Torah Teaching for Parsha “Beshalach”

Act II of ‘the Exodus’ (parsha ‘Beshalach,” Exodus/Shemot 13:17 through chapter 17) begins immediately after the last of the plagues, when Pharoah has let the people go; actually – kicked them out, “shalach”, or expelled, is how the Hebrew puts it.

And it certainly is the beginning of a whole new phase in the saga.

But that central theme of how we are all to know that “ki ani YHVH” – or “I AM Yahuah” – not only continues, but is demonstrated: Graphically, undeniably, and miraculously.
As the Erev Shabbat reading outlines:

In the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship observes that there are several specific places — and ALL of them PRIOR to the giving of the “Ten Commandments” at Mt. Sinai — where YHVH gives not only a “statute and an ordinance,” but detailed “instruction” (aka ‘torah’).

Which is a problem for the “Whore Church” claim that it is only the ‘Ten Commandments’ that still matter — all those others were just for a limited time, or for ‘the jews’, or for any number of constructed excuses for not recognizing what He means when He said that He did not come to change so much as the tiniest bit of His Instruction, any of it, so long as heaven and earth still exist. If we claim to “love Him,” it matters.

Beshalach: “And ALL of this is Before Sinai”

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Bo”

The final part of what might be called “Act I” of ‘the Exodus’ (parsha Bo, Exodus/Shemot 10:1 – 13:16) concludes with the final set of the ‘3 sets of 3, plus one’ plagues, and the ‘death of the firstborn. But there is much more, because it also lays out the first of what are the Moedim, or Appointed Times, of YHVH, and what is not only the most dramatic, but so fundamental to all of Scripture, even if much of ‘the church’ may have become disconnected from the ‘why’.

It again bgins with what Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship contends is THE key understanding in the Book, and of the Creator Himself, “ki ani YHVH,” (no, not “I am the LORD,” but His real Name, and just how he makes very clear what that means.)

It is also clear that this final plague is very different from the others that precede it, as the Erev Shabbat reading outlines:

This is the story of the first Pesach, or Passover. Our fathers’ fathers were supposed to “teach your children.” It was YHVH’s first demonstrated ‘moed,’ or of His ‘Appointed Times.’ And He gave Instruction about it — to remember it, to set it apart, “forever,” and “throughout your generations.” So what happened?

The Sabbath Day midrash begins with a question, and it’s one that may even be overlooked today:

Bo: “What is all this concern about the Firstborn?”

The answer will help a Whole Lot of the pieces to fall into place.

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Vayeira”

Part II of the story of ‘the Exodus’ (Vayeira, Exodus/Shemot 6:2 through chapter 9) begins with what Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship contends is THE key understanding in the Book, and of the Creator Himself, “ki ani YHVH,” and the fact that He will NOW make that known. It is not that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had never heard that Name, just that He did “not make Himself KNOWN” to them as He is now about to do.

And that includes the first of the “Ten Plagues” of Egypt, although, they are probably better thought of as the “Three sets of three, plus one,” that is different from the others:

Over a number of years of teaching this parsha, Mark has focused on the intriguing patterns among the plagues, and the progression, all of which may well be a harbinger of what we might see during the prophesied “Greater Exodus” to come, the and fact that the plagues are each ‘judgments’ (or even humiliations) of the fake gods of Egypt by the Real One.

He also does not fail to note the “conflation” about Pharaoh’s heart being “hardened,” either by himself, or later on, by YHVH — because there are TWO different Hebrew words used for what happened, but the distinction is often lost in most English translations.

But in the Sabbath Day midrash this time, Mark suggests that current events, including things we have already seen that point to elements of prophecy already making headlines, take us back to the central issue of what makes us human: Free Will. Choice.

Did Pharaoh have it? Shaul, or Paul, in Romans chapter 9, addressed the issue with his famous metaphor of the potter, and his clay, which doesn’t get to ask whether it will be formed into a “vessel for honor,” or the equivalent of an ashtray, destined for something very different.

And is it just possible that the “closing bracket” set of plagues might end up being directed at what we might think of as an “Artificial Intelligence” version of a Skynet Pharaoh?

Does such a creation even have “free will?” Did Pharaoh, at least at some point? And, when did his ‘choice’ become a terminal commitment?

Vayeira: When Does “Free-Will” Become Terminal?

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Shemot”

The weekly Torah portion reading this week is the first in the story of the Exodus, aka “Shemot” in the Hebrew, which also begins the story of the life of Moses (Moshe) — Exodus/Shemot 1:1 through 6:2. And these few chapters seem to cover a period of over two centuries, a descent into “cruel bondage” from a life of plenty in the land of Goshen, and fully two-thirds of the life of the man “drawn from the water.”

Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship, in the Sabbath Day midrash, notes up front that this story picks up after what is generally recognized as at least two centuries of silence from Scripture. And the story hinges on the advent of a new king, who “knew NOT Joseph.” And even after some genealogy, the stunning (to some, certainly!) story of midwives who didn’t read Romans 13, and a few verses about the birth of Moses, and his salvation by being “drawn out of the water,” it’s also true that the first eighty years of his life are given only a little ink in the Book, compared to the detail about what follows, in just the final third of his life.

So it’s fascinating to examine just WHAT Scripture has us focus on during those years. There are things said, things that have a startlingly similar pattern, and things UNSAID, but which still resonate, because we can arguably see the concerning parallels right now.

And there’s a question that emerges, too.

Shemot: Where are the MEN?

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “VaYechi”

Torah parsha ‘Vayechi’ (Genesis/Bereshiet 47:28 – End) this week is the final reading in the Book of Genesis, and not only concludes the stories of the life of Yakov, and his son Joseph in particular, but sets the stage for the Exodus to come.

The Erev Shabbat reading lays out the story, and also the final adoption – literally – of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the structure of the ‘twelve tribes’ that underlie the rest of Scripture, both historically and prophetically:

The Sabbath Day midrash this week addresses the ‘elephant in the room,’ that follows so many of the aspects of this story of Genesis as it concludes:

  • Yakov/Jacob “adopts” the two sons of Joseph, not only giving him their ‘double-portion’ in the inheritance, and replacing Reuben in that place, but setting up the second (after Judah) in what will be the line of kings, in this case of the Northern Kingdom, and so much of what seems to follow in later history.
  • After the death of Jacob, the brothers STILL don’t seem to “get it,” and understand that Joseph did not intend to punish them for their treachery so many years earlier. But that theme also resonates later – in that “there arose another king in Egypt,” who “did not know Joseph.”

And Mark Call, of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship, outlines why THAT is still ever so true!

VaYechi: They STILL Don’t ‘Know Him’

ADDENDUM:
The normal Q&A that largely follows the midrash is a bit different this week, since the stunning attack on Venezuela and capture of the communist dictator Maduro happened overnight, and was largely complete by the time the Sabbath session took place. It doesn’t ‘flow’ with the majority of the Torah reading, but is important, and will be of interest, as it was to those in the room, and so is included here. There are also MAJOR aspects most Americans have NOT been informed about:

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “VaYigash”

The Torah reading this week is the final installment in the ‘cliffhanger’ series, of the story of Yosef, or Joseph, where he reveals himself to his brothers, afterJudah ‘mans up.’

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “VaYigash,” Genesis chapters 44:18 – 47:27:

The Sabbath Day midrash begins with the climax of that historic test. But Judah seems to complete it in a way that astounded even Joseph. And Mark suggests that is what is so significant here. Neither of them, nor the other brothers, knew how it would turn out, or even what was expected. Only YHVH, Who brought it all together, in His time.

But that is one way of understanding what a “double-blind test” is: If any of the direct participants really know what is going on, that might affect the behavior, and thus the outcome of the test.

How’s that for a metaphor?

And, if you think about it, that is the very OPPOSITE of the concept of Chess!

But it’s “part and parcel” of the Spiritual War in progress, and clearly a vital understanding on the path ahead.

VaYigash: Double-blind tests Outright War’

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Miketz”

The Torah reading this week continues the story of Yosef, or Joseph, where it picks up in prison, after he has interpreted two dreams, for Pharaoh’s chief butler, and baker. Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Miketz,” Genesis chapter 41 through 44:17, where, after two full years, the story begins with a pair of dreams that Pharaoh himself has.

The Erev Shabbat reading:

The Sabbath Midrash explores the nature of ‘tests’. The parsha starts with “after two full years,” suggesting that Joseph was required to wait on YHVH, and the rest of the story is replete with tests.

Which is where we are now.

Miketz: Tests – of Faith, of Leadership, and Those Who Would Be His

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Vayeshev”

The Torah reading this week begins the story of Yosef, or Joseph, favored son of Yaakov. Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Vayeshev,” Genesis chapters 37 through 40, where the story begins, and builds on dreams.

The Erev Shabbat reading:

While this parsha contains a number of ‘nuggets’, or memorable elements, images, and component lessons, the midrash suggests that even the structure of the story is all about a ‘long-term’ plan of YHVH. This reading itself is only just the beginning of a series of what might be called “cliff-hangers,” where we see, as do Yosef and his brothers, that structure being put in place for what is to come. In any number of ways…

Vayeshev: ‘Two Dreams, Two Witnesses – Who can BUT Prophesy’

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Vayishlach”

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Vayishlach,” Genesis 32:4 through chapter 36) the story of Yakov/Jacob as he finally returns to Beit El, and a ‘reunion’ with his estranged brother, Esau.

The Erev Shabbat reading:

That story has lessons enough, but there is an extended genealogy of Esau’s side of the family that might seem out of place, given the reminder that “Yakov I have loved, Esau I have hated,” says YHVH. And there are certainly a number of prophecies – arguably yet to be fulfilled – about the ultimate demise of the descendants of that line.

So who, or what, is Esau? As Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa documents in the midrash, there are no shortages of opinions on that score. But we have certainly been warned.

Vayishlach: ‘The Long Genealogy of Esau – and Two Houses’

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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Torah Teaching for Parsha “Vayetzi”

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Vayetzi,” Genesis 28:10-32:3) the story of Yakov/Jacob as he journeys to the land of his father’s family, is told first-hand of his birthright and the promises, and acquires his own wives and family.

The Erev Shabbat reading:

Mark’s Sabbath Day midrash probably raises more questions than it answers. Most of which are, at best, ambiguous from what we are told in the story. But these are human beings, of course — flawed people, who make mistakes — and thus more interesting and even relevant to where we find ourselves today. Yakov married daughters of Laban. While certainly not Canaanites, Laban himself is hardly a saint. And why did Raqel/Rachel steal his teraphim, fake gods?

There is a lot of setup here: The man who is forced to leave home to escape his own brother’s wrath soon comes to a place he’s almost certainly HEARD about, but suddenly – He sees first hand and KNOWS about those promises. What was hypothetical is Real. And yet there are still struggles ahead, and the man who asked for, and received, the place of the firstborn is deceived himself, because “it is not done so here,” to put the younger in place of the first-born.

Ultimately, Laban seems to take advantage of his son-in-law. There is animosity. He is, after all is said and done, still a pagan.

And that, too, is just as relevant now as ever.

Vayetzi: ‘Flawed people and Hard Questions: Do you Love Messiah more than Bacon?’

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.

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