Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32

Torah Portion: Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Today we read the second portion from the book of Genesis. In this portion there are many subjects we can cover. I will try to pick two or three for our time together.

To begin, I want to look at Genesis 7:2, 8. In these two verses we see Noah is commanded by G-d to take seven pairs of clean beasts and one pair of unclean beasts. What are we to make of this? Why did G-d specifically tell him to bring seven pairs of clean animals and only one pair of unclean? Remember, this is 400 years before we will see this again appear in Torah in Leviticus chapter 11. In Leviticus the scripture goes into more detail about what animals are clean and which ones are unclean.  

Tzav (Command) Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Torah PortionTzav (Command) Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 7:21-44:23

Messianic Scripture  Mark 12:28-34, I Cor. 10:14-23

I want to wish each of you a blessed Passover this evening. With G-d’s grace we can soon meet together again in person.

Re’eh (See) D’Varim (Deut.) 11:26-16:17

Re’eh (See) D’Varim (Deut.) 11:26-16:17

Haftorah Readings: Isaiah (Yesh’yahu) 54:11-55:5

Today we read the Torah portion Re’eh. In the opening few verses, D’Varim/Deut. 11:26-28 we read these words, “Behold I set before you this day, a blessing and a curse. A blessing if you obey the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, which I command you this day. And a curse if you will not obey the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, but turn aside from the way I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.”

Va’era (And I Appeared) Exodus (Sh’mot) 6:2-9:35

Torah PortionVa’era (And I Appeared) Exodus (Sh’mot) 6:2-9:35

Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

Tonight, we read of G-d sending Moshe and Aaron on their mission to bring the people out of Egypt and take them to the Land of Promise. To begin, I want to just mention verse 6:9. I have probably mentioned this every year but I consider it important for us to remember. In this verse we read where the people did not listen to Moshe because of their anguished spirit. The word in Hebrew is better translated as shortness of spirit. The people, after 400 years of slavery, had been beaten down to the point of accepting their plight as slaves.

Tzav (Command) Vayikra (Lev) 6-8

Torah Portion:  Tzav (Leviticus) Vayikra 6:1-8:36

Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 7:21-44:23

Tonight we will look at the sacrifices again. Why do you think G-d has us go back over these for the second time? What is different in this portion from the one last week? This week we look at the sacrifices from the perspective of the priest who is taking the offering from the person and going through the process of presenting it on the altar. Last week we read about the person bringing the offering.

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.

Tzav (Give an Order) Vayikra (Lev) 6

Torah Portion: Tzav(Give an Order)

Vayikra (Leviticus) 6:1-8:36

HafTorah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23

New Testament: Mark 12:28-34; Romans 12:1-2; I Cor. 10:14-23

Tonight we look at the second Torah section from Leviticus. It begins with the word Tzav or command. Here Moses relates G-d’s commands for the various sacrifices starting with the Tamid offering. This word Tamid means always or continuously. This burnt offering was given every morning and evening, every day. What did we learn last week about a burnt offering? It was completely consumed on the altar. Nothing was kept for use by the person or the priest. It was completely given to G-d. So what was the purpose of doing this every day, morning and evening as a national offering? It was an earthly way of showing that Israel, as a nation, was to be completely given over to G-d’s will and use every day all day.

Tzav (Command) Leviticus 6

 

Torah Portion: Tzav (Command) Leviticus 6:8-8:36

HafTorah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23

This week we read what could be called the priestly manual concerning the sacrifices. It starts with the word Tzav or command. Usually when G-d wanted Moses to communicate something to the people or priests He would tell Moses to “speak” or “tell.” But here He says “command.” Why? Was He worried they would forget or do something other than what He had told them? This Hebrew word carries with it the urgency of the moment but also to be consistent over time. It would be easy to do things G-d’s way when things were new and fresh, not so much as time went on. Here in lies our lesson as priests. Consistency. Our lives should show that same consistency, that same hunger as the first days. If what we have received from G-d is important we must live like it and carry on doing it until we are gathered together with Him.  That thought is carried on with the first “how to” command of the burnt offering. What was unique about this? It indicated a complete sold out-ness to G-d. Everything was consumed on the altar and it was kept on the altar 24/7, even on the Sabbath. Here it is a physical picture of a spiritual reality. We are to live each day burned up for G-d, so to speak, especially as priests.

Tzav (Command)




Weekly Torah Section: Tzav (Command) Leviticus 6:8-8:36, Haftorah: Malachi 3:1-4:6

I would like to start with the Torah section, Leviticus 6:8-8:36 and then finish with Malachi 3:1-4:6.  The first verse of the Torah section begins with the word, Tzav. In English this word means “Command.”  What is interesting is that this word is used rather than some other Hebrew word that would mean to tell or to speak. These words are often used when the person wishes to get across a sense of urgency. Command, on the other hand, seems to say do it now and keep on doing it. So, the question arises why did G-d feel He had to use this word here? Would G-d have doubted the commitment of Aaron and his sons? After all, they were at the top of the religious hierarchy. One thought that carries a hint was that maybe G-d wasn’t worried about the immediate future but as time went on would their attentiveness wane. It is one thing to be excited and committed early in our walk with G-d and another to hold on to that zeal as time goes on.  So like Aaron and his sons we are challenged to not lose our fire but to stay close to G-d no matter what we experience in life.