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.
Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Toldot,” Genesis 25:19 through 28:9, which is most of the rest of the story of Yitzak (or Isaac) and introduces his two sons, and perhaps a problematic twist to the story of the “sons of promise”.
During the Erev Shabbat teaching, Mark Call again looks at the entire parsha, and what it is about Isaac that sets up ‘the rest of the story’.
It also sets up that much-contested deception that results in the “swap” of the birthright between the elder, and the younger of the two twins from Raquel’s womb, Esau and Yakov (or Jacob).
Did Yakov “steal” the birthright, and then the blessing, from his older brother? Or did Esau simply “despise” his birthright, and not consider it worth bothering about?
(And yes, as you might suspect by now, Mark is about to suggest that people who despise their birthright, and all the responsibility that might go along with it, are hardly unique to that “olde” testament. In fact, whether they’re called “snowflakes,” or “progressives,” or just haters-of-Yah, this is a story that still very much OUGHT to resonate today with those who have “eyes to see!!!”)
The Sabbath Day teaching, is thus all about that enduring question, WHY was Yakov the son of promise, and not Esau? (And, likewise, Isaac before him, as opposed to Ishmael?)
This week, Mark Call takes a look at Bereshiet, “In the Beginning,” FROM the Beginning (Genesis 1:1 through 6:8) in what is probably a different way than you’ve ever heard before.
Yes, this is one of the “meatiest” and most truly information-packed portions in the whole of Scripture, and more than enough to occupy (and it has!) literally volumes of study.
But have you considered that the act of Creation, and the creation of mankind, “HaAdam,” in the image of YHVH Himself, has elements that are still in process?
First, the overview from Erev Shabbat, and a look at the many elements that make up the story, from the “Time Domain;” what happened first, and then next. Or is it?
During the ‘meat-filled’ Sabbath Day teaching, Mark-the-Engineer again “waxes nerdy,” and hopefully manages to make what “as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be…” (and how we’ll be able to tell) take on a whole new aspect. Don’t let the title scare you off, and don’t miss this one:
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for the message in the Torah portion for this week (“Ha’azinu”, Deuteronomy chapter 32) as well as a look at some of the special readings associated with the most set-apart day of Yom Kippur.
Deuteronomy 32 is an elegant, and concise, summary of what Moshe sang to those who were about to enter the Promised Land. It’s also an elegant, concise warning that is every bit as vital to understand today, in such as time as this, as it was thousands of years ago.
The Erev Shabbat overview teaching of the entire parsha includes not only the second, and final “Song of Moses,” but also a look at Isaiah 57:14 – 58:14, and the final few verses of the Book of the prophet Micah.
This final “Song of Moses” has been correctly described as a concise capsule summary of the consistent theme of the entire Scripture. Perhaps more so, suggests Mark, it’s a mini ‘guided tour’ of Amerika 2018, if not the whole fallen world.
But it’s also apropos in this season to take another look at the story of Jonah. There’s more to it than just a whale, and perhaps it’s the contrast with Ninevah then and the DC Swamp NOW that will really clarify what Moses was warning about!
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Shoftim,” (Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9), which seems to literally encapsulate most of what is ABSOLUTELY WRONG with the western world today!
The Erev Shabbat overview of course begins with the commandment to select righteous (in other words, Torah-obedient) judges, or ‘shoftim’, to the end that “justice, JUSTICE!” you shall pursue.
Those who have been following what passes for “just-us” nowadays will recognize just how far we have fallen. And the rest of the parsha truly brings that home.
The Sabbath Day teaching is perhaps even more NOT ‘politically-correct’ than last week, to the extent that Mark demonstrates how the command in the last verse in the parsha, literally the one-line summary, is to “<em>do what is RIGHT in the eyes of YHVH</em>.”
Not only has ‘the world’ now gone beyond merely what the Book of Shoftim (Joshua) suggests is a Big Problem, “every man did that which was right in HIS OWN EYES,” but the opposite extreme now has become an overt attempt to “do that which is downright EVIL in the eyes of Him they so clearly hate!”
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Vaetchanon,” (Deuteronomy 3:23 through 7:11), arguably one of THE most “central” and fundamental teachings in the entire Torah.
The Erev Shabbat overview begins at “and I besought”, the opening words, “V’etchanan” through the warnings about idolatry, and not “adding to,” or “subtracting from” (still VERY popular with both exiled houses!) to the Ten Debarim (commandments, or sayings) and what is described by the Torah Made Flesh as THE most important commandment in Scripture. The main theme, however, is not just “hear,” but “obey,” and “DO!”:
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Matot,” (Numbers 30:2 through chapter 32), including what turns out to be one of THE most relevant and important — and openly violated — commandments in the whole Book!
The Erev Shabbat overview, from the statute (or “chuk”) about VOWs, and what Mark describes as “covering” in marriage – to the story of the destruction of the Midianites and why all that first part really matters:
Warning: Adult Content, and NOT only NOT “Politically-Correct,” but downright offensive to those who love Lies More than Truth. The title speaks volumes…
The Sabbath Day teaching picks up the theme of Broken Vows, Lies, and False Witness…because it is hard to imagine a more timely parsha than one which warns against what AmeriKa-with-a-K now rubs in our faces. Picture a Swamp Crocodile smirking while lying through big, vicious teeth, and you have a good clue where Mark is heading.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Pinchas,” (Numbers 25:10 through 30:1), which includes one of the most “problematic” examples and rewards in the Torah. How can what might be described as murder be rewarded by Yahuah with a perpetual Covenant of Peace?
The Erev Shabbat overview describes the “rest of the story,” since the major action actually took place at the end of last week’s parsh, and then what might seem to be a variety of disjointed other bits and pieces, from a second ‘head count’ to a recap of His ‘moedim’ (appointed times and feasts).
The Sabbath Day teaching explores what it means to be “zealous” for YHVH not only in a bit more depth, but in ‘context’ as well. Pinchas (Phineas) acted to save lives by making a public demonstration against those who — by their actions — acted in open defiance of Yahuah. But he was also “in the camp”, taking action to keep it clean.
If nothing else, Mark proves, while we are still in exile, the world we live in could hardly pass for a clean camp.
And it certainly shouldn’t surprise us that the portion is again SO relevant to the “times and seasons” today. It even has more to say about what constitutes “blasphemy” against His Ruach.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Balak,” (Numbers 22:2 through 25:11), where the undeniably apropos metaphor of “Balaam’s Ass” is only one memorable part of the Real Story.
The Erev Shabbat overview describes a Torah portion that is a significant departure from the “journey to the land narrative,” because it not only DOESN’T include the usual cast of characters, but is filled with ‘colorful metaphors’ that have SO much resonance that they have literally “molded” our language! (Even if we now seem to see some of the terminology as “tacky”. But the reason – even the pun – is right here!)
Alternative link via Hebrew Nation Radio for overview Erev Shabbat teaching:
The Sabbath Day teaching this week comes with another warning up front, this time because Mark is arguably even harder than usual – because the lesson of this parsha is! – on the ‘whore church’, and the paganism that now literally IS pervasive. When prominent politicians, pundits, and priests openly break oaths before a ‘god’ they either “know not,” or just plain lie about, and demonstrate “by their fruits” their utter contempt for His Word, we need to see the “coming battle” for what it is. And, yes, Mark uses some VERY strong language, because sometimes, blasphemy against His Ruach merits nothing less.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Beha’alotcha,” (Numbers chapters 8 through 12) — another one of those portions that seems to have a lot of disparate, maybe even only loosely-related, elements, from commandments about things that SOUND a bit repetitive, to history that ranges from obscure to fundamental.
The Erev Shabbat overview again looks at the entire parsha in order, and attempts to connect what might seem a bit disparate. And, as is mostly the case, there are some poignant lessons, and no shortage of controversy over what some of them might be.
The Sabbath Day teaching this week may involve even more ‘themes’ than usual. There’s the menorah, the silver trumpets, the substitution of the Levites for the first-born, and more than a little whining.
This time, though, Mark suggests there’s a connection in all of these elements, as well as not only the haftorah reading (from Zecharia chapters 3 and 4) and more than a bit of Revelation, that all connects, and ultimately speaks to us today more than perhaps any generation in a millenium. And it has to do with the central choice in all of Scripture — life or death, blessing or cursing.