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The study of the Bible in its historical context - with a focus on the archaeology, history, geography, customs , culture, and even the languages of the ancient Middle East. WE ask what did they understand THEN - the original intent of the Lord - so that we can expand and enrich our understanding NOW and thus become true disciples of Adonai Yeshua as in John 8:31-32.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
From Abraham Cohen’s excellent scholarly work, “Everymans’ Talmud,” we read that in Judaism today and in the days of Jesus, one’s death was more important than one’s birth. Jews will rejoice at a person’s death if they were righteous and live a life living according to the ways of the Lord. Don’t rejoice at a person’ birth. One being born is just beginning their life. Will they live righteously? Will do amazing things by the power of the hand of the Lord? Or, will they live sinful lives, unrighteous before God and man? We don’t know. So, thus, we celebrate the death of a righteous person.
This idea of the importance of the death of a person over the birth of a person is shown in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are only 41 verses or so relating to the birth of Christ in Matthew and Luke. But there are over 400 verses in the four gospels reporting on the death of Jesus. Of course! The gospels are books written by Jews in their Jewish Middle Eastern mindset 2000 years ago. The death of Jesus and the sacrifice of the cross is critically important to those Jewish gospel writers. Far different than Christians today in how we emphasize His birth that we call Christmas.
In lesson 57 we will continue to study Abraham and his life from the Jewish perspective. He first appears in Genesis 12 and the Torah is silent as to why Abraham was chosen by Adonai. But, at his passing, we are now able to go back and study Abraham’s life. We are able to consider ways God may have looked upon this man and chose Abraham to be our father in the faith as Paul teaches us in Rom. 4:13-16.
Abraham was given the gospel! So, in the Torah, the books of Moses, we first read of the gospel, the gospel according to Moses, as Paul shows us in Gal. 3:8. Now as we study the life of Abraham at his death, we will see Jesus. Just like Jesus said in John 5:39.
How is Abraham our father? How does all this relate to us today in the 21st century? We will find that Abraham put all things in his life below his love of God and his commitment to obey Him. One might say Abraham "hated" everything in his life as compared to his love of God. But, it isn't hate. The Hebrew word is שׂנא SANAY H8130 - can mean hate but equally can mean loved less, held in lower esteem, second place. Yes. Abraham put all in a lower position as compared to his love and faithfulness to the Lord. He is the epitome of Jesus was talking about in Luke 14:26 when Jesus taught ...
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate (not hate but SANAY - put all things in a lower position that our love and faith in Jesus) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. (Luk 14:26)
How can we come to have our understanding expanded and enriched as we understand that through Abraham’s seed (his descendants) that all will be blessed? How do we grasp that we are Abraham’s seed along with Jesus? Jesus is the blessing to all nations and we are to bring Him to all nations. Abraham was sent and he went. Jesus was sent and He went. Jesus sends us. Are we ready to go and be like our daddy, Abraham?
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
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
From Abraham Cohen’s excellent scholarly work, “Everymans’ Talmud,” we read that in the days of Jesus one’s death was more important than one’s birth. Rabbi Cohen presents a parable that shows the views of Second Temple Judaism then and Rabbinic Judaism today on this concept. There were two ships and one was leaving the harbor and the other was coming in after a long voyage. Many on the docks cheered and celebrated as the one ship began its journey. It was kind of a way to bolster the courage and hearts of the sailors going into the unknown. There was an old sailor standing on the dick with the crowd. He loudly stated, “why are you rejoicing over the ship beginning its journey. NO. Rather rejoice for the ship returning. The ship returning is coming home safe and has made it through its perilous voyage. For the ship leaving, do not rejoice. We have no idea whether their journey will be a success or failure; we don’t know whether the crew will be of stout heart and courage. But the ship returning tells us the story of its success and its triumph over struggles and the perils of their journey.” Rabbi Cohen then says to us that it is the same in life and death. Let us rejoice at a person’s death if they were righteous and live a life living according to the ways of the Lord. Don’t rejoice at a person’ birth. One being born is just beginning their life. Will they live righteously? Will do amazing things by the power of the hand of the Lord? Or, will they live sinful lives, unrighteous before God and man? We don’t know. So, thus, we celebrate the death of a righteous person.
This idea of the importance of the death of a person over the birth of a person is shown in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are only 41 verses or so relating to the birth of Christ in Matthew and Luke. But there are over 400 verses in the four gospels reporting on the death of Jesus. Of course! The gospels are books written by Jews in their Jewish Middle Eastern mindset 2000 years ago. The death of Jesus and the sacrifice of the cross is critically important to those Jewish gospel writers. Far different than Christians today in how we emphasize His birth that we call Christmas.
In lesson 56 we will deal with the death of Abraham. We will study Abraham and his life from the Jewish perspective. He first appears in Genesis 12 and the Torah is silent as to why Abraham was chosen by Adonai. But, at his passing, we are now able to go back and study Abraham’s life. We are able to consider ways God may have looked upon this man and chose Abraham to be our father in the faith as Paul teaches us in Rom. 4:13-16. Abraham was given the gospel! So, in the Torah, the books of Moses, we first read of the gospel, the gospel according to Moses, as Paul shows us in Gal. 3:8. Now as we study the life of Abraham at his death, we will see Jesus. Just like Jesus said in John 5:39. How is Abraham our father? How does all this relate to us today in the 21st century? How can we come to have our understanding expanded and enriched as we understand that through Abraham’s seed (his descendants) that all will be blessed? How do we grasp that we are Abraham’s seed along with Jesus? Jesus is the blessing to all nations and we are to bring Him to all nations. Abraham was sent and he went. Jesus was sent and He went. Jesus sends us. Are we ready to go and be like our daddy, Abraham?
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
Saturday Jan 01, 2022
Saturday Jan 01, 2022
This is part 2 of lesson 28. As we conclude we ask the question does God want us to understand Egypt and Pharaoh as a picture of God's plan for the future? Is it possible as God brought destruction and chaos on this one nation who followed the one man who said he was god, will He also do the same when many will follow the one man, the Beast, as the ruler of all the earth and who likened himself to God? Perhaps. It agrees with a concept in the Bible that the rabbis recognized. The lives of the fathers are signs of the future for the sons. In Hebrew "Ma'asay Avot seeman labaneem." One obvious example is the Passover lamb and the Lamb of God. The Passover lamb is associated with the redemption of God's people Israel as they put the blood of the lamb on the wood, the doorposts. But, it is like sing from the past that one is coming, the Lamb of God, who will bring redemption to God's people, Jew and Gentile who choose Yeshua as Lord and God and Savior, and will be spared the wrath of God because of the blood of the Lamb of God on the wood, the cross. This is one clear example of "Ma'asay Avot seeman labaneem." AS we put the Bible into its historical context we will see how the Lord does this again and again. So, does He connect the the Exodus to the book of Revelation? There are some who say yes.
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
Friday Dec 31, 2021
Friday Dec 31, 2021
Lesson 28 is in two parts. This first part will take us to Exod. 10:10 and part two to 10:20.
Time and time again Pharaoh experiences God’s power and wrath. In lesson 27 it was the hail. It destroyed a great part of the economy of Egypt. But, once Adonai relents and stops the hail and the storm, Pharaoh “hardens” his heart. On top of that this is also true for his servants as we read in Exod. 9:34 …
But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. (Exo 9:34)
We will again learn that as we put the Bible into its historical context and actually study the Hebrew, our understanding is clarified and enhanced. The Hebrew word in v.34 for harden is the Hebrew word כּבד H3513 or kahvod. It mean “heavy.” If you lived in Egypt in 1446 B.C. when these events likely occurred, Egyptians and the Hebrews would understand what is meant by a “heavy” heart. It is interesting to note that God does the same thing when we read Exod. 10:1.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them,” (Exo 10:1)
The English word is not a good word to give meaning to the Hebrew. Once again the Hebrew word is kahvod, meaning “heavy.” As I mentioned, if one is an Egyptian living when all this occurred or a Hebrew slave, they get it. We don’t. But, once we study the ancient culture of Egypt, once we study the Bible in its historical context, what Pharaoh did to his “heart” and what God did to his “heart” are too opposite applications. But what does it mean?
On top of that as we delve into this and study the word closely and carefully, verse 9:34 and 10:1 show us that God NEVER took away Pharaoh’s free will. When you study the historical context and the Hebrew it is almost silly to think God took away this man’s ability to chose freely. And yet, many still hold to the traditional view since they have not been taught about ancient Egypt and the Bible in it historical context.
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
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Here is the link to the new video related to the birth of Messiah. You will also be able to watch, "He Was Laid in a Manger," which deals more with the archaeology and geography of the birth of Yeshua. Here's the link - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDIDJwr_Dh08wHXRAJyoZO1l
There is so much of Christmas that can hide the real significance of this season. It is not a HOLIDAY but it is a HOLY DAY. I wonder if הַשָּׂטָן Ha Satan - the adversary or the devil - is the one who did this and thus leading so many away from the chance of knowing the Savior. We almost need to take Christ and take Him OUT of Christmas and restore that which we lost. This video suggests the awesomeness of this event, the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. This video gives a picture of the Light of Messiah that came as John writes of it in John 1:9. It presents a picture that the birth of Jesus takes us from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. This picture shows us this time of remembrance is a HOLY day and not a holiday. Let's study the Chiasm of the Light.
I mentioned in the videos that I would provide scholarly links to study the events and the archaeology of Jesus’ birth from the Associates for Biblical Research. These are a must if you want to come to grips with the reality of His birth and to expand your understanding of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Link 1 to an article by Dr. Ken Bailey entitled, “The Manger and the Inn.” - https://biblearchaeology.org/new-testament-era-list/2803-the-manger-and-the-inn?highlight=WyJtYW5nZXIiLCJtYW5nZXInIl0%3D
Link 2 to a video by Gary Byers entitled, “Away in a Manger but Not a Barn.” (Videos below are all less than 10 minutes in length)
Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YveeRv50lmg
Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzRG6jIVGoY
Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I-YhXcx0qU
Part 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uSbfx8A04
Part 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piNy0RwFUiE
Link 3 to an article by Gordon Melish, “There Wasn’t an Inn.” - https://biblearchaeology.org/research/devotionals/3643-there-wasnt-any-inn?highlight=WyJtYW5nZXIiLCJtYW5nZXInIl0%3D
Link 4 - Joel Kramer's video on the archaeology of Bethlehem - https://sourceflix.com/our-video/born-in-bethlehem/
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
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Moses finally tells the Lord he does not want to do this task that Yahvay gave him; Moses does not want to return to Egypt and go to Pharaoh and tell Pharaoh, this man who is said to be a god, that God, the only God, demands Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. As we put the Bible into its historical context and consider what was going on in Egypt at the time we would whole heartedly agree with Moses. I think we’d feel the same way if we clearly understood Moses’ circumstances as it relates to the Egyptian culture in the 15th century B.C.
The Lord, however, no matter the objection, has an answer for Moses. God picked Moses and the Lord will not let Moses off the hook. But, as we read in Psalm 23:1 in Hebrew and in English …
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Mizmor LayDaveed Yahvay Ro’ee Lo Echsar.
The Hebrew word Echsar comes from the word חסר Chaseer H2537 and it has the picture concept of being diminished, getting to the end and having nothing left, being defeated, being left without. But, God is the Shepherd of Moses and us. He brings us into His sheepfold and as His sheep, as the ones given our good works after being saved by grace (Eph. 2:8-10), we are never without; we have all we need to do that which the Shepherd has given Moses to do or us. And just as the Jewish scholars saw that Moses was a mirror image of the coming Messiah and that the Messiah is reflected in Moses and as Messiah sent His disciples out two by two, so too does God, the Lord, send out Moses with Aaron two by two. Yes, we can understand Moses and his not wanting to go back to Egypt and do this task. We get it. But we also see that God always has everything planned and in place so that His agenda happens. This was true for Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Ruth, David, Jesus, His disciples, and us. Paul teaches us this attribute of the Lord true in the 15th century B.C. and today as we read in Rom. 8:28 …
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
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
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Our focus in lesson 27 is Exod. 9:13 – 10:1. The event is the plague of hail that was so awesome that there was nothing like it ever in the history of Egypt. For the Hebrews coming out of Egypt, the first ones to “hear” the words of Moses, the first five books of the Bible, sometimes called the תּוֹרָה Torah, meaning God’s instruction, they’d recall that Pharaohs always boasted of their mighty works and accomplishments. It’s like Thutmosis III who bragged he did amazing things that haven’t been done in Egypt, ever. Interesting. God, the LORD, יהוה Yahvay, the God of the Hebrews, seemingly is using things familiar in Egypt against the Egyptians. The LORD is saying He is the Lord, He is God, the only God, the one and only God. This is found in Deut. 6:4 when we read …
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deu 6:4)
The Hebrew word translated as ONE is the word אֶחָֽד Ekhad. It does mean one but the concept is a oneness that is indivisible, a oneness that can not be separated into parts or persons. A better way then to think of the verse is substituting ONE for the phrase, “THE ONE AND ONLY,” or to take out ONE and say, “UNIQUE.”
So the Lord is the ONLY ONE who will bring upon Egypt something truly the Egyptians have ever experienced in the past or in the future. The hail storm was beyond imagination for any of us. But, to understand what is going on we need again to put the Bible back into its historical context. When we do the impact is our understanding is deepened and expanded.
We will also explore the motif in the Bible from the Garden to the End of Days about man’s deserve to turn from God and become a god himself – to determine his own right and wrong and his own will to meet his lower needs and desires and instincts. There is a word spoken against the king of Babylon in Isa. 14:3-23 who himself says he is god.
He said ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ (Isa 14:14)
I bring this up as one of many examples of when men declare themselves as god. There is an important verse to consider. In the NASB it is …
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!” (Isa 14:12)
But in the King James we read …
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isa 14:12)
This is an example of a major translation error where the translators of the King James inserted a “borrowed” Latin word from the translation of Jerome, an early church father. The borrowed word is LUCIFER. How can you substitute a Latin word (actually tow Latin words) that means only “light bearer.” Jerome did not use these Latin words to mean the name of the devil. However, his error and the misunderstanding of later translators hung onto Jerome’s error and it comes down to us today as the devil’s name. This is a huge mistake. In actuality, the devil has NO name. It isn’t Lucifer and it isn’t Satan. Satan is what the devil is and not his name. For further study check out these links to go into this in a more detailed manner.
Link 1 - https://www.franknelte.net/article.php?article_id=218
Link 2 - https://www.baslibrary.org/bible-review/14/6/15
Pharaoh seems to repent. This plague was so awesome that Pharaoh says that he has sinned and all of Egypt. However, it seems his repentance is only a way for Pharaoh to think he has once again manipulated the LORD, יהוה Yahvay. For once the hail stops Pharaoh gives courage to his heart. His way of manipulating the God of the Hebrews is working. It works every time. Pharaoh thinks he is winning. He is building up his courage more and more as a mighty god of Egypt. But, there is only one God. There is only one Lord. There is only one King of the Universe. In Exod. 10:1 God makes Pharaoh’s heart “heavy” and this should be studied in light of the Hebrew language and the culture of ancient Egypt. Thus, it is highly recommended that if you are serious about your continued study of the Bible in its historical context, then you must watch the two videos entitled, “His Highness’ Heavy Heart.” Here’s the link to the videos.
Part 1 - https://youtu.be/dNw1742eiWc
Part 2 - https://youtu.be/dZSsExt9Hbw
So come and join us now. As we once again return to 1446 B.C. and ancient Egypt in March or April. Come and let us see that indeed there is one and only one God and Lord of all.
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
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
God is pounding Egypt with His awesome hammer - boom, boom, boom. Plague after plague. One thing about the Lord is He shows us that He cares for His chosen ones, Israel. We see this in the next plague. But, God tells us that He protects His people, His chosen ones, always. It is a trait of the Lord God Most High. He said He was the same then, now, and forever. He told us in Mal. 3:6 that He doesn’t change. Consider this ...
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 121:7-8 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
This is our hope. This is our desire. God come and take care of us, your chosen ones.
But, what is interesting. This seems to be related to the coming Tribulation. We study the very words of God and His elect will be going through the Tribulation. Uh oh. It seems clear that connecting Revelation and the very words of God, the words of Jesus, shows we are His elect and we will be in the Tribulation (no rapture!!) and as the Hebrews were sheltered by the Lord in Egypt, our hope is that He will shelter us when His HAMMER falls again and again during the Tribulation. Our hope is in Him since He said He is the same then, now and forever. The good news is we are grafted in to the olive tree Israel and are joint heirs of the promises of the Lord. God said He will gather in His elect, His chosen ones, in the end of days. Not a rapture but and in gathering. We Gentiles as Jesus’ other flock will join with Israel His first flock, the Jewish Messianic Christians, and become on flock with one Shepherd.
Here are the links I mentioned in this lesson. The first two and links to articles on the end of days and the “Jewish Rapture” or the ingathering of God’s elect, His chosen.
Link 1 –
https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0da55621/files/uploaded/Rapture.pdf
Link 2 –
Also, I mentioned David Padfield’s excellent work on the Exodus. It is a free booklet from his classroom Bible study. Here’s the link - https://www.padfield.com/acrobat/history/gods_of_egypt.pdf
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
Friday Dec 10, 2021
Friday Dec 10, 2021
As we continue in Genesis 24 we ask ourselves the question, is Rebecca also one who the Lord uses to teach us about our walk with the Lord now in the future? In other words is she too part of the Biblical concept we saw in lesson 54 - מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem." It means the events in the life of the fathers are signs or omens for the sons. In lesson 54 we studied the events where Abraham, the father of Isaac, his beloved son, sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac, the child of promise. This reminds us of Jesus who was sent by the Father to find a bride for Himself; He who is the beloved the son of the Father and the promised Messiah. This seems like a application of מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem."
In this lesson I mentioned the concept of “grafted in” and how that phrase is a true equivalent alternative way of translating Gen. 12:3 or …
“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
This can also be translated as follows.
“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be grafted in.”
Here’s the link to lesson 25 to study this in detail. Link - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-kiv4b-f364ec
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
Friday Dec 10, 2021
Friday Dec 10, 2021
In this lesson we study Genesis chapter 24, the longest chapter in Genesis. It seems like something big is about to happen. It is. Abraham sends his servant, his servant who is un-named in chapter 24 (could Eliezer but it can’t be proven), and this servant goes in the name of his master, to find a bride for the father's most beloved son, Isaac, the child of promise.
Hmmm. This sounds like something we know. Is there some connection to Jesus? Do these verses in chapter 24 testify of Jesus who is the Bridegroom, the Promised one, the only begotten, beloved son of the Father. And, we are called His bride. Oh yes! Wait till you see. There is a old Jewish saying, מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem." It means the events in the life of the fathers are signs or omens for the sons. We will see that this is so true for chapter 24 as it also testifies of Jesus and us.
I mentioned in the podcast about Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, and Jesus all show up at one location. It is the area of the ancient city of Shechem. We see the promises of God to Abraham right in front of our eyes at this location. Abraham and Sarah – one couple. From them comes Jacob, and his wives, Rachel and Leah, and his eleven sons. So from one couple to one family. Later Joshua shows up with all Israel at the same place. One nation from the one family who are from the one couple. Finally, the Promised One from the Father, from YHVH, Yahvay, His only begotten beloved son, shows up at the same place. He is the promised “blessing” for all the nations, for Jew and Gentile, coming from the one couple, Abraham and Sarah. This is an amazing study. Here’s the link to lesson 26 from “The Gospel According to Moses – Genesis.”
Link - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6wqrb-f5b29a
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link -
chttps://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0