This week’s Torah portion is perhaps one of the most appropriately-named in the Torah; parsha Mishpatim (Exodus chapters 21 through 24) contains a major helping of the ‘mishpatim’ or ordinances/judgments, even ‘rules,’ in the Book.
The Erev Shabbat reading outlines those judgments and ordinances, and sets the stage for the observations that follow:
The fact that so much of this parsha is now considered “NOT-PC” by so much of the world, speaks volumes. But the fact that so much is also outright “hypocrisy-exposing” says even more!
Mishpatim: From ‘Bondservice’ to Demonocracy, and Back to Bondage”
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Shabbat Shalom Mesa.
This week’s Torah parsha from the annual cycle is Yitro (Exodus 18:1 – 20:23) and begins with the name of Moses’s father-in-law, but it ends with one of the most important ‘recitations’ in all of Scripture, the ‘download’ of the Ten Debarimm (Words/Commandments/Sayings) on Mount Sinai.
The Erev Shabbat reading, from Yitro (aka Jethro) to ‘delegation of authority,’ to Sinai :
Yitro is described as “a priest of Midian,” in other words, a pagan, a worshiper of ‘other gods’ or elohim. Yet he is ‘teachable.’ He hears from Moshe the story of what YHVH did to SHOW that He Was Who He Is, and then said, “Now I KNOW that YHVH IS…” greater than all thosse ‘gods.’
So the contrast with what follows thereafter at Mt. Sinai is all the more dramatic. The people not only HEARD the Words of Yahuah Himself, they literally “saw” the message! And as Mark suggests, one way to understand it in modern terms is a miraculously high “data bandwidth” download, that evidently gave many of them information overload.
Which sets up the main thrust of the midrash related to the “Ten Commandments.” They are clearly important, vitally so. So why does so much of the Whore Church, which sometimes proclaims them as fundamental, then turn around and twist, redefine, and even ignore some of them?
In a time where there is so clearly a financial, emotional, psychological, and now physical WAR in progress against those who seek to “know Him,” and be “called by His Name,” to the point where we must recognize, as Shaul/Paul certainly did that is a spiritual battle above all… …we need to be able to discern Who those who claim to be our allies really serve.
Yitro: Which of ‘Ten’ Commandments May Still Apply, and Pernicious Doctrine”
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at the parsha from the Book of Exodus, B’shalach (Ex. 13:17 through chapter 17), that includes perhaps the most famous miracle in Scripture, the ‘parting of the Red Sea’ (or, arguably, Sea of Reeds.)
The Erev Shabbat reading includes far more than just a major miracle:
Which is exactly where the Sabbath day midrash begins.
Those who saw one of the greatest miracles in history still managed to miss most of the story.
And the repeated prophecies and parallels in Scripture suggest that we may see the rhyme. And this time, we have a major advantage: we have the Written Word, and may be able to avoid some of the pitfalls so many then failed to.
“B’shalach: Pharaoh, Big Brother, and the Real Master of War”
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at the second parsha in the Book of Exodus, Bo(Ex. 10:1 – 13:16), and the final set of plagues, and, perhaps most importantly, for the outline of His Instruction for how we are to remember, and teach, and understand what He did then, and what would follow.
First, the Erev Shabbat reading and ‘telling’:
This is, of course, the telling of the first Pesach, or ‘Passover,’ but it is also the template for so much of what will follow. And it is why, no less than three times in this parsha alone, YHVH tells us to observe and memorialize it “throughout your generations,” by a statute (‘chuk’) “forever.”
We certainly understand that Pesach is (and was) a ‘shadow picture’ of what later transpired again, as promised – even if much of xtianity seems unwilling to correctly count to three. Much of that ‘telling’ evidently fell short.
But there is a larger understanding necessary here. What of ‘tradition,’ and ritual, and dogma, is consistent with Scripture, and what is simply NOT? How important is it really that we do what He so clearly said?
“Bo: The Telling – and Do This Remembering Me”
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at the second parsha in the Book of Exodus, Vayeira (Ex. 6:2 – 9:35), where we begin to see what YHVH means by His repeatd demonstration that “Ani YHVH”. This part of the story includes the first of the ‘Ten Plagues,’ and certainly makes clear that He is Keeper of His Covenant.
The Erev Shabbat reading includes what Mark argues is the exposition of the single most important point in the story, that, while His Name, YHVH, IS in fact, Written in the Book of Genesis, “by My Name YHVH,” He says, “I did not make Myself KNOWN to them.”
So what does that mean?
Which is exactly what the Sabbath day midrash explores. And it is one of the most fundamental understandings in Scripture, and in history. And certainly in prophecy. Because He says so.
“Vayeira: Why is His Name SO Important?”
And when it comes to prophecy, and where we are, and what is to come, recognize that “I AM” is more inclusive than we may realize. Consider the implications of, “I WILL BE What I AM!”
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
The annual Torah cycle reading for this week is parsha “Shemot,” and it begins the Book of the same name, or Exodus in English (Ex. 1:1-6:1)
The Erev Shabbat reading sets the stage for the story to follow, which is not only the rest of the ‘Torah’ itself, of the ‘Five Books of Moses,’ but also the Foundation for the entire remainder of Scripture.
The Sabbath day midrash has the same theme as the introduction to ‘the Exodus’ does: Setting the stage – for ALL that follows.
And while the haftorah reading for this week, from Isaiah chapters 27 through 28, may seem a surprising choice, since it seems to deal with the “End of Days,” the connections really help clarify why the stage has also been set for us.
“Shemot: Setting the Stage “
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
The reading of the Book of Bereshiet or Genesis comes to an end with parsha “Vayechi” (Gen. 47:28 through the end) as do the lives of first Yakov, and then Yosef.
“And lived Yakov,” the parsha begins, 17 years in the land of Egypt after he brought his family to be there with Joseph. But most of the story is about blessings, and prophecy.
The Erev Shabbat reading tells that story:
The blessing, and essentially adoption, of Yosef’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and the details, and ordering of them, is key to understanding the thousands of years of history that follows.
But the blessing of that other twelve sons, and tribes, that follows is also prophetic, and yet also, at least in places, more enigmatic.
So the Sabbath day midrash this week is a bit more ‘speculative’ this week than usual, both because of the prophetic nature of much of the subject matter, and the “times and the seasons” today.
“Vayechi: Cycles Prophecy Smoke Deception – and Dot-Connection”/strong>
There is much “food for thought” on the table at this point. As always, Mark welcomes comments, questions, and feedback: mark@markniwot.com
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
This week we see the conclusion to the ‘cliff-hanger’ story of Miketz, where Yosef has tested his brothers, and they stand before him accused, and evidently guilty, of theft.
And this week, as Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship likes to put it, Judah ‘draws near’ (Vayigash, Genesis 44:18 through 47:27) and “mans up.” And, perhaps to put it mildly, that surprises his brother Yosef. And certainly changes history. Or, more to the point, puts it on the track Yah evidently intended all along.
The Erev Shabbat reading tells the story, and IS the central teaching for our instruction and blessing.
The Sabbath day midrash this week, connected largely to the haftorah reading from Ezekiel chapter 37, and for reasons that may, at first, not seem obvious, will no doubt “offend many.”
Indeed, that was what Yahushua told us He would do. And so will we, when we “walk in obedience” to Him, and “for His Name’s sake.”
Which is why this teaching includes not only an “adult content,” warning, but more. After all, even the phrase “man up” will offend many in a world where the very concept of patriarchy, or “men being men,” and not espousing the proper PC BS, already “offends many.” How much more so, then, His Truth – as actually Written?
The Sabbath day midrash begins with the observation that there are SO many aspects of this story that are prophetic, from Judah honoring his word to his father [Father] to the promised ‘great deliverance’ (past, long past, their present, and our future) to the “ruach of Yakov” being revived…into Israel.
But why is the haftorah portion that goes with this story from Ezekiel 37, and the “two sticks?”
It is certainly obvious that this is another of those prophecies that has NOT yet been fulfilled. Just as both of the “two whoring wives,” Aholah and Aholibah, and their descendants, the Whore Church and the Whore Synagogue, are both still scattered, still in exile…they are not even remotely “echad.”
And, if that terminology is “offensive” to some (we have, after all, been warned) then how much more so that both of those adulterous bodies still call the Son of Yah, the Torah Made Flesh, and the Messiah Himself, a “liar”?
Mark suggests that a good part of that answer, and more, lies in warnings like Hosea 5:15. They aren’t even about ready to “acknowledge their offense,” against Him.
“Vayigash: Lost Sheep, but Still Two Sticks – the Whore Church and Whore Synagogue
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship this week for a two-part look at parsha ‘Miketz’ (Genesis chapter 41 through 44:17) – arguably the second installment in the life of Joseph, and his rise to the Number Two position in all Egypt, with at least a start of the ‘testing’ of his long-lost brothers, and even a cliff-hanger at the end.
As usual, the Erev Shabbat reading is first:
The Sabbath day midrash may be about “what can we learn from this story?” It may even illustrate – again – that His ‘torah’ is about FAR more than just “law,” because here is another example of a parsha that doesn’t really have any statutes, or commandments, but does certainly have a lot of instruction for us it it. Especially now.
The Brit Chadasha reading this week comes largely from Romans chapter 10, where the contrast between what too many people have been mis-taught in sun-god-day skool and His Truth is almost shocking, especially when we consider the lessons of the tests Yosef set up for his brothers. Have they learned anything? Can the same people who sold him into slavery now be trusted?
And how about those who will eventually come to us when the lies and liars they trusted are revealed to be what they perhaps “knew, or should have known” they were? Can we discern between those who need our help, covering, blessing, and provision, and might even be His “malachim,” and “wolves in sheep’s clothing?”
“Miketz: Testing, Filtering, and Being Open to Surprises”
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha ‘Vayeshev’ (Genesis chapters 37 through 40) appears to be mostly the first installment in the life of Joseph, and at least an introduction to his brothers, but is far more. The story begins with a description of his dreams, which turn out to be not only a key component of his life, but the lesson as well.
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there:
In the Sabbath day midrash, Mark picks up with three of the primary themes from the reading, from some of what we are being taught about dreams, and their interpretation, to the elements of testing, and chastening, and growth that we see in the connected story of Judah, who becomes the father himself of a line of kings, including the Messiah, to… …the haftorah from the Book of the prophet Amos, which is particularly relevant this week.
Not only is there the obvious connection of Joseph being sold into slavery, but the insight into the point of prophecy itself.
And that is expanded in the related haftorah reading from Amos. Mark notes that the famous understanding from that prophet, “YHVH does nothing but that He does not reveal His secrets to His servants the prophets,” is just part of the connection. When the warnings have been given – and they have! – and even “the lion has roared,” so, “Who can BUT prophesy?”
“Vayeshev: His Plan, His Tools, and His Timing”
The combined two-part teaching is here, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
