LIGHT OF MENORAH

Genesis - 66 - Gen. 27:1-28:9 and 36:1-5,12 - ANTI ISRAEL, ANTI TORAH, AND ANTI CHRIST

We continue our study about Esau (E SAV in Hebrew) and Edom, means red, which becomes Esav’s nickname.  He is father of the Edomites, the red people, and a clan of the Edomites called the Amalekites.  We will continue our study to see how Esav and his hatred for his brother Jacob carries throughout the history of Israel; it carries even into Jesus’ day in surprising ways.  It even carries to the book of Revelation and you can add to your study by accessing this vidcast - Torah Nugget #15 on the feast of Purim (H6332 Pooreem פּוּרִים  lots (as by means of a broken piece) – casting lots).  This amazing study connects Esau and Edom to the Great RED Dragon in Revelation 11.  Here's the link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-15-vidcast-purim-not-by-chance-but-by-design/?token=bde2fde2d0c848fcba88d12d1f3354df

I mentioned in this podcast to watch video #9 in the video Bible study series, “Five Small Stones.”  I actually urge you to watch all 11 videos – they are only 5 minutes in length barring the opening and end.  Here’s the link to all 11 episodes and the one you want to watch is #9 – here’s the link -  https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=five+small

Here's a link to an article on the Edomites.  I think this will only add to your understanding and knowledge.  Here’s the link - https://www.gotquestions.org/Edom-in-the-Bible.html

 

Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret? 

(Ferret ... on the Baja of Mexico teaching at the Bible Institute)

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

 

Exodus - 38 part 2 - Exod, 13:1-21 - The Written Word, the Living Word, the Cross

This is lesson 38 part 2.  In Exod. 13:1-21 we find certain Jewish traditions that come out of these verses.  One is related to the verses below.

"And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.” (Exo 13:9)

"So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt." (Exo 13:16)

"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” (Deu 6:8)

"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” (Deu 11:18)

From these verses comes the use of תְּפִילִּין TEFILLIN or the boxes with straps that are used in Jewish prayer.  Ancient tefillin were found in the Qumran area on the northeast shores of the Dead Sea.  They are dated to Jesus’ day.  So, the use of tefillin certainly go back to Jesus’ day; we have archaeological proof.  Thus, it is likely that Jesus wore them as a Jewish sage (rabbi).  He is never accused in the Gospels of NOT using them.  It is clear Jesus wore the four tassels (ציציות tzeetzeeot) on the corners of His garment since this is what the woman who had a bleeding disease for 12 years actually touched as was healed.  Jesus was doing what religious Jewish men did then; they wore the tassels and used the tefillin. 

The second tradition comes from the verses below. 

"You shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' “ (Exo 13:8)

"And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' then you shall say to him, 'With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.” (Exo 13:14)

"And when your children say to you, 'What does this rite mean to you?' you shall say, 'It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'" (Exo 12:26-27)

"When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand.” (Deu 6:20-21)

The old tradition is the part in a modern Jewish Seder where a child of the family asks the four questions as related to the verses above.  The four questions are shown below.

• Question 1: Why on all other nights do we eat either leavened bread or matza, but on this night only matza?
• Question 2: Why on all other nights do we eat different types of vegetables, but on this night only bitter herbs?
• Question 3: Why on all other nights do we not dip our food once, but on this night we dip it twice?
• Question 4: Why on all nights do we eat either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we recline?

It is said that each question was asked by a certain type of child. 

• The Wise Son: “What are the testimonies, the statutes, and the laws that G‑d, our G‑d, has commanded to you?”
• The Wicked Son: "What is this service of yours?!"
• The Simple Son: “What is this celebration about?”
• The One Who Doesn't Know How to Ask: "As for The One Who Knows Not How To Ask — you must open up [the conversation] for him."

The main point in all this is the Exodus is the key Biblical event establishing the Jewish people, Israel as a nation, and Judaism.  It only happened once and will never happen again.  It even changed their calendar - the month of Nissan, the month f Passover, is the first month of the year and Nissan 1 is God's New Year.

God had engineered history and orchestrated all these events and He wants His people never to forget.  So the use of tefillin is a tool to help remember.  And the tradition of the use of the four questions in the Seder is to teach the next generation so that they too will never forget.

What does all this have to do with Jesus?  How does this relate to our experience as Christians in the 21^st century?  In this lesson we will see the amazing and awesome connections to Jesus.  He said that salvation is from the Jews.  The Exodus was a God orchestrated event not to rescue slaves, or to give freedom to Israel.  No.  It was an event marking a new era with a new people who are given a new task.  In Isa. 42:6 and 49:6 they, Israel, are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD to bring the salvation (Jesus’ name – Yeshua H3444 יְשׁוּעָה ) of God to the “ends of the earth.”  On top of that He took bread (unleavened?) at His Passover Meal of the Messiah (the Last Supper) and said it was Him, His body.  This takes us right to Exodus 13 and this chapter takes us to the CROSS - a one time event that will never happen again and it too changed our calendar.  You won’t believe how these lessons are proof of Jesus’ words in John 5:39 that all scripture testifies of Him.  He said it between 24-30 A.D. and all they had was the Hebrew Bible.  Again His words are true to them then and to us now.

If you missed lesson 38 part 1 check it out.  Here's the link - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fuv7b-11e242c

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - teaching at the ancient city of Gezer in the Shefelah (sha-fay-lah) in Israel)

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 65 - Gen. 27:1-28:9 and 36:1-5,12 - "I will kill Jacob" - Esau & Edom & Jacob & Messiah

In lesson 65 we again turn our attention to Jacob’s brother Esau.  His name (עֵשָׂו H6215 pronounced EE SAV) in Hebrew means rough or hairy from the Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon.  When Esav is born it says …

When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau.

(Gen 25:24-25)

 

So Jacob’s brother was born "esav" and "edom" or hairy and red.  It’s like Edom, red, becomes Esav’s nickname.  Esav is said to be the father of the Edomites, the red people, coming from the fact that Esav was probably was a hairy baby covered with red hair.

In this lesson we will begin to see how Esav and his hatred for his brother Jacob carries throughout the history of Israel; it carries even into Jesus’ day in surprising ways.  Of course we missed it since we are so disconnected from our Jewish roots and we read the Bible in English and don’t understand the Hebrew or Greek.  Also, few teach the Bible in its historical context.  Once we reconnect the word to its historical context the Lord enriches and expands our understanding that is deeply meaningful.

In this podcast I mentioned that I’d provide a link to an article on the Edomites.  I think this will only add to your understanding and knowledge.  Here’s the link - https://www.gotquestions.org/Edom-in-the-Bible.html

 

A second link is to the vidcast on the feast of Purim (H6332 Pooreem פּוּרִים  lots (as by means of a broken piece) – casting lots).  In this video Bible study we will discover awesome connections to Jacob and Esau and the Edomites and the Amalekites but also to Jesus and perhaps even the end times and the Day of the Lord.  Here's the link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-15-vidcast-purim-not-by-chance-but-by-design/?token=bde2fde2d0c848fcba88d12d1f3354df

Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret? 

(Ferret on a boat on the Sea of Galilee)

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

Exodus - 38 part 1 - Exod, 13:1-21 - The Written Word and the Living Word and the Bread of Life

In lesson 38 we focus on Exod. 13:1-21.  There are amazing connections to this chapter and to Yeshua, His death, and the new life He provides through the cross.  In this session we focus on the first born of Israel, animals and men.  All belong to the Lord.  All first born male animals must be sacrificed but all the first born human males, except for Levities, are redeemed; a price is paid of 5 shekels.  The key word is redeemed.  How might this relate to Jesus.  On one hand He is human, and the first born son of Mary.  On the other hand He is God, He is Divine and He is the only first born begotten son of the Father and is the Lamb of God.  But all male first born lambs must be sacrificed.  Hmmm, yes, the Lamb of God is sacrificed.  Seems to be connected to all this.

We will also study UNLEAVENDED BREAD again.  But this time the Torah gives us a picture.  The UNLEAVENED BREAD is a picture of the Torah of the Lord, the Written Word.  The Written Word is the Bread of Life.  But I thought Jesus is the Living Word.  He said He is is the Bread of Life.  Huh?  How can this be?  Is Jesus the Written Word and the Living Word?  Are they the same?  Are they different?  Did Jesus erase the Written Word?  How is this all related to the Cross?  You won’t believe this once you get into this. Come and study with us and go deeper in your understanding of the Passover and the Great Redemption of the Lord, יהוה, Yahvay (not Yahway - there is no W sound in Hebrew!!). 

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret on the top of the acropolis at Pergamum in Bergama Turkey)

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

 

Genesis - 64 - Gen. 26:1-35 - DO THE UNLAWFUL TO PREVENT THE UNSPEAKABLE

Some of the great Bible characters lied through their teeth!  Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, David, Rahab all lied.  And yet the Bible is silent about their SIN.  God said to lie is a sin and He said it twice - once in the Ten Commandments as it relates to judicial matters to "not be a false witness" and a second time where the Lord says it precisely ... 

Lev 19:11  "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another."

God does not condemn them for their obvious breaking God's command.  You have to ask what is going on?  Is there something we are not seeing?

Consider the real stories of Christians during WWII who lied to the Nazis to protect Jews they were hiding.  Corrie Ten Bloom is one of them.  She and her family lied, they saved 100's of innocent Jewish people, and she became a celebrated "righteous Gentile" among the Jewish people.  She is honored among many other Gentiles, like Oscar Schindler, who did brave and heroic things to save 1000's of Jewish people from the gas chambers and death.  

Corrie, in her book, "The Hiding Place," relates the events of her and her family rescuing Jews.  She also shares how troubled she was that in order to save the Jews she had to LIE.  She had to commit a sin.  This was something that bothered her deeply. 

But, in the Bible many Bible characters lie.  We read in the Bible that God never calls them on the carpet.  He never brings up that they broke His Torah command not to lie.  Why?  What is going on?  Perhaps there is something more that God is showing us.  Is God saying that deceptive words are not a lie if the words that mislead are done for good and not evil?  Is God saying that if one deceives with words for evil intent then that is a lie?  Is God saying a lie is not words that are simply deceptive but it relates to the intent, the purpose?  Is God saying that one can DO THE UNLAWFUL TO PREVENT THE UNSPEAKABLE?  Needless to say this is a challenging question.    

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - at Tel Gath - the home city of Goliath)

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 Video - WHY LISTEN TO LIGHT OF MENORAH??

This is a special video to answer the question, "Why should I listen to the podcasts and videos created by Light of Menorah Ministries?"  This video reviews who and what Light of Menorah is.  And, God willing, you'll join our Bible study community trying to be real disciples of Adonai Yeshua by being Bible literate which means not just reading the Bible but continually being in Bible study.  

In the video for those that have never listened to a Light of Menorah podcast or watched one of the videos, Rev. Ferret mentioned to 1st timers to listen to ...

Genesis Lesson 5 (Special) - 

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genesis-5-special-gen-11-2-polemic-theology-from-chaos-to-order/

Five Small Stones Lesson 10 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-10-genesis-to-revelation-rev-2213/

Email us if you want to be on our email list.  Email - LOM.ministries@gmail.com

Rev. John Ferret - our teacher and guide. 

Here's a link to his qualifications to give you an understanding of his background and training and experience - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Genesis - 63 - Gen. 25:29 - 26:7 - WHAT’S WRONG WITH ESAU?

Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. One was chosen by the Lord to be the child of promise.  This happened again.  Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob.  The Lord has already chosen Jacob and not Esau.  It seems that Esau and his natural born character did not qualify him to be the one through whom the promises made to Abraham for the entire world would be given.  It was Jacob.  In the events of their lives we begin to see this – the Lord seems to want us to see the boys and their character.  Jacob, the 2^nd born and not the 1^st born, was the one. 

One event so many of us recall is when Jacob was cooking the red delicious stew and Esau comes back from some adventure in the wild.  But, there is something we don’t see – God inspires Moses to use a chiasm in the telling of the tale.  If we don’t know what a chiasm is we miss the expanded ideas that the Lord is trying to teach us.  The chiastic structure is used by the Lord to make a very clear and specific point.  It is the crux of the entire matter of Esau and Jacob and why the Lord picked Jacob. 

Links to articles and videos to learn about CHIASTIC LITERARY STRUCTURES:

Great website to learn the basics of chiastic structures -

https://www.bible-discernments.com/joshua/whatisachiasm.html

A website that contains many examples of chiasms -

https://www.chiasmusxchange.com/explanatory-notes/

A short video discussing chiams - well done and good "picture" description -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn2pIkmOKpY

Link to the Light of Menorah video entitled “The Mirror of Passover.”  The video addresses CHIASMS at 28 minutes 5 seconds.

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2zqcj-11e731b

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - on the Pergamum acropolis in Turkey)

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

TRUTH NUGGETS 19 part 2 - Against the Gods - Genesis 1:21 Great Sea Dragons

TRUTH NUGGETS 19 Part 2

Against the Gods - Genesis 1:21 Great Sea Dragons

In this video lesson 2 we focus on Gen. 1:21.  What did God create; great sea creatures or were they whales or big fish or, as found in one Jewish translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament) were they were crocodiles?  Our translators had difficulty with this verse since in Hebrew the actual meaning is great sea monsters!  This sounds like a children's story rather than God's word.  So, our translators may have decided it had to make sense for us today in the 21st century.  I mean guys, I haven't see any sea monsters lately.  

But, for the Hebrews, they had lived in Egypt and lived with man-made visions of the gods.  One god is a ram another is a jackal and another a falcon.  And God is taking them to Canaan, the "Promised Land," where the Canaanites also had gods that were clearly figments of man's imagination.  So, the phrase in Gen. 1:21 of great sea monsters might mean something to the Hebrews.  Perhaps God is teaching them something that relates only to what the Hebrews faced 3400 years ago.  Perhaps He is using a pagan god or a pagan mythological beast to teach His people.  God knows there are no sea monsters.  But the pagans did!  Perhaps even the Hebrews fell victim to such beliefs.  He needs to prepare His people for entering Canaan and be ready to bring the "Gospel of the Kingdom" to the Canaanites and later the world and to help the Canaanites to understand "there ain't no sea monsters" and to grasp truth and who is God. For Israel this was their mission as we see in ...

He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant (in Jesus' day it was understood that Israel was the servant) To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation (Jesus' name in Hebrew means salvation) may reach to the end of the earth."  (Isa 49:6)

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

 

Truth Nuggets 19 part 1 - Gen. 1:1-2 AGAINST ALL THE GODS

TRUTH NUGGETS 19 part 1

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

Genesis - 62 - Gen. 25:19-34 Jacob - the Prodigal Son??

Esau is not the man for the job.  Yes, he is the first born.  But, just because he is the first born, theבְּכוֹר Bekor H1060, he has tasks and responsibilities even before his dad passes away.  He becomes a teammate with his dad.  They together work to help the family with all its needs, they stand together to protect the family, they make sure all are safe and healthy, and the first born and the dad do all they can to make sure the family stays together.  Esau, however, is seemingly focused only on hunting, the outdoors, adventure, fun, and not the day to day family business.  It must’ve been a big job to stay home and take care of the massive holdings that Isaac was blessed with as we read.

Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. (Gen 26:12-14)

In this lesson we will delve into this more.  I bring up Ken Baily’s book, “Jacob and the Prodigal.”  Ken is an awesome Biblical scholar with many books and articles he has written.  One I highly recommend is, “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels.”  Bailey examines the life and ministry of Jesus with attention to the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, Jesus' relationship to women, and especially Jesus' parables. Through it all, Bailey employs his trademark expertise as a master of Middle Eastern culture to lead us into a deeper understanding of the person and significance of Jesus within his own cultural context.

But, in his book, “Jacob and the Prodigal,” he shows us amazing connections between the parable of Jesus and the story involving Jacob and Esau.  For example, here are 15 connections between these two.

• In both stories there are three major players: a father and two sons
• The blessing/inheritance is a critical part of both stories.
• In both stories the younger son seeks advantages from the father using dishonorable methods and succeeds
• In both stories the younger son is estranged from both the father and the older brother.
• In both stories the younger son goes to a far country.
• The older son remains at home in both stories.
• The younger son becomes a herder in the far country in both stories.
• In both stories the younger son decides to return home, but is afraid of how he will be received.
• Both younger sons show no remorse.
• In both stories there is a divine visitation – the man who wrestles with Jacob and the father who symbolizes God.
• In both stories the younger son receives the three-fold welcome of running, falling on the neck and kissing (In all of scripture this trilogy only appears in Gen 33:4 and Luke 15:20!)
• In both stories the older brother is angry about the return of the younger.
• In both stories the younger son is reconciled to the family.
• In both stories there is a concern that the younger son return in peace (Gen 28:21; Lk 15:27)
• Each story is critical for the community that remembers and tells the story.

For us we will consider this parable and other sources to study two major concepts.  The first is the first born, or the Bekor, and the Bet Av, the house of the father.  One great resource is Ray Vander Laan's  lessons from Israel and the Middle East.  Here is a "free" video where Ray focuses on the concept of the Bet Av - the father's house (pronounced bate av).  Here's the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm7S101cyJM

As we study these we will gain a deeper and more expansive understanding of the Jacob and Esau story.  We will perhaps even gain a deeper appreciation of why Rebecca did what she did to have Jacob deceive Isaac to get the blessing of the first born. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - in Timnah Park just north of Eilat Israel)

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