Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #1: B’resheit (In the Beginning) B’resheit (Genesis) 1:1-6:8
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 42:5-21
B’rit Chadashah: Matthew 1:1-17; 19:3-9
Beginning a new cycle of studying G-d’s Torah I am reminded of the Theme from Love Story: “Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a love can be?” Indeed this is the challenge presented to every teacher of G-d’s Torah when attempting to decide what subject should be covered in a book that describes the creation of the universe and the One who created it. The problem is that there is so much material, the Torah teacher must choose what to include and what to leave out.
In my quest to narrow the content of my commentary today, I was led to draw the line at what is crucial to our salvation and what is better left for additional study and discussion. Accordingly, I am going to focus on 1)G-d as the Author and Creator of the entire universe and everything in it including evil (Is. 45:7),2) the introduction the perpetual battle between good and evil (3:1)the fallen angels (6:1-2),3) the imputed sin of Adam representing all mankind that would change the relationship of man to G-d requiring a perfect sacrifice (Yahshua) to restore, and the complex singularity of Yahshua as G-d from the beginning (1:1 only seen in the Hebrew; and 1:26).
The reality of separation and judgment from G-d for a life of rebellion against G-d’s instructions/commands/law is clear from “the beginning” when G-d created the heavens and the earth. In the Hebrew, the biblical language, this statement is made up of seven words, the number seven in Gematria representing order, completion, and perfection.
The fourth word in Genesis 1:1 is untranslatable according to traditional Judaism but is very clearly a reference to Yahshua. The “word” is “Alef-Tav,” the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Messianic Jews and fellow travelers discover that the B’rit Chadashah is an extension/amendment to the Old Testament foundation of G-d’s commands and laws explained through Yahshua’s teachings, how they are to be applied with compassion, and the connection, the Oneness of YHVH/Yahshua in Revelation 1:8:22:13 where Yahshua defines himself as the “Alef-Tav, the Beginning and the End.
From Genesis to Revelation, YHVH/Yahshua is identified in many different ways manifesting his appearance to accomplish his purpose. He is described as a column of fire and a cloud when leading and protecting the Israelites across the desert. He is described as “some man wrestled with him until daybreak” (Gen. 32:25) when wrestling with Jacob. This “man” was YHVH/Yahshua (32:29). These are just two of many examples of G-d’s intervention in his universe throughout history.
In the Kabbalah, G-d is called the “Ein Sof” meaning the Endless One, without end. I submit this is an accurate description, especially as we make the critical choice of whether to believe and invest our spirits and souls in the premise that G-d is sovereign over the universe described in Genesis or reject Him in favor of concocted theories based on man’s wisdom which by the way, leads to death (Prov. 14:12).
In contrast to the idea that the world was created with one big bang need not be exclusive to science. The kabbalah teaches that creation is ongoing every minute of the day and night. According to the Hebrew calendar, about 5,700 years ago, human consciousness became a reality through the creation of man. However, this consciousness is not spoken of as happening in the past because it is an unceasing phenomenon. This is not to say that there was not a point of conception of the physical universe. In fact, kabbalists believe that the beginning of the physical universe exceeds 15 billion years ago because we were not the first universe as we perceive it. This is an area that is interesting for study, meditation, and discussion, but our salvation does not depend on the age of the universe including our earth. As I have taught in the past, if we believe in the sovereignty of YHVH/Yahshua including the fact that He provides all we need to know to effectively run the race to win the prize (1 Cor. 9:24), He would have informed us through His Torah. We need to focus on lovingly following G-d’s commands/instructions/law. Again, this truth is reiterated throughout G-d’s Torah including in the book of Revelation through the seven-fold witness and in Revelation 22:7,11-12; 14-19. A couple of other critical scriptures focused on the continued validity of keeping G-d’s commands/instructions/laws are John 14, and Romans 2-3.
The principle of continuous creation is based on the idea that there is a “source” at the center of it all continually sustaining everything else. This idea contradicts the deist belief system whereby G-d is believed to have created the world but then abandoned it. Interestingly, some of our founding fathers were deists: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. Quite a sobering thought. These men and other deists place emphasis on human reason and the observation of the natural world over G-d’s Torah. If this “source” were to withhold itself for even a second, everything would vanish.
This brings us to the concept of Tzimtzum which is a kabbalistic idea that G-d began the process of creation by contracting His infinite light in order to provide a space in which the universe could be created and exist. We can see that this idea is not opposed to a “big bang” creation. Indeed G-d could withdraw himself to allow for the expansion of a minute amount of material in an explosive dehiscence event. This also makes perfect sense as this is the concept that humans need to understand in order to withdraw our egos, pride, and self-gratification developing an attitude of surrender and self- nullification that was described by John the Immerser in John 3:30. We must decrease so that He (Yahshua) may increase. Developing the attribute of selflessness is crucial for an optimal relationship with YHHVH/Yahshua and the final inclusion as the Bride of Yahshua described in Revelation 19:7-9.
In the Adam and Eve narrative, the serpent/evil/Satan knows that the question to Eve is a false exaggeration in which he uses deliberate deception by supposedly piously quoting G-d. This is true of many false prophets and teachers/clergypersons today. Wolves in sheep’s clothing deceive the majority of listeners into believing a gospel of monetary prosperity, a once saved always saved condition provided by Yahshua’s sacrifice, forgiveness for all past, present, and future sins without any need to follow G-d’s commands/instructions, believing G-d’s laws were abrogated on the “cross.”
The serpent’s exaggeration is a highly effective trap. Eve is deceived, even adding to G-d’s instruction not to eat the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden. She added that the fruit was not only not to be eaten, but was not to be touched. The consequences of adding to or subtracting from G-d’s Torah are found in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19.
Satan as the serpent then planted the seeds of suspicion and distrust of G-d by telling Eve that if she ate of the fruit, she would become wise like G-d. He introduced the idea that G-d was withholding a deserved level of joy by commanding Adam and her not to eat of the fruit (Gen. 3:4-5).
Temptation is very deceitful. Seemingly innocent questions or comments with an ulterior motive, arousing suspicion, or selfish adoration from those targeted; the promise of immediate gratification and good with evil at the crux of the encounter/lecture/service. Then, the downfall, sin. We must clarify here that Eve was deceived but the sin was accounted to Adam who was supposed to be the spiritual leader. The command not to eat the fruit was given to him first (Gen. 2:16), then Eve. We need to establish the correct truth lest like so many, the woman is blamed for this sin to the exclusion of Adam. Instant gratification that replaces all thought of consequences of disobedience occurred in this first sinful act and is rampant throughout the history of mankind, even the Israelites who are a special treasure to G-d and who were chosen to set the example for the rest of the world on how to relate to G-d and to our fellow man.
Deliberate disobedience to G-d’s Torah is a result of man refusing to accept his human limitations. Mankind continues to yield to the temptation to become “like” or “better” than G-d. This is evidenced in the narrative of Adam and Eve, the tower of Babylon, the battle over who “owns” Jerusalem, and the continued efforts by other nations and peoples to irradicate/eliminate the Jews. These warring nations and peoples cannot accept the fact that the Jews “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, G-d’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9). This is not to say the Israelites are perfect. But they were and are chosen to set the example for the world’s people to follow. Furthermore, Romans 3:1 the advantage of being a Jew is described. Jealous nations fail to see that in attacking Israel, they are attacking G-d. The outcome of attacking G-d and his people is made clear throughout G-d’s Torah including the B’rit Chadashah for those who ignore its inclusion as Torah along with the Old Testament. “All scripture is G-d-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
The final topic in this commentary is the reality of fallen angels. There is a four- episode study on the subject of the fallen angels on our website at http://www.rabdavis.org under the link “Studies” that I encourage you to explore for a detailed description of the fallen angels described as “sons of G-d” in Genesis chapter 6. Their progeny as the result of cohabitating with earthly women are known as the Nephilim, the title used for the study. If there are any questions related to the study, I may be contacted through the website using the “ask the rabbi” link.
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 42:5-43-10
There are two connections between the Parasha and the Haftarah.
First, the Parashah begins with the creation of the world. In the Haftarah, the prophet Isaiah reminds Israel that G-d is the creator of the world, sustaining the creation each day. We learn that creation is not something that was done once it is a continuing miracle.
Second, in the Parashah, man is the only creature given the power to choose between right and wrong, In the Haftarah, Yesha’yahu tells the people that G-d created Israel in order for them to be a “light for the nations.” It is our responsibility to show the nations what is right, so that they too, can come closer to G-d. We have a lot of work to do because we do not know when Yahshua will return, and we do not know how many days each of us are given.
B’rit Chadashah: Matthew 1:1-17; 19:3-9
Verses 1-17 provide us a wonderful precise genealogy of Yahshua HaMashiach beginning with Avraham. We know Yahshua existed with YHVH as part of the complex Echad” of G-d (Gen. 1:1), including the pleural form of G-d (Elohim), but these verses provide the earthly record of Yahshua’s ancestry as G-d incarnate. A wonderful learning exercise is to look up the names listed in these verses. Understanding the essence of the names provides those who take the time a blessed and enhanced learning experience that those who passively read them cannot enjoy.
Verses 3-9 in Chapter 19 echo G-d’s desire for man. “… the Creator made them male and female, and that he said, ‘For this reason a man should leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two are to become one flesh.” On the P’shat level of exegetic study, it is clear that G-d intended the union of a man and a woman (Adam and Eve; not Adam and Steve or Eve and Genevieve). However, this statement does not say a man “will” or a man “shall” as in a command. As a side note, we can know that homosexuality is an abomination regardless of what religious leaders may say (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom, 1:26; 1 Cor. 9). However, this is not the focus of the lesson today. We are not commanded to get married but “if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Cor 8-9).
On the level of Kabbalistic understanding, we see how Yahshua fulfilled this passage. We know that YHVH includes male and female attributes and that Yahshua is G-d. Accordingly, Yahshua left his father and mother so to speak, and will be united with Israel (all true believers) who will become one flesh at the end of this age.
Verses 7-9 echo G-d’s behavior towards Israel (the nation) when they committed idolatrous acts also considered sexual immorality. G-d divorced Israel but not Judah (Is. 50:1: Jer. 3:8). According to G-d’s law, a divorced man may not remarry his ex-wife (Deut. 24:3-4). Judah remains the “wife” of G-d. Israel (all true believers) will repent by the very definition of a true believer and partaker of the covenants of Israel (Ezek. 27:27-37) and will be taken as the bride of Yahshua that does not violate any of G-d’s laws on marriage (Rev. 19:7; 21:1-9; 22:17).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart