Parsha B’shalach (Exodus 13:17 – 17:16) may just be the most “miracle-dense” portion in the whole Torah, from the “pillar of cloud by day, and fire by night” perhaps the most famous miracle of all – the “parting of the Red Sea” (ok, Sea of Reeds).
Miracles are only part of the story, however, and perhaps it’s BECAUSE of the level of them that the rest of what follows is all the more poignant, and telling.
Join Mark Call first for the Erev Shabbat review of the whole story.
During the Sabbath Day teaching, Mark explores those miracles a bit more, from several perspectives, and especially for an understanding of what we face.
How could people who literally SAW all of those miracles still follow up almost immediately by “whining,” and then ultimately turning to idolatry right “before His face!”??? And if that’s not a warning for us, then what is?
That first Exodus has much to teach us about the next one.
The page link from Hebrew Nation Radio for the combined part 1 and 2 file for both sections are up here as well, and available for download and off-line listening.
This week’s parsha, Bo, (Exodus 10:1-13:16) is best-known as the story of the final three of the “Ten Plagues” (or, the third set of three, plus the unique ‘Death of the Firstborn.’)
But there is far more to the narrative than just what children are told in “sunday school,” or saw in a famous movie.
During the Sabbath Day teaching, Mark focuses this time around on the issue of “signs and wonders” — “otot u’moftim” in Hebrew — and why or whether they still apply in this “modern age”. Or, are we again seeing a lot of fake gods and ‘hardened hearts’?
That first Exodus has much to teach us about the next one.
This week’s parsha, Shemot, (Exodus 6:1-9:32) is best-known as the story of the first two-thirds of the “Ten Plagues”.
But there is far more to the narrative than just what children are told in “sunday school,” or saw in a famous movie.
Join Mark Call first for the Erev Shabbat review of the whole story, beginning with the importance of His Name, which is NOT to be hidden, and about which the entire Book is centered! The essence of the “Exodus” is to understand what Yahuah Himself said He would PROVE: “Ani YHVH!”
During the Sabbath Day teaching, Mark takes a deeper look into just some of the many intriguing patterns in the sets of plages. Yes, they are judgments on the many fake ‘gods’ of the Egyptians. Yes, there’s MUCH more to the issue of Pharoah’s “hardened” heart than we’ve generally heard. But it’s the part of the pattern that is and will be repeated during the Greater Exodus still to come that is being set out today.
This week’s parsha, Shemot, (Exodus 1 through 6:1) begins the Book of the same name, and the story which forms the literal archetype for deliverance.
And it begins – and ultimately ends – in the story of rebellion and obedience. The Big Question is at the heart of the matter: WHO do we serve?
First, the Erev Shabbat review of the whole story, which does being with “shemot”, the “names,” those sons of Israel who came into Mitzraim (Egypt), those midwives who names, Shiphrah and Puah, are memorialized BECAUSE they weren’t familiar with the GIV (“Government Inspired Version) of Romans 13 and obeyed Yah rather than some man who thought he was ‘god,’ and finally THE Name of YHVH Himself, the key to the Whole Story:
The Sabbath Day teaching continues from the point where five of the most important, heroic women in all of Scripture demonstrate the key difference between obedience and rebellion (it IS about Who we serve!) and why the patterns of bondage and obedience to the RIGHT Master is still so vital. Perhaps more so than ever, given that virtually everything in Scripture is now so NOT-PC…
Join Mark Call for a look at the final parsha in the Book of Bereshiet, or Genesis, “Vayechi,” (Genesis 47:27 – end), which completes the telling of the lives of the patriarchs, with the death of Yakov, aka Israel, his adoption of the two sons of Yosef, Ephraim and Manasseh into the ‘twelve tribes,’ and finally their prophetic blessing as well, setting the stage for the descent into slavery and the ultimate Exodus.
First, the Erev Shabbat review of the whole story:
The Sabbath Day teaching begins with what Mark suggests is the central theme of Israel’s “grafting in” of the two in-part foreign-born sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, in the reverse order of their birth.
On this Sabbath teaching, Mark Call takes a look at parsha, “Vayigash,” (Genesis 44:18 through 47:27), which completes the “cliff-hanger” story of Yosef (Joseph) and the test of his brothers, and ends with a reunion and a message that none of them anticipated.
The Erev Shabbat review of the whole story, from the place where Judah “Mans Up,” comes forward, and shows his brother something that Joseph had not expected:
The Sabbath Day teaching is suggests that the major themes in the parsha are not only just as important as ever, but are now coming to a climax unlike that ever seen before. And it’s the haftorah part, from Ezekiel chapter 37, that helps to make that clear.
Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Miketz,” (Genesis 44:1 through 44:17), which continues the story of Yosef (Joseph) from the time of Pharoah’s dreams through the first phase of what might be called the ‘testing’ of his brothers.
The Erev Shabbat review of the whole story, up to the ‘cliff-hanger’ —
The Sabbath Day teaching is again about only some of the major themes in the parsha — which should TRULY resonate today, along with both the haftorah (from I Kings 3, and the story of Solomon’s wisdom, via an innovative ‘test’), and some lessons from Romans chapter 10, IN CONTEXT, as opposed to what we may well have been TOLD it said.
And if the reference to a “zero cross” doesn’t make sense, take a lesson; hopefully it will.
Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayashev,” (“and he [Yakov] dwelt,” Genesis through chapters 37 through 40), which now moves on primarily to the story of Yakov’s sons, and especially Yosef (Joseph).
The Erev Shabbat review contains not only the story of Joseph’s sale into slavery by his brothers, and the subsequent false claims by Potiphar’s wife which result in his time in prison, but an “insertion” into the story (AKA, an “atbash,” which is a story in itself) of Judah, and Tamar, and just how important that insertion turns out to be, as well as the importance of dreams, as opposed to direct words from YHVH, to Joseph.
The Sabbath Day teaching is again about only some of the major themes in the parsha, from a few of the apparently ALMOST ‘trivial,’ throw-away elements of the parsha, to an almost enigmatic comment about Yakov dealing with the loss of his son. They are indeed VERY important to us today.
Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayishlach,” (“and he sent out,” Genesis 32:3 through chapter 36), which now tells the story of Yakov’s (Jacob’s) return home, with his wives and children, and how he deals with his brother, Esau.
During the Erev Shabbat teaching, we again hear the story in sequence, this time including some things that just even appear at ALL from the original Hebrew (the ‘jots’):
The Sabbath Day teaching focuses on a theme which not only pervades Scripture, but is also more relevant by the day as civil war looms: “Brother against brother”.
Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayetze,” Genesis 28:10 through 32:3, which beings the story of Yakov’s (Jacob) journey (“and he went out”) via his famous vision, his wives, his sons, and his strengthening faith, in truth.
During the Erev Shabbat teaching, we hear the story in sequence, and Mark takes a look at aspects that are not only too often ‘overlooked’ by much of the ‘mainstream’, but even some things that just don’t translate well from the original Hebrew:
The Sabbath Day teaching is more about “Yakov’s journey,” but in a way that is intended to show just how important the lessons he learned, and is teaching us, are in a world where our threats may seem much greater, but the solution remains the same.