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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Got enough faith to be free?: Lessons from ancient Israel’s and the apostles’ sea crossings (Exodus 14–15; Matthew 8; John 6–7)

Ancient Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea while being pursued by the army of then-superpower Mitzraim (Egypt), recorded in Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent” or “after he had let go,” Exodus 13:17–17:16), is a key example of God’s supremacy over worldly powers. This study explores a parallel between Heaven’s mastery over that sea and the mastery of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) over the tempestuous waters of the Sea of Galilee. We investigate how ancient Israel and Yeshua’s apostles were prepared for trusting in God when all seems hopeless, and how this spiritual discipline trains us for the massive and mundane struggles we face today.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Bondage-breaking power of the Bread from Heaven and Living Water (Exodus 15–17; John 6; 1Corinthians 10; Hebrews 3–4)

When we look at the Torah reading בְּשַׁלַּח Beshalach (“when he sent” or “after he had let go,” Ex. 13:17–17:16), we need to ask ourselves five big questions: Is God with us? Are we really free? Where are we going? How will we get our “daily bread”? Where will we find “living water”?

And via a number of parallel passages in the Prophets, Writings and Apostolic Scriptures, we learn that the answer to all those questions is Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Got knocked down? You can get up again (Deuteronomy 32–34)

The Torah does not end on a high note, but on a solemn one. The final dual reading — הַאֲזִינוּ Ha’azinu (“listen,” Deuteronomy 32) and וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה Vezot Haberachah (“and this is the blessing,” Deuteronomy 33–34) — is written so that when the descendants of Israel eventually hit rock bottom, they would see the way back home.

This restoration only is possible by the perfect Atonement offering — the Mashiakh (Christ). This is why we read through the entire Torah over the course of the year and put into practice those things that apply to us.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Are you hungry for God? Or are you bored? (Numbers 11; John 6)

We find in the Torah reading בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha an interesting juxtaposition of the elders who were picked to be the LORD’s hands and mouth helping Moshe (Moses) in Israel vs. those who wanted to stuff their mouths with the flesh of Mitzraim (Egypt). The latter were “greedy” for “meat” and not the manna bread that came down from Heaven. Yet God provided those ungrateful complainers both.

his account helps reveal the important point behind the controversially cryptic words of Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) in John 6: “eat My flesh” and “drink My blood.”