LIGHT OF MENORAH

Truth Nugget 25 - JESUS WAS HERE - MAGDALA SYNAGOGUE

 

The Magdala Synagogue is the name used for the first of two ancient synagogues discovered at the ancient city of Magdala in Israel, close to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The synagogue was in use in the Second Temple period, which places them among the oldest synagogues found in Israel. Inside the synagogue a carved stone was found representing the Menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum that was located in the Second Temple, making it the oldest such representation in a Jewish context and one that appears to have been made by an individual who had seen the Menorah in the Temple. What is so awesome is in Matt. 4:23 Jesus is said to have taught in all the synagogues in the Galilee. So this is where Jesus visited and taught. Come and join us to "walk in the dust of Rabbi Jesus" and follow Him in His footsteps - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the only God our Savior and Messiah, Jesus.

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

Truth Nugget 24 - Tel Tzafit - SAMSON? WAS HE FOR REAL?

Samson in the Bible.  Kids story?  Legend?  Or is there something in archaeology that helps us see this is likely a real man and the events really happened.  Check it out in this new Truth Nuggets (Emet Gosheem - מת גושים ) #24 video.

Link to archaeological report on Philistine Temples - https://ferrelljenkins.blog/2010/07/29/philistine-temple-found-at-tell-es-safigath/

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 - 72 - Gen. 29-30 - Man’s Choice vs God’s Choice

We continue to study Rachel and Leah.  The two wives of Jacob.  Both women part of God’s continuing plan of redemption for Jew and Gentile in Messiah Yeshua.  But how?

We see glaring differences in these two women.  It is clear that Rachel is Jacob’s choice over Leah.  Lead is not in a primary position as her sister.  The Hebrew is clear.  The Hebrew word שָׂנֵא SAHNAY H8130 has the conceptual meaning of not being in first place and can even mean to hate or being hated.  In Leah's case she is not hated but certainly not loved at the same level as Rachel. 

In this God shows us again how He choses between one or another.  One of these women is a picture of man’s choice and the other is a picture of God’s choice.  It’s like Saul and David.  Saul was handsome and strong and tall and macho.  But, David.  Not so.  He was a young man and perhaps a pre-teen when David was anointed king.  But there are glaring differences in Saul and David.  One seems to be the way men would choose and the other is the way God chooses.  This seems to relate to Rachel and Leah. 

One goal of this series is to see how the Hebrews coming out of Egypt may have understood these events in Genesis 29 with Rachel and Leah.  They are the first ones to hear God’s word written by Moses, the Torah.  It is clear that they are the first audience.  So, how does the story of Leah and Rachel relate to them.   It has everything to do with the plant below …

This is ancient Mandrake plant that some call “love apples.”  It supposedly is an ancient aphrodisiac or fruit when eaten that excites sexual desire.  This was only a folk legend then and it is proven not to be an aphrodisiac.  But, when the Hebrews hear about this in the story of Rachel and Leah, everything takes on a new aspect.  God once again is teaching His elect, His “bride,”  His chosen people He redeemed and delivered from the house of slaves, Egypt. 

So, come let us return to Haran.  Let us return to the tents of Jacob.  Let’s return and go deeper in our understanding of the main books of the Bible in Jesus’ day.  The books that testify of Yeshua HaMashiach, the Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.

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 - 71 - Gen. 29 - Two Women of Destiny

AUDIO SESSION

We now come to Haran with יַעֲקֹב Ya'akov, or, as we know him, Jacob.  He is now about to meet two great women of the Bible, Rachel and Leah.  In this lesson we start considering each of these women and to study their traits and characteristics.  One thing for sure is the creation of the state of Israel (which is Jacob's other name) all began because Jacob was so taken in by Rachel's physical attractiveness and beauty.  God knew this.  He knew the effect Rachel had on men.  Clearly, God engineered the meeting at the well so that the rest of the story would unfold as per יְהֹוָה Yahvay's, the Lord's, plan.  

So, Rachel was ravishing, a beauty of Haran, but Leah, what about her?  Some say she had "weak" eyes.  Some say Leah was hated.  Some say Leah as less preferable than Rachel.  Really?  Once again if you only focus on the English and not the Hebrew we get the wrong ideas of Leah and the amazing lady she was.  Moses, who wrote all this under God's inspiration, actually writes to show us that it is God, it is יְהֹוָה Yahvay, the Lord, that Leah recognizes right from the get go as she begins to have children by Jacob.  But, how did Leah know the personal name of God?  God said to Moses at the burning bush that not even Abraham or Isaac or Jacob, or anyone else for that matter, knew His personal name which was first revealed at Sinai.  What's going on?  We need to study this further.

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

 

ANNOUNCE CLASS COMING TO FOREST LAKE 10/6

Check out this 3 minute video about this class coming to Forest Lake.  

ANNOUNCE INTRO TEN COMMANDMENTS VIDCASTS

Fall Feasts of Adonai - Fall 2022

 

 

Genesis - 70 - Gen. 28:13-15 - WE ALL WILL BE BLESSED

Jacob and Bet El (pronounced BATE EL) is given the same promises (check it out in Gen. 28:13-15 and 12:1-3) that were given to his grand pa Abraham but not that Jacob’s name will be famous.  The covenant with Abraham and his seed (Hebrew meaning descendants) is amazing.  For through Abraham and his seed all the families of all the nations will be blessed.  However, in this lesson we’ll see that the Hebrew has an alternative meaning.  It is bigger than we thought.  Blessed is perhaps NOT the right way of using the conceptual meaning in this context.

We need to understand that there is a missing piece in how Adonai put together the Torah.  Once we get this the event of Jacob’s dream and his encounter with the Lord takes us to the cross.  Even the great rabbis of Judaism saw it.  They saw that there is something missing in the Torah.

Consider Rabbi Akiva’s words in the Talmud. 

"Rabbi Akiva says that if those subject to the punishment of karet repent, the Heavenly beit-din [court] grants them remission." (Makkot 13b)

Karet is a Hebrew word that means an offense, a sin, that is done on purpose or intentionally.  It is so serious that an offense of Karet cuts one off from being a part of Israel and as per Torah, as per the very words of God, karet is never ever forgiven or cleansed.  Rabbi Akiva, however, thinks the Torah is wrong.  He says Karet can be forgiven is by repentance.  What?  The Bible never says that.  The Lord never ever said that serious sins can be cleansed or forgiven by simply repenting.  What we are seeing is Akiva’s opinion and not the very words of God in His Torah.  We are also seeing that Akiva is implying that Yom Kippur does not take care of intentional sin.  He is implying that the sin sacrifice or the sacrifice of goats or sheep or bulls is insufficient to cleanse one’s Karet done intentionally.

Maimonides’ says it another way. 

The more one confesses and elaborates on this matter, the more praiseworthy he is. And, also, those under an obligation to bring sin‑offerings and trespass‑offerings, who bring their sacrifices for sins committed either in error or willfully, are not acquitted [of their sins] by means of these offerings until they repent and confess in words… (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-dimensions-of-repentance/)

 

In other words, sacrifice alone cannot bring acquittal; confession is a requirement and without it, repentance cannot take place.  But, once again Maimonides is clearly implying that the sacrifices and rituals of Yom Kippur do not take away sins done intentionally, on purpose, with the full realization on the sinner.

The writer of the book of Hebrews also agrees.  Recall …

and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb 9:12)

 

Akiva and Maimonides and the author of Hebrews all agree.  The Torah is missing something.  There is no ritual, no sacrifice, no prayer that will assure us of totally forgiveness. Maimonides and Akiva’s opinion is that one must truly repent and confess.  But, the the book of Hebrews and John and Paul, agreeing with these great rabbis, teaches us what the missing piece is. It is clearly explained by the disciple John as we read …

"... but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1Jn 1:7-9)

And then we read Paul’s word that Jesus, God Himself, cleanses us by the blood.

"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Act 20:28)

So, we see we must repent.  We see that we must confess.  But God is saying that someone must pay the price for our since.  Akiva and Maimonides never addressed this.  Someone must purchase us, in Hebrew redeem us, to be set free of the punishment of our Karet, our sin against the Lord done intentionally and willfully. 

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 - 68 - Gen. 28:10-22 - THE DREAM - TRUE? FALSE?

This is the 2nd lesson on this amazing event - Jacob's dream of the ladder, the way to the Father.  In lesson 68 we focus on Jacob making a deal with God.  Check it out.  Jacob says as if speaking to the Lord that if you Lord do X, and if you Lord do Y, THEN, then and only then will you be my God.  So, is that what God wants us to see?  Is that what God is teaching in His Torah which does not mean LAW but INSTRUCTION?  Can it be?  Can it be that we can cone to God have today in these days of evil and chaos and make a deal?  Can we tell God, "Hey Lord, if you give us what we want politically or socially then we will your people?"  Can we buy Him off?  Is this the way to become "saved" by telling God to do our bidding.  If He does then we will be His son or daughter.    

In this lesson we face the fact that Israel coming out of Egypt were the targeted audience of God for the Torah.  God wanted them to learn something that they'd get since they assimilated into the pagan culture of Egypt.  It has to do with the ladder in Jacob's dream.  I mentioned this in this lesson.  Here's the link to the lesson in the Egyptian study series that shows the Hebrews assimilated - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wdzur-f82194

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

 

Genesis - 67 - Gen. 28:10-22 - THE WAY HOME

Jacob camps out and has an awesome dream.  The dream is of a ladder from the earth to the dwelling of the Lord God - in Hebrew we'd say Bet El or the House of God or the Dwelling Place of God or His Abode.  There are spiritual beings going up and down the ladder.  Hmm.  Angels right?  But, the Hebrew word for angels means messengers or even those deputed by the Lord.  Deputed means to be sent out to complete a task.  Could it be that these angels are God's deputies.  Those going down the ladder are headed out to do their assigned task.  Those coming up are His deputies who have done their work and are returned to Bet El, the dwelling place of God.  Perhaps.  We'll study the Hebrew and see how this fits the conceptual meaning of the Hebrew word meaning messenger that we say are angels.

But the ladder.  What's this about?  I offer one view.  Perhaps there are others.  What does it mean?  The way to the "tree of life, the way back to Paradise, the way back to ABBA our Father is closed.  We can't go back.  Is the Lord teaching us that there is a way home for us?  Is this a prediction for the future? Jesus' own words seem to verify that He is showing Jacob the future - the coming of one who will be the way back to the Father as in John 14:6. Jesus said He is the ladder in John 1:51.  He said He will be lifted up like standard, like a sign, like a ladder in John 3:14.  As the ladder, as Jesus is lifted up as the way home He will draw all men to Him to have the chance to return to the Father through Jesus.  It again seems we have another proof that all scripture in Jesus' day, the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament, testify of the coming Messiah, the coming Savior, the one who will be set up as the only WAY back home.

In the podcast I mentioned three links I'd provide.  Link 1 - a Christian scholarly article on the concept of angels.  I recommend when you read it substitute the word angel and say MESSENGER.  Here's link #1 - 

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

The 2nd link is to a Jewish scholarly article on God's MESSENGERS.  In this article you'll see how the rabbis years after Jesus' ascension started making up more fantasy about angels.  Much of their notions and the mistaken ideas of the so-called church scholars has led to our notions today of angels which is totally different than what the Bible MESSENGERS are really like.  Here's link #2 -

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/angels/

The final link is to episode 9 in the Bible study video series, "Five Small Stones."  These are five minute Bible study videos and in episode 9 we ask what does Paul mean in the two verses below.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 
(Rom 10:4)

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. (Act 13:38-39)

Is it possible the ladder is the way God will establish so we can all return to Him?  Is the ladder perhaps another picture for the cross?  Maybe.  Here's the link to all 11 videos.  Just scroll down to find #9 -

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=five+small

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