Bereshit - Reading #3

Bereshit בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

Torah Portion Genesis 1:1-6:8

READING #3 - Genesis 2:20–3:21                   

My Thoughts: 

We are in the first chapters of Hashem’s Word and He begins to give commands. His first is to “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it (the earth).” Genesis 1:28 Then after He created Adam and Eve in the garden, He instructed them with the command “... 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.” Genesis 2:17 Two simple commands.

As time goes on, He continues to give us His set of rules - His Laws, the Torah. We are to obey them and they are forever. Only just like the serpent we hear, “Did Elohim really say that? Surely you will not die.” (paraphrase of verses 2:1 and 2:4) Isn’t that what religion says today? Christianity (and other religions, too) teach that we no longer have to follow the Law or His rules. That somehow, this all changed. But, this simply is not true. His Torah is Life. His Torah is forever.

Deception works hard to keep us from Truth. And Truth is when Hashem tells us to do something - we do it. In love and worship to Him we follow His Laws, His instructions. And we believe Him when He says if we do not obey His rules we will die. Maybe that’s the real reason He sent Yeshua as the Mashiach. To bring us back to Him, to Truth, and back to obedience/faithfulness to His Laws. 

Challenge:

What are the times you have been taught things in the Bible and you said to yourself, “Did G-d really say that?” If that has happened did you look up Scripture to see if He really did say it?

READING #3 - Genesis 2:20–3:21

2:20 The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 Hashem Elohim caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Hashem Elohim made a woman from the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

3 Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Hashem Elohim had made. He said to the woman, “Has G-d really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, 3 but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. G-d has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall not touch it, lest you die.’”

4 The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t really die, 5 for G-d knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like G-d, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate. Then she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. 7 Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. 8 They heard Hashem Elohim’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Hashem Elohim among the trees of the garden.

9 Hashem Elohim called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

11 Elohim said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Hashem Elohim said to the woman, “What have you done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 Hashem Elohim said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go on your belly and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”

16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. You will bear children in pain. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

17 To Adam He said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ the ground is cursed for your sake. You will eat from it with much labor all the days of your life. 18 It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you shall return to dust.”

20 The man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living. 21 Hashem Elohim made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

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.

Week of Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur

Torah Reading:  Leviticus 16:1-34

Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14-21

“G'mar chatima tovah!” (A good final sealing). We are in the high holiday of Yom Kippur (Sunday September 24 - Monday September 25).

There aren’t any daily Torah Parashat (portions) this week. There is however, a Torah Reading and Haftarah for Yom Kippur (read below). I encourage you to read it every day this week and ask Hashem to reveal something special to you!

The last reading and daily Parashat of Deuteronomy will begin next Sunday, October 1. 

Remember Sukkot begins Friday, September 29 and goes through October 6th! 

Torah Reading:  Leviticus 16:1-34

16 Hashem to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Hashem, and died; 2 and Hashem said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.

3 “Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen tunic. He shall have the linen trousers on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on. 5 He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Hashem at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Hashem, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Hashem, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Hashem, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

11 “Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Hashem, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. 13 He shall put the incense on the fire before Hashem, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die. 14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness. 17 No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

18 “He shall go out to the altar that is before Hashem and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

20 “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. 22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

23 “Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24 Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

26 “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

29 “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before Hashem. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

34 “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”

It was done as Hashem commanded Moses.

Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14-21

He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way!

    Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of My people.”

15 For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity,

    whose name is Holy, says:

“I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit,

    to revive the spirit of the humble,

    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry;

    for the spirit would faint before me,

    and the souls whom I have made.

17 I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him.

    I hid myself and was angry;

    and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him.

    I will lead him also,

    and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

19 I create the fruit of the lips:

    Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,”

    says Hashem; “and I will heal them.”

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea;

    for it can’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud.

21 “There is no peace”, says my Elohim,

    “for the wicked.”

Haazinu - Reading #7

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Apostolic Writing: John 6:26-35

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 32:44–52

My Thoughts:

Here is the end of Moses' journey with Hashem to the Promised Land. It is so very sad that after all of Moses’ dedication and work that he can not enter the land. But it is a stark remembrance to all of us, that sin is powerful and has strong repercussions. Yes, we know Hashem forgave Moses, but He did not forget. He passed a judgment at the time of Moses sin (at the water of Meribah) and He held to that judgment. It makes me think that there is a consequence to disobedience. We can repent and teshuvah, but we still must suffer the effects of what we have done. This reminder to us today should keep us in check. Let us think carefully before disobeying the Father. Amen. 

Challenge:

Today we are reminded also that Torah is life! In verse 47 we read, “...it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long…”. As we have studied Torah each day throughout this past year we have been “filled” with Hashem’s Word. What a blessing it is to have eaten it every day. Now soon we will go back to the beginning of Torah and start all over again. It will be a new year with new revelation and more miracles in our lives. We will be reminded every day of Hashem’s promises and His requirements of how to live our lives! My challenge to you today is to start over again after Sukkot in the new Torah cycle. Read, study, pray, worship and live His Word every day! It will give you abundant life and liberty! Amen!

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 32:44–52

32:44 Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45 And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

48 That very day the Lord spoke to Moses, 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. 50 And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

Here is a beautiful testimony from David about Hashem’s deliverance, love and faithfulness. In verse 36 we read, “You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.” Hashem gave David a special anointing. He protected in fierce ways and yet was gentle in displaying His love for him. This is just what we can look forward to today in Hashem. Again His faithfulness and protection requires us to be righteous and faithful to Him. We must be obedient to His Laws and Commandments. Make today a new day and resolve that you will do this. That you will serve Hashem with your whole heart, soul and strength. Amen!

Challenge;

If you are in trouble, sick or need Hashem’s help -- here is wonderful Scripture to read -- especially verse 7, “In my distress I called upon Hashem; to my Elohim I called. From His Temple He heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears.” I believe when we call out to Hashem with all of our heart, that He does hear us. Sometimes it may not seem so because it doesn’t appear that our prayers are being answered. But from my experience, I can testify He always does hear you. He just may have a different way of hearing your prayer. Sometimes we pray for healing for someone and they die. We think He didn’t hear our prayer. But He did. That person we prayed for has ultimate wonderful healing in Paradise with Him! That person is in the best part of eternity! My challenge to you is to ask for more faith from Hashem. Faith that He does hear us and that we have evidence of that. Amen.

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

22:1 And David spoke to Hashem the words of this song on the day when Hashem delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“Hashem is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

3     my Elohim my Rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

    my stronghold and my refuge,

    my Savior; You save me from violence.

4 I call upon Hashem, who is worthy to be praised,

    and I am saved from my enemies.

5 “For the waves of death encompassed me,

    the torrents of destruction assailed me;

6 the cords of Sheol entangled me;

    the snares of death confronted me.

7 “In my distress I called upon Hashem;

    to my Elohim I called.

From His Temple He heard my voice,

    and my cry came to His ears.

8 “Then the earth reeled and rocked;

    the foundations of the heavens trembled

    and quaked, because He was angry.

9 Smoke went up from His nostrils,

    and devouring fire from His mouth;

    glowing coals flamed forth from Him.

10 He bowed the heavens and came down;

    thick darkness was under His feet.

11 He rode on a cherub and flew;

    He was seen on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness around him His canopy,

    thick clouds, a gathering of water.

13 Out of the brightness before Him

    coals of fire flamed forth.

14 Hashem thundered from heaven,

    and the Most High uttered His voice.

15 And He sent out arrows and scattered them;

    lightning, and routed them.

16 Then the channels of the sea were seen;

    the foundations of the world were laid bare,

at the rebuke of Hashem,

    at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17 “He sent from on high, He took me;

    He drew me out of many waters.

18 He rescued me from my strong enemy,

    from those who hated me,

    for they were too mighty for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

    but Hashem was my support.

20 He brought me out into a broad place;

    He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

21 “Hashem dealt with me according to my righteousness;

    according to the cleanness of my hands He rewarded me.

22 For I have kept the ways of Hashem

    and have not wickedly departed from my Elohim.

23 For all His rules were before me,

    and from His statutes I did not turn aside.

24 I was blameless before Him,

    and I kept myself from guilt.

25 And Hashem has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

    according to my cleanness in His sight.

26 “With the merciful you show Yourself merciful;

    with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless;

27 with the purified You deal purely,

    and with the crooked You make Yourself seem tortuous.

28 You save a humble people,

    but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, Hashem,

    and my Elohim lightens my darkness.

30 For by You I can run against a troop,

    and by my ElohimI can leap over a wall.

31 This Elohim—His way is perfect;

    the word of Hashem proves true;

    He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

32 “For who is Elohim, but Hashem?

    And who is a rock, except our Elohim?

33 This Elohim is my strong refuge

    and has made my way blameless.

34 He made my feet like the feet of a deer

    and set me secure on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for war,

    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 You have given me the shield of Your salvation,

    and your gentleness made me great.

37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,

    and my feet did not slip;

38 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,

    and did not turn back until they were consumed.

39 I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise;

    they fell under my feet.

40 For You equipped me with strength for the battle;

    you made those who rise against me sink under me.

41 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

    those who hated me, and I destroyed them.

42 They looked, but there was none to save;

    they cried to Hashem, but He did not answer them.

43 I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;

    I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.

44 “You delivered me from strife with my people;

    You kept me as the head of the nations;

    people whom I had not known served me.

45 Foreigners came cringing to me;

    as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

46 Foreigners lost heart

    and came trembling out of their fortresses.

47 “Hashem lives, and blessed be my Rock,

    and exalted be my Elohim, the Rock of my salvation,

48 the Elohim who gave me vengeance

    and brought down peoples under me,

49 who brought me out from my enemies;

    You exalted me above those who rose against me;

    You delivered me from men of violence.

50 “For this I will praise you, O Hashem, among the nations,

    and sing praises to Your name.

51 Great salvation He brings to His king,

    and shows steadfast love to His anointed,

    to David and his offspring forever.”

Apostolic Writing

My Thoughts:

In verse 29 Yeshua tells His disciples to believe in Him who Hashem has sent. I believe that to “believe in Him” means to believe in who He is and what He represents. He is an emanation of Hashem -- His representation to us. And when He came His teaching was to bring people back to Hashem through obedience in Torah. That is what He said. To believe in Him is to believe in Hashem and His Torah. He always “pointed” everyone to Hashem, to the Father. It is no coincidence that shortly after Yeshua was killed that the Temple came down. Maybe Yeshua was Hashem’s last chance for people to come back to Him. His people had strayed and followed other gods. Yeshua came to bring them back to Truth. He was not accepted. He was killed. The Temple was destroyed and the people were exiled. Someday the Mashiach will return and all will be well. But until that day, we must follow Hashem and His Torah with all of our being. Amen.

Challenge:

How beautiful is verse 35, “Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” I believe what He is saying is that the “bread” is Torah. If we study (eat) the Torah (bread) we will never be hungry. If we follow Hashem and Torah we will never be thirsty because we will be filled up. Isn’t that a wonderful analogy? The challenge today is that you partake in the “daily bread” of Torah. Make sure you are eating and consuming the Word of Hashem every day. Get filled up with HIM and your life will be the best. Amen.

Apostolic Writing: John 6:26-35

6:26 Yeshua answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him Elohim the Father has set His seal.” 28 Then they said to Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of Elohim?” 29 Yeshua answered them, “This is the work of Elohim, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Yeshua then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of Elohim is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to Him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.”