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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
Saturday Jul 23, 2022
Saturday Jul 23, 2022
Lesson 46 Part 1
They made it. The Hebrews led by Moses by the hand of Yahvay, the Lord, finally arrive at the Mountain of God. Here they will receive the Ten Commandments which the Lord says is His Covenant as we read …
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Exo 34:27-28)
Israel comes to the Mountain of God in the Sinai and there they will enter a New Covenant - nothing like this ever happened before – and become a chosen people, a holy nation, and nation of priests. But, wait a minute, that sounds so familiar. It reminds us of Jesus and His lifting up His cup at His Last Supper – the cup of the New Covenant. This happens in Jerusalem.
There’s more. It so happens that the Mountain of God was Mt. Sinai as can be found in Exod. 3:1 and 3:12 and 19:1-3. We got this. No problem. But then we see that God moves His mountain to a new location. Just consider a few proof texts …
Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa 2:2-3)
"I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. "Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. (Isa 66:19-20)
And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Mic 4:1-2)
He moved His mountain. It is now the Temple Mount in Jerusalem also known as Mt. Zion. (The term Mount Zion has been used in the Hebrew Bible first for the City of David (2 Samuel 5:7, 1 Chronicles 11:5; 1 Kings 8:1, 2 Chronicles 5:2) and later for the Temple Mount, but its meaning has shifted and it is now used as the name of ancient Jerusalem's Western Hill) And, this is where the New Covenant of God is given through Yeshua HaMashiach, Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. On top of that we read the following …
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Pe 2:9)
Wow. What an amazing connection between the New Covenant at the Mountain of God Mt. Sinai and the New Covenant at the Mountain of God Mt. Zion - a Biblical name for the Temple Mount. God is connecting these covenants. He is not replacing the latter with the former. They are intimately related and you can not have on New Covenant without the other.
Is there more? You won’t believe it. This is another awesome chapter in Torah that meets the goals of this podcast series. Here are those goals. (Note - you can "right click" on the picture and open the picture in a new tab to read it)
So come and join us in this study. This is another awesome example that there is ONE book, ONE Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, ONE God, ONE Lord, with ONE goal, Jesus!
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
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
In our day one might say our times are chaotic and evil. Today Christians and the church are even called evil and we are accused of being the source of all that is wrong. It’s too difficult to deal with. It seems that evil so controls our country, our society, and that we have no power over this at all. Nothing works. We try and solve it via politics and legislation and the vote. In my view the USA is on such a downward slide, it’ll never recover. This is not very hopeful. Without the Lord there is no hope.
Israel coming out of Egypt faced death and disorder as God led them into the wilderness of Sinai. The Hebrews had assimilated into the Egyptian culture slowly after Joseph died. For the Hebrews they understood and held to the Egyptian understanding that the wilderness of Sinai was a land of death, disorder, and evil. It was a place not conducive to good life. They called it the land of CHAOS. Their gods had no power over chaos. Their king, we call Pharaoh, must be the one to maintain order, life, prosperity, truth, and goodness, called Ma’at in Egyptian. Pharaoh had to battle against Chaos. The gods of Egypt had no power for Chaos, no power over the wilderness of Sinai. In Egypt they relied on a man to provide truth, justice, goodness, and order. It's like today. Reminds me of CLIMATE CHANGE. Many say WE humans must solve the problem. We must spend money and make laws to save the planet. I don't believe there is a climate crisis. It is simply not scientific. This reminds me of ancient Egypt and a worldview that lifts up mankind and has turned away from the one God, the true God, the one who made it all and the one who controls and rules over nature.
However, Yahvay, God, God alone, created the wilderness. He fed His chosen in the wilderness of Sinai. He gave them water from rocks in the Sinai. And He helped the Hebrews defeat the Amalekites in the Sinai at Rephidim. Moses as was in awe of Yahvay, the Lord, that he sets up an altar to remember the victory and he names the altar יהוה נסי - Yahvay Neesee, The Lord is My Banner.
Today many say this phrase says JEHOVAH NEESEE. The word Jehovah is shown to be a translation error of a Franciscan monk in the 16th century. Here’s a article by a renowned and proven scholar, David Biven, on this translation error. Link –
https://shamar.org/articles/jehovah-misunderstanding.html
We ask, how did those Hebrews perhaps understand this? Did it somehow connect to something in Egypt? What did it say to them then?
It is interesting to note that the Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol meaning GOD is a banner, a flag. Check out the article about the word NETJER in ancient Egyptian and the use of the flag to write this word for GOD –
Finally, we recall Jesus’ word in John 5:39 that all scripture testifies of Him.
“And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. "You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(Joh 5:37-40)
Is it possible this verse, Exod. 17:15, also connects to Jesus? Of course it does. Jesus teaches us this truth. Come and let’s go see.
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
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
This lesson is split into two parts. Here in part 1 we meet a relative of Moses, Jethro. His name in Hebrew is pronounced יִתְרוֹ - YEE TRO.
In this study of Exodus 18 we will concentrate on a couple of items in part 1. First, we will study the FACT that Jethro is NOT Moses’ father-in-law. Our Bible in English says he is and it brings up contradictions that some scholars try to explain like Moses’ father-in-law had several names – culturally and historically untrue. They stay in the English and state that Reuel (Exodus. 2:18) and Jethro (Exodus 3:1 and 18:1) and Hobab (Jud. 4:11) are all the same guy. Yes, Reuel is a priest of Midian and so is Jethro. Pagan cultures had many priests not just one. It is rational to think that Moses married into a pagan priestly family and thus one of Reuel’s daughters married another priest whose name is Jethro. This would imply Jethro is Moses’ brother-in-law. And, this makes sense. But, we will study this in the Hebrew and NOT English and find the Hebrew word translated as father-in-law also is translated in the Bible as mother-in-law and also translated as marriages. We will see that in the Hebrew the contradiction is not a contradiction at all.
Secondly, we will see that the Hebrew Bible shows that amazing love God has for non-Hebrews. The example in Exodus 18 is of course Jethro. But there are others. Remember Pharaoh’s daughter, a pagan princess who saved Moses and became is step mom. Remember Hagar, the pagan Egyptian servant girl of Sarah’s. The Angel of the Lord first appears to her. Not Abraham. Not Sarah. But to a pagan servant. And remember Ruth coming out of the pagan Midianite culture who turned to the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of Israel and became an ancestor of the Messiah, of Yeshua Adonaynoo, Jesus our Lord. This chapter is a clear indication that God wants all men to be rescued from their sin and to be His people. Check it out …
“Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?” (Eze 33:11)
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.”
(Eze 18:32)
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” (Isa 45:22)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16)
There is no separation in the eyes of the Lord as He looks down upon mankind. All lives matter to Him.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Traveling to the Galilee region in Israel one can visit the ancient synagogue at Chorazin. Walking through the synagogue you'll find the "Chair of Moses" or the "Moses Seat." See the picture below.
Some say in Jesus' day that those who would read the Torah portions on the Sabbath in the synagogue sat in this chair until they were called up to read during the Shabbat service. All historical evidence shows this to be unlikely. Even Jesus' words reflect it may not have been a practice in His day. When He was to read in the synagogue there is no indication that He was sitting in the "Moses Seat." We read ...
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. (Luk 4:16-20)
Jesus was sitting and then stood up when He went to read. No where does it say He was sitting in the "Moses Seat" or the chair of authority. This is not absolute proof that the "Moses Seat" was not used that way in those days but this along with other clear historical evidence shows it wasn't.
The "Moses Seat" probably had everything to do with what we study in this lesson on Exodus 18 - the establishment of the judiciary in ancient Israel. Jethro advises Moses on the set up. Moses is the one who settles the major disputes and legal cases. Thus, the idea of sitting in "Moses Seat." It seems related to those who had authority to make judgments and decisions based upon the Torah. We remember Jesus saying ...
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. (Mat 23:1-3)
Jesus is saying that the Pharisees (most rabbis are Pharisees) are saying they have the authority of Moses and can make judgments and decisions based upon the Torah. The problem is, even tough they made a ruling or a decision on a certain practice or action, it was found that some of them did not "practice what they preached." That is exactly what Jesus is teaching us.
This is seen in the "Inter Varsity Press Bible Background Commentary: New Testament," a superb scholarly resource giving the historical and ancient cultural background on the words of the New Testament. We find ...
Mat_23:1-2. Some scholars have pointed to a prominent seat in many synagogues as a “seat of Moses” (cf. Mat_23:6), but Jesus presumably means this expression figuratively. The Pharisaic scribes who articulated the law believed their traditions were rooted in Moses’ own teaching and fancied themselves Moses’ successors for their own generation.
This is such an important study for us. Jethro clearly advises Moses to pick those who will serve as judges to judge partially with decisions based upon the truth and not influenced in any way either financially or otherwise. God is setting this up through Jethro for all Israel and us as well. Moreover, it was set up by a PAGAN, a non-Hebrew, a GOY, גוי, (plural goyim גוים)is a term for a gentile, a non-Jew. Once again we see how God expresses His "love" for all mankind in the way He inspires His writers of the Hebrew Scriptures to treat a GOY, גוי, (plural goyim גוים) - a gentile, a non-Jew.
Examples abound in His Word. Here's a few. We remember Pharaoh’s daughter, a pagan princess who saved Moses and became is step mom. Remember Hagar, the pagan Egyptian servant girl of Sarah’s. The Angel of the Lord first appears to her. Not Abraham. Not Sarah. But to a pagan servant. And remember Ruth coming out of the pagan Midianite culture who turned to the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of Israel and became an ancestor of the Messiah, of Yeshua Adonaynoo, Jesus our Lord. This chapter is a clear indication that God wants all men to be rescued from their sin and to be His people. Check it out …
“Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?” (Eze 33:11)
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.”(Eze 18:32)
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” (Isa 45:22)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16)
There is no separation in the eyes of the Lord as He looks down upon mankind. All lives matter to Him.
I mentioned the podcasts regarding the feast of Shavuot or Pentecost. This is so closely connected to these events and also in chapter 19 when the Hebrews finally make it to Sinai. It shows conclusively the Lord's intention that all men, of any race, or any color, can have a chance to decide for Messiah Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit, and be the Lord's disciples. Here's the link to the those lessons - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=shavuot
I also mentioned I will provide the link to the article written by the Christian pastor on the southside of Chicago. He shows that there is a purposeful ignoring of the horrible deaths by gun violence weekend after weekend on the southside. Jethro advised Moses to pick men who would be judges and one characteristic of such a man is a hatred for dishonest gain. This may not mean money. It could mean "political points" to bolster their image as a mayor, governor, senator, etc. This is what is happening in Chicago and it goes against the foundation of Western society's judicial system founded in Exod. 18. Here's the link to the article - https://www.foxnews.com/us/highland-park-shooting-chicago-pastor-calls-justice-violence-ridden-community-south-side
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
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
In this vidcast (video), "Against the Gods," we will again study God's word in its historical context. However, this time we add a new perspective to our study.
We will continue to ask what those early believers heard and saw and understood when they first heard God's word. But, we will also see how God comes against the pagan gods and man made religions in the ancient Middle East in very unique ways in His word. This time we will see how God taught His people, the Hebrews, in ways that would make sense only to them in their day. We would not recognize it as we read the Bible. God is writing to a people thousands of years ago using concepts only they understood and not us.
Dr. John Currid, a highly credible Egyptologist, archaeologist, and theologian, wrote a book entitled, "Against the Gods." His thesis in the book is to show us how we in the 21st century miss how God taught His people in their time using things they were familiar with. Here's an example Dr. Currid uses his paper, "The Nature of Polemical Thought and Writing." He writes ...
A STRONG HAND
Some common expressions found in ancient Egyptian texts to describe the power of Pharaoh over his foes are that the monarch had “a strong hand,” or “he possessed a strong arm,” or he was “the one who destroyed his enemies with his arm.” It is ironic that the author of the book of Exodus assigns the same features to the Lord as he humiliates and destroys Pharaoh and Egypt (Ex. 3:19–20; 6:1; 7:4; 15:6, etc.). James Hoffmeier, a famous Egyptologist, comments on this parallel, asking, “what better way for the Exodus traditions to describe God’s victory over Pharaoh, and as a result his superiority, than to use Hebrew derivations or counterparts to Egyptian expressions that symbolized Egyptian royal power?”
For most of us this would have escaped us completely. We are not familiar with ancient Egyptian writings nor are we into the ancient culture and customs on Egypt in the days of Moses. But, God is clearly inspiring Moses to use an Egyptian idiom that the Hebrews would have been familiar with. God uses this to come against Pharaoh and show His power over Pharaoh and all Egypt. In this way God uses something Egyptian to teach His people about Himself and His character. However, we will also see that these amazing lessons that made sense to those first believers also make sense to us today in the 21st century.
Ready? Let's begin our first lesson. Let's see how God uses Genesis 1:1 to teach His people coming out of Egypt that He is God and not Amun Ra. Let's also see how this relates to us today, us being His people, and knowing that God never changes (Mal. 3:6). He was the same 3400 years ago and today.
Link to John Currid's article referenced above - https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/polemic.html
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
Friday Jul 01, 2022
Friday Jul 01, 2022
No matter what a Christian faces, no matter what we live through, no matter what challenges we encounter, even terrible evil and death, Jesus COMMANDS us to do something. What did He command us?
We have NO choice in this. These are the very words of God; it is not my opinion. He orders us and we MUST listen and obey which in Hebrew is the word שְׁמַע or Shema.
You may be familiar with a famous verse in Deut. 6:4 that says “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God.” The Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל; Sh’ma Yisrael. Sh’ma means to hear so as to understand and as a result to do. So, we are to Sh’ma Yeshua’s words – to hear His instruction so that we understand and act.
Light of Menorah is one of many resources so that in these days you can do what Jesus orders you to do. Light of Menorah is one a many vehicles so that you can act and live as a real disciple. This is the purpose of this ministry. This is why I go on day after day in spite of what we face and endure. I have no choice in this. It is as if the Lord ordered me to do what I do and there is no release and no relief in this work. Sounds like a real chore. NO!! I do what He gave me to do and it is an awesome JOY. I hope you are blessed in using Light of Menorah to accomplish Jesus' command.
His command? Oh forgot. Now listen.
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
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
My recovery is going very good. I am returning to giving you new lessons in the ongoing Torah study in Genesis and Exodus. Please listen to the alert to get the details.
לך לשלום בשם ישוה אדוננו
Lecha LaShalom B'Shem Yeshua Adonai
Go in Peace in the Name of Jesus the Lord
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
