Author: Daniel

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Discussions Torah

God, why does this keep happening to me? Mercy in the test retake (Exodus 13:17–17:16)

God, why does this keep happening to me? Mercy in the test retake (Exodus 13:17-17:16)

Why do the same challenges or problems keep hitting us again and again? Among the lessons from the Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent,” Exodus 13:17-17:16) is that ancient Israel kept getting and kept failing faith tests in the journey out of the house of bondage in Mitzraim (Egypt) and toward Sinai and the Promised Land.

While repeated testing suggests more maturity is needed as an heir of the Kingdom, it’s also part of the name (reputation) of the Holy One (Exodus 34:6-7)

God is being kind to you — showing favor and mercy — by allowing you to retake the test. Rather than being mad at God for a repeat of a test, we should be grateful for another opportunity to improve.

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Discussions Torah

How the plagues of Egypt reveal the Messiah (Exodus 6:2–9:35)

Messiah is revealed in Egypt's plagues (Exodus 6:2-9:35)

Yeshua (Jesus) said that all the Scriptures tell us about Him. With this in mind, let’s go through each of the plages in the Torah reading וארא Va’era (“I appeared,” Exodus 6:2–9:35) learn how plagues God inflicted on Egypt had parallels in the life and teachings of Yeshua Himself.

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Discussions Torah

Why character of Israel’s 12 tribes matters for the ‘end of days’ (Genesis 49)

When some learn about the connection between the 12 tribes of Israel and the “end of days,” they can obsess over finding out their modern identities and whether one is part of said tribe. Yet a more important lesson from the blessings for the 12 sons of Israel in the Torah passage ויחי Vayechi (“he lived,” Gen. 47:28–50:26) is the character of each of the peoples that are the sons’ legacy.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Reconcile by your actions, not just words (Genesis 32–33; Obadiah; Matthew 5)

“Love is a verb.” That couldn’t be truer than in the Hebrew of the Bible. And we see that lived out in Jacob’s heartfelt and wallet-open reconciliation with his brother, Esau, as recorded in the Torah section וישלח Vayishlach (“he sent,” Genesis 32:3–36:43). This study will explore the parallels with the teachings on reconciliation by Yeshua (Jesus) in the Sermon on the Mount and the prophetic warnings about unforgiveness that echo down to the Day of the LORD in Revelation 18.

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Discussions Torah

How self-inflicted wounds frustrate our future: Esau (Genesis 25:19–28:9)

Esau was not the innocent victim of his brother Jacob’s conspiracy we read about in the Torah reading תולדות Toldot (“generations,” Genesis 25:19–28:9). We learn through the companion passage in Malachi 1 that Esau knew that he didn’t value his birthright or his blessing from his father, Isaac, the legacy of faith in God passed down from Abraham. God separated Jacob and Esau for very good reasons. And God will take care of your future — if you follow Him faithfully.

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Discussions Torah

How the righteous can preserve a wayward nation (Genesis 18–22)

How the righteous can preserve a wayward nation (Genesis 18-22)

Does God judge the nations based on what they don’t know? The Torah reading וירא Vayera (“he appeared,” Genesis 18-22) illustrates through Abraham’s dealings with Sodom-Gomorrah and Philistia that Heaven judges the Gentiles by their conduct, specifically on how they take care of other people, aka the Golden Rule.

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Discussions Torah

5 similarities between Noach (Noah) and Mashiach (Messiah)

5 similarities between Noah and Messiah: Genesis 6:9–11:32

Though separated by roughly 4,000 years, the “preacher of righteousness” who led his family to “rest” through the Flood foreshadowed the Righteous One Who would bring rest to the world. Here are several reasons why the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.