Category: Torah

Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11: What’s on God’s heart is to be on ours

Post author By Daniel
Post date August 20, 2016
No Comments on Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11: What’s on God’s heart is to be on ours

Photo Credit: Heart in my Hands by Freeimages.com/Chelsee Tysoe. Creative Commons License.

This week’s Torah reading, ואתחנן Va’etchanan (“and I pleaded,” Deut. 3:23-7:11), includes the beginning of Moshe’s elucidation. Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell to the people of Israel.

This section in particular focuses on how to love God, what is idolatry and how to avoid idolatry. We don’t make statues and bow to them but we still struggle with idolatry in our own day. How? We worship our stuff, the works of men. We create a lot of things, most of them don’t honor to God.

Moses has seen the people backslide over and over again for the past 40 years and he knows human nature enough that this pattern is not going to end. He knows they will do things they should not do, because they are humans and they do what humans do. This book offers both hope and warning.

Tags Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 03, Deuteronomy 04, Deuteronomy 05, Deuteronomy 06, Deuteronomy 07, eternal life, First Commandment, Parashat Ve'etchanan, salvation, The Shema - Hear O Israel

Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 1:1–3:20: Why are we here? Finding God’s purpose for you

Post author By Jeff
Post date August 13, 2016
No Comments on Deuteronomy 1:1–3:20: Why are we here? Finding God’s purpose for you

When God speaks to you, the time to respond is NOW! (Photo by Richard Dudley/Freeimages.com under Creative Commons License).

The roller-coaster ride of ancient Israel through trust in the LORD, apathy and rebellion mirrors our the turmoil that swirls around our daily lives. This week’s Torah reading, דברים Devarim (“words,” Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22), starts a “second telling” — deuteronomy in Greek — to the post-Exodus generation of why Israel exists and what its mission is.

Tags debarim/devarim - words - Strong's H1697, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 01, Deuteronomy 02, Deuteronomy 03, Parashat Devarim

Anger Discussions Torah

Numbers 30–36: ‘Be angry, and yet do not sin’

Post author By Daniel
Post date August 6, 2016
No Comments on Numbers 30–36: ‘Be angry, and yet do not sin’

"Four men, perhaps farmers, make angry gestures while holding an axe, rifle, pitchfork and stick. They typify the traditional Western concept of an angry rural mob protesting something with the threat of violence." Photo by Robert Couse-Baker via Creative Commons License.

The men of Midian used their wives to seduce the Israelites. In the dual Torah readings מטות Matot and מסעי Massei, we learn that Midian did this under the belief that they had to conquer Israel for their own long-term survival, for the sake of their sons.

At some point in our lives, we have all unintentionally “murdered” someone in our hearts. If you hate someone, you are guilty. We should repent, but we still have to deal with that murder guilt. That guilt was paid by the High Priest, our High Priest is Yeshua. It is only the death of Yeshua that pays for that sin.

Tags anger, Numbers, Numbers 30, Numbers 31, Numbers 32, Numbers 33, Numbers 34, Numbers 35, Numbers 36, Parashat Massei, Parashat Matot

Discussions Torah

Numbers 25:10–30:1: Losing your first love

Post author By Jeff
Post date July 30, 2016
No Comments on Numbers 25:10–30:1: Losing your first love

A Qashqai nomad tent in Isfahan Province. Photo by Ninara shared via Creative Commons License.

Adultery is seen as no big deal in today’s society. Consider, though, how the hurt person in the relationship feels. That’s why Israel’s running after false gods and treating YHWH with contempt or apathy is compared to adultery many times in Scripture. This kind of unfaithfulness and rebuilding of the relationship between Creator and created is the subtext of the Torah reading פינחס Pinchas (“Phinehas”).

Tags adultery, Baal-Peor, idolatry, Numbers 25, Numbers 26, Numbers 27, Numbers 28, Numbers 29, Parashat Pinchas, Peor, Phineas

Discussions Torah

Numbers 22:1–25:9: Stubborn as a donkey about true prophecy

Post author By Daniel
Post date July 23, 2016
No Comments on Numbers 22:1–25:9: Stubborn as a donkey about true prophecy

Painting "Landscape with Bileam" by Joseph Anton Koch (1768–1839), owned by the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Photo via Wikipedia Commons.

Everyone loves a story about talking animals, especially smart ones. But the account in the Torah reading בָּלָק Balak isn’t just fodder for a fun animated kids’ movie. It’s an important lesson that God wants us to recognize false prophets and not follow them.

Tags 2nd Peter 02, Balak, Balak - devastator or destroyer - Strong's H1111, Bilam/Balaam - Strong's H1109a, Micah 06, Numbers 22, Numbers 23, Numbers 24, Parashat Balak

Discussions Torah

Numbers 19–21: Mystery of the red heifer reveals the work of Messiah

Post author By Jeff
Post date July 16, 2016
No Comments on Numbers 19–21: Mystery of the red heifer reveals the work of Messiah

The Red Heifer was required to be sacrificed on the pit made in the days of Ezra. Underneath this pit was a hollow to protect from a bone in the depth. Photo by Rdusatko via Wikipedia Commons under Creative Commons License.

The Torah reading חֻקַּת‎ Chukat (“statute of”) starts with “the statute (khukat) of the red heifer” and the bronze serpents, which are both symbolic of the role of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).