TorahBytes...

Bo For the week of January 23, 2010 / 8 Shevat 5770 Torah: Shemot / Exodus 10:1 - 13:16 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28 Disaster Relief Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?" (Shemot / Exodus 10:7; ESV) The world has yet again experienced a great disaster - this time it is the devastating earthquake in Haiti. As it turns out, one of our adult daughters is actually there, and last we heard, she is fine. She is working with a small private school on a Youth with a Mission (YWAM) base in the city of St. Marc. The latest reports from the base director say that it looks as if they were able to open that city's port, and it may become an essential life line to the country. About 75 years ago, British writer and philosopher G.K. Chesterton wrote, "It isn't that they can't see the solution. It's that they can't see the problem." Chesterton's quote is crucially important for effective disaster relief. In order to help people in need, we must first understand what their needs really are. Otherwise we will find ourselves spending immeasurable time, energy, and money for nothing. Good intentions will accomplish nothing, if they are not based on an accurate assessment of the actual situation. This week's Torah portion includes the story of another horrible disaster: the ten plagues of Egypt. Due to Pharaoh's obstinacy, his country experienced devastating judgment from the hand of God. Pharaoh's servants understood Chesterton's word centuries before he ever lived. They knew why their country was suffering and they urged Pharaoh to take action accordingly. But it would take two more plagues, including the deaths of the firstborn sons, before Pharaoh would accept the problem for what it was and take appropriate action. Please note that I am not drawing a parallel between the ten plagues and Haiti, except to say that in order for Haiti to emerge well from this disaster, its leaders and people need to look at their problems with open eyes and honest hearts. That's in addition to the wisdom needed in providing effective and immediate disaster relief. The need to first discern the problem in order to provide the correct solution is a lesson for us all. I have been struck lately how the Scriptures dedicate far more space dealing with the problem of our alienation from God than it does on God's solution for that problem. It seems that we don't easily accept our need for God. We don't easily understand the depths of human depravity and don't readily accept responsibility for our wrongs. And so the Bible addresses this problem over and over again in so many ways. Once we accept our problem for what it is, then we are in a place to discover the solution. Once we accept that like Pharaoh we are under God's displeasure due to our wickedness, then we are in a place where we can receive God's disaster relief: the forgiveness for our sins through the sacrificial death of the Messiah. The human problem is not just a state of mind. Thinking better about ourselves will not automatically cause us to attain a greater standard of existence and behavior. The human problem is our alienation from God due to our rebellion against him. This is our disaster for which repentance and faith in Yeshua is the only relief. If you wish to know more on how to receive God's solution for your life, please contact me at comments@torahbytes.org. For regular updates about the relief work through the YWAM mission base in St Marc, Haiti, click here.

Loving Like Father...

As we have been doing Torah Studies with our children we are beginning to see the LOVE of Father...

Let me share it with you here:

Genesis (its Hebrew name is Bereisheet meaning “in the beginning”) is the book dealing
with beginnings and how YHVH in his divine power chose certain people to accomplish his
purposes on earth.

Exodus (Hebrew name: Shemot meaning “names”) is the book whose main theme is redemption
or salvation. In this case, it is about Israel’s deliverance or salvation from Egypt (Hebrew:
Mitzraim), which we shall see later is a spiritual picture of this evil world. In Exodus we learn just how YHVH saves his people out of the world (or spiritual Egypt) and we are shown that his people are redeemed in order to worship him. The steps of YHVH’s plan of redemption are laid out in Exodus 6:6–8.

Leviticus (Hebrew: Vayikra meaning “he [YHVH] called”) gives instructions on HOW to worship YHVH. YHVH didn’t just tell his people to leave Egypt and to go into the wilderness to worship him. He gave them specific instruction on how to do this in Leviticus. This book is like an instruction book or “how to” manual on worshiping YHVH.

Numbers (Hebrew: B’midbar meaning “in the wilderness”) gives instructions pertaining to our spiritual walk and warfare in the “wilderness” of life. Upon leaving Egypt, not only does Israel learn to worship YHVH, but life in the wilderness begins. The wilderness is a picture of our physical lives on this earth as we are headed for the spiritual Promised Land of YHVH’s eternal or forever spiritual kingdom. We must learn to overcome sin and temptations.
We must learn to fight the devil and those who follow him who will attack us. We become victorious overcomers by faith in YHVH (and in his Word—the Torah and Yeshua) who will provide for all of our needs and help us to fight our battles

Deuteronomy (Hebrew: D’varim meaning “words”) gives instructions
to the younger generation preparing them to enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy reviews the truths of the Torah, and adds some new Torah-laws, as well. In this book, we learn what our hearts should be like when obeying YHVH’s Torah (his instructions in righteousness). In it, YHVH predicts or prophesies
what will happen to Israel in the future IF they either obey or disobey his Torah-instructions.


WOW!! Did you know that the Torah had such promises that teach us of the LOVE of our ELohim and His son Yeshua the Messiah??

Will we be one of the chosen ones who bring forth the purposes He wants to accomplish on the earth as those in Genesis and love like Father?

Are we redeemed from spiritual Egypt? Have we given our lives and hearts to Yeshua in belief and then chosen to walk out that faith by following His commands?
When we do this we are redeemed and He has set us apart to worship Him; giving freely His love to others..!

Father loves us and didn't leave us hanging without instructions on how to worship Him. In Leviticus we find instructions on just what YHVH expects.

Then Father gives us instructions on how to live our lives here on earth.. We come to Yeshua in belief and faith and then we ask, "What do you want of me Elohim?" Where do I go from here?" "How can I make what I believe, my faith active and living?" We are pointed to Yeshua and his words, "If you love me, you will obey my commands." We can find those commands as YHVH gave them to us in Numbers. Did you know that Yeshua kept the Torah perfectly? Did you know He kept all the Biblical Feasts? Yeshua set an example for us...the LOVE of Father through His son! Can we show the LOVE of Father by obeying Him??

In Deuteronomy we find more instructions but also WONDERFUL promises given to us His people who because of our belief in Yeshua have also become Abraham's seed! If you haven't read the promises given to us I challenge you to go and read the promises YHVH gave if we will but follow Him and His ways; not our own..

Father loves us and through His word we see an amazing plan begin to unfold...

Let us LOVE as Father does! Let us seek His truths through His word! I pray that YHVH's love for YOU will be clearly shown as you seek Him in His whole Word...

What glorious love we have been given! Too amazing to comprehend! And with it a chance to LOVE like Father does!

Are you up for the challenge??

Multitude Mondays; Gratitude

31. beauty marks on my tummy that remind me of the gift of life..


32. La'Chaim (LIFE)

33. a dh who buys me roses

34. chiropractors that pop me back into normal

35. the smiling faces of my children!

36. body parts that stretch (can you imagine if they didn't!??)

37. home fellowship

38. lessons learned through trials

39. ankles that aren't swollen..

40. appliances (a homemakers friend!!) that actually work!

Blessings!!!

8 new things

8 new things I would like to learn....

how to fly..

to crochet...

how to make latte's that taste as good as those at Starbucks..

to homeschool my children better than I do now..

how to make it up a huge hill without stopping on my bike..

to be a better friend to my wonderful dh..

to have the patience of Job..

and not to rush ahead without faithfully praying beforehand...

Walk With Him; Listening for His Voice..

Endless days sometimes wear on me. Day's where the beginning and the end blur..
I find myself overwhelmed and hungry for His presence..

I find I need more of Him and less of me..

Dreams that remind me of the hurt and callousness..but make the here and now more beautiful!

This family Elohim has given me. A woman so unworthy.

I stop and take a breath..life has just moved. Bumps and kicks..

A sweet reminder of a blessing given me by Father..even to this unworthy woman..

I hear His voice through new life within..

Such precious smiles and baby blues here in front of me...

Again He speaks to me.

My sweet dh's voice in my ears, whispering "I love you Puttycat"

In the midst of work and stress I find peace.

I find it in the voice of my Saviour; Yeshua..

He does not leave me comfortless..

There is even words for me if I stop to listen!

Mothers..

When the good L-rd was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of overtime when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddlings around on this one."

The L-rd said, "Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have 180 movable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that disappears when she stands up, a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands? No way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the L-rd. " It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The L-rd nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't-but what she has to know. And, of course, the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, 'I understand and I love you,' without so much as uttering a word."

"L-rd," said the angel, touching His sleeve gently, "come to bed. Tomorrow-"

"I can't," said the L-rd. "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly and sighed. "It's too soft."

"But tough!" said the L-rd excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure."

"Can it think?"

"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"It's not a leak," said the L-rd. "It's a tear."

"What's it for?"

"It's for joy, sadness disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."

"You are a genius," said the angel.

-Erma Bombeck, 1974


Thank you L-rd for creating mothers! We have worth! We are valuable! Our job is precious in the sight of our L-rd and King!

Multitude Mondays; Gratitude

21. comfy maternity pants; so important as the belly and other areas grow...LOL! :)

22. worship music

23. groceries when the pantry is empty

24. libraries

25. health

26. healing of friendships

27. family

28. real people

29. doors on bathrooms

30. snow plows


This week's Torah reading cycle;

Parashat
Vayechi

Genesis 47:28–50:26

This is the link to the Torah Study we do throughout the week as a family for devotion time before bed;
http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/parshiot.html#parshiot_studies

This is this week's taken from the website given above...

Great Discoveries in This Week’s Parashah (Torah Portion)

—47:28 The End of Jacob’s Life Draws Near; His Last Wishes
—48:1 Jacob’s Sickness
—48:8 Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
—49:1 Jacob Blesses His Twelve Sons
—49:29 Jacob’s Final Request and Death
—50:1 Mourning for Jacob; Joseph Receives Permission to Bury Jacob in the Promised Land;
the Trip Back to Canaan
—50:15 Joseph’s Brothers Fear for Their Lives and Joseph Reassures Them
—50:22 The Rest of Joseph’s Life; Joseph’s Last Prophetic Words to Israel; His Death at 110
Years of Age

Exploring This Week’s Parashah: The Twelve Tribes of Israel

1 The Twelve Tribes of Israel Throughout the Scriptures
The twelve tribes of Israel are an important theme in the Scriptures and are listed numerous
times from Genesis to Revelation. We first meet the twelve tribes in Genesis 29, then
again in Genesis 35. They are listed again in Genesis 49 when the dying Jacob prays a prophetic
blessing over each of his sons. While praying over his twelve sons, Jacob under the
inspiration of the Spirit of Elohim foretells or predicts what will happen to each of their
tribes in the future. The tribes are listed eight more times during Israel’s wandering in the
wilderness (Exodus 1; Numbers 1, 2, 13, 26, 34; Deuteronomy 27 and 33), after Israel had
entered the promised land (Joshua 13; Judges 5), during Israel’s kingdom years (1 Chronicles
2, 12 and 27), by the prophet Ezekiel with regard to a future prophecy (Ezekiel 48) and in
the Book of Revelation (chapter 7).
Elsewhere in the Bible, the term “twelve tribes” is mentioned, although they are not always
listed by their individual names.

55(a) Did Yeshua believe that the 12 tribes of Israel would disappear never to be heard from again? (See Matthew 10:5-8 and 15:24.) What did Yeshua promise his disciples with regard to the 12 tribes of Israel? (Read Matthew 19:28.)

55(b) Did Paul the apostle and the writer of much of the Apostolic Scriptures (or New Testament) believe that the 12 tribes of Israel would disappear never to be heard from again? (Read Acts 26:6–8.)

55(c) Did James believe that the 12 tribes of Israel would disappear never to be heard from again? (Read James 1:1.)

55(d) Did John the apostle and the author of five books in the Apostolic Scriptures believe that the 12 tribes of Israel would disappear never to be heard from again? What did he say about them regarding the soon-to-come New Jerusalem? (Read Revelation 21:12.)
2 Let’s Explore Some Other References to 12 Tribes of Israel?

55(e) What did Yeshua instruct his disciples that their ministry should be regarding the tribes of Israel? (Read Matthew 10:6; 15:24.)

55(f) With regard to the 12 tribes of Israel, what was on the minds of the disciples just before Yeshua ascended to heaven for the last time? (Read Acts 1:6.)

55(g) What did Peter say in Acts 3:21 must happen first before Yeshua can return to this earth? What did he mean by the “restitution” or “restoration” of all things? Could this have anything to do with the disciples’ last question to Yeshua in Acts 1:6 about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel—that is, that a king of Israel would once again rule over the 12 tribes like David once did?

55(h) Read Ezekiel 37:15–28. This is a prophecy
that hasn’t happened yet. If the Bible is the Word of Elohim, then this prophecy has to be fulfilled. When? It will happen when David is king again over the twelve tribes of Israel. Where is David today? (Read Acts 2:29.) When does David come back to life again? (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18.) When does the resurrection
of the dead occur? Has the second coming of Yeshua happened yet? Now go back to Ezekiel 37. What do verses 26–28 say? Has this happened yet? Has YHVH set his temple, tabernacle or dwelling place among men yet?

55(i) Now read Ephesians 2:11–19. What does Paul say the Gentiles have to do and become
part of if they are to have a relationship with Elohim? (Notice verse 12 where it says which commonwealth, nation or citizenship Gentiles must become part of, and through a spiritual relationship with Yeshua, they become part of the family of Elohim (verses 13–19).
3 Who Is Israel According to Jacob? (Genesis 48:14 and 16)

55(j) Read Genesis 48:1–20.
The disciples became fishers of men
(Israelite “fish” lost in the sea of humanity).

Can you imagine your father or grandfather praying a special prayer-blessing over you where he would tell you what was going to happen to you in the future, and in the future of your children and grandchildren and beyond? Imagine that what he was praying over you had the inspiration and authority of YHVH behind it, which means that prayer-blessing was GOING TO COME TO PASS no matter what! That’s what Jacob did when he prayed over his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

When Jacob was laying his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh to bless them in Genesis 48, he crossed his arms. Then in verse 16 he speaks of the “Angel/Messenger [from heaven] that redeemed me from evil.” What Jacob is referring to here is something that happened to him in Genesis 31:11–13 when the One who would later became Yeshua the Messiah told him to leave Laban and to return to the Promised Land. That Messenger was El (short for Elohim), and he protected Jacob and his family on their return trip to Canaan and delivered them from all their enemies (Laban and Esau) who wanted to kill them. Jacob said that El (who we know became Yeshua) redeemed or saved him from all evil.

55(k) Who is the Savior or Redeemer who saves man from all evil? If you’re not sure, then read Titus 2:14; Romans 4:25; Galatians 1:3–4.

55(l) Not only did Jacob speak about Yeshua the Redeemer who was the future Messiah to come, but he did something interesting with his arms. Read Genesis 48:14 and see how he laid his arms on Ephraim and Manasseh. What symbol did he make with his arms?

When Jacob crossed his arms, he made the sign of the ancient paleo Hebrew letter tav, which looks something like our “t” or “x”. The letter tav was a picture-symbol that meant “a mark, sign, ownership,
to seal, to make a covenant, to join two things together.”

55(m) Are you getting the picture of what this all points to? If you’re not quite sure what we’re talking about, we’ll give you a gigantic hint: What was Yeshua crucified on?

That’s the symbol Jacob made over his grandsons. When Yeshua spilled his blood at the cross to pay for your sins, the Bible says that he bought you with his blood and that you now belong to him. (Read 1 Peter 1:18–20.) The cross is Yeshua’s mark of ownership over his people.
Finally, there is one more clue that we want to look at that is found in Genesis 48:16. Jacob prophesies that the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh would grow to be a large multitude
of people in the midst of the earth. The Jewish rabbis teach us that the Hebrew here literally means that they would become like fish in the sea of humanity.

55(n) Now let’s ask the clincher question. Jacob prophesied that Ephraim and Manasseh’s descendants would have a Messiah who would be their Redeemer and Savior. He made the sign of the cross over them, and ended up by saying that they’d be like fish. What religious group on earth today preaches about a Divine
Messenger from heaven who is God (Elohim), speaks about a cross and has a fish as their symbol? That is who Jacob said that many of his grandson’s descendants would be.

4 Who Is Israel According to the Apostle Paul?

The Apostle Paul says in a number of places that those who come to Yeshua used to be Gentiles
(non-Israelites, heathens, pagans or people who belong to the nations of the world), but once they come to Yeshua they are now Israelites.

55(o) Read what Paul says about this in Ephesians 2:11–19. Read it slowly several times to get the meaning of what he is saying. You may need your parent or teacher to help you to understand what Paul is literally saying here.

55(p) Then in several places, Paul says that those who believe in Yeshua and have repented
of their sins have become the sons of Abraham. (Read Romans 4:16; 9:8–11 and Galatians 3:7, 9, 14, 28.) What does Paul says in Galatians 3:29?
In Galatians 3:29, Paul makes a very amazing statement. He says that those who come to Messiah are the seed or offspring of Abraham. The Greek word for “seed” or “offspring” is “sperma” meaning “sperm” or one who is a literal descendant or children of someone—in this case, Abraham. What Paul was saying here is that many believers in Yeshua would be actual descendants or children of Abraham from all 12 tribes of Israel.
5 There Is No Gentile Gate

55(q) Now go and read Revelation 21:12 where we find a wonderful description of the glorious
New Jerusalem, which will come down from heaven. How many gates are there, and what are their names? Note that there is no gate called the “Gentile Gate.” Only redeemed Israelites (those who know Yeshua as their Savior and Redeemer) will be able to enter the New Jerusalem. All twelve tribes of Israel will be a part of the New Jerusalem.
6 No Covenants Made With the Gentile Nations
Finally, as we trace the twelve tribes of Israel from the beginning of the Bible in Genesis to the very end of the Bible in Revelation, let’s note one more important truth about Israel. In past Torah Explorers, we have learned that YHVH makes covenants or promises with man. In fact, he doesn’t do anything without making an agreement with men. We have seen that he made an agreement with Abraham called the Abrahamic Covenant. He then made another agreement with Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai called the Mosaic or Sinaitic Covenant.
Israel broke their promises they made to YHVH at Mount Sinai and worshipped pagan gods and disobeyed YHVH’s Torah. So YHVH promised in the future to make another agreement with some future Israelites whose hearts would be right and would love and obey him forever.

55(r) Read about this renewed covenant in Jeremiah 31:31–33. With whom would he make this future covenant? With Israelites or with Gentiles?

55(s) Now go to the Apostolic Scriptures and read Hebrews 8:8, where the writer is quoting
from Jeremiah 31:31–33. The writer of Hebrews is talking about believers in Yeshua—or what we would now call, born-again believers. Is there any mention here that YHVH would make a new covenant with Gentiles? With whom does he make it? Does that mean that YHVH must consider his end-time saints to be Israelites?

55(t) If Yeshua is your Master and Savior, are you a Gentile or an Israelite, according to what we have been studying above?
YHVH and Israel

The point of this Torah Explorers study has been to show that the 12 tribes of Israel DID NOT just go away and disappear. They are at the center of YHVH’s plan and purpose all the way to the very second coming of Yeshua and even beyond that into eternity in the New Jerusalem. The 12 tribes literally become the spiritual family of YHVH Elohim, which are his adopted sons and daughters who will live with him forever in his spiritual kingdom.

55(u) Read Romans 8:14–16; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1–2. In your own words, briefly summarize what is being said in these verses that you have just read.

55(v) If you believe in love and obey Yeshua, then you are an Israelite
and have a place in his forever kingdom. HOW does this make you feel? If you don’t know Yeshua, love and obey him, then what do you need to do?

No Yeshua, no joy!
But know Yeshua, know joy!

Good-bye 2009...

2009 is almost done! Today is the last day and tomorrow will begin a new year. I am hoping for great things in 2010! I can't wait to ring in the new year!

A recap of my last year:

moved into our new home in Feb.
lost a baby to m/c in March; broke my heart..:(
went through a very hard emotional trial that lasted almost all year..left me more broken..
got pg again in August..so blessed!!!
was surprised with a brand new bike from my dh
started a new exercise with my family; bike riding on the trail near our home
continued with my weight loss until August
begin attending home fellowship in April
learned alot about myself; not all of it good but not all of it bad
learned alot about friendship and what I want and need in a friend
let the L-rd G-d change me in some areas
made new friends!!
went to Chicago for the first time!!
fell more in love with my dh!!
went to MN and saw our dear friends!
started a new curriculum in homeschooling
have an 18 yr. old, 13 yr. old, 11, yr old, 9 yr. old, 4 yr. old, 2 yr. old, 7 yr. old, 6 yr. old, and 12 yr. old; all new ages this past year..
started feeling baby ahava move
belly grew
started co-leading a homeschool group
met wonderful homeschool mamas
finally feel like I have come home; love it here!
dh got a new work vehicle from his boss
went to MI for a weekend camping trip
found out my teeth need lots of work and it will cost way too much money!! :(
started our homeschool schedule 3 weeks on 1 week off; it's working great!
learned more about Torah
learned more about Yah!!...he is healing my heart!
celebrated chanukah for our 8th year
made lots of new memories; some not so great and others..WONDERFUL!!
read new books and gained more insight
reconnected with old friends

There's my list..what's yours??

Happy New Year!!!