciples of Adonai Yeshua as in John 8:31-32.
Episodes
21 minutes ago
21 minutes ago
Lesson 48 Part 1
Adonai, the Lord, His name is probably pronounced Yahvay (there is NO "W" sound in Hebrew), has just completed giving the words of His Covenant (see Exod. 34:28) in Hebrew עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים Aseret HaDevarim or the Ten Statements or Words. We know them as the Ten Commandments (NOTE: the phrase the Ten Commandments is not in the Bible only עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים Aseret HaDevarim). It was an amazing event but the Lord now makes known to all of us that this event was beyond amazing, beyond miraculous. It was incomprehensible. It was beyond understanding. There is more to this event at Mt. Sinai than we imagined. I t had to do to what they saw the day God came to give them the words of the covenant. What did they see?
More than that God shows us that the giving of the Ten Commandments is tied to His feast we read about in Acts 2. It seems related to what the Hebrews SAW when God gave them the Ten Commandments. In Acts 2 all the religious Jews, the Gentile converts to Judaism called proselytes, and other Gentiles who believed in the Jewish God and were called God Fearers, were celebrating God’s “appointed time” of Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. In Greek it is named Pentecost. It is so awesome to see that the words God inspired Moses to write in Exod. 20:18-26 and the words God inspired Luke to write in Acts 2 suggest a connection between Sinai and Jerusalem. We missed of course since few of us have had Bible studies that focus on the Jewish culture in 1446 B.C., in 30 A.D. or studies that help us understand the Greek and the Hebrew. But, the good news is that the Lord will not let this continue. Today He is moving to bring us tools and teachers to take us deeper into His word.
In this lesson I mentioned a number of articles that sadly discuss that many Christian churches today neglect to teach the word of God. It is one this to read the Bible but quite another to understand it. An example is you read the Bible and you believe that Jesus is God. OK, the Bible never uses the phrase, “Jesus is God” or Jesus never says “I am God.” OK, so you read the Bible. Big deal. You now need a teacher to help get at how the Bible shows that Jesus is God. So, one just can’t read the Bible. It needs to be taught. Both are critical for all Christians. And yet, many churches have given up on teaching the Bible. Check out the superb articles at the links below.
https://www.gotquestions.org/purpose-church.html
https://albertmohler.com/2014/05/14/why-so-many-churches-hear-so-little-of-the-bible
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2015/02/17/whatever-happened-to-teaching-in-the-churches/
https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/my-church-doesnt-teach-the-bible
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - at the ancient temple built by Herod to honr Augustus Caesar in Omrit Israel)
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
2 days ago
2 days ago
We now focus on the 10th Commandment …
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exo 20:17)
Some say “covet” is the same as lust or craving or desire. It can’t be since there is no law against craving, desire, or lust. In this podcast Bible study we will find that COVET (the Hebrew is תחמד or Tachmod) is an obsessive mental focus on getting by whatever means something that belongs to one’s neighbor. COVET or coveting is “forbidden thought” that if followed through results in an evil action. There are two operatives here – thought and action. When you take this definition it is seemingly the cause for murder, committing adultery, stealing and lying. Jesus seems to teach this when He said …
"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. "These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." (Mat 15:19-20)
In Jesus’ day the word “heart” was used as a picture to represent the mind. Jesus is saying our mind gives rise to “evil thoughts” and this seems to connect to COVET as an obsessive mental focus on getting by whatever means what we are craving or lusting.
I ended this session on the Ten Commandments by suggesting you watch the 5-minute Bible study video episode 9 in the series, “Five Small Stones.” It is entitled “It Is Finished.” This video is a teaching about the “missing piece” in the Sinai Covenant that is recognized by Jewish non-Christian scholars, the writer of the book of Hebrews, and Paul. The link to this video is …
https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-9-rom-104-it-is-finished/
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - Timnah Park north of Eilat Israel)
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
2 days ago
2 days ago
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
4 days ago
4 days ago
Is it always a sin to lie? Is there such a thing as "white lies?" Maybe the Lord only meant in the 9th Commandment not to lie as a witness in a court of law. And I can't be a false witness to my neighbor. Who is my neighbor? Only people in my neighborhood?
Lots of questions come up on all the עשׂרת הדברים - Asereet HaDevareem - the ten statements of the Lord. Come and join us as we study the 9th commandment. We'll see that this commandment is the basis for a good and just society - probably what the Lord intended right from the "get go."
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - leading a teaching tour to Israel. Standing at one of the temples Herod built to honor Augustus Caesar at Omrit Israel)
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
5 days ago
5 days ago
Lesson 47 Episode 15 Part 2
מאום תגנב לא
Exod. 20:15 - Lo Tegnev Me’um
Do not steal anything
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - teaching on the shores of the Sea of 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
6 days ago
6 days ago
Lesson 47 Episode 15 Part 1 - no stealing!!
The 8th Commandment - Lo Tegenev - לא תגנב - No Stealing. But it doesn't specify what NOT to steal! God did this by design. Why? Join us in the next podcast on the Ten Commandments and let the Lord take us deeper into understanding His Covenant foundation.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - teaching in the ruins of Chorazin)
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
7 days ago
7 days ago
This is part 4 of episode 14 on the 7th Commandment - Exo 20:13 לא תרצח Lo Tenaf - NO ADULTERY. We focus on the question of where did God ever say that extra-marital sex is a sin? Is forbidden? What about abortion? In Jesus' day these are sins. But, it is not specified in the Torah. Check it out at this link ... https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/premarital-sex
So, where is it in the Bible? These sins were part of the pagan cultures in the ancient Near East. It is interesting to note that God DID condemn these acts as sin and it is IN the Torah. Where? Come and join us as we see that the 7th Commandment is only for adultery and does NOT include all sexual immorality. But God does teach that extramarital sex, abortion, infanticide, pedophilia, etc. is what He hates, they are abominations, and are sins. It's there. How did we miss it? Once again it has to do with putting the Bible into its historical context.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - teaching on the northen shore of the Sea of 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
Friday Jun 05, 2026
Friday Jun 05, 2026
This episode provides a clear review of episodes 1 and 2. We see that in the Ancient Near East adultery was a serious crime and it wasn't primarily about the sex. If not about the sex outside of marriage, what's the serious nature of adultery back in the 15th century BC?
Secondly, no other pagan culture had their god or gods commanding that adultery was forbidden. It was a man made set of laws. But, for Israel, God, our God, the only God commands that adultery is forbidden and part of His covenant with His people. This means that Israel will be a testimony to the world of how to live according to the Lord.
Third, why is it that a married woman in an affair with a man not her husband will be executed and her lover? What about a married man in an affair with a woman not his wife? This is not fair. This is not equitable. What's going on?
Fourth, many Christian theologians say the 7th commandment is a commandment forbidding ALL sexual impurity. HUH? The Bible doesn't say that. On top of that God said not to add or subtract from His word. This is what many Christian theologians have. As an example, sex outside of marriage is a sin in Judaism and Christianity. But the Bible has no statement saying it is. What's going on? Where does the Lord teach that pre-marital sex, homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, and prostitution are sins? He does! But how? Where?
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - teaching in the ruins of Corazin Israel)
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
Thursday Jun 04, 2026
Thursday Jun 04, 2026
EXODUS LESSON 73 PART 2
I strongly urge you to listen to Lesson 73 part 1 before listening to part 2. You’ll see how important it is to make sure you do this to get a better understanding of the questions and issues in these verses. Here’s the link for part 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/exodus-73-part-1-exod-3210-18-god-cant-change-his-mind/
One major problem we'll deal with is the way the translators of the New American Standard Bible 1995 translated the Hebrew in Exod. 32:14 to come up with the phrase, “God changed His mind.” In part 1 it is so clear that God does not change and never changes His mind. This is a major issue and one wonders how this could’ve happened since again and again the very words of God show the truth that God does not change and never changes His mind.
Below check out the chart. You’ll see that the NASB is the only Bible version that uses the phrase “God changed His mind.”
The King James (KJV) and the Amplified Bible (AMP) and the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) translations are probably the most accurate.
The Lord repented or turned away from one thing to turn to another. Repent in Hebrew comes from the Hebrew verb LaShuv לָשׁוּב meaning to turn around or to go back. The Strong’s number H7725. It is the verb that forms the Hebrew word for repentance of Teshuvah תְּשׁוּבָה.
It is not just connected to doing repentance from sin. It could be one wants to give up smoking. So one would turn from smoking and to turn to something else. In other words one is doing Teshuvah תְּשׁוּבָה from smoking. That is how the Bible uses the word and not just related to sin. Thus, God is turning from one thing to do another.
I wrote an article on trying to get at this in a more understandable way. Here’s the article below.
Does God change His mind?
How can this be? We have two verses that contradict each other. Consider ...
Exodus 32:14
So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people. (Exo 32:14)
Malachi 3:6
"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." (Mal 3:6)
Which is it? If God does not change then how did Moses have God change His mind and yet God says He will not. This is not like God. This is nuts. I thought the Bible was in full agreement!! Can this be explained??
Also, one reads in the very words of God that certain people will be restricted from the Assembly of God.
Deu 23:1-8 "No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD. (2) "No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the LORD. (3) "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD, (4) because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. (5) "Nevertheless, the LORD your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you. (6) "You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days. (7) "You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not detest an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land. (8) "The sons of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.
It says that all Moabites are so restricted and yet Ruth gets in. Why? How? (Listen to part 1 carefully regarding the Moabites. No Moabite will be allowed in to the Assembly of Israel up to an including the 10th generation by God’s own words. Wait till you see how Ruth is probably of the 11th generation when one studies the Bible in its historical context. So, she can get in and she did!)
It says that a MUMZER will not enter and Timothy is a mumzer - his mom was Jewish and his dad a pagan (Hebrew for one of illegitimate birth)!! Timothy!! He became a leader of the assembly of Messiah in Ephesus.
We say as Gentiles we are grafted in but the Torah says NO!! God says it loud and clear. What is going on? How can both be true? Oh sure. One is the church and one is the synagogue. Right?? It can't be. This is a conundrum!!
Let’s check the Hebrew of Exod. 32:14 and Mal. 3:6.
Exo 32:14 וינחם H5162 יהוה H3068 על H5921 הרעה H7451 אשׁר H834 דבר H1696 לעשׂות H6213 לעמו׃ H5971
Mal 3:6 כי H3588 אני H589 יהוה H3068 לא H3808 שׁניתי H8138 ואתם H859 בני H1121 יעקב H3290 לא H3808 כליתם׃ H3615
In English we are reading the word “change” (as to change one's mind in Ex 32:14 - word # 5162) and change (as to someone not changing as in Mal 3:6 - word #8138). In Exod 32:14 God "racham's" - it does NOT say He changes His mind!! The word racham is the word that is translated as "He changed His mind." That phrase is not even there. A better way to say this is that God repents; God turns from one thing to another. He REPENTS. Moses did NOT change HIS mind. What happened is God has set in place either punishment or a curse on those who are unrighteous. That is His intention. However, equally part of HIS intention is God's other option to forgive and erase the punishment if there is true repentance.
Both options exist for God. It is one or the other - this is His simultaneous intention and purpose. Moses intervened for Israel and God did not change His mind. He can't. What God did was to turn, to repent, and allowed the other option. Both options are in play, both are His intentions. God has laid out those two options as part of His intentions. Thus, He did not change at all.
In Mal 3:6 the word is "shanaw." This has the picture of "folding" one side on another. It has the implication of duplicating. God stays constant. He is ONE and will remain ONE. He is the Lord and HE does not go from one intention to another. Like with Moses God had either punishment or forgiveness. Both exist at once as God's intentions. In the case of sin this is God - both exist. He will turn from one to the other, from punishment to forgiveness if there is true teshuvah, repentance from the sin, and will not do option 1 but option 2. God is like that. He is always like that. God has it all covered and these options are already in place with HIM as His intentions. He will not do anything that is not already a part of HIMSELF. Thus, we study Torah to know HIM deeply and intimately and to begin to understand His ways.
Finally, Moses was the greatest prophet of the Hebrew Scriptures (Deut. 34:10). God tells Moses the following …
“I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” (Deu 18:18)
This is the Lord’s prediction of the future coming of His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah. So, Jesus is a prophet like Moses; for us as disciples of Jesus we’d say Jesus is the Greatest Prophet ever. But, we are to be disciples of Jesus or talmidim תַּלְמִידִים. A talmid is one who is a student of a rabbi and who lives to be like his rabbi. Check out the article entitled "Rabbi and Talmidim" at this link ...
https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim
Jesus says this quite clearly …
“A pupil (from the Greek to the Hebrew is TALMID) is not above his teacher (from the Greek to the Hebrew is RAV or master. We say RABBI); but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” (Luk 6:40)
Thus, if we are real talmidim we are to be like Jesus. He was given the words of His Father to proclaim and thus Jesus is a prophet. But we are given the words of Jesus to go and proclaim. So, we are prophets as well in that Jesus sends us to bring the word to the Ends of the Earth. And as Moses offers prayers of intercession for Israel so Jesus offers prayers of intercession for His talmidim and the church, His Bride. Thus, if we are truly living to be a true disciple then we to must be ones who offer prayers of intercession for the ones we meet as well. We are to be like Him and follow Paul’s teaching when he taught that we are to be like Paul since he is like his master, his RAV, Jesus (1Cor. 11:1).
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - somewhere in the desert north of Eilat Israel)
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
EXODUS LESSON 73 PART 1
In lesson 73 part one and part two we tackle the question, "Does God change His mind?" As we study Exod. 32:10-18 it is clear the answer to this question is critical. Also, Moses asks the Lord to not destroy the Hebrews. It seems as if Moses intercessory request affects the Lord and He "changes His mind." Or does He?
In this lesson I mention the fact that a generation in the days of Abraham and Moses and Joshua and David and most of the Old Testament is roughly 30 years. It is not my opinion and here's a link (see below) to to support the 30 year generation. There are many other scholarly sites that also support a 30 year generation in the Old Testament. This is critical as we study the days of Ruth. God said no Moabites were allowed to join the congregation of Israel. But, Ruth, a Moabite, gets in. Did God change His mind? You'll see how a 30 year generation is related to help us understand this dilemma.
Link - GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/generation-in-the-Bible.html
Another event in the Bible is the sickness of Hezekiah. Hezekiah asked the Lord to give him more days to live. God answered his prayer. So, God must've changed His mind, right? Related to this is the link below. It discusses the question that for God's chosen, for God's elect, His people, disciples of Yeshua, that God fixes the day of our death. Really? Check it out once again at GotQuestions.org.
Link -https://www.gotquestions.org/appointed-death.html
So Muslims say Allah الله is our Lord or Adonai יהוה and that our God, Adonai יהוה, is the same as Allah الله. Really? This is a very interesting study from the Quran and the Hebrew Scriptures. It is clear that Allah الله is NOT the same as our Lord or Adonai יהוה. There is only one God, one Lord, He tells us in His own words. There is no other God but Yahvay or Adonai יהוה.
Here's two links to two articles you must study. The first shows that Allah الله states in his own words that he can change his mind. His words show Allah الله contradicts himself when this god says he knows all things and does not change. And the 2nd article is a paper I did awhile back that shows that Allah الله is NOT the same as our Lord or Adonai יהוה.
Link 1 -https://www.calloflove.org/post/contradiction-in-the-quran-allah-changing-his-word
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - somewhere in the desert north of Eilat Israel)