Categories
Discussions Torah

Dwelling in the tents of Shem: Elohim’s Presence brings a blessing to all nations (Genesis 9:18–27)

This study of Genesis 9:18–27 explores the lineage and legacy of Noah’s family, highlighting the historic hallmark of the genetic bottleneck at the Flood and the significance of Shem’s line leading to the Messiah, noted by the cryptic phrase about Elohim — which is God in Hebrew — dwelling in Shem’s tents. This passage delves into the character lessons from Noah’s vineyard, namely the importance of moderation to help us keep control over things that can be both tov and ra (Hebrew for good and bad). Those include not only desires such as wine and food but also how we spend our time. We look at what constitutes a nation and why “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” can never be forgiven. The study emphasizes the hope Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) provides in the resurrection and the importance of pursuing justice, love, mercy and humility before God.

Categories
Discussions Torah

‘Image of God’ and sanctity of life: Noah’s enduring lessons for the world (Genesis 8–9)

The Noachide covenant (Genesis 9:1–17) establishes God’s promise to never again destroy the earth, foreshadowing the fulfillment of the Genesis 3:15 promise to Chavah (Eve). This study explores how that covenant emphasizes the sanctity of life, the prohibition on bloodshed and the command to “swarm” (repopulate) the earth — themes woven throughout the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:18; 22:17; 26:3).

Crucially, the covenant addresses humanity’s יֵצֶר הַרַע‎ yetzer ha-ra (the evil inclination, fallenness). That’s opposed to a common philosophy today that humanity is fundamentally טוֹב tov — Hebrew for good. The antidote is yetzer ha-tov, the good inclination made possible by following the Spirit of God’s guidance in taking captive our thoughts and bringing them into submission to the Heaven’s Word, embodied in Yeshua the Messiah, or Jesus the Christ. The Messiah’s work, foreshadowed by Noah’s ark, reconciles and restores us from our yetzer ha-ra as Heaven plans for humanity to emerge into a “new heavens and a new earth.”

Categories
Discussions Torah

Taming the tide of violence: The Flood as a call to return to the Righteous One (Genesis 8:1–14)

The Flood narrative in Genesis 8:1–14 reveals profound insights into God’s plan for restoring creation. This study explores the historical context, Hebrew language and Messianic connections in a passage that highlights the ongoing battle against evil and the promise of ultimate triumph.

Through a special form of the Hebrew verb for “remember” in Genesis 8:1 and an important shift in the global calendar from the time of the Flood to the Exodus, we gain deeper understanding of what God is doing across time and the role of God’s people in preserving the heritage of the Creator. This rich biblical account inspires hope in the Messiah’s victory and the restoration of all things.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Was Noah really righteous?: Lessons from the Flood for today (Genesis 6–7)

Genesis 6–7 highlights Noah’s righteousness and blamelessness in a corrupt world. Unlike his generation, Noah “walked with God,” demonstrating faith and obedience. His righteousness was not situational but consistent, rooted in his willingness to listen to God’s correction and fulfill His commands. This trust and humility set Noah apart, making him a vessel of God’s mercy and a model of faithfulness. This was a shadow of the coming Agent of Heaven’s mercy: Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).

Categories
Torah readings

Torah reading Noach (נח): Genesis 6:9–11:32

Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus) and His apostle Shimon Kefa (Simon Peter) pointed to “the days of Noah” as important for believers to fully understand to be prepared for life now and for the “coming of the Son of Man.” This week’s Torah section, נֹחַ Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32), helps us catch the meaning of the enigmatic phrase “one taken and the other left” (Matt. 24:40-41; Luke 17:34-35).

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Why ‘living water’ is better than water that destroys (Isaiah 54; Genesis 6–9; 2Peter 3)

Do you want to be like one who was “taken” in the Flood, washed away (Isa. 54:9–11)? Or do you want to be “left behind” to experience the “living water” pictured as flowing from God’s throne into all the world on the Day of the LORD (Ezek. 47:9, 11–12; Rev. 22:1–2)? 

We are living the time of the second exile — after the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) and after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. The Torah reading נֹחַ Noach (Genesis 6:9–11:32) teaches us to see Heaven’s elephant in our room while we have the time to change.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Messiah: Door to the ark of salvation (Genesis 6–7; Matthew 24)

Just as there was one door to Noach’s ark and the salvation it offered from the waters of the flood, there is only one Door to salvation to save us from the eternal destruction of wickedness that will come at the final judgement.

From the Torah passage נֹחַ Noach (Gen. 6:9–11:32), we see how its main figure tried to warn his generation of the trouble that laid ahead for the earth.

Similarly, Yeshua (Jesus) did the same in His generation, and He has called each generation of His followers to warn their generation of the coming “time of trouble.”

As the proverb says, history may not repeat itself, but it rhymes. And studying the history of the world from the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) is how we can know what will happen, even if we don’t understand exactly when these things will happen.