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Discussions Torah

Genesis 32:3–36:43: Peace on Earth depends on a transformed you

The LORD sends us into the world to be His ambassadors and part of the kingdom of priests. Will we go? How will we face challenges of our own making or ones that are out of our control? There will be times when we reap the consequences of our behavior and times we are victims of injustice inflicted on us. In scenarios, we need to look to the only one who can give us wisdom to react to those situations. That’s one lesson threaded through the Torah reading וישלח Vayishlach (“[and] he sent”, Genesis 32:3–36:43).

Another lesson is how division is toxic to the Kingdom of God. How are we living out apostle Paul’s counsel for unity and peace?: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18 NASB).

In Vayishlach we see what happened when Ya’akov (Jacob) and and Eysau/Eysav (Esau) met again after 20 years. Edom/Eysau was born “red” and “hairy,” symbols associated with humanness, and his life is an example of living “by the flesh” versus “by the Spirit.”

Categories
Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 22-23: Laws on finding lost items, cross-dressing, bird hunting, conduct in war, tithing ill-gotten gain, inappropriate relationships

Deuteronomy documents the thoughts of Elohim, illustrated by how often Messiah Yeshua and the apostles quote from it. By studying these commandments, statutes and judgments — at times difficult to understand — we can see a small glimpse of how God thinks, not in the past tense but in the present tense.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

2nd Samuel 13 — Amnon rapes Tamar, Absolom kills Amnon

We will compare three tragic “couples”: Adam and Eve, David and Bathsheba, and Ammon and Tamar. God repeats a story three times to help teach us a lesson about sin and transgression.

He’s also introducing Absolom as a Messianic figure. From here, we will be following his life closely for messianic clues.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 22: Meaning of male and female

Why the LORD hates cross-dressing so much? There’s more to this seeming grab bag of anachronistic rules than is apparent on the surface.