LIGHT OF MENORAH

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 11/4/2021

Here's some special news about upcoming events.  First. Light of Menorah will do a new class entitled, "Emmanu El - God With Us," in Apple Valley 11/16, 30 and 12/7 and 16 each night from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  It is an awesome Bible/History study of the birth of Jesus in its historical and Jewish context.  This will truly enrich your understanding of this special event an enhance your celebration of the coming of the Messiah this year.  Here's the link for all the details and registration (seating is very limited) - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emmanu-el-god-with-us-tickets-205217520127

Also, coming November 28th - the video series entitled, "Chanukah: Return of the King." Jesus seems to use Chanukah to help His disciples then understand the End Times and His return. This will blow you away. The season of light. Christians worldwide remember the 1st coming of the Light of the World. Jesus uses Chanukah to teach of the second coming of the Light of the World.

VIDEO 1 - after 6 PM NOV 27 - first video that "sets the stage" for the entire series.

VIDEO 2 - after 6 PM - NOV 28TH CANDLE 1

VIDEO 3 - after 6 PM - NOV 29TH CANDLE 2

VIDEO 4 - after 6 PM - NOV 30TH CANDLE 3

VIDEO 5 - after 6 PM - DEC 1ST CANDLE 4

VIDEO 6 - after 6 PM - DEC 2ND CANDLE 5

VIDEO 7 - after 6 PM - DEC 3RD CANDLE 6

VIDEO 8 - after 6 PM - DEC 4TH CANDLE 7

VIDEO 9 - after 6 PM - DEC 5TH CANDLE 8

VIDEO 10 - after 6 PM - DEC 6TH - the explosive ending

(Chanukah menorah picture is public domain at Pixabay.com)

Genesis - 13 - Gen. 4:9 - my brother - am I responsible for him??

 

God asks Cain where Abel was?  He was not around?  Something had happened.  We know that something happened when we read ... "Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Gen 4:8)  This was the first murder recorded in the Torah.  And we know that it says that ... "You shall not murder." (Exo 20:13).  The King James got it wrong when it says thou shalt not kill.  The Hebrew word is תרצח H7523 pronounced "tretzach" which does not mean kill but murder in the Gesenius Lexicon.   And later in Exod. 21:12-14 we read ... "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die." (Exo 21:12-14) But, if God wants murderers executed why was Cain kept alive?  Shouldn't have Cain been killed by God to maintain unity of His law and commands?  Interesting.  Let's go and explore this event in its historical context and in the Hebrew and not the English. 

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 - 9 Exod. 3:18-22 ”WHO ME?”

Moses is still in an intense conversation with the awesome God of the universe.  Moses learned of His name - he was the first human to encounter the Lord and be given His name.  But, the Lord tells Moses that He picked Moses to go up against Pharaoh to get Pharaoh to let God's people go; the give freedom to Israel.  Moses starts objecting.  Wouldn't you?  He is to return to Egypt.  Yes, the Lord said He'd go with him.  But, don't forget Moses killed an Egyptian and he faces death if he returns for this act.  But, on top of that this shepherd, this lowly man of the wilderness, is to go up against the most powerful king of the most powerful nation on earth at the time, and convince Pharaoh on letting the Hebrews go.  Moses knows this is futile.  He wants out.  Moses is thinking what is the matter with this God?  There is NO WAY Moses wants any part of this.  In this lesson we hear Moses' first two objections of five as he continues his intense dialogue with יהוה‎ Yahvay, אֱלֹהִים‎ Eloheem, the LORD God.  Come join us as we continue as we have a front row seat to this amazing meeting at the bush that didn't burn.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Genesis - 12 - Gen. 4:1 Adam KNEW His Wife

The way is closed to the Father and the Tree of Life.  This was the ending of Genesis chapter 3.  Now what?  This is where it is clear that Jesus, when He says in John 5:39, sometime between 24-30 A.D., that all scripture testifies of Him, we see the GOOD NEWS, the GOSPEL according to Moses.  Jesus says He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.  He is the Way and the only way to the Father!  This is obviously so connected to the fact that the way is closed to the Father after the sin of Adam and Eve.  But, Jesus is clearly telling us the WAY is open, we can go back , we can enter Gan Eden, Paradise, if we chose Him.  Adam and Eve freely chose to disobey God and they lost it all.  Now, God sets up the same situation in reverse.  If we chose Jesus then we gain it all, we gain eternal life!  

But, in Matthew's Gospel Jesus says that there are many who will come and say they did this or that in Jesus' name.  And Jesus said that is nothing.  It amounts to NIL.  Why?  Jesus said He did not KNOW them.  I wonder.  Jesus is speaking Hebrew and not Aramaic.  He says they did not KNOW Him.  The first time this word comes up in the Torah is Genesis 4:1, or Adam KNEW his wife.  Is there something about this word KNOW in Hebrew that will give us insight into our relationship with Yeshua?  You bet.  

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 - 11 - Gen. 3:24 The Way is Closed

The way is closed to the tree of life and the Father.  How can we get back?  How do we come again to be with our Abba, to dwell with Him in His Kingdom?  There has to be a way?  

In this lesson, in this verse of Gen. 3:24, we see what Jesus meant in John 5:39 when He said that all Scripture testifies of Himself.  He said it between 24-30 A.D. in the Temple Courts.  The only Bible they knew then was the Torah, the Prophets (HaNevi'im) and the Writings (HaKetuvim) or the TaNacK, the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  Old?  Nothing old about it - it is God's word and God said His word is the Bread of Life.

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

Please, please consider a financial donation to Light of Menorah.  We depend upon you to help us continue to go on and do what we do for you.  As an FYI, no one received a salary in Light of Menorah.  Your donation goes to the ministry 100%.  Use this link to get our address to send the donation or to donate on line - click here to donate

Genesis - 10 - Gen. 3

God said to Adam and Eve that on the day they eat from the special tree they would die.  They did not die the day they ate the "forbidden" fruit.  Adam lived a long time - 930 years. 

The Hebrew word for day is -  יום - YOM.  Does it mean a 24 hour period?  Does it mean one day from midnight to midnight?  If so then we have a problem with Gen. 2:4 - it clearly states that God created the heavens and the earth in a day.  But in Genesis 1 it took 6 days.  So, is this an issue with the word of God?  Did God make a mistake?  Did God mean it when He said to Adam and Eve they'd die the day they ate from the special tree?  

Another thing we will consider is John 5:39.  Jesus says this in 24-30 A.D. to those Jews THEN that all scripture testifies of Himself.  What scripture did they have THEN?  All they had was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  I don't like calling it the Old Testament since there is nothing "old" about it - it is God's word!  The foundation of the Hebrew Scriptures is the Torah, the first five books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  As we focus on Genesis 3 we will see Jesus like never before as He said He is the only WAY to the Father.  In Genesis 3 we will see the GOSPEL as God inspired Moses to write it - the Gospel According to Moses. 

Here's a link to a website that helps with understanding Hebrew words like יום - YOM - click here to understand the word YOM

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

The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis - Lesson 9 Gen. 1:20, 27 and Gen. 2:7 Are Animals and Man the Same?

God creates whales and seals and sharks and lobsters and walleye and catfish and cows and dogs and lions and tigers and pigs ... He creates all the "living creatures."  In Hebrew the word is נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  But, God also "forms" man and man is called נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  Are animals and man the same?  Today some say this is the case.  Today some say animals have the same rights as humans since animals and humans are the same.  How can this be?  Moreover, Jewish and Christian translators translate נֶפֶשׁ nephesh as soul!  For example in Deut. 6:5 it says we are to love God with are whole heart and soul or נֶפֶשׁ nephesh.  So, the Bible in English could be used to justify the crazy world view that animals and humans are the same.  They are living creatures and they have souls!  How does God distinguish man from the animals?  Is there something we are missing?  You bet.

Another thing we will study in lesson 9 is that God uses His Torah as a polemic against Egypt.  Again, a polemic is a strong truth claim attacking an opposing truth claim.  God is inspiring Moses to write a polemic against Egypt.  An example is in Egypt there is a god called Khum.  He is a creator god and in one of the creation stories in ancient Egypt, Khum is called the POTTER in that Khum formed all creation, stars, planets, sky, the earth, the oceans, and all animals and plants and man and woman and all the gods on his potter wheel.  Here is an article about the Egyptian god Khum you may be interested in as an addition to your study - click here for the article  But the Bible says that the God of the Bible is the potter and we are the clay.  

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isa 64:8)

How does God come against Khum?  How does God inspire Moses to help the Hebrews coming out of Egypt see that Khum is not the potter, not the creator, and a false god?  

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

 

The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis - Lesson 8 Gen. 2:3

We will continue with the verse Gen. 2:3.  The Hebrew - not the English - suggests that God stopped creating works that were still yet to be done!  This is too awesome since this implies that we, made in His image, are to go and work just like Him.  It suggests right from the "get go" we were created for a purpose.  It seems clear also that this implies Jesus as well.  He said that He is doing the works given to Him by the Father.  He tells those listening to Him then in John 5 that He will even do greater works than what they just saw (He had just healed a man lam for 39 years).  On top of that Jesus tells us on the night before He died in John 14 that if we are His true talmideem - His true disciples - that the works the Father gave Him Jesus gives to us and we also will even do "greater works."  It is as if Gen. 2:3 is God's first prediction of the good news coming in the future.  Now the verse Eph. 2:8-10 makes sense.  Yes!  We are saved by grace but at the same time we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus (that means we the ones called by His name, we are the ones who state that Jesus is our Lord, our Savior, God, we are His true disciples) for GOOD WORKS created BEFORE HAND!!  This is an amazing connection of Eph. 2:8-10 to the Torah.  But, why should it surprise us.  When Paul wrote the letter to Ephesus the only Bible they had was the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament.  

This lesson will also address the Documentary Hypothesis - a theory that states that Moses never wrote the Torah.  We will study this anti-Bible theory and show that it is false.  It comes against Jesus' own words when Jesus states clearly many times that the Torah is of Moses or the Torah are the "books of Moses."  Below is a link to a deep scholarly article from the Associates for Biblical Research that shows the Documentary Hypothesis is wrong and should be buried forever.   Here's the link ... click here to access the article

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

The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis - Lesson 7 Gen. 2:1-3

God does something so very interesting.  First, God is out side of time.  Time only is created when we have the sun and the moon.  So, there is no time before the creation.  And in Genesis 2:1-3 we see that God makes time kadosh קָדוֹשׁ - which is translated as holy.  From the Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon we find that kadosh means to be set apart, to be set aside, to separate as special, to be distinct.  Time is the first thing that God makes kadosh or set apart.  Pagans make statues holy.  Pagans make trees or animals holy.  Pagans make buildings holy.  Yet, the one God, the only God, He makes time uniquely special.  One day per week there is a 24 hour period that we enter into that is special and unique.  Why?

More than that we read in English that God rested.  Rested?  God needs a nap?  God needs to kick back and "take a load off?"   Huh??  Did God rest in the 7th day?  Later in Exodus does He also command us to rest on the 7th day, to lay back, to take a nap?  The answer is NO!!  Absolutely not.  

Curious?  Come join us in lesson 7 and reconnect to those ancient days and to the Hebrew of the Torah and come and learn the Gospel written by Moses under the inspiration of Adonai.  

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

The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis - Lesson 5 Gen. 1:1-2

In lesson 5 we focus again on the critical verses in Genesis chapter 1.  In this session we will address the concept of God creating everything through His word; creating everything by simply saying let it be and it was - out of nothing - EX NIHILO.  And, in addition, this lesson will introduce the idea that to understand the Torah we need to understand ancient Egypt of the 18 Dynasty at the time of the Exodus.  The Hebrews likely have assimilated into the Egyptian culture and, for the most part, do not know the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.  So how does God take Egypt out of the Hebrews?  This concept is called "polemic theology" where a polemic is a concept that is diametrically opposed to a competing concept.  In this case who is God?  Is it Amun-Ra, the supreme pagan false god of Egypt in 1446 B.C. or is it Adonai Eloheem, the Lord God of the Bible?  How would the true God teach the they mythology of Egypt is false and incorrect using Genesis 1:1-2?  

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