Vayikra (And He Called) Lev 1-5
Torah Portion: Vayikra (And He Called) Lev. 1-5
HafTorah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23
Tonight we begin the third book of Moses. In English we read Leviticus which is a Greek word meaning relating to the Levites. At the time of Yeshua it would have been called Torath Ha Kohanim. It is basically the laws and rules dealing with sacrifices and the duties of the priests.
Vayak’hel and P’kudei Ex 35-40
Torah Portion: Vayak’hel (He Assembled) P’Kudei (Accounts) Sh’mot (Exodus) 35:1-40:38
HafTorah: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
To begin with tonight I want to talk about something I saw this week that really caught my attention. In Sh’mot 38:21 we read, “The tabernacle, the tabernacle of testimony.” Usually when the Torah makes double use of a word it is making a deeper point. The Talmud picks up on this and states that here the point is that Torah is speaking of the earthly Tabernacle as being a shadow of the heavenly. This sounds really similar to Hebrews chapters 8-9, Hebrews 8:4 and 9:24. This brings us to the common argument used by many to say the Torah is finished and of little value to us as believers.
Tetzaveh (You Shall Command) Ex. 27
Torah Portion: Tetzaveh (You are to order) Sh’mot (Exodus) 27:20-30:10
HafTorah: Ezekiel 43:10-27
New Testament: Philippians 4:10-20
Tonight we read the Torah section of Tetzaveh or “You Command.” Then we will celebrate the holiday of Purim which begins when Sabbath ends. There is one thing that is similar in each of these events. In this Torah section the name of Moses never occurs. It is the only section from Exodus 1:1 through the end of Deuteronomy that does not contain his name. In the book of Esther the name of G-d never appears. There was much discussion when both the Jewish canon and the Christian canon were adapted on if this book should be included or not, mainly because G-d’s name does not appear. However, as we read the book we can easily see G-d at work arranging events to save His people who are under threat of annihilation from the Persian Empire. They were being crushed under the weight of these threats.
T’rumah (Tithe) Ex 25-27
Torah Portion: T’rumah (Contribution) Sh’mot (Exodus) 25-27
HafTorah: I Kings 5:26-6:13
New Testament: Hebrews 8:1-6
This week we read of the details of the Miskan (tabernacle). The materials are donated from the people as a free will offering. The offering had to be given with a willing heart. It was not a tithe but an offering. Why did G-d command the building of a Mishkan? In Exodus 25:8 we read so that He could dwell in them. In I Cor. 3:16 we read where we are the Temple of G-d, the Temple being patterned after the Miskan.
Mishpatim (Rulings) Ex 21-24
Torah Portion: Mishpatim (Rulings) Sh’mot (Exodus) 21-24
HafTorah: Jeremiah 34:8-22, 33:225-26
I would like us to look first at Exodus 23:7 today. But before that think about this Torah section. It follows the spiritual high of the revelation at Sinai, the awesomeness of G-d coming before His people. Then here we seem to get mired in details. Mostly between man and his neighbors, things concerning, how to relate to our fellowman. I think G-d here is showing us that He is found in the details. The high points are great but they are fleeting. We live in the world everyday. How do we go about it in a way that glorifies G-d? So, to give us a little help I want us to ponder this verse on falsehood. This is easy right?
Yitro (Jethro) Exodus 18-20
Torah Portion: Yitro (Jethro) Sh’mot (Exodus) 18-20
HafTorah: Isaiah 6:1-13
Tonight we look at the Torah portion Jethro, who was the father-in-law of Moses. This portion contains the 10 commandments and G-d meeting the people at the mountain of G-d. Here we see for the first time G-d speaks to a nation. Up until now G-d had communicated with a person but here to a people. This changed everything. No longer did Israel have to depend on the stories they had heard from their ancestors. Here they saw and heard G-d for themselves from the smallest to the greatest. They all saw the words of G-d and heard the shofar. Then we come to verse 20:19 of Exodus. They ask Moses to hear G-d for them and relate the message to them. Jewish scholars look at this as a lost opportunity. In fact Moses exhorts them to not be afraid but to press on.
B’Shallach Sh’mot (Exodus) 13
Torah Portion: B’Shallach Sh’mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16
HafTorah: Judges 4:4-5:31
I want us to look mainly at the Exodus and see what we can learn that might give us insight into our own lives spiritually. I want to start by looking at the last question I sent you this week. In Sh’mot 13:17, in Hebrew, it is written that Pharaoh sent the people out, in Sh’mot 14:5 he is told that the people have fled and finally in Sh’mot 14:8 it says the people went out with an up raised arm. So which is true?
Va’era (I Appeared) Exodus 6-9
Torah Portion: Va’era (I Appeared) Sh’mot (Exodus) 6:2-9:35
HafTorah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Tonight we read the portion of Torah that covers most of the plagues that G-d was to bring on the people of Egypt and to rescue His bride. We could see this as a contest between G-d and a man who thought he was god and others thought he was god. So, Pharaoh could not relent to the demands of a shepherd and a bunch of slaves. In fact last week we read in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the L-rd that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the L-rd and I will not let Israel go.” The word, know, here is the Hebrew word for intimate knowledge. Maybe he had heard some reference somewhere to a Jewish G-d but he had no personal knowledge and deemed it beneath him to listen to this shepherd.
Sh’mot (Names) Exodus 1-6
Torah Portion: Sh’mot (Names) Exodus 1:1-6:1
HafTorah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23, Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
This beginning portion of the second book of Moses carries the name of “Names.” It begins by listing the names of all the people who went down into Egypt. These few grew into a great and mighty people who after passing through the furnace of Egypt, were ready to accept G-d’s promise of the Land.
Vayeishev Genesis 37:1-40:23
Torah Portion: Vayeishev (He Continued Living) B’Resheet (Gen.) 37:1-40:23
HafTorah: Amos 2:6-3:8
New Testament: Acts 7:9-16
Tonight we read about the life of Joseph from an early age until he gets out of prison. However I would like us to spend most of our time on Genesis 38, which is the story of Tamar and Judah. I think as we read this chapter it would at first glance seem to have little connection with the flow of the life of Joseph. However, we will see similarities as we go through it.