LIGHT OF MENORAH

Genesis - Lesson 78 - Gen. 32:22-32 - JACOB WRESTLES WITH WHO?

Jacob wrestles with a man.  This is what it says in the Hebrew in Gen. 32:24.  Who is this "man?"  The rabbi say it is the devil himself, HaSatan - the adversary.  Some Christian scholars say it is Jesus!  Others say it is the Angel of the Lord.  But, what does the Bible say?  Are there strong hints in the text that give us an idea of who this "man" is?  

Come and join us in the Torah study.  Come as we put the Bible into its historical context and discover things that are hidden but are now being brought to light by Ruach HaKodesh - the רוח הקודש Holy Spirit, our teacher given to us on Shavuot after Jesus' Resurrection.

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 - 77 - Genesis 31 & 32 - Rachel is Not Guilty

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 - 69 - Gen. 28:10-22 Jesus in Torah - THE CROSS AND THE LADDER

In lesson 4 part 2 in the Exodus series of podcasts it is seen that the Hebrews, probably starting after Joseph died in the last chapter of Genesis, assimilated into the culture and customs of ancient Egypt.  They bought into the wrong “story.”  I said I’d link you to the lesson in the Exodus series.  It is critical that you listen to that podcast and understand the truth of the fact that the Hebrews assimilated into the Egyptian culture.  It is so critical since it helps us understand the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, even from Genesis chapter 1 verse 1.  Here’s the link - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wdzur-f82194

And one aspect of the mythology of ancient Egypt has everything to do with ladders! In the ancient Pyramid texts dated to 2500 B.C. and still used in the days of Moses in 1446 B.C. there was the idea of the pharaoh needing a ladder to get to heaven.  The ladder was provided by the gods so that the pharaoh could have a way to be with the gods in Egyptian paradise.  Shown below is a picture found in one of the temples in ancient Egypt showing the ladder concept.

 

So, you are a Hebrew.  You are free and not a slave any more.  You hear that Moses is writing the books of God’s instruction; God’s instruction means תורה Torah.  Torah means instruction and not law.  You’ll be one of the first to hear what he wrote.  It was perhaps understood then that Yahvay, the LORD, was somehow inspiring Moses to write these documents.  So, what would you think when you came to the story of Jacob’s dream and the ladder to the heavens?  You’d remember it from Egyptian mythology.  But this time, the one, the true God, the only God, is helping you understand it is HE who gives us the way to Himself and not the Egyptian gods or pharaoh.  It is the Lord who provides the WAY back to Himself since you probably heard the 1^st book Moses wrote.  Genesis.  In that book you heard that the way to paradise, the way back to the Father was closed.  But now, as you hear about Jacob’s dream it is as if God is trying to say there is good news, the “gospel.”  It is as if God seems to say that one day the way back will be provided by the Lord. 

The dream of Jacob is an awesome and powerful lesson.  As we put it back into its historical context it even gets more profound. Come.  Join us.  Let us return to that ancient place that Jacob named בֵּית אֵל Bayt El, Bethel, the dwelling of 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

 

 

Exodus - 5 part 2 - 1446 B.C.

Exodus - 1446 B.C.

In part 1 we focused on real archaeology that shows 1) the Israelites were in Egypt prior to the Exodus and 2) that real archaeology supports the date of the Exodus to the 15 century B.C. or 1446 B.C.  In part 2 we will deal with the dates. 

In Exod. 12:40 the sons of Israel (Jacob) lived in Egypt 430 years till they left with Moses.  Where does that number come from?  Why doesn't anyone explain it?  Also it is taught to us that the early date of the Exodus was 1446 B.C. and no one ever justifies this date.  It is just stated.  Why won't anyone help us understand that this date of 1446 B.C. is supported by REAL archaeology and not someone's opinion or speculation.  Well, I will.  This lesson is to show that the early date of the Exodus, 1446 B.C. is very likely considering the archaeology supporting it and the study of the events in their historical context.  

I mentioned I will provide a number of links to resources to help you study further.  These links and resources are shown below.

Link 1 - slides that may help you put all this together - click here for the slides that summarize this podcast

Link 2 - an article on Edwin Thiele that shows how he connects the Assyrian King List (calendar) to 1 Kings 6:1 - click here for the article

Link 3 - an article by Dr. Bryant Wood on setting of the date for the Exodus - click here for this amazing article that completes lesson 5 part 2

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

Exodus - 5 part 1 - the archaeology of the Exodus

EXODUS – Did It Happen? When?

The next two lessons are critically important for everyday Christians to finally separate hype from truth and fantastic outlandish claims regarding the Exodus to see and learn of the real evidence that again shows the truth of the Bible and that it is God’s inspired word. 

Lesson 5 is in two parts.  In part 1 we will focus on real archaeology, real evidence, not patterns of evidence, or hints at evidence, about the Exodus.  There is no need for me to re-teach or re-present that which has already been researched and completed.  In this lesson you will learn about the Associates for Biblical Research (I will use ABR for the name of this ministry), a Christian ministry made up of Christian evangelical Bible historians and archaeologists.  Their website is https://biblearchaeology.org/

This is a must “go to” internet resource for everyday Christians to learn about the veracity of the Bible – the Bible is true, credible, and can be depended upon from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.  These proven Christian professional archaeologists have a mission to show via real archaeology the evidence of the truth of the inspired word of God, the Bible.  In addition these archaeologists using the truth that comes out of archaeology want to spread the gospel of the Kingdom to all.  There are stories of people who were agnostic or total unbelievers who came to be followers of Jesus Christ because of ABR and their awesome scholarly work in Biblical archeology.

In this podcast, part 1 of lesson 5, I mentioned an amazing video TV series that is free to all on the website for the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) called, “Digging for Truth.”  There are over 100 episodes from proving Daniel is a real prophet of the Lord and that he gave his accurate prophecies in the early 5^th century B.C. to showing that the resurrection of Jesus is true.  Again and again as you watch these TV programs (most about 30 minutes in length) you will see all the crazy ideas and theories available on the internet are completely proven false. 

Here’s the link to the complete list of episodes for “Digging for Truth” – https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes

The links below are to access the three-part series by Dr. Bryant Wood of ABR on the real archaeology that shows Israel was in Egypt; it shows the real probability they were there also just before the time of the Exodus in 1446 B.C.

Video 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT6giGYerx4

Video 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJn09u8cYRA

Video 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EMecjtl-MA

The links below here are for the two-part series by Dr. Scott Stripling of ABR on the archaeology, the real evidence of the date of the Exodus in the 15^th century B.C. or 1446 B.C. 

1^st episode – 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

2^nd episode - 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

Here’s the link to the article at ABR that shows that Dr. David Rohl’s theory of his new Egypt chronology that is used as the ONLY proof of the date of the Exodus in the DVD video “Patterns of Evidence” is only a theory; it is highly criticized by Egyptologists, and creates more problems than it solves.  Dr. Rohl an agnostic tries to make up a theory to prove the date of the Exodus.  A theory that is unproven with any degree of completeness.  But, we are not interested in theories but real evidence of the Exodus.  Link – https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/conquest-of-canaan/3196-david-rohls-revised-egyptian-chronology-a-view-from-palestine?highlight=WyJkYXZpZCIsImRhdmlkJ3MiLCJkYXZpZCciLCInZGF2aWQncyIsImRhdmlkJy4iLCJyb2hsIiwicm9obCdzIiwiZGF2aWQgcm9obCJd

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

 

Exodus - 38 part 2 - Exod, 13:1-21 - BOTH WORDS CRUCIFIED

This is lesson 38 part 2.  In Exod. 13:1-21 we find certain Jewish traditions that come out of these verses.  One is related to the verses below.

"And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.” (Exo 13:9)

"So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt." (Exo 13:16)

"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” (Deu 6:8)

"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” (Deu 11:18)

From these verses comes the use of תְּפִילִּין TEFILLIN or the boxes with straps that are used in Jewish prayer.  Ancient tefillin were found in the Qumran area on the northeast shores of the Dead Sea.  They are dated to Jesus’ day.  So, the use of tefillin certainly go back to Jesus’ day; we have archaeological proof.  Thus, it is likely that Jesus wore them as a Jewish sage (rabbi).  He is never accused in the Gospels of NOT using them.  It is clear Jesus wore the four tassels (ציציות tzeetzeeot) on the corners of His garment since this is what the woman who had a bleeding disease for 12 years actually touched as was healed.  Jesus was doing what religious Jewish men did then; they wore the tassels and used the tefillin. 

The second tradition comes from the verses below. 

"You shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' “ (Exo 13:8)

"And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' then you shall say to him, 'With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.” (Exo 13:14)

"And when your children say to you, 'What does this rite mean to you?' you shall say, 'It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'" (Exo 12:26-27)

"When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand.” (Deu 6:20-21)

The old tradition is the part in a modern Jewish Seder where a child of the family asks the four questions as related to the verses above.  The four questions are shown below.

• Question 1: Why on all other nights do we eat either leavened bread or matza, but on this night only matza?
• Question 2: Why on all other nights do we eat different types of vegetables, but on this night only bitter herbs?
• Question 3: Why on all other nights do we not dip our food once, but on this night we dip it twice?
• Question 4: Why on all nights do we eat either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we recline?

It is said that each question was asked by a certain type of child. 

• The Wise Son: “What are the testimonies, the statutes, and the laws that G‑d, our G‑d, has commanded to you?”
• The Wicked Son: "What is this service of yours?!"
• The Simple Son: “What is this celebration about?”
• The One Who Doesn't Know How to Ask: "As for The One Who Knows Not How To Ask — you must open up [the conversation] for him."

The main point in all this is the Exodus is the key Biblical event establishing the Jewish people, Israel as a nation, and Judaism.  It only happened once and will never happen again.  It even changed their calendar - the month of Nissan, the month f Passover, is the first month of the year and Nissan 1 is God's New Year.

God had engineered history and orchestrated all these events and He wants His people never to forget.  So the use of tefillin is a tool to help remember.  And the tradition of the use of the four questions in the Seder is to teach the next generation so that they too will never forget.

What does all this have to do with Jesus?  How does this relate to our experience as Christians in the 21^st century?  In this lesson we will see the amazing and awesome connections to Jesus.  He said that salvation is from the Jews.  The Exodus was a God orchestrated event not to rescue slaves, or to give freedom to Israel.  No.  It was an event marking a new era with a new people who are given a new task.  In Isa. 42:6 and 49:6 they, Israel, are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD to bring the salvation (Jesus’ name – Yeshua H3444 יְשׁוּעָה ) of God to the “ends of the earth.”  On top of that He took bread (unleavened?) at His Passover Meal of the Messiah (the Last Supper) and said it was Him, His body.  This takes us right to Exodus 13 and this chapter takes us to the CROSS - a one time event that will never happen again and it too changed our calendar.  You won’t believe how these lessons are proof of Jesus’ words in John 5:39 that all scripture testifies of Him.  He said it between 24-30 A.D. and all they had was the Hebrew Bible.  Again His words are true to them then and to us now.

If you missed lesson 38 part 1 check it out.  Here's the link - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fuv7b-11e242c

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exodus - 38 part 1 - Exod, 13:1-21 - The Written Word and the Living Word - the Bread of Life

In lesson 38 we focus on Exod. 13:1-21.  There are amazing connections to this chapter and to Yeshua, His death, and the new life He provides through the cross.  In this session we focus on the first born of Israel, animals and men.  All belong to the Lord.  All first born male animals must be sacrificed but all the first born human males, except for Levities, are redeemed; a price is paid of 5 shekels.  The key word is redeemed.  How might this relate to Jesus.  On one hand He is human, and the first born son of Mary.  On the other hand He is God, He is Divine and He is the only first born begotten son of the Father and is the Lamb of God.  But all male first born lambs must be sacrificed.  Hmmm, yes, the Lamb of God is sacrificed.  Seems to be connected to all this.

We will also study UNLEAVENDED BREAD again.  But this time the Torah gives us a picture.  The UNLEAVENED BREAD is a picture of the Torah of the Lord, the Written Word.  The Written Word is the Bread of Life.  But I thought Jesus is the Living Word.  He said He is is the Bread of Life.  Huh?  How can this be?  Is Jesus the Written Word and the Living Word?  Are they the same?  Are they different?  Did Jesus erase the Written Word?  How is this all related to the Cross?  You won’t believe this once you get into this. Come and study with us and go deeper in your understanding of the Passover and the Great Redemption of the Lord, יהוה, Yahvay (not Yahway - there is no W sound in Hebrew!!). 

 

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

 

Exodus - 37 part 2 - Exod. 12:29-51 - ”The column leaving Egypt was over 114 miles long”

In part 2 of lesson 37 we study the numbers in Exodus 12 and Numbers 1-2.  It says that 600,000 men left Egypt in the Exodus.  It is estimated that this is probably 2,000,000 people total and perhaps even 3,000,000.  The Bible goes on to say in Num. 1-2 that the army of Israel in 1444 B.C. numbered 603,550 men.  This is ridiculous.  Consider the chart below from the Encyclopedia Britannica.  (To view the chart click on this link -

 https://www.businessinsider.com/this-ambitious-graphic-shows-the-size-of-standing-armies-from-antiquity-to-the-present-2014-11)

If this is the case Israel had the largest army in the world of all ancient nations and empires including Rome!  This makes no sense.  But, this also implies that if there were 603,550 men in the army this means perhaps 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 total people left Egypt in the Exodus.  If that is the case, if it is 2,000,000, the line of these people traveling out of Egypt would be 100 to 200 miles long and it would take more than a day for them to cross the sea.  The numbers DON’T ADD UP. 

Is the Bible wrong?  Why would the Lord give us numbers that make no sense?  Or perhaps, there is something we can’t see?  Perhaps it has something to do with the Hebrew word אֶלֶף  ELF H505.  Today, it means 1000’s.  But back then it could also mean …

And he said to Him, “O ????, with what do I save Yisra’el? See, my clan (אֶלֶף  ELF H505) is the weakest in Menashsheh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Jdg 6:15)

Perhaps there is a reasonable explanation for these improbable numbers that maintains the veracity of God’s word.  Perhaps?  Not perhaps.  But, definitely.  There is a realistic solution. 

Check out the links that were brought up in this lesson.

• Check out this website that discusses the issue with the number 600,000 men leaving Egypt in the Exodus. Link - https://www.thetorah.com/article/recounting-the-census-a-military-force-of-5500
• Another website that also presents a very complete discussion on the improbability of the numbers used in Exod. 12 and Numb. 1-2 – Link - https://sharedveracity.net/2016/10/15/did-an-army-of-600000-israelites-conquer-the-land-of-canaan/
• Here’s a link to the chart above - https://www.businessinsider.com/this-ambitious-graphic-shows-the-size-of-standing-armies-from-antiquity-to-the-present-2014-11
• Light of Menorah video entitled “The Mirror of Passover” - https://youtu.be/ipaeu7AQZ8Y

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

 

Exodus - 37 part 1 - Exod. 12:29-51 - ”Son of the Father Killed in 1446 B.C.”

In part 1 of lesson 37 we will learn about the father of the gods.  He is Amun Ra.  He was the head god in the 18^th dynasty at the time of the Exodus in 1446 B.C.  We read in TORAH the following …

Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. (Exo 12:29)

Amun Ra had an only son, the moon god Khonsu. One can say that it is like the father of the gods lost his only begotten first born son on the first Passover on the night of the full moon.  This strikes really close to home for a Christian.  What is the Lord God teaching us?

Here’s links to study the Egyptian Trinity of Gods.  Link 1 is on Amun Ra and link2 is on his wife, Mut, and his only begotten son, Khonsu.

Link 1 –  https://www.memphis.edu/hypostyle/meaning_function/amun-re.php

Link 2 - https://www.memphis.edu/hypostyle/meaning_function/mut-khonsu.php

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

Exodus - 35 - Exod. 12:14-16 - GOD’S WATERMARK

God commands that the feast of Unleavened Bread will be 7 days, and 7 days ONLY.  Not 8 as the orthodox rabbis changed it to.  By changing it the orthodox rabbis again show they can change God's word to their own personal views.  This is crazy.  It also takes away from the unbelievable importance of the number 7 from Genesis to Revelation.

In this lesson we will just focus on the number 7.  When we do we will find patterns of the use of the number 7 that can only be the handiwork of the Lord.  It is as if the number 7 and the patterns God creates in his word is like God's watermark.  Watermarks, very faint printing on a picture or a document such that it is used to protect the document/picture from being used if illegally copied and other confidential information and to indicate the validity of a legal document. You'll also see watermarks on any paper banknote, where they're used to help prevent counterfeiting.  See below for a picture showing a picture with and without a "watermark."

It is as if the 7 is like God's watermark.  It shows that the word of God written by men under the direct inspiration of the Spirit of the Most High is not created by men but by the Lord.  You won't believe what you are about to study.  It'll take us from Gen. 1:1 to Rev. 22:21, the first and the last verses of the Bible.  It will seem to indicate that the Living Word of the Lord, Yeshua, is connected to the number 7 in ways we have never seen before.  And, this is NOT Numerology which is more related to the occult.  It is not a Bible Code which are very problematic.  What we are about to study is FACT and proven again and again by highly credible scholars, Jew and Gentile.  

In the podcast I said I'd provide many links for your further study.  Here they are.

Link 1 - a video, one of many at this site, that shows the work of Professor Ivan Panin and his discovery of the mathematical patterns in God's word.  It so amazed Prof. Panin that he became a Christian based upon the amazing things he discovered that showed him that the Bible is true, it is God's word, and the Jesus is the Lord, the Savior, and the long awaited Messiah.

https://www.thelivingword.org.au/grand-design/session16.php

Link 2 - a fantastic video done by Chuck Missler of Koinonia House.  It is another presentation of Panin's work done in a style that is true Chuck Missler.  Awesome material you will find most intriguing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f9WYGBfpaw

Links 3, 4, and 5.  Awesome articles that are related to Panin's work and the number 7 and the patterns that seem to suggest the number 7 is God's watermark.

Link 3 - https://www.thetorah.com/article/seven-the-biblical-number

Link 4 - https://www.differentspirit.org/evidence/numerics.php

Link 5 - https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/the-number-7-in-the-bible/

Link 6 - an article from a great scholarly site, GotQuestions.org addressing Bible codes and that the Bible, God's word, suggests that they are very problematic and not what the Bible says about the COMPLETENESS of God's word as it stands.

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-codes.html

Link 7 - an article on the famous Jewish rabbi, Nachmanides and his teachings on the number 7.

http://www.betemunah.org/seven.html

Link 6 - an article from a great scholarly site, GotQuestions.org addressing Bible codes and that the Bible, God's word, suggests that they are very problematic and not what the Bible says about the COMPLETENESS of God's word as it stands.

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-codes.html

Link 7 - an article on the famous Jewish rabbi, Nachmanides and his teachings on the number 7.

http://www.betemunah.org/seven.html

Link 8 - an article with background information on Prof. Ivan Panin - http://www.wordworx.co.nz/panin.html

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