LIGHT OF MENORAH

This is lesson 15 in the Bible study series, "The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus." In this video lesson I refer back to lesson 5 parts 1 & 2 of this Bible study series.  I highly recommend you listen to these podcasts before continuing on in this series.

Links to Lesson 5 parts 1 and 2 of the series, "The Gospel According to Moses - Exodus," on the dating of the Exodus and more - 

     Part 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-exodus-lesson-5-part-1-the-archaeology-of-the-exodus/

     Part 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-exodus-lesson-5-part-2-1446-bc/

Many links are provided for further study - check them out below.  These are the links to excellent and credible resources for you for further study into the archaeology that proves the Exodus, proves the Bible, and shows us the veracity of the very words of God, the Bible.

 

In the video lesson I referred to articles and websites and other amazing scholarly videos that add to and enhance what I taught in this video.  Here's the links ...

Link to Dr. Bryant Wood's (highly credible and renowned Bible archaeologist of the Associates for Biblical Research) article on the royal precinct of Avaris at Tel el Dab'a - https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/sojourn-of-israel-in-egypt/2249-the-royal-precinct-at-rameses

Link to Dr. Manfred Bietak's (considered one the five best archaeologists of the 20th century by Biblical Archaeology Review) report on the excavations at Tel el Dab'a - https://www.academia.edu/10074198/_Report_on_the_Excavations_of_a_Hyksos_Palace_at_Tell_el_Dabca_Avaris_23rd_of_August_15th_of_November_2011_Egypt_and_the_Levant_22_23_2012_13_18_52

 

Links to four videos from the Associates for Biblical Research discussing the REAL evidence and not the PATTERNS of evidence that show the high probability that Exodus was a real event in the 15th century B.C.  These are part of the video series from the Associates for Biblical Research called ,"Digging for Truth."  They are free and the scholars are all experts and scholars in archaeology and all are evangelical Bible believing Christians.  The four videos feature Dr. Scott Stripling presenting the real evidence of the date of the Exodus and the archaeology of the events and places.  Here's the links ...

     Video 1 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4489-digging-for-truth-episode-41-what-is-the-biblical-date-of-the-exodus-part-one 

     Video 2 - https://biblearchaeology.org/mediainfo/digging-for-truth/digging-for-truth-episodes/4536-digging-for-truth-episode-42-what-is-the-biblical-date-of-the-exodus-part-two

     Video 3 - 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

     Video 4 - 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

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

Rev Ferret teaching on top of a mountain in Mexico!

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

OK, Lot, Abraham’s nephew.  He’s got to be an OK guy, right?  I mean look at his uncle.  Abraham!  I mean come on.  But, right from the get go we see that theirs is something wrong with Lot.  This becomes clear when Lot’s shepherds and herdsmen started arguing with the shepherds and herdsmen of his uncle.  Lot didn’t stop it as he was supposed to.  We are beginning to see that in that culture near 4000 years ago, Lot was supposed to support his uncle and Abraham’s house 100%.  For more on this check out lesson 29 – link = https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ynaz-f97c87  Make sure if you listen to lesson 29 before clicking to listen first click on “view more” and read the intro to the lesson.  If not, you will miss lots of info and links for further study.

Now Lot is in Sodom and Gomorrah.  And, we find him sitting in the gate! 

Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." (Gen 19:1-2)

If this guy is righteous then he surely is NOT living up to his uncle Abraham’s expectations and what God would require of us to be His righteous followers.  Sitting in the gate means Lot is now part of the upper wealthy class of the evil pagan community of Sodom.  It’s like Lot compromised his faith and walk with God.  It's as if Lot assimilated into the culture of Sodom.

Gen_19:1-3. sitting at the gate. In ancient cities the gate area functioned as a public square. Its constant flow of people made it the ideal place for businessmen to set up their booths and for judges to hear cases. The fact that Lot is sitting in the gate suggests he was doing business there and had been accepted in the community of Sodom.  (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas)

Here’s a link to a great article on ancient city gates.  One needs to understand this archaeological fact of those ancient days to even begin to grasp the full aspects of these events.  Here’s the link for the article - https://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html

Here’s another link to an article by Lois Tverberg (if you haven’t connected with Lois, her website, and have not read her books, you are missing out on learning from one truly brilliant Bible historical scholar – here’s her website link - https://ourrabbijesus.com/

And here’s the link to the article Lois did on Lot and his poor decisions.  She helps us see that there is something wrong with this guy.  Link - https://engediresourcecenter.com/2015/07/03/lots-choice/

But before you start looking down on Lot consider the application of this story to us today.  We are witnessing the failure of the church and the rejection of what the church is “preaching” by the Millennials, Generation Xers, and the turning away of our youth, Generation Z.  Something has gone wrong and the data coming our from the Barna Group (website - https://www.barna.com/) supports this.  We live in Sodom and Gomorrah, we live in decadent, chaotic, violent, deadly, and evils times.  And it seems that like Lot we have a view that we should “go along to get along” – in other words many many Christians would chose to “sit in the gate” and compromise their walk as disciples of Rabbi Yeshua.  Join us in this podcast and in lesson 40 coming soon.  Let us learn the truth, the truth that sets us free, and see that the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah is so applicable to today. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? (Ferret - teaching His word on a mountain)

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

 

 

I began this lesson with a review of the purposes of the Bible podcast study series entitled, "The Gospel According to Moses."  There are two such series.  The one in Genesis and this one, on the book of Exodus.  I promised you a link to read the four purposes of this study.  Here's the link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/aczx1wpcwk730up/FOUR%20GOALS%20MAY%2016%202021.pdf?dl=0

We will deal with three verses in the Torah that are very perplexing and problematic, Exod. 4:24-26.  Real Hebrew scholars agree that in the Hebrew and not in the English these verses are puzzling.  There are many who offer their views and ideas on what these verses mean but, it is absolutely clear, they are ignoring the original text of the Bible and the Hebrew.  We will not.

This lesson is a prime example of how translators put in words in the Bible that are not in the original so that their view, their opinion is validated.  This happens in Exod. 4:24-26.  Just consider the verses ...

Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and threw it at Moses' feet, and she said, "You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me." So He let him alone. At that time she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood"--because of the circumcision. (Exo 4:24-26)

This is the translation from the NASB and it is also in other versions like the ESV, the Message, NET, Scriptures 1998, and , of course, the NIV.  The problem is that Moses' name NEVER OCCURS in the original Hebrew text nor is the Hebrew חתן דמים Chatan Dahmeem translated as the "bridegroom of blood" accurate.  These are examples of men, translators, with a preconceived view of the meaning of the verses.  Not only do they show their lack of Hebrew knowledge but they actually insert a word into the Bible text so the Bible text says what they want it to mean!  It is as if I was writing the New Ferret Version, NFV, and did the following in a verse you know well.  I added the word highlighted in black ...

Now in those cold days of December days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth on Christmas December 25th the year 0 to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luk 2:1-7)

I can't do this!  I can not add to God's word.  Doing this is a simple stupid example of me trying to provide Biblical backup for my preconceived views about the birth of Jesus.  (FYI - I don't hold to the belief that Jesus was born in December) This is almost, to me, a major sin.  By adding to God's word to prove my view - as the translators did by adding Moses' name in Exod. 4:24-26 - we distort God's word and perhaps even change the intended meaning that the Lord wanted us to understand.  But, that is exactly what happened in these verses.

Dr. John Currid, and amazing devout Christian Bible scholar, theologian, and archaeologist, has written a commentary on the Torah.  He proposes a solution to the questions that arise in these verses that really deals with the exact Hebrew and he does not offer hypotheticals.  Other scholars like Nahum Sarna in the JPS Torah Commentary offer their ideas and solutions but none compare to Currid's.  Of course the orthodox rabbis have their ideas.  They claim Moses was to be killed by God since when Moses arrived at the inn and (are you ready for this??) Moses was too concerned with making arrangements for their stay and delayed the circumcision.  This comes directly from the orthodox Torah commentary called the "Chumash" from Artscroll.  Huh? The Bible does not say that!  The Bible in Hebrew does not use Moses' name nor does it say Moses had to make hotel arrangements.  The orthodox rabbis are making up stuff to try and solve the dilemma posed by these verses.  This is an example of MIDRASH, Jewish rabbinic study, that is not sound midrash.  The orthodox rabbis offer a hypothetical as truth.  How come they can not suggest solutions from what the Bible actually says rather than suggesting solutions that are not credible?  And yet many gentile Messianic Christians buy into this since it's from the rabbis.  Well, they say.  It it's from the rabbis it has to be true, right?  Wrong.  One needs to also be very careful with Jewish rabbitical midrash and sort out the true and credible from the hypotheticals and contrived translations.  We have to do the same thing with supposed Christian Bible scholars as well since most completely avoid the study of the Bible in its historical context.  They also have no training in the Greek or the Hebrew.  They have very little in fact of the critical tools to help us grasp the meaning of God's word.  

In these three verses one question is who is God trying to kill?  Is God trying to kill Moses?  Gershom, his first born son?  One can not determine the answer in the Hebrew and the original Masoretic text of the Torah.  On top of that why did the translators translate the Hebrew חתן דמים Chatan Dahmeem as "the bridegroom of blood?" In these verses Moses' name it not brought up.  Even if was Moses he is not a bridegroom - he's been married for a number of years and has two sons!  He is not a bridegroom.  So, what alternative meanings are there for the Hebrew חתן דמים Chatan Dahmeem? 

Dr. Currid offers a possible real solution that takes us to the Cross.  I was truly amazed and it only makes sense in that God, Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord, stated that all scripture testifies of Him.  The primary books of the Bible then were the five books of Torah.  These verses seem to relate to the first born, blood, covenant, and being saved from God's wrath.  It's as if these are pictures that are like mirrors of future events.  Curious?  Wondering how the circumcision of Moses' son is connected to the crucifixion of the Lamb of God?  Come join us in the important podcast on three perplexing verses.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background? 

(John and his wife Robin on a teaching mission to Mexico)

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

 

The links for the two articles related to Easter from the website, "You Got Questions" are below.  Once again even though it has not been proven absolutely, there is a possibility the word Easter comes from the name of a pagan goddess in the early Roman church.  Thus, this possibility means we should consider not using the word Easter a possible name of a pagan goddess of fertility, to name the day Jesus rose from the dead.  

Link 1 - the origin of Easter - https://www.gotquestions.org/easter-bunny-eggs.html

Link 2 - is Easter pagan? - https://www.gotquestions.org/Easter-pagan-holiday.html

I also mentioned the awesome teaching from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn entitled, "The Easter Bunny Heresy."  This is an great lesson that for me cemented my resolve never to use the word Easter again as it relates to the Resurrection of the Lord.

Link to the video - https://youtu.be/be7F4xVOKDQ?si=Dmj9becTjTU8O0zC

While we are returning to the regular schedule I am now republishing the Bible study series, "Fie Small Stones."  These are five minute Bible study videos.  The first one is now out.  In case you missed it at the website here's the lin to Episode 1 in the series - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-1-weak-vs-strong-1-cor-127-29/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

Rev Ferret in Hierapolis Turkey

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