LIGHT OF MENORAH

Exodus - 22 - Exod 7:4-13 THE TERRIBLE MONSTER - URAEUS

In this lesson we meet up with Uraeus - the terrible goddess of Egypt and the protector of the king, Pharaoh.  Pharaoh had Uraeus on his crown - a cobra.  The sacred beast of Uraeus is the serpent pictured as the cobra.  And so begins the awesome confrontation between God, the only God, and a man who said he was god, the Pharaoh.  It begins with the defeat of his protectress, the Cobra goddess, Uraeus.  How is she defeated?  Moreover, what else is God coming against when Moses and Aaron return to Pharaoh and Aaron throws down his staff and it becomes a serpent - not a snake - but a terrible lizard.  It seems as if God is inspiring Moses to picture the goddess Uraeus not just a snake but a terrible monster.

Another topic we will discuss is the issue of does God judge nations or will God pour His wrath on a people group, a nation, for the collective evil the nation or the group as done.  If so what about the innocent that probably are part of the group? Will they suffer along with the evil ones in that culture?  The answers are critically important for us today.  Will God judge the USA for 62,000,000 babies aborted?  If we are innocent will we suffer also if He comes and pours His wrath upon us.  This is a difficult concept and must be studied.  What better place than ancient Egypt.

I highly recommend you watch the videos, lesson 20 & 21 of this series.  They are entitled, "His Highness' Heavy Heart," and deals with the important question did God harden Pharaoh's heart.  Did God create this man for damnation and destruction?  What about us?  Are we predetermined for salvation and others for destruction?  To access these videos click on the link below and you will be at our You Tube Channel.  Search for the videos that are connected to the pictures below.  

Link - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDIw6myuMPTvlWHUu9AJqXip

 

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

Genesis - 6 - Gen. 1:1-2 and 21 TORAH AS A POLEMIC AGAINST EGYPT

In lesson 6 we consider the Torah, the 1st five books of the Bible, as a polemic.   A polemic is a concept that is diametrically opposed to a competing concept.  God seems to indicate this in Lev. 18:1-5 when God said ...

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'I am the LORD your God. 'You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. 'You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the LORD your God. 'So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD. (Lev 18:1-5, NASB)  

It is if God is inspiring Moses to write parts of the Torah as a polemic that comes against the truth claims and pagan mythology of Egypt.  Clearly, God wants to help His chosen people to get Egypt out of their life and prepare for entering the pagan world of the Canaanites in the Promised Land.  Later when we get to Genesis 50 and Exodus 1 and 2 we will study in detail the Bible proof that the Hebrews slowly but surely assimilated into the Egyptian culture - most of them forgot the God, the only God, the God of their fathers, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.  

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 - click here for the article showing the assimilation of the Hebrews

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

 

ATTENTION DISCIPLES OR RABBI YESHUA - PSALM 118:8

Recent events have been very difficult and evil.  During these days the Lord seemed to open up His word to me and  Psalm 118:8 in surprising ways.  It was as if this was an ALERT from the Lord for us, we who say we are true disciples of the Lord. 

I mentioned in this “alert” of another lesson I did that is related.  It is entitled “911” and this is the link to that podcast - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ai7ua-db5c77

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

 

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ... THE TOP 10 AS YOU SEE IT

Exodus -14 - Exod. 4:24-31 THE LIVES OF THE FATHERS ARE SIGNS FOR THE SONS

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 - click here for the four purposes of this series

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?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

 

Genesis - 58 - Gen. 25:7-8 EULOGY FOR ABRAHAM PART 3

In Jesus' day the only Bible they had then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament).  In Matt 16:18 we read that Jesus will build His ECCLESIA G1577 upon a rock.  But, Jesus did not mean church as we know it in the 21st century.  He did not mean a building or an organization or a religion.  He meant "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly" from Thayer's Greek Lexicon.  So He meant people.  How do you relate a group of people to a ROCK?  

One thing that is possible is it may be connected to the location of where Jesus said this.  He said it at a pagan Roman city called Caesarea Philippi 25 miles north of the sea of Galilee.  This city was the location of a rock formation where pagans came to worship the god Pan in bizarre and immoral rituals.  This was a "holy" pagan religious site where of pagan gods even from Old Testament days.  Ray Vander Laan has an excellent (short) article related to this archaeological site and how it might connect to Jesus' words.  Here's the link -  https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/gates-of-hell-article

Here's a link to an awesome scholarly resource where you can study this archaeological site in detail with awesome pictures.  Link - https://www.biblewalks.com/banias

Jesus at this place talks about building His assembly of followers on a ROCK.  But, this is a place where an assembly of pagans gathered at a ROCK to worship pagan gods and goddesses.  Is there something the Lord wants us to understand?  But, in the book of Isaiah we read ...

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him." (Isa 51:1-2)

Bible commentators both Jewish and Christian say this verse suggests that Abraham is the ROCK.  And all the disciples of Jesus had then was the Hebrew Scriptures.  They very likely knew this verse.  So, did they somehow relate Jesus' words to Abraham?  Needless to say we have some interesting connections to explore.  This is what we will do in lesson 58.  We will again study the life of Abraham and use it as a EULOGY to this man who is our "father" by faith as Paul teaches us in ...

Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:28-29)

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 - 31 - Exod. 11:2 and 11:5 - TRUE IN 1446 B.C. AND TRUE TODAY

Our focus in lesson 31 is on two verses.  The first is Exod. 11:2 and the second is Exod. 11:5. 

"Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold." (Exo 11:2)

“… and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well.” (Exo 11:5)

These two verses show us that the Torah, the books of Moses, are as relevant today as they were then.  It is God’s instruction (that is what תּוֹרָה Torah means in the Hebrew) and God was instructing the Hebrews back then in 1446 B.C. and His original message was meant for them and us.  But, we need to study the word and try and grasp what those Hebrews saw and heard and understood, God's original intent and message then, so our understanding of how it relates to us today is enriched and enhanced. 

In Exod. 11:2 we find along with two other verses in Exodus that the Egyptians are called by God the “neighbors” of the Hebrews.  Later God commands in Lev. 19:18 and 19:34 that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves and we are to love the stranger as ourselves.  Thus, combining 19:18 and 19:34 together, the stranger is our neighbor!  God is teaching them then and us today that someone we don’t know, who is perhaps of a different faith, who holds to a different sexual orientation, who is foreign born, a total stranger, we are to treat them as if they were our neighbor - someone we know personally and lives with us of close to us.  In this podcast we will unpack this and relate it to the Platinum Rule and the Golden Rule. 

Platinum Rule – treat others how they would like to be treated.  Or another way of saying it is do unto others they way they want to be treated.

Golden Rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This is from Matt 7:12

Today some say the Platinum Rule now replaces the Golden Rule.  Some say the Golden Rule is archaic and no longer valid for today.  It is seemingly an attack on the Bible by some, on the very words of God.  These views show that many have a limited and very incomplete understanding of the Bible.  If one does not study the Jewish roots of the New Testament, the Jewish background, one can easily be mislead by those who say the Golden Rule of the Bible is dead.

In this lesson we will show that the Golden Rule and the Platinum Rule are both in the Bible and are applications of the Torah - both come out of the rabbis applying Lev. 19:18 and 19:34.  They are not separate rules but, for the rabbis, they are applications of these verses. We will see that years before Jesus that it was being taught that we are to love the stranger as our neighbor and we are to treat, as best as we can, the stranger the way the stranger would like to be treated.  On top of that we will see that the Platinum Rule itself is actually taught by Paul.  In lesson 31 we will see that God’s word, His תּוֹרָה Torah, is so applicable today.  We shouldn’t be surprised.  Jesus said sometime between 24-30 A.D. that ALL scripture testifies of Him.  All they had then was the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament.  The main books of the Bible in Jesus’ day was the תּוֹרָה Torah.  How dare us not study the very words of God that God Himself says testifies of Him. 

There is a great article on the Golden Rule vs. the Platinum Rule at a website entitled, www.TBLfaithnews.com.  Just go to the website and in their search window simply enter, “Platinum Rule.”  I am indebted to these Christian teachers for some awesome insights to on this topic. 

As we study the Golden Rule vs. the Platinum Rule I mentioned I’d link you to a chapter from one of my class books.  This chapter is on the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus’ parable has everything to do with this issue.  In this parable it is clear that Jesus is saying our enemy is our neighbor.  Once again, the Lord is so consistent.  This is what He initially taught His people coming out of Egypt.  Here’s the link to this chapter for your further study -   https://www.dropbox.com/s/ju6zum2rzcu6srs/Parables2..GoodNeighbor..pages15..31may21.pdf?dl=0

The second issue we will deal with in this lesson is what is the name of the Pharaoh of the Exodus.  This results from the verse Exod. 11:5.  In this verse all first born will die.  But, Pharaoh did not die.  But, studying the ancient culture of Egypt we learn that the 1^st born son of a Pharaoh was considered the “crown prince” and this would be the next Pharaoh.  So, the Pharaoh in the Exodus didn’t die.  Thus, if the Bible is true and 100% accurate, the Pharaoh of the Exodus must not have been the first born.  What is amazing is if we put the Bible in its historical context we will be able to determine the name of this Pharaoh from the clue the Bible gives that Pharaoh of the Exodus had an older brother as well as the next Pharaoh in line.

I recommend you also study lesson 5 parts 1 & 2 in this series.  These podcasts deal with the dating of the Exodus.  So podcasts 5 parts 1 & 2 and this lesson are extremely important for you if you are a serious student of the Bible.  Here’s the links to these podcasts.

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/

I also am linking you to Dr. Doug Petrovich’s new videos.  The topic is the Pharaoh of the Exodus.  In this podcast I deal with one aspect of the discussion that the Pharaoh of the Exodus was Amenhotep II.  Dr. Petrovich in his videos gives even more amazing archaeological and historical fact to support his.  You may even want to get his latest books and DVD’s.  This is one Christian proven credible scholar you will want to “study under” to do deeper into your Bible understanding.  Here’s the links to the videos.

Video 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oslIgQPekQ&t=1s

Video 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqUC3jAwAMc&t=2s

 

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 - 30 - Exod. 11:1-11:10 THE HAMMER OF GOD

In Exodus 34:6-7 Adonai, the Lord our God, teaches Moses on Sinai what He is like.  Among the rabbis these verses are called the 13 Attributes of Adonai.  

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." (Exo 34:6-7)

Two attributes really stand out when it comes to the Pharaoh of the Exodus.  God is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness.  These attributes along with John 3:16, say that God loves the whole world (even Pharaoh).  And this along with the Hebrew (NOT ENGLISH) give us an alternative view of the phrase "God hardened Pharaoh's heart."  We have learned from credible Jewish and Christian scholars that it seems IN THE HEBREW that God was trying to help Pharaoh make the right decision, to chose the path of righteousness of the God of Israel, and to turn from his immovable and strong commitment to his gods.  This is clear when we actually learn that the phrase "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" needs to be corrected!  There are three unique Hebrew words that our translators said meant hardened!  How did this happen?  Their translation seems to be based upon their bias and has clouded the deeper and more enhanced meaning. 

There is a verse in the King James version that is an example.  It shows the traditional view that has come down to us through the ages.  It is ... "And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land." (Exo 11:10)  Thus we learn in this translation that God caused Pharaoh to bring upon all Egypt the 10th awesome and terrible plague.  However, the Hebrew shows us something quite different.  The English of the verse from the Hebrew is ...  "And Moses and Aaron did all these signs before Pharaoh and gave courage (NOT STIFFENED OR HARDENED- mistaken translation) the Lord the heart of Pharaoh and he did not let out the sons of Israel of his land." Exod. 11:10 (translation from "Hebrew Study Bible" from the Westminster Lenigrad Codex).  The Hebrew shows us that it is very possible that time and again as we have seen in lessons 12 till 30 in this series that God was trying to help Pharaoh make the right decision and turn from his gods without forcing Pharaoh's hand and taking away Pharaoh's free will.  The Hebrew, and NOT our traditional views based upon the translators' beliefs, gives us an alternative view that seems to be more correct.  This alternative view then supports what God is like by His own words as we read above in Exod. 34:6-7 and John 3:16.   

I urge you to study the videos entitled "His Highnesses' Heavy Heart."  In these videos it is shown that there is an alternative equivalent meaning to the phrase in our English Bibles, "God hardened Pharaoh's heart."  The material presented is backed up with solid Jewish and Christian scholarship.  If you are serious about your Bible study these videos are a must so that the Ten Plagues and Pharaoh are understood in a deeper and more enhanced way.  Links -

Part 1 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNw1742eiWc&list=PLvcIXun2BQDIw6myuMPTvlWHUu9AJqXip&index=21

Part 2 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZSsExt9Hbw&list=PLvcIXun2BQDIw6myuMPTvlWHUu9AJqXip&index=20 

But, one thing we know of the Lord, He knows all.  He knew right from the "get go" that Pharaoh would not do the right thing.  The Lord told Moses this at the burning bush.  Remember? "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go." (Exo 3:19-20)  The actual Hebrew for "under compulsion" is " a strong hand."  The Hebrew does not say God will force Pharaoh to free Israel but that God will war against Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt with a "strong hand" which will finally convince Pharaoh to relent and let the people go.  It is almost as if God is teaching us that He knew the end, He knew what Pharaoh would bring upon himself and all Egypt.  God shows us that He'd try and help Pharaoh do the right thing.  God seems to be teaching us about the power of evil and wickedness and that the final result is the evil and wicked will bring themselves to the brink of destruction and not the Lord.  Pharaoh's story is our story.  Pharaoh's strong stubborn evil worldview is just like us.  Thank God that we have this promise ... "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. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (Joh 3:16-17)  In 1446 B.C. the Hebrew shows us that the Lord was being a SAVIOR to Pharaoh and to try and encourage his mind to do the right thing.  And it is true now, we too need a SAVIOR.  He has come in the flesh and we all can now proclaim Jesus is our Lord, Jesus is our God, Jesus is the ONLY God.  And through the Cross we are redeemed and saved from our sins and delivered from His wrath coming upon all nations.  So we cry out, "Maranatha Lord Jesus" which comes from the Hebrew מָרָנָא אֲתָה - marana attah - the Lord will come!  

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 - 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

 

Exodus -13 - Exod 4:17-23 JESUS AND ISRAEL

There are four purposes to the podcast teaching series on the Torah.  There are two studies, this one on the book of Exodus and a second on the book of Genesis.  The four purposes can be found at this link – click here for the four purposes of this study

A major purpose is to listen to THE VERY WORDS OF GOD when Jesus said …

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

 

Jesus said this between 24-30 A.D. and in those days there was no New Testament.  So, those first disciples, like the 120 who were on the Mt. of Olives the day Jesus ascended to the Father, all they had was the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament (nothing “old” about it), and this is what they used to change the world; they used the Old Testament to proclaim the Gospel, the Kingdom of the Lord, the crucifixion and resurrection of Messiah, they used it to testify about Jesus, who He is and why He came.  Just read what Stephen said before he was murdered in Acts 7 - all his scripture references are from the Hebrew scriptures.  Therefore, if this is the case, we should “see” Jesus in the Old Testament. 

In those days 24-30 A.D. the primary books of the Hebrew scriptures were the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers , and Deuteronomy.  And we ask ourselves the question again and again, how did they “see” Jesus, how did they hear the Torah that testifies of Him?  That is one of the main purposes of this podcast Bible study series. 

In this lesson focusing on Exod. 4:17-23 we read that Israel is God’s son, His first born son.  This is so amazing.  For us this reminds us of another son of God, His ONLY begotten son, Yeshua, our Lord, Jesus.  How are Israel and Yeshua connected?  It is almost as if you can’t take Israel out of Jesus and you can’t take Jesus out of Israel.  They are intimately connected.  Just consider a few verses in Isaiah that talk about Israel. God’s servant that also clearly mean Messiah, Jesus, God’s servant.

 

Isa_41:8  "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,

Isa_44:1  "But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:

Isa_44:21  "Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

Isa_45:4  "For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.

Isa_49:3  He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory."

And then we come to Isaiah 53 and we read about the ONE who has the following characteristics …

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Isa 53:3-6)

Is this “servant” of the Lord? Is this Israel?  But wait a minute.  Let’s study Isaiah 53 very closely and we find …

But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. (Isa 53:10-11)

The servant of the Lord is Israel.  The Bible says it.  But, the servant of the Lord is the ONE in Isaiah 53 who is Jesus.  How can Jesus be the servant when the servant is Israel?  How can the servant be Israel when the servant is this suffering one, Jesus?  How can Israel be God’s first born son when God’s ONLY begotten son is Jesus?  It seems that you can’t take Jesus out of Israel nor Israel out of Jesus. 

Come and join us. Be like one of those disciples in 24-30 A.D. who lived by obeying John 8:31-32 and studied Torah to see that all scripture testifies of Jesus.  In this lesson we will again see how the Torah testifies of Yeshua HaMasiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ in these dramatic events of the Exodus.

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