Author: Daniel

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

What’s seen can’t be unseen: Noah shows us how to keep our humanity in a violent world (Genesis 6–8)

What's seen can't be unseen: Noah shows us how to keep our humanity in a violent world (Genesis 6-8)

This study on Torah section נֹחַ Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32) explores Noah’s flood, its meaning in Jewish tradition and its relevance today. It details how Noah brought an end to the curse on the earth brought about by Adam’s sin, which led to rampant violence in the world. The Flood allowed for the flourishing of agriculture.

We further discuss the impact of violence on society, its use as a tool for self-defense and how humanity has become desensitized to it. Via the prophecy of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) about partying and weddings on the Day of the LORD like what happened before the Flood (Luke 17:20-37), we can learn to balance our reactions to violence with wisdom and love, and maintain our humanity and compassion despite exposure to violence and evil.

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Discussions

Trumpets: How Heaven is preparing us for the rough days ahead

How the seven trumpets of Revelation are revealed in the Torah and Prophets

The annual Biblical festival of Yom Teruah (“Day of Blowing [Trumpets]” in Hebrew) is Heaven’s call for repentance leading up to Yom Kippur (“Day of Atonement”) and Sukkot (“Tabernacles”). That’s based on the timing of these festivals and the Scripture teachings on the purposes of trumpets: calls to pay attention, be warned or gather.

Drawing from the lessons of Yom Teruah, this study on the seven trumpets in the book of Revelation are a wake-up call, a plea from Heaven to pay attention to the events going around us because the warnings recorded in the Scriptures will be our only warnings of things to come, of judgment of the Earth for what’s been done and left undone. These calls will be our only opportunity to respond accordingly with humility and repentance.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Why God makes such a big deal out of vows and oaths (Numbers 30–36)

Why God makes such a big deal out of vows and oaths (Deuteronomy 30-36). A black bailiff swears in a white woman wearing a white shirt and brown skirt while holding up her right hand and placing her left hand on a Bible. (Image from Adobe Stock Photos)

The Torah double portion מַּטּוֹת מַסְעֵי Matot-Massei (Numbers 30–36) focuses on vows. The theme of this section, echoed by Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) and His apostle Ya’akov (James), is say what you mean and mean what you say.

This is true whether we are engaging with our equals, our leaders or those who are in a more vulnerable and marginalized position in our society. We should also communicate honesty and forthrightly with God, because no idle word will be forgotten by our God. Every comment, every joke, every insult will be noted and accounted in His book.

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Discussions Torah

How you can rise above giant-sized fear (Numbers 13–15)

How you can rise above giant-sized fear (Numbers 13-15). Artwork shows four grotesque giants looming over several grasshoppers, referring to a line in which the 10 "bad report" spies of Israel said they saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to the giants in the land.

How do we see the troubles and difficulties we face each day? From our perspective, limited in knowledge and power, or from the perspective of the One Who made and sustains all things? That can make the difference between living a life paralyzed by fear or moving on courageously, no matter the outcome. This is a key undercurrent of the Torah reading שְׁלַח Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15) and the teachings on faith by Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Unclean skins covering the holy Tabernacle? Pagan name for the LORD? (Numbers 1:1–4:20)

Torah reading Bemidbar Q&A (Numbers 1:1-4:20; Hosea 1:9-2:23)

Why would the Tabernacle be covered with the skin of an unclean animal? Why would God call Himself by the name of a pagan god? Here are answers to such questions from the Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness,” Num. 1:1–4:20).

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

6 lessons from when fire comes from God

The closer we desire to be to God, the more He expects of us — more repentance, more humility, more love and compassion for those He created. We know who God and what He expects of us because of His words, the instructions He has given us to follow.

This is a key lesson from the deaths of two key priests in the Tabernacle from the Torah reading שמיני Shemini (“eighth,” Leviticus 9–11). God has given us counsel and instructions on how we are to conduct ourselves in the world, in our families, in our communities. He also tells us how we are to interact with Him.

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Discussions Torah

‘I will give you rest’: God’s blueprint for His dwelling among humanity (Exodus 35–40; 1Corinthians 3)

"I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; Exodus 33:14): God's blueprint for His dwelling among humanity (Exodus 35-40; 1Corinthians 3)

Every believer is a mobile temple — dwelling place — to God. As we build our trust in Heaven’s Anointed One, Yeshua (Jesus), God will test that foundation from time to time. If we are building our faith with strong materials, the building will remain standing. If we are building our faith with weak materials, the building will fall. That’s a key lesson from the parable of the Tabernacle, brought to a crescendo in Torah reading וַיַּקְהֵל/פְקוּדֵי Vayakel/Pekudei, (“and he assembled”/“accounts,” Exodus 35:1–40:38).