LIGHT OF MENORAH

Genesis 21 - Gen. 6:5-8:22 - NOAH? WHY HIM?

In John 5:39 Jesus says that scripture testifies of Him.  He said this between 24-30 A.D. and all they had THEN was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  He was teaching them then and His disciples went out and took the Good News and took it to the "ends of the earth" and changed the world.  This implies to us that we need to focus on the Hebrew Scriptures as they did then to see Jesus they way they did then.  

In this Bible lesson we ask the question why did God chose Noah?  In this lesson we will hear and understand that Noah was like a foreshadowing of the Messiah, or Yeshua, Jesus.  This is not surprising.  The Lord, יהוה‎ Yahvay, does this with Isaac and Moses and Joseph of the many colored coat.  Check it out at these links ...

Genesis 48 - Isaac foreshadows the Messiah -https://youtu.be/0sBrQoAFgPw

Hebrew4Christians article on Moses as a foreshadowing of Messiah -https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Like_Moses/like_moses.html#loaded

Hebrew4Christians article on Joseph as a foreshadowing of Messiah -https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Mashiach_ben_Yosef/mashiach_ben_yosef.html

So, it isn't surprising that we see Noah as one who foreshadows the coming Messiah.  So come and join us and consider this man Noah and the message the Lord is giving us today about him.

 

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/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 20 - Gen. 6:5-8:21 - THE FLOOD STORIES

Across the world and in many ancient and modern cultures one finds stories of the ancient flood.  Some are similar to the Biblical account.  A credible scholarly website is “Answers in Genesis.”  One can find an article at this website entitled, “Flood Legends.”  Here’s the link to this article - https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/  In this article it states that …

“Did you know that stories about a worldwide flood are found in historic records all over the world? According to Dr. Duane Gish in his popular book, “Dinosaurs by Design,” there are more than 270 such stories, most of which share a common theme and similar characters.  So many flood stories with such similarities surely come from the Flood of Noah’s day.” (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)

 

It is not surprising that this fact is used to conclude that the flood must have been worldwide; the flood we know so well in the Bible covered the whole earth.  The problem is there is NO scientific evidence that conclusively shows the flood was worldwide.  That it is worldwide is based many times upon the English translation of the Bible without taking into account the original Hebrew.  It only makes sense that the flood being worldwide can not be based upon the flood legends and stories that are found worldwide and in many diverse cultures.  The reason is simple as is stated in the article found at “Answers in Genesis.” 

“The reason for these flood stories is not difficult to understand. When we turn to the history book of the universe, the Bible, we learn that Noah’s descendants stayed together for approximately 100 years, until God confused their languages at Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). As these people moved away from Babel, their descendants formed nations based primarily on the languages they shared in common. Through those languages, the story of the Flood was shared, until it became embedded in their cultural history.” (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)

 

The article at “Answers in Genesis” included a great chart.  It shows the widespread belief in an ancient flood among many ancient cultures.

(White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)

 

The Bible says there were only 8 people left after the flood.  Moreover, the presence of humankind was regulated to the area of Noah’s day.  Humankind was not the global in Genesis 6.  Humankind was just beginning to expand and the flood destroyed that expansion.  God started all over again with Noah and his family.  Thus, the story of the flood was passed down from generation to generation from one family.  Humankind expanded and it spread across the earth along with the flood story.  So it is not surprising that we see the widespread flood legends across the world and that these legends have similar concepts as in the Bible but have also changed as per the culture and perspectives of each tribe and group and nation. 

So, this does not prove the flood covered the entire earth.  It shows that the real historical event of the flood in Genesis was passed down to generation to generation among humankind as it spread and expanded across the world.  The issue however is not if the flood was global or local.  I find this discussion rather pointless and seemingly the wrong thing to focus on.  For me it is taking our eyes off the real question which is “why the flood – what was its purpose?”   Come and join us in lesson 20.  This lesson along with lesson 19 tries to get at this more critical question.  Here’s the link to Lesson 19 -  https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genensis-19-gen-65-821-and-john-529-the-flood-testifies-of-yeshua/?token=37a93cda3394b88790b3d0359cde7ba7  When we focus on this question we find it has a lot to do with Yeshua and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the Cross and the Gospel.  This is the big picture and arguing over  global or local flood to me clouds the real issue the Lord is trying to teach us in His TORAH which means “teaching” and not law.

 

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/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

 

 

Genensis 19 - Gen. 6:5-8:21 and John 5:29 - The Flood Testifies of Yeshua

In John 5:39 we read the words of Yeshua when He said ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (John 5:39 NASB). 

All they had was the Old Testament in Jesus' day.  Therefore, is there a connection with the purposes of the flood and the reason for the Cross?  There is.  It seems likely the flood testifies of the Messiah.

There are two critical verses to consider.  Gen. 6:5 and 8:21.  The first describes mankind before the flood.  The second verse describes mankind after the flood.  After the flood there were only eight people left, Noah and his wife, his three sons, and their wives.  The verse are below.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
(Gen 6:5)

The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. 
(Gen 8:21)

So Yahvay, the Lord God, is sad and decides to destroy all mankind.  He does this and it is all because of the state of man as specified in Gen. 6:5.  The flood occurs and now we are left with eight people.  And God states that the condition of mankind (these remaining eight) hasn't changed!  They are still ones whose heart is intent on evil from their youth.  So, the flood did nothing.  It did not get rid of sin and evil and man's inclination to sin.  Is God saying that the only to get rid of evil, sin, and mankind's inclination to sin is to totally destroy all humans?  If He had, if Yahvay also killed Noah and his family, there'd be no more sin.  The Creator would've destroyed the Creature He made, man and woman, and we'd have a world with no sin and no evil.  But, He left eight live.  And they have the same condition as before the flood.  

He left eight live.  Is this perhaps related to a famous verse we seemingly all know and that is John 3:16 or 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." 
(Joh 3:16)

Is He saying that the answer to the dilemma of the curse on us, on all mankind, our inclination to sin, is the sacrifice of Messiah, the death of Yeshua? 

So join us as we study the answer to the fact that the flood did nothing, it did not rid the world of sin and death and evil.  Join us as we again hear THE VERY WORDS OF GOD and see that scripture testifies of Jesus and the redemption plan of the Lord.

 

 

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/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

 

 

Genesis 18 - Gen. 6:5-8:22 - THE FLOOD: DID WE MISS SOMETHING?

So many times I hear Christians vehemently argue that the flood in the Bible is global as opposed to local.  They say sciences proves it and the Bible itself proves it.  But, I contend that this is the wrong argument.  It is not if the flood was real or if it was global or not, the argument is, WHY THE FLOOD.  What was its purpose?

It seems clear God tells us.  The problem is the issue with mankind that saddened the Lord and this issue, the curse of mankind, did not disappear with the 8 survivors.  If you study the very word of God carefully we find that that which was inherent in mankind before the flood was not taken care of in Noah, his sons, their wives, and Noah’s wife.  The flood did nothing.  This in itself is huge. 

God is showing us something we missed.  God is teaching us about sin and evil.  God is teaching us there is only one way to get rid of sin and evil.  But, no, we miss it since we are too concerned with if the flood was global or local.  We simply can’t “see” the forest through the trees.

There are some great links that show clearly the flood was not global but local.  Check them out below.  But, again, the issue that the flood did occur, or if it did occur was is global or not, is not the issue!   The issue is God is showing us that sin and evil in us can be taken care of by God destroying all of us – ALL.  But, Yahvay left 8 alive.  There were eight with the same evil inclination the saddened God and thus He decided to destroy all mankind.  But, He didn’t.  He preserved 8 with the same sinful evil inclination.  Now what? What will the Lord do now to get rid of sin and evil in us?  Simple.  Ever hear of the Gospel?

Check this link out - an article by Dr. Hugh Ross, a brilliant and proven scientific scholar and devoted Christian.  His expertise and knowledge will blow you away.  Here's the link to his article ... https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/todays-new-reason-to-believe/does-the-bible-say-noah-s-flood-was-global-or-universal

After you read the article check out this detailed lecture presented again by Dr. Hugh Ross to students and teachers at a Christian seminary regarding the flood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTuUCAkpHUQ

Then, check out this article by a prove credible Christian geologist regarding the flood - it can't be global - https://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Carol%201.pdf

 

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/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

Genesis 17 - Gen. 6:4-8 - WHO ARE THE NEPHILIM?

In this lesson we confront some awesome questions?  The first is who are the Nephilim?  For us in the 21st century many say the nephilim are fallen angels.  Where did that come from?  We will see it is one opinion coming from both some non-Biblical literature of the late first century and the Zohar, a Jewish book of mysticism written in the Middle Ages.  Upon further study, however, we find that other great rabbis disagreed with this opinion and they offered two other views.  (For further study from a Jewish scholarly source I recommend this link - click here to read scholarly background on the nephilim from The Jewish Virtual Library - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nephilim).  Both views of these rabbis of the Middle Ages, Rashi and Ibn Ezra, great rabbis in their own right, disagree.  They also disagree with each other and with the view the nephilim are evil fallen angels.  So, in Jewish literature we have at least three distinct views and each of them contradict the others.  So, we Christians have bought into one view that has no Biblical basis at all.  

Once again, let us confront this issue.  Let us see if God's word helps us with a more realistic view of the nephilim.  It does!

The second question is why did God destroy all mankind with the flood except for one man, Noah?  Noah's sons and their wives and Noah's wife were rescued as well.  But, Noah is the ONLY righteous man of his time not his sons, their wives, or Noah's wife.  Why them?  Moreover, Genesis chapters 1-11 is about non-Hebrews.  Noah is not a Hebrew!  This is related to all of us, all mankind.  

I agree that the flood did happen.  There is too much evidence from the cultures of the ancient Middle East that strongly suggest that the flood was real.  But, so many today focus on trying to prove the flood had to be worldwide, or others who argue the flood was local, and others who say it is a myth. (I think it was local based upon the Hebrew and not English.) I suggest this focus is clouding the real issue, why did God do the flood?  What was the result?  Is there something we are missing that we can't see? 

I will present a view that relates to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (John 5:39 NASB).  All they had was the Old Testament in Jesus' day.  Therefore, is there a connection with the purposes of the flood and the reason for the Cross?  There is.  It seems likely the flood testifies of the Messiah.

 

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/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

Genesis 16 - Gen.6:1-7:12 THE SONS OF GOD

In Gen. 6:2 we come across a troubling phrase.  Let's look at it ...

Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. (Gen 6:1-2)

If we let the Bible translate the Bible we find that this exact phrase is used in four different ways in the Hebrew.  First, we find this Hebrew phrase in Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7 where it is used to describe spiritual beings, likely angels in heaven with God.  Second, it is used in a slightly different format meaning all of Israel in Deut. 14:1.  Third, in Psalm 82:6 the phrase is used to describe the sons of rulers or kings.  And finally, according to John Currid in his Torah commentary, "A Study Commentary: Genesis," it also can mean the descendants of Seth, the godly line directly from Adam who is called the "son of God" by Luke in his gospel in Luke 3:38.

So, who are the sons of God or the sons of the gods in verse 6:2?  The phrase בני האלהים Benay Eloheem is made up to two plural nouns.  The first is sons, or Benay.  The second in Eloheem, translated commonly as God or gods.   Are these "sons of God" fallen angels?  Are they the Nephileem as noted in verse 6:4?  Are they some weird pagan spiritual beings?

We will again put the Bible into its historical context.  We will again try and "hear" God's word like the intended audience of the Torah, the Hebrews coming out of Egypt.  Dennis Prager in his commentary on Genesis, "The Rational Bible: Genesis," comments that this is an ancient divine document and when God inspires Moses to write to the Hebrews coming out of Egypt 3500 years ago all this made sense to them. 

Let us put the words of the Bible into their historical context and seek the way they may have understood the phrase the "sons of God;" how the Hebrews heard it coming out of Egypt may give us an alternative view that makes sense to us in the 21st century as well.  Come.  Join us.  Let's go see.

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 15 - Gen. 4:17-26 - THE FIRES OF REVENGE AND HATE

In Genesis chapter 4 we come to an interesting character, Lamech. He's not the father of Noah since that Lamech was a descendant of Seth. This Lamech in chapter 4 is the great great great grandson of Cain. He seems to be an unforgiving character just like his ancestor Cain; Lamech talking to his two wives said if someone hurts him he will have his revenge seventy and sevenfold; that means a whole lot. His worldview was clearly not the worldview of the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, the worldview of Judaism; it was distinctly opposed to our Christian worldview and Jesus' teaching.

Jesus uses this account of Lamech to give His disciples 2000 years ago the counter worldview to Lamech. As a Jewish rabbi He teaches from the Torah to help them and us know the truth of God's word and the truth of how we are to live as His holy people. Jesus uses the Torah, the only Bible they had in Jesus' day, to teach the gospel since the Father had already inspired Moses to write about the gospel in the Torah. But how? Come and join us and let's dig deep.

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 14 - Gen. 4:10-26 - Abel's BLOOD(S) Cry Out to Me

In the previous lesson I mentioned two verses I wanted to emphasize. The first was Genesis 4:9 and in this lesson it is Genesis 4:10. God tells Cain that his brother's blood cries out to the Lord. For me as a Christian reading it in English it seems to mean to me that God is simply saying that He has witnessed Abel's murder. However, it has deeper implications. So deep, matter of fact, that this verse is related to the Bible's view that killing a baby in the womb is more than one death! But, the key is, NOT in English but in Hebrew.

Once again we need to reconnect to those amazing scholars Jew and Gentile to help us see what the Hebrew means and how it was understood in Jesus' day and before. Thus, once we understand the Lord's original meaning it helps us today apply it the way it was intended. Many times in this series I bring up two sources that are so helpful for the study of the Torah for us Christians. One is the Torah commentary by Dr. John Currid. The second is the JPS (Jerusalem Publication Society) Torah Commentary. I recommend both of these resources for any of you who are serious Bible students.

Another great resource is this web site (link below). It is entitled "Hebrew 4 Christians." At this website are amazing resources for you to go deeper in understanding the Jewish background of the Bible, to learn Hebrew, and to study Torah as a disciple of Yeshua. Here's the link - https://hebrew4christians.com/index.html

 

Rev. Ferret (above - in a tomb in the necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis in Turkey) - 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 13 - Gen. 4:4-16 THE ANGER OF CAIN AND THE 1ST MURDER

God asks Cain where Abel was? He was not around? Something had happened. We know that something happened when we read ...

"Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Gen 4:8)

This was the first murder stemming from Cain's anger as recorded in the Torah. And we know that it says that ... "You shall not murder." (Exo 20:13). The King James got it wrong when it says thou shalt not kill. The Hebrew word is תרצח H7523 pronounced "tretzach" does not mean kill but murder as in the Gesenius Lexicon. And later in Exod. 21:12-14 we read ...

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die." (Exo 21:12-14)

But, if God wants murderers executed why was Cain kept alive? Shouldn't have Cain been killed by God to maintain unity of His law and commands? Interesting. Let's go and explore this event in its historical context and in the Hebrew and not the English.

 

 

Rev. Ferret (above - teaching at the gates of the ancient city of Gezer) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him? Check it out at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

 

Bible Study - The Puzzle of the End Times

Class starts next Sunday 9/29.  Only half the seats remain.  Watch the video to get more info and to reserve a seat.