Monday, October 21, 2024

Bereshit - Reading #2

Bereshit בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

Torah Portion Genesis 1:1-6:8

Reading #2 - Genesis 2:4–19


My Thoughts: 


When Hashem created Adam He breathed into him the breath of life. When you think of this it is pretty powerful. Adam was not born or carried by his mother. He did not have a mother. He was created directly by Hashem. And after he was created, Hashem breathed His life into his nostrils.This is how Hashem’s special people were created, this is what sets them apart. They began with His breath of life, His oxygen!


This is just a thought but what if in Chapter One of Genesis a different species of men were created. And they failed. This could have been for several centuries. Then in Chapter Two you have Hashem’s “set apart” people created. A special place was created to “house” His new people. And Hashem would be there with them. Maybe He created His chosen people to be a light to others.  Was that His original plan? Just a thought.


The “order” of creation is different in Chapter 2. I believe it’s because it is a very special place. A place where Hashem would reside with His set apart people. Maybe to help guide the rest of mankind to His truth. Only Adam and Eve chose a different life. And then Hashem removed them from His presence. 


And we have been trying to return to the “garden” ever since. What do you think?


Challenge:


In what ways are you trying to get back to the “Garden” or the presence of Hashem? Do you think there will be a time where His covenant followers will return to the Garden?


Reading #2 - Genesis 2:4–19

2:4 This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Hashem Elohim made the earth and the heavens. 5 No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Hashem Elohim had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground, 6 but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Hashem Elohim formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 Hashem Elohim planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground Hashem Elohim made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon: it flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon. It is the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 Hashem Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. 16 Hashem Elohim commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

18 Hashem Elohim said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to[c] him.” 19 Out of the ground Hashem Elohim formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature became its name.


Sunday, October 20, 2024

Bereshit - Reading #1

Bereshit בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

Torah Portion Genesis 1:1-6:8

Reading #1 - Genesis 1:1-2:3


My Thoughts: 


Hashem essentially created the whole universe and His planet earth in six days. The question over the centuries is: WHY? Some think because He wanted companionship. Others believe He wanted to be worshiped. I speculate He wanted both. He created us to reside in His presence and to worship Him with all our hearts, souls and strength. Only we messed it all up. We disobeyed and were removed from His presence. What a shame.


He created stars for us to enjoy in the evening. A beautiful sun to warm us during the day. Water to drink, and plants to eat. And the best part was to be walking with Him, the Almighty - together in a very beautiful place. Worshiping and loving Him every minute of the day. He created a place to love - to expand His love.


Now we have His planet but it is bruised and damaged. We are able to only catch glimpses of His presence through prayer, His Word and worship. But in the “end” we will once walk with Him again. And once again we will be surrounded by His perfect creation. We must get ready!


Challenge: 


When Hashem created the “light” - was the light Yeshua? (John Chapter 1) Think of Scripture that captures Yeshua as “light”. Also, you may want to think about your own life. Are you a “light” - a representative of Hashem’s love - to others? When people look at you, do they see the Spirit of Hashem lighting up your life? Make some changes today and try to be a “mirror” of who Hashem can be in one’s life. When people think you are “religious” or “spiritual” they will be watching you closely. If you mess up, admit it and try to make it right. That will teach them about Hashem’s grace and forgiveness instead of thinking that you are a “hypocrite”. 


Reading #1 - Genesis 1:1 - 2:3


1 In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and Elohim’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.


3 Elohim said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 Elohim saw the light, and saw that it was good. Elohim divided the light from the darkness. 5 Elohim called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.


6 Elohim said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Elohim made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 Elohim called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.


9 Elohim said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so. 10 Elohim called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. Elohim saw that it was good. 11 Elohim said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth;” and it was so. 12 The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and Elohim saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.


14 Elohim said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so. 16 Elohim made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 Elohim set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. Elohim saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.


20 Elohim said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” 21 Elohim created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good. 22 Elohim blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.


24 Elohim said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind;” and it was so. 25 Elohim made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good.


26 Elohim said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 Elohim created man in His own image. In Elohim’s image He created him; male and female he created them. 28 Elohim blessed them. Elohim said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 Elohim said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.


31 Elohim saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.


2 The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished. 2 On the seventh day Elohim finished His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Elohim blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because He rested in it from all His work of creation which He had done.

Bereshit - Week #1

  • Bereshit בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

  • Genesis 1:1-6:8

  • Isaiah 42:5-43:10

  • John 1:1-17


  • 1.1 First reading — Genesis 1:1–2:3

  • 1.2 Second reading — Genesis 2:4–19

  • 1.3 Third reading — Genesis 2:20–3:21

  • 1.4 Fourth reading — Genesis 3:22–4:18

  • 1.5 Fifth reading — Genesis 4:19–22

  • 1.6 Sixth reading — Genesis 4:23–5:24

1.7 Seventh reading — Genesis 5:25–6:8