Tetzaveh (You shall command) Sh’mot/Ex. 27:20-30:10
Torah Portion: Tetzaveh (You shall command) Sh’mot/Ex. 27:20-30:10
Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 43:10-27
Much of this Torah portion is concerned with the installation and anointing of Aaron as high priest and his children as priests. Their purpose being to serve G-d and the people in the Mishkan or Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. They served the people as their go between with G-d. The office of high priest was passed down through Aaron’s family and descendants over the years. Here in our portion, great care and attention to details were given to everything the priest wore and how Aaron and his sons served the people of Israel.
T’rumah (Donations) Sh’mot/Ex. 25:1-27:19
Torah Portion: T’rumah (Donations) Sh’mot/Ex. 25:1-27:19
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:26-6:23
Our Torah portion this week gives us a detailed list of the donations the people of Israel brought to be used in the building of the Mishkan or Tabernacle. It also tells us, in Exodus 36:5, that Moshe had to eventually tell the people to stop donating. They had given more than was needed.
Mishpatim (Judgements) Sh’mot/Ex. 21:1-24:18
Torah Portion: Mishpatim (Judgements) Sh’mot/Ex. 21:1-24:18
Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26
Today we read and study together the Torah portion Judgements. This is usually not one of the most gripping portions we read during the year. In this portion we read more than fifty laws covering a wide range of subjects. I would like for you to consider how we as believers in Yeshua consider the issue of laws found throughout the scripture. Have you ever heard, “Why study all these laws, we as believers are under grace now. Laws are the opposite of grace. Since we are believers in Yeshua there is no reason for us to be concerned with all these laws we read in the Torah.”
Yitro (Jethro) Sh’mot/Ex. 18:1-20:23
Torah Portion: Yitro (Jethro) Sh’mot/Exodus 18:1-20:23
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
Today we look at the Torah portion of Yitro/Jethro. This portion was named after the father in law of Moshe. It contains many things that could occupy pages of discussion. However, I will only deal with a few of them today.
I want to begin with my question about Shavuot or the holiday of weeks. This holiday happens on the fiftieth day counting from the first day of Passover. I know we have covered this more than once but I believe it is worthwhile to go over it again, lest we forget from where our faith came.
B’Shallach (After He Had Let Go) Sh’mot/Exodus 13:17-17:16
Torah Portion: B’Shallach (After He Had Let Go) Sh’mot/Exodus 13:17-17:16
Haftorah Reading: Judges 4:4-5:31
Today we read of the people of Israel being freed from Egypt and slavery after living four hundred years as slaves to Pharaoh. If I had to put a title to this section it might be, “Change and Transformation.” I want us, as we study today, to look at our own life in light of what we talk about.
In our opening verse Exodus 13:17 we read, “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that G-d led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for G-d said, ‘Lest perhaps the people repent when they see war and they return to Egypt.”
Bo (Come) Ex. (Sh’mot) 10:1-13:16
Torah Portion: Bo (Come) Ex. (Sh’mot) 10:1-13:16
This week we read the culmination of the plagues and the instructions for the ritual of Passover. I have a few things to share with you today. All of which should give us a deeper understanding of G-d’s will and plan for our daily life.
I would like to begin by mentioning something we have talked about before but is also something we need to hear again, especially in our world today. In almost all English translations of the Hebrew scriptures, the word translated in the opening sentence of this Torah portion of Bo is go. It could be more easily translated as come. Today in Israel you hear this word used often by mothers or fathers when they call their children to come to them. Every time it is used to tell the child to come to them or to come to where they are waiting for them.
Va’era (And I Appeared) Ex. (Sh’mot) 6:2-9:35
Torah Portion: Va’era (And I Appeared) Ex. (Sh’mot) 6:2-9:35
Today we read about a huge change in the world’s concept of G-d, or at least for those of us who have a faith in the L-rd. It begins with our Jewish brothers and sisters and later through Yeshua was made available to all who believe.
In Exodus 6:2 we read, “And G-d spoke to Moshe and said to him, I am the L-rd. “ This word L-rd, in Hebrew, is the Holy Name of G-d, which encompasses the entire nature of G-d. Here in Exodus we see G-d instruct Moshe to go to the people and tell them that, “The G-d of your fathers has sent me to you,” Exodus 3:13-15. Moshe asked, when I go to them and they ask what is His name what shall I say? The L-rd replied, “I Am who I Am sent me.” Further on in these verses the L-rd went on to say, “This is My Name forever.”
Sh’mot (Names) Ex./Sh’mot 1:1-6:1
: Sh’mot (Names) Exodus/Sh’mot 1:1-6:1
Haftorah Readings: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Today we begin a new book of Torah, Exodus or Sh’mot. We will read the names of the people who came to Egypt from Israel. They came with no idea of what would transpire over the coming years. However, as we will see G-d was there and had a plan.
Vayechi (And He Lived) B’resheet/Gen 47:28-50:26
: Vayechi (And He Lived) B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26
Haftorah Readings: I Kings 2:1-12
Tonight we finish the first book of Torah with a portion about the last days of the life of Jacob. As I pointed out in my questions this week there is one other portion that begins with basically the same words. In Genesis 23:1 we read a portion beginning with this verse, when translated to English reads, ”The life of Sarah.” What is scripture telling us in these two portions?
It seems to me scripture is telling us that death is not the end. It is telling us that our lives are measured by what we leave behind, our legacy of children or others that were influenced by us. These are the things that count. These are of lasting value. Death is but a transition between this world and the next. Here in our reading this week we see Jacob coming to the end of his life here on earth. From here the story carries on with his children and their children and the founding of the twelve tribes of Israel. As history unfolds we see Jacob’s life even intersecting our lives, through his lineage, Yeshua the Messiah.
Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27
: Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27
Haftorah Readings: Ezekiel 37:15-28
This week we read of the reunion of the sons of Jacob with their brother Joseph. We also read of the eventual settling of the people in Egypt. There they would spend hundreds of years as slaves before G-d would send Moshe to bring them out and lead them to Israel.
There are many questions that arise in our reading this week. However, we will look at only a couple. I pray we all can grasp how things unfolded in this family’s story and what we can learn from these events. When we read Genesis 45:5-7 we see how Joseph was able to see the hand of G-d in the things that had happened to him over the last years. He understood G-d had a plan and purpose to what he had suffered. G-d always has a purpose, a plan. That plan may involve discomfort or even suffering on our part. Our challenge is to hold on, to be faithful, to continue on and not give up or lose our faith.