Question 20: Did Abraham see YHVH in one of the Three Men Who visited him?

Answer:

There is doubtless difficulty in reconciling the passage in Genesis 18 with the statement in John 1:18, that "No man hath seen YHVH at any time." Authorities regarded the Genesis passage as relating to one of the "theophanies" of the Old Testament; that is, a real appearance of YHVH to man. It is believed however, that these appearances were of Moshiach the Son, rather than YHVH the Father. The New Testament teaches that Moshiach existed co-eternally with the Father and it is not inconceivable that He would at times take the appearance of humanity when He wished specially to make Himself known to men. This explanation reconciles all these occurrences with the statement of John that no one has seen YHVH; that is, YHVH the Father. Moshiach is the Personal manifestation of YHVH to man.

Question 19: What were the meaning and result of Abraham’s sacrifice:
Answer:
The story of Abraham will ever be an important one and particularly that part of it dealing with the memorable doings at the place he named "YHVH Yireh," where, as related in Genesis 22, he showed his wonderful obedience to YHVH. Whatever may be conjectured to the contrary, the record in Genesis is clear and unmistakable. It was a test of Abraham's faith in YHVH. Some critics want to know why, if YHVH is all knowing, he should have said to Abraham: "For now I know that thou fearest YHVH" (Genesis 22:12). The problem of foreknowledge is an extremely difficult one and discussion about it is usually fruitless. YHVH in this case speaks of the test of Abraham as though it had been an experiment. He proved him and found him firm in faith and perfect in obedience. It was in obedience to the Elohiym's command that he stood ready to offer up his son Isaac and not because he himself had chosen such a sacrifice, in order to be like his idolatrous neighbours, who offered up their children to Molech. Genesis 22:2 dismisses this latter suggestion altogether. The immediate effect of Abraham's successful test was the great blessing which YHVH bestowed on him (verse 16), which, together with YHVH's covenant, made Abraham the most important Biblical character and his name better known than that of any other human being on earth. All the promises to Abraham have been fulfilled, except the return of his descendants to the Promised Land. His seed is past all reckoning. Not only have all the Jews been his offspring, but believers as well are in a sense his spiritual children. Their faith in Moshiach brings them into his family and makes them heirs of the promises made to him. The land of Canaan was promised to his seed forever. Since they are not in possession of it now, we must believe they will return, as many other prophecies also declare. The promise was however, not made to Abraham alone, but to him and his seed, which includes Moshiach -- to the literal Israel and also to the spiritual Israel. The complete fulfilment of the covenant awaited the coming of Moshiach, "the seed," concerning whom it was made. See Galatians 3:16.

Question 18: Was John the only writer of Revelation?

Answer:

This question has been long disputed by scholars. Dionysius, in A. D. 240, was one of the earliest to express a doubt. It was attributed to John Mark, the companion of Paul and Barnabas and the author of the Gospel of Mark; to John the Presbyter, to Cerinthus and others. The majority of German scholars agree with Luther in denying that Revelation was written by the apostle. On the other hand, there is internal evidence of John's authorship. His description of himself is in the manner of John. The apostle was the only man of prominence of that name who was banished to Patmos. The addresses to the seven churches of Asia show knowledge of them consistent with the fact that the apostle was their overseer. On the whole therefore, there seems good reason to believe that it was written by the Apostle John. The differences in the style of the Gospel and the Revelation, which are very marked, doubtless first gave rise to the doubt of the apostolic authorship. These are accounted for by the age of the author and by his perturbation of mind under the excitement of the visions.

Question 17: What are the famous songs of the Bible?
Answer:
The great songs of the Old Testament, besides the Psalms and certain metrical passages in Job, are: Lamech's Sword Song -- Genesis 4:23, 24; Noah's Song – Genesis 9:25-27; Moses' and Miriam's Song -- Exodus 15:1-19,21; War Songs, etc., -- Numbers 21:14, 15, 17, 18, 27-30; Moses' Prophetic Song -- Deuteronomy 32:1-43; Song of Deborah and Barak -- Judges 5:2-21; Samson's Riddle Song -- Judges 15:16; Hannah's Magnification -- 1 Samuel 2:1-10; David's Song of the Bow -- 2 Samuel 1:19-27; David's Song over Abner -- 2 Sam. 3:33, 34; David's Thanksgiving -- 1 Chronicles 16:8-36; Hezekiah's Song -- Isaiah 38:10-20; Jonah's Prayer Song -- Jonah 2:2-9; 26; Habakkuk's Prayer Song -- Habakkuk 3:2-19; and the four original songs in the New Testament -- Luke 1:46-55; Luke 1:68-80; Luke 2:14; Luke 2:20-33.

Frequently asked questions and answers:
Question 16: What are the omitted Books of the Bible?
Answer:
The excluded books are known as "Apocrypha," and are as follows: 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, several chapters of Esther which are found neither in the Hebrew nor the Chaldean, The Wisdom of Solomon, The Wisdom of Joshua, son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, The Song of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susanna, The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon, The Prayer of Manasseh, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees. They were excluded by the early believers Church on the ground that they were of doubtful authority and not tending to spiritual edification. This decision has never been reversed, although in some periods of the Church's history a number of the apocryphal writings were published in smaller type after the regular books in the Bible. At one time the volume of apocryphal writings was even larger than the genuine but very many of them, being rejected, quickly perished.

"Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire."

Lk 3

Thought for Today: Tuesday January 07

Our Moshiach wanted people to see, to see far and to see truly. To get that kind of vision requires avoidance of hypocrisies and group prejudice which distort the vision and make people imagine they see things, what is not really there.

FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – B’SHALLACH:

Then Mosheh and the children of Yisra’el sang this song to YHWH, and spoke, saying, I sing to YHWH, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

Yah is my strength and song, and He has become my deliverance. He is my Ěl, and I praise Him – Elohim of my father, and I exalt Him.

YHWH is a man of battle, YHWH is His Name.

He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea, and his chosen officers are drowned in the Sea of Reeds.

The depths covered them, they went down to the bottom like a stone.

Your right hand, O YHWH, has become great in power. Your right hand, O YHWH, has crushed the enemy.

And in the greatness of Your excellence You pulled down those who rose up against You. You sent forth Your wrath, it consumed them like stubble.

And with the wind of Your nostrils the waters were heaped up, the floods stood like a wall, the depths became stiff in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, I pursue, I overtake, I divide the spoil, my being is satisfied on them. I draw out my sword, my hand destroys them.

You did blow with Your wind, the sea covered them, they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like You, O YHWH, among the mighty ones? Who is like You, great in set-apartness, awesome in praises, working wonders?

You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them.

In Your mercy You led the people whom You have redeemed, in Your strength You guided them to Your set-apart dwelling.

Peoples heard, they trembled, anguish gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.

Then the chiefs of Edom were troubled, the mighty men of Mo’av, trembling grips them, all the inhabitants of Kena’an melted.

Fear and dread fell on them, by the greatness of Your arm they are as silent as a stone, until Your people pass over, O YHWH, until the people, whom You have bought, pass over.

You bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O YHWH, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the set-apart place, O YHWH, which Your hands have prepared.

YHWH reigns forever and ever.

FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – B’SHALLACH:

This is true faith through obedience:

“And on the day that the Dwelling Place was raised up, the cloud covered the Dwelling Place, the Tent of the Witness. From evening until morning it was above the Dwelling Place like the appearance of fire. Thus it was continually: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud was taken up from above the Tent, after that the children of Yisra’el would depart. And in the place where the cloud dwelt, there the children of Yisra’el would camp. At the mouth of YHWH the children of Yisra’el departed, and at the command of YHWH they camped. They remained camped as long as the cloud dwelt above the Dwelling Place. Even when the cloud lingered many days above the Dwelling Place, the children of Yisra’el guarded the Charge of YHWH, and did not depart. And so it was, when the cloud was above the Dwelling Place a few days: according to the mouth of YHWH they camped, and according to the mouth of YHWH they would depart. And so it was, when the cloud dwelt only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they departed. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they departed. Whether two days, or a new moon or a year that the cloud lingered above the Dwelling Place to dwell upon it, the children of Yisra’el camped, and did not depart. But when it was taken up, they departed. At the mouth of YHWH they camped, and at the mouth of YHWH they departed. They guarded the Charge of YHWH, at the mouth of YHWH by the hand of Moshe.”

“And it came to be, whenever the ark set out, that Moshe said, ‘Rise up, O YHWH! And let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You!’ And when it rested, he said, ‘Return, O YHWH, to the countless thousands of Yisra’el!”

“Then Yeshua said to His taught ones, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his [tent] stake, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he gains all the world, and loses his own life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Adam is going to come in the esteem of his Father with His messengers, and then He shall reward each according to his works.’”

“And passing by, he saw Lewi the son of Alphai sitting at the tax office, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And having risen he followed him. And it came to be, as he sat at the table at his house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat with Yeshua and his taught ones, for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to his taught ones, ‘Why does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ And hearing this, Yeshua said to them, ‘Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.’”

“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, ‘Excellent Teacher, what shall I do to inherit everlasting life?’ So Yeshua said to him, ‘Why do you call me excellent? No one is excellent except One – Elohim. You know the commands, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Respect your father and your mother…’ And he said, ‘All these I have watched over from my youth.’ And hearing this, Yeshua said to him, ‘Yet one you lack: Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.’ But when he heard this, he became intensely sad, for he was extremely rich. And when Yeshua saw that he became intensely sad, he said, ‘How hard it is for those who have money to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim! For it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim.’ And those who heard it said, ‘And who is able to be saved?’ And he said, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with Elohim.’ And Kepha said, ‘See, we have left all and followed you!’ And he said to them, ‘Amein, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of Elohim, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come everlasting life.’”

THIS WEEKEND IS SHABBATH SHYRA

Shabbath Shyra is the Shabbath on or before Tu B’shevat. It literally means “Shabbath of the Song.” It is so named because it falls on the Shabbath of parashath B’shellach, which includes Shirat Hayam, the song that the Yisraelites sang after they crossed the Yam Suf(Sea of Reeds). It opens with the words, “I will sing to YHWH, for YHWH has triumphed wondrously; horse and rider YHWH has hurled into the sea,” and ends with, “YHWH will reign forever and ever.”

The readings for this day are: Sh’moth (Exodus) 13:17-17:16.