Tag: Genesis

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 23:1–25:18: A time to rebel and a time to trust

"Different is Great" Vector art by Gabriella Fabbri/Freeimages.com

God put a degree of rebelliousness in all of us because sometimes we have to have a rebellious spirit. When the culture around us, whether it’s in our own family or our national culture, is wicked and evil, we have to have the fortitude to rebel against that and stand firm in living the way that is right.

The name of the Torah portion חיי שרה Chayei Sarah means “life of Sarah,” but it starts with the matriarch’s death. We see how Abraham works hard to find a final resting place for her, but her death had a huge impact on Yitzkhak (Isaac) as well, affecting him for years. Her death also played a larger than life role in how Abraham’s most trusted servant, Eliazer of Damascus, set out to find a suitable wife for Yitzkhak to carry out Abraham’s legacy.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 18–22: Open your eyes when God ‘shows up’

Banner photo by Adam Jacksons/Freeimages.com.

God “shows up” all over the place in events recorded in the Bible and today, but He is not passive. Rather, the LORD is active in Earth’s affairs. 

A pattern of behavior we see in the Torah reading וַיֵּרָא Vayera (“and He appeared”) is that when people are in “fight or flight” mode, they usually make very poor decisions. Lot’s “bright idea” to give his daughters to protect his guests from a vile mob, Lot’s daughter’s “bright idea” to get pregnant by their father a mere few days after they escaped from Sodom’s flames, and later Abraham and Sarah’s decision to lie to Abimelech about the extent of their kinship, all these poor decision had consequences. 

We will see through the testimony of the words of God the interplay between the promised one, Yitskhak (Isaac), and the one born only through the flesh, Yishma’el (Ishmael).

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 6:9–11:32: Our salvation floats on a real Flood

A Full scale model of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands. According to wikipedia, "It is 137 meters (450 ft) long and carried on a platform made up of 25 LASH barges, this is the only full-scale Ark interpretation that is actually floating and mobile." Photo by Ceinturion from wikipedia commons.

The Flood recorded in the book of Genesis is one of the most pivotal events in the Bible. But did it happen, or is it just an allegory to teach a spiritual truth? This discussion of the Torah reading נֹחַ Noach/Noakh (“Noah,” Genesis 6:9-11:32), illustrates how the account is real history as well as real revelation of spiritual truth. 

Modern DNA studies supports the Bible’s record of a literal Noakh, his literal sons and daughters-in-law and a literal worldwide Flood. Even though Noach was “righteous in his generation,” he was not perfect. He wasn’t saved because he was perfect. He was saved because he had faith in God — faith put into action.

Noakh’s clinged to God’s words, but his generation refused to follow him into the Ark and to receive salvation. That’s why Yeshua talked about the “days of Noah” being just like His second coming (Luke 17:25–27; Matthew 24:37–38; Isaiah 54:8–10).

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 44:18–47:27: Yosef foreshadows Yeshua’s grace

"Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers (Gen. 45:1-24)" by Gustave Doré, 1866
Gustave Doré (1832-1883), "Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers (Gen. 45:1-24)," Doré's English Bible, wood engraving, Wikimedia Commons, 1866.

Aesop’s ancient saying “familiarity breeds contempt” could easily sum up how Yosef’s brothers treated him in his early years and how many leaders of Yisra’el treated Yeshua. The prophetic parallels between Yosef and Yeshua the Mashiakh sharpen further in the Torah section Vayigash (“he approached”).

In it, the brothers’ contempt turns to fear when they realize their plots against Yosef have put them at his mercy. It’s also a picture of the Day of the LORD, when Yisra’el then the world must confess, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the LORD.”

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 41:1-44:17: Yitzkhak’s and Yosef’s extended passion play

"Joseph, Overseer of Pharaoh's Granaries" by Sir Lawrence Ima-Tadema, 1874
Sir Lawrence lma-Tadema (Dutch/British, 1836–1912). "Joseph, Overseer of Pharaoh’s Granaries," Oil on panel, Wikipedia Commons, 1874.

Torah section Miketz (“from the end,” Genesis 41:1-44:17) is a passion play of the Mashiakh. The suffering Yosef puts his brothers through was not only a recollection of Yosef’s own sufferings but also a foreshadowing of the suffering of the future Anointed One.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 32:4–36:43: Face up to your past, so Mashiakh can purge it

"Jacob Wrestling With the Angel" by Rembrant
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, "Jacob Wrestling With the Angel," Wikimedia Commons, c. 1659

Ya’akov meets with Eysau and becomes one again with his family. From there, Ya’akov’s family has to clean out the wickedness from their household. As we see in Torah section Vayishlach (“and he sent,” Genesis 32:4–36:43), there’s messianic symbolism of the “son forever.” It points to God’s Son, the Mashiakh Yeshua, Who died in sorrow but was resurrected and sits at God’s right hand forever.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 28:10–32:2: Underestimating the strength of the ‘weak’

"Jacob's Dream" by William Blake, c. 1805
William Blake, "Jacob's Dream," Wikimedia Commons , c. 1805

When the righteous look like they are going to be beaten and overcome by evil, watch out. In the Torah passage Vayetze (“he went out,” Genesis 28:10-32:2), we encounter Ya’akov’s fleeing Eysau’s death threat to Laban’s house then fleeing death threats of his brothers-in-law. Truly, the party who appears to be weaker actually is stronger. Although we are surrounded by those who will call us fools because we believe in God, we will witness our vindication, just as Ya’akov did, if we are patient.