LIGHT OF MENORAH

Truth Nuggets 4 Part 2 ”What‘s Your Name?

 

Truth Nugget 4 Part 2

The name of God is so special and so holy (kadosh קדוש) - meaning set apart, special, distinct.  The rabbis in Jesus' day and even before even made up a new law - don't say God's name so you won't break the commandment that says do not take HIS name in vain.  Therefore, in Jesus' day the tetragrammaton, yud hay vav hay יהוה, was not said.  Other words were substituted like Adonai meaning ""Lord" or HaShem meaning "the Name."  So one might say God's name, יהוה, I pronounce it "Yah Vay," is a name so above other names, so beyond other names, separate and set apart or kadosh קדוש - God even says this about His name.  

This is the historical context we need to understand when we read the New Testament.  Religious Jews who followed Jesus as Lord, as Savior, as God, knew this.  It was part of their everyday culture.  Thus, the verses Phil 2:5-11 take on a whole new meaning.  We then ask Jesus, "What is your name?  What is your REAL name?"  

Here are links to the articles I referenced in these podcasts.  

Judaism 101 - Jewish law or halakah (one's walk) - http://www.jewfaq.org/halakhah.htm

David Biven's article - "Jesus and the Oral Law: the Unutterable Name of God." - 

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2087/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret on 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

Genesis - 55 - Gen. 24:1-21 BRIDE OF CHRIST - BE LIKE REBECCA

As we continue in Genesis 24 we ask ourselves the question, is Rebecca also one who the Lord uses to teach us about our walk with the Lord now in the future?  In other words is she too part of the Biblical concept we saw in lesson 54 - מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem."  It means the events in the life of the fathers are signs or omens for the sons.  In lesson 54 we studied the events where Abraham, the father of Isaac, his beloved son, sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac, the child of promise.  This reminds us of Jesus who was sent by the Father to find a bride for Himself; He who is the beloved the son of the Father and the promised Messiah.  This seems like a application of מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem." 

In this lesson I mentioned the concept of “grafted in” and how that phrase is a true equivalent alternative way of translating Gen. 12:3 or …

“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

This can also be translated as follows.

“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be grafted in.”

Here’s the link to lesson 25 to study this in detail.  Link - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-kiv4b-f364ec

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - somewhere in the Negev 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

 

Truth Nuggets 4 Part 1 ”What‘s Your Name?”

This podcast is broken into two separate parts.  Part 1 sets up the historical context and part 2 applies it to a special verse about Jesus.

The name of God is so special and so holy (kadosh קדוש) - meaning set apart, special, distinct.  The rabbis in Jesus' day and even before even made up a new law - don't say God's name so you won't break the commandment that says do not take HIS name in vain.  Therefore, in Jesus' day the tetragrammaton, yud hay vav hay יהוה, was not said.  Other words were substituted like Adonai meaning ""Lord" or HaShem meaning "the Name."  So one might say God's name, יהוה, I pronounce it "Yah Vay," is a name so above other names, so beyond other names, separate and set apart or kadosh קדוש - God even says this about His name.  

This is the historical context we need to understand when we read the New Testament.  Religious Jews who followed Jesus as Lord, as Savior, as God, knew this.  It was part of their everyday culture.  Thus, the verses Phil 2:5-11 take on a whole new meaning.  We then ask Jesus, "What is your name?  What is your REAL name?"  

Here are links to the articles I referenced in these podcasts.  

Judaism 101 - Jewish law or halakah (one's walk) - http://www.jewfaq.org/halakhah.htm

David Biven's article - "Jesus and the Oral Law: the Unutterable Name of God." - 

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2087/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret on 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

Exodus - 29 - Exod. 10:21 - 29 DARKNESS THAT YOU CAN FEEL

In the 9th plague God brings darkness upon all Egypt for three days.  It is a darkness that the Torah says can be "felt" and it was a "thick" darkness.  It was so awesome that people did not even move or seemingly travel around for the three days.  What is going on?

Some say it was a dust storm from Arabia.  They try and make it a natural occurrence.  Many try and make the plagues something that can be explained.  But, in this case.  This darkness is unnatural.  One could feel it.  It was so thick it prevented moving around.  And, it probably was a blackness, unnatural, since it related to the religion of the pagan Egyptians and the Hebrews who had bought into the wrong story and assimilated into the pagan Egyptian culture.

For the Hebrews they may have seen it in light of what was familiar to them then.  It may have been that the Hebrews, and even many Egyptians, as a picture of the Lord bringing back the darkness prior to the creation as understood by the Egyptians.  One must study the cosmologies of the Egyptians, their creation myths, to understand how this might relate.  In Exod. 12:12 the Lord says He will come against ALL the gods of Egypt.  This darkness, this total lack of light, is as if God took all Egypt back to the days before Amun-Ra, the sun god, the god of light, creates himself.  This is taking the earth back to primordial state that the Egyptians said was total chaos.  Pharaoh's job was to prevent chaos and preserve Ma'at.  Ma'at the supreme goddess of truth, order, peace, and harmony and well being.  But, Pharaoh could not.  But the Lord brought upon all Egypt the chaos that all Egypt lived to stop and preserve Ma'at.  

There is a cute video on YouTube that does a good job on the Egyptian creation myths.  Here's the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTy49JlgJZE

In Exod. 12:12 the Lord says He will come against all the gods of Egypt.  I mentioned the scholar David Padfield who did a brilliant job on relating the gods of Egypt to the plagues.  Here's a link to this free resource by David Padfield - https://www.padfield.com/acrobat/history/gods_of_egypt.pdf

Here are key lessons in our podcast series that you may want to review or perhaps listen to for the 1st time.  They are ...

Podcast - Exodus - 4 part 2 - dealing with the Biblical support that the Hebrews after Jacob dies and then Joseph assimilated into the pagan Egyptian culture.  Thus, God needed to use Egyptian concepts to return His chosen people back to Himself.  He needed to teach them by giving them the Torah, His teachings, to get Egypt out of the Hebrews - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wdzur-f82194

Articles - For further study use this link to study the idea that the Hebrews had assimilated into the pagan culture of Egypt.  Here's the link - https://www.dropbox.com/home/2019...2020%20Twelfth%20Season/Egypt%20Exodus%20Passover%20Pharaoh%20Moses?preview=Hebrews+Assimilated+into+Egypt.pdf

Podcast - Genesis 5 - the podcast showing how God comes against the creator gods of Egypt - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-67ye7-da9f7a

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

 

Genesis - 54 - Gen. 24:1-27 A BRIDE FOR THE SON OF PROMISE

In this lesson we study Genesis chapter 24, the longest chapter in Genesis.  It seems like something big is about to happen.  It is.  Abraham sends his servant, his servant who is un-named in chapter 24 (could Eliezer but it can’t be proven), and this servant goes in the name of his master, to find a bride for the father's most beloved son, Isaac, the child of promise. 

Hmmm.  This sounds like something we know.  Is there some connection to Jesus?  Do these verses in chapter 24 testify of Jesus who is the Bridegroom, the Promised one, the only begotten, beloved son of the Father.  And, we are called His bride.  Oh yes!  Wait till you see.  There is a old Jewish saying, מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem."  It means the events in the life of the fathers are signs or omens for the sons.  We will see that this is so true for chapter 24 as it also testifies of Jesus and us. 

I mentioned in the podcast about Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, and Jesus all show up at one location.  It is the area of the ancient city of Shechem.  We see the promises of God to Abraham right in  front of our eyes at this location.  Abraham and Sarah – one couple.  From them comes Jacob, and his wives, Rachel and Leah, and his eleven sons.  So from one couple to one family.  Later Joshua shows up with all Israel at the same place.  One nation from the one family who are from the one couple.  Finally, the Promised One from the Father, from YHVH, Yahvay, His only begotten beloved son, shows up at the same place.  He is the promised “blessing” for all the nations, for Jew and Gentile, coming from the one couple, Abraham and Sarah.  This is an amazing study. 

There are four video Bible studies, five minutes each, on this amazing study on the ancient city of Shechem.  Don't miss this.

Episode 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-11-gen-121-geography-and-the-bible-shechem/

Episode 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-12-abraham-and-jacob-in-shechem-gen-126-3318/

Episode 3 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-13-josh-241-geography-and-the-bible-joshua-israel/

Episode 4 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-14-john-41-6-the-blessing-to-the-nations/

Here’s another the link to lesson 26 from “The Gospel According to Moses – Genesis.” 

Link - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6wqrb-f5b29a

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret at the ancient city of Pergamum in Turkey)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -

chttps://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Exodus - 28 - Exod 10:12-20 (episode 2) Egypt’s Economy is destroyed

This is part 2 of lesson 28.  As we conclude we ask the question does God want us to understand Egypt and Pharaoh as a picture of God's plan for the future?  Is it possible as God brought destruction and chaos on this one nation who followed the one man who said he was god, will He also do the same when many will follow the one man, the Beast, as the ruler of all the earth and who likened himself to God?  Perhaps.  It agrees with a concept in the Bible that the rabbis recognized.  The lives of the fathers are signs of the future for the sons.  In Hebrew "Ma'asay Avot seeman labaneem."  One obvious example is the Passover lamb and the Lamb of God.  The Passover lamb is associated with the redemption of God's people Israel as they put the blood of the lamb on the wood, the doorposts.  But, it is like  sing from the past that one is coming, the Lamb of God, who will bring redemption to God's people, Jew and Gentile who choose Yeshua as Lord and God and Savior, and will be spared the wrath of God because of the blood of the Lamb of God on the wood, the cross.  This is one clear example of "Ma'asay Avot seeman labaneem."  AS we put the Bible into its historical context we will see how the Lord does this again and again.  So, does He connect the the Exodus to the book of Revelation?  There are some who say yes.

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

 

Truth Nuggets - 2 - Psalm 23:6 and 91:1-3 BEIT AV - THE HOUSE OF THE FATHER

"Truth Nuggets" - these are short Bible studies in their historical context.  Our goal is to "walk those ancient streets and paths" with those ancient believers to reconnect to their day and their circumstances.  In this way we can hear what they heard and see what they say and come to grasp with what God originally meant in His word written to them 2000 and 3000 years ago.

In this episode, "Truth Nugget 2," we wrestle with the concept of what does it mean to be in God's house, what does it mean to be a sheep in God's flock, or what does it mean to be a disciple of a rabbi, specially Rabbi Jesus?  Are they all related?  Is there perhaps something that binds all these concepts together?  How does this relate to us as humans made in His image with a physical body and a spiritual soul?  

Once again we put the Bible into its historical context and consider how thee verses may apply in Jesus' day and times.  When we do it is amazing to see a more complete "picture" for us today as disciples of Rabbi Jesus, our Lord and Savior and our God.  In the first podcast in this series I reference Dr. Craig Keener a noted and amazing Bible historian and scholar.  I recommend you read his important article on the reason we study the Bible from its historical context.  

Here is the link to the article - https://craigkeener.com/why-it-is-important-to-study-the-bible-in-context/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  

(Ferret - Timnah Park just north of Eilat Israel)

The new series from Light of Menorah continues.  It is entitled, 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 1 - Psalm 118:24

Welcome to the new podcast series from Light of Menorah.  These podcasts entitled, "Truth Nuggets," are short Bible studies focusing on the archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and the ancient languages of the ancient Near East.  Our attempt is to put the Bible into its historical context and "walk on those ancient streets and roadways" with those ancient believers. We want to try and understand what they heard and saw and understood in God's word.  We want to try and reconnect to the original meaning that God intended.

In this first "Truth Nugget" we look at one particular verse that is a clear example of us,  21st century Christians, taking a verse out of context and misapplying it to our circumstances.  We have been so cutoff from the Bible in context that we have no other choice it seems, but to try and grasp the meaning of God's word from our own circumstances.  But, once we do reconnect to Psalm 118:24 in context and consider the verses that come before and after, and consider the historical context, the verse explodes with meaning as it relates to the entire redemption plan of El Elyon, the Most High God.

A proven credible Bible scholar and historian is Dr. Craig Keener.  I reference him in this porcast.  He has written a short article I highly recommend you read as you continue to live to stand and hold fast to God's Word.  Here is the link to the article - https://www.craigkeener.com/why-it-is-important-to-study-the-bible-in-context/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret at Timnah Park 15 miles or so 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

Genesis - 53 - Gen. 23:1-20 GO!! Don' just sit there!

I often wondered sometimes, how events in the Hebrew Scriptures related to me today in the 21st century.  I often wondered what Jesus meant in John 5:39 when He taught us that all scripture testified of Him.  All they had the when He taught that was the Hebrew Scriptures.  They did not have the New Testament.  But, over and over again I see the Lord is spot on!  His TORAH speaks to us today.  Just wait to see how the death of Sarah and Abraham's actions teach us what it means to be a true disciple of Adonai Yeshua.

Sarah dies and Abraham ACTS.  He just doesn't sit there and wait to see if the Lord wants him to buy the cave at Machpelah to bury his beloved wife.  On top of that Abraham acts again in chapter 24.  He doesn't just sit there and wait for God to bring Isaac a wife.  Abraham acts. 

We are his sons and daughters as Paul teaches in Gal. 3:7 and if Consider those who hold to the belief in the rapture.  Some Christians are waiting for the Rapture.  Waiting?  NO!!  Don't sit there, the Lord told you to GO.  Don’t believe me then listen to His very words in Matt 28:19, Mark 16:16, and John 15:16.

(Mat 28:19)  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit …”

(Mar 16:15-16)  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

(Joh 15:16)  "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would GO and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

In all three verses there is the word “GO.”  In our own day don’t sit and study the end times and try and figure out the signs of the times and think you are doing well as a disciple of Adonai Yeshua.  He said “GO” and bear fruit and that our fruit is ever ripe and ever fresh for the purposes God has in His Kingdom.  We are to “GO” and then …

(Joh 15:8)  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

So it is a lot more than studying the Bible.  Are you bearing fruit?  Are you like our father Abraham as Paul teaches in Gal. 3:7?  Are you just sitting there waiting?  Act!  Get up and DO!  Live to hear Him say the first time you and Yeshua are face to face, "Well done!"

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - on 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

 

Exodus - 27 - Exod. 10:2-10 (episode 1) THE ECONOMY OF EGYPT WAS DESTROYED

Lesson 28 is in two parts.  This first part will take us to Exod. 10:10 and part two to 10:20.

Time and time again Pharaoh experiences God’s power and wrath.  In lesson 27 it was the hail.  It destroyed a great part of the economy of Egypt.  But, once Adonai relents and stops the hail and the storm, Pharaoh “hardens” his heart.  On top of that this is also true for his servants as we read in Exod. 9:34 …

But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. (Exo 9:34)

We will again learn that as we put the Bible into its historical context and actually study the Hebrew, our understanding is clarified and enhanced.  The Hebrew word in v.34 for harden is the Hebrew word כּבד H3513 or kahvod.  It mean “heavy.”  If you lived in Egypt in 1446 B.C. when these events likely occurred, Egyptians and the Hebrews would understand what is meant by a “heavy” heart.  It is interesting to note that God does the same thing when we read Exod. 10:1.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them,” (Exo 10:1)

The English word is not a good word to give meaning to the Hebrew.  Once again the Hebrew word is kahvod, meaning “heavy.”  As I mentioned, if one is an Egyptian living when all this occurred or a Hebrew slave, they get it.  We don’t.  But, once we study the ancient culture of Egypt, once we study the Bible in its historical context, what Pharaoh did to his “heart” and what God did to his “heart” are too opposite applications.  But what does it mean? 

On top of that as we delve into this and study the word closely and carefully, verse 9:34 and 10:1 show us that God NEVER took away Pharaoh’s free will.  When you study the historical context and the Hebrew it is almost silly to think God took away this man’s ability to chose freely.  And yet, many still hold to the traditional view since they have not been taught about ancient Egypt and the Bible in it historical context. 

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