Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a study of parsha “Beha-alotecha” (Bemidbar/Numbers chapters 8 through 12) and the related Scriptures that give us a bit more insight into the ‘cycles’ still being repeated.
In the Erev Shabbat review, the story begins with the instruction to Aaron via Moses concerning “when you light the lamps” of the menorah. That is followed by the cleansing, consecration, and even ‘waving’ of the Levites, who serve “in place of” the firstborn, what the silver trumpets are for, and a bit more of the story that has a WHOLE lot to say, both then and still, about human nature.
The Sabbath day message again explores the cycles of human history and Biblical prophecy. Mark-the-engineer begins by noting that cycles can be confusing, since they repeat, but unless we understand which PART of a cycle we are looking at, the pattern might only not be obvious, it might appear backward.
And from there he combines several of the continuing aspects of human nature evident in this week’s parsha, and a lot of things that we have HEARD, but which, out of context, we’ve also seen twisted…to the point where many of them have even been turned ‘upside down’.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a look at parsha “Naso” (Bemidbar/Numbers 4:21-7:89) where this time it’s things that are just generally “overlooked” by the “Bible-believing-but-Not-Really” church that really SHOULDN’T be!
In the Erev Shabbat review, we see the story begin with more numbers, this time of those who will ‘carry the burden’ of His sanctuary, which sets the stage. That is followed by two sets of commandments concerning those things that, because of their implications, most of xtianity does seem to ignore, and then the longest chapter in the Torah, and ‘most redundant’. But there are reasons for that, and even, as it turns out, a lesson in computer science for those with “eyes to see”.
In the Sabbath day part of the message, Mark examines the “Things Overlooked” part of the parsha to show why they may be more important than we’ve been led to believe. What is it about Acts 21 that offends church dogma? And why is that cup of ‘the sota’, whether it’s referred to as “cup of trembling,” or “wrath”, or even “abominations” so central to a theme of the ‘torah of jealousy’ that ignoring the reasons WHY is easier than dealing with the idolatry?
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a look at parsha “Bechukotai” (Leviticus 26:2 through the end of the Book) where the consequences for the rebellion against Him and His Written Word are laid out in such a clear and undeniable fashion that it’s no WONDER the ‘whore church’ prefers to lie about the whole thing!
In the Erev Shabbat review, Mark points out why 7 times 7 times 7 times 7 is not only a warning that once was not heeded, but may well be playing out again, and “fulfilled in your hearing”.
ONE more time, there’s a lot in this portion too that is “Not PC.” Perhaps that’s particularly apropos to note when the subject is “rebuke” for utter and outright rebellion to His Word (to the point, even, that so many “souls abhor it” in Hollywood, the Deep State Swamp, and, yes, the ”whore church”.) In other words, be forewarned, this will “offend many”.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a look at parsha “Kedoshim” (Leviticus chapters 19 through 20) which may be one of the best descriptions, and warnings, about post-Constitutional, “AmeriKa-with-a-K” in the Bible.
In the Erev Shabbat review, the study picks up with “this is, no SHALL BE, the <em>torah</em> of the ‘metzorah’,” or person who has ‘<em>tzaraat</em>’. What is to be done about it, and, yes, it can even infect a house.
In the Sabbath day teaching, Mark connects a WHOLE lot of related dots this week, from prophetic warnings that are now flashing red sirens, to ‘twistings’ of some of the usual paganized doctrines that got the “ten lost tribes” exiled in the first place.
It’s not merely that “evil” is being called ‘good’, and vice-versa, or even that things which Yahuah described as “abomination” and prescribed a death penalty for are now mandated by a society which has elevated being “vomited out” to a source of twisted ‘pride’.
This is yet another portion that thus touches the heart of so very much that is wrong today, and why. But, in this case, it is the problem and solution that are outlined in the very title and bookend admonitions of the parsha! “Be set-apart,” and it’s increasingly undeniable WHY.
In a world that has become “unclean, unclean!” — those who speak His Truth are being shamed and shunned, and of course banned from Two-Facebook. But worse still, Mark asks a pertinent question, given that we have already been exiled – for cause – and literally, as foretold so many centuries ago – “vomited out of the land”.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a look at parsha “Metzorah” (Leviticus chapters 14 and 15) — which to some extent is almost “Part 2” of the story of a ‘plague’ not seen for over a thousand years, although perhaps “more’s the pity.”
And for reasons that will continue that related theme from last week (Tazria, and the plague of “tzaraat” which is most certainly NOT what is called ‘leprosy,’ or Hansen’s Disease, this parsha is one of those that you “may have heard” is now irrelevant, “done-away-with”, and basically not worth studying — but for EXACTLY those reasons is probably more important now than ever, even if not for the reasons we’ve been lied to about.
This week, Mark looks at it from the opposite perspective, the ‘other half of the cycle’, if you will.
In the Erev Shabbat review, the study picks up with “this is, no SHALL BE, the <em>torah</em> of the ‘metzorah’,” or person who has ‘<em>tzaraat</em>’. What is to be done about it, and, yes, it can even infect a house.
In the Sabbath day teaching, Mark takes a look at something else the world has “turned upside down.”
It’s not merely that “evil” is being called ‘good’, and vice-versa; he suggests that what we are seeing run rampant in the world today is literally a ‘satanic (adversarial) imitation’ of a malady once intended by our Creator for our correction into an instrument of Evil:
not only to censor and suppress speech associated with Scripture and Truth, but to literally, turn His people into ‘social[ist] media outcasts’…and worse.
This is yet another portion that thus touches the heart of so very much that is wrong today, and why. How very much like our Creator to show via His Word that the very things we’ve been lied to told are “done away with” by way of the “opposites” and devilish imitations that have replaced them.
In a world that has become “unclean, unclean!” — those who speak His Truth are being shamed and shunned:
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a look at parsha “Pekudei” (Exodus 38:21 through the end of the Book) and more of the value, and vital importance, of ‘redundancy’.
This parsha begins with an ‘accounting’ of the elements, materials, and even workmanship that makes up the ‘mishkan’, or tabernacle.
In the Erev Shabbat review of what that means, Mark points out again just how often we might think that “we’ve heard all of this before” there’s more to it — with an emphasis on obedience:
Pekudei begins with an “accounting” (which even Mark, while inclined often to the ‘nerdy’ admits is not the most exciting subject in his opinion) but that’s where the real questions begin. Like “Why do we still study this?” (especially if as I Corinthians 3 suggests, “WE are the ‘temple of God'”).
More disturbingly (since we are also told to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”) we see quite a few things in Scripture which again make the point that there really still IS a reason why the pattern or ‘template’ of the mishkan matters. More than we’ve probably been told. Especially now.
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.
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: