Yom Shabbat  November 29th,  Shabbat Location Michigan Brother James Cramer 1:00pm-5:00pm Parsha 6 Toldot 29 Nov 2008 2 Kislev 5769 Gen 25:19–28:9 Alef Melachim/1st KINGS 17, Acts 28

Yom Shabbat  November 22nd,  Shabbat Location Michigan Brother Harlyn and Peggy Smith's home 1:00pm-5:00pm Parsha 5 Chayei Sarah 22 Nov 2008 24 Cheshvan 5769 Gen 23:1–25:18 Alef Melachim/1st KINGS 16, Acts 27

Yom Shabbat  November 15th,  Shabbat Location Waldron Michigan Brother James Cramer's Home 1:00pm-5:00pm Parsha 4 Vayera 15 Nov 2008 17 Cheshvan 5769 Gen 18:1–22:24 Alef Melachim/1st KINGS 15, Acts 26 11-15-08 Parsha 4 Bereshith 18:1 -22:24 Word study 18:1  YHWH appeared (ra'ah, Strongs' # H3068), unto (Ayl, St. # 413), to him in the plains (elon, St. # H436) [the root of this word is ay lon: an oak or other strong tree; thus indicating a forested area.] of Mamre: and Avraham sat (Yashaw St. # 3427), in the tent (ohel St. # H168), door (pethach St. # H6670) [also means; opening or entrance.] in the heat (chom St. # H2527), of the day (yom St. # H3117). 18:2 And Avraham lifted up (nawsaw St. # H5375) his eyes (ayin St. # H168) and looked (ra'ah St.# H3068), and see (binneh St. # H2009)[ also means behold]; three (shel-o-shaw {masculine form} St. # H7969) men (iysh St. # H5869)  stood (naw-tsab St. # H5324)[ also means stationed] by (al St. # H5921)[ also means above, over,against] him; and when he saw( ra'ah St. # H3068) them, he   ran (Ruuts ST. # H7323) to meet (keer-aw St.@ H7125)[also means encountered] them...(the remainder of the verse was lost in notes). WE see above how various English words can be used to translate one Hebrew word. Chapter 18: One of the first things we notice in this reading is that YHWH appeared/was seen by Avraham. In Shemoth 33:20 we are told that "no man can look upon YHWH and live. So how can this be so for Avraham?  Through the; Right Hand/Arm, Tehillim/Psm. 44:2-3; The Word, Tehillim/Psm. 33:6 + Yochanan1:1 +14 At the same time; in verse 3 we also notice that Avraham recognizes YHWH.  An interesting note throughout the life of Avraham, that we notice clearly here, is that Avraham was noted for his hospitality. This hospitality is what set Avraham apart from so many in his time and world, and perhaps was one of the reasons YHWH walked and talked with Avraham as with a friend, verses 17-32. Avraham was so comfortable with YHWH that he even was allowed to "bargain" with HIM. We see that same attitude of a humble servant displayed in Yahushua, in the Brit Chadasha. Chapter 19: To me, this is one of the saddest chapters in the Scriptures. As it displays not only the total depravity of man; but also the influence it can have on those who know YHWH's Halacha, as we see the outcome of Lot and his daughters. A note here; is that Scriptures seem to indicate that Lot had other daughters who were married. Interesting that they were not mentioned any further, perhaps an indication of the influence of Sodom upon them. The men of Sodom showed the opposite character of Avraham. Where abba Avraham was hospitable to all who came his way, we see the men of Sodom absorbed in self and self gratification. Verse 38: According to the Stone's Chumash, the eldest daughter named her son: by her father, Moab which means.."from/by father". And the younger daughter named her son; also by her father, Ben-Ammi...meaning "of my people". Chapter 20: Here we again see Sarah being "passed off " as Avraham's sister. We also notice here another of the rare occasions where YHWH speaks to someone who is not of HIS people. YHWH warns Avimelech that Sarah is Avraham's wife and has placed a plague upon his/Avimelech's household. Avimelech pleads his innocence before YHWH and returns Sarah to Avraham along with cattle, sheep and more servants. He also rebukes Avraham and Sarah for their deceit, then asks Avraham to pray for them. Chapter 21: 1-4 Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak and Avraham circumcises him on the 8th day as YHWH had commanded. Verses 9-21; Avraham puts away his concubine, Hagar,  at his wife's request.  Although this is a hard thing for Avraham to do; as he also loves Yishmael, YHWH tells him to go ahead, as HE has plans for this son as well. A promise is then given that Yishmael too would become "a nation". Notice this is singular! And that YHWH recognizes him as a legitimate son. Verses 22-32; Here we see something worth making a mental note of. Avimelech and Avraham  are having a meeting. Avimelech is concerned with the treatment of his children by the children of Avraham in the future and askes Avraham to treat them well. Avraham then reproves Avimelech for allowing his servants to take possession of one of the wells Avraham had dug. Avraham then pays Avimelech with 7 ewe lambs for the well, thereby taking possession of this well at Beer-Sheva. Chapter 22: YHWH gives Avraham the ultimate test of his faith. The Akeidah/ the Binding of Yitzchak. This was/is a shadow which fortold the Reality; (the Sacrifice of Yahushua; the Son of YHWH).  Verse 8: Avraham's faith in the covenant which YHWH had made with him; concerning the promise of multiplicity and greatness of his "seed", was tested in this command to offer up Yitzchak as a sacrifice. Yet Avraham knows that YHWH will provide The Sacrifice. Q. Could it be that in his early years of studying under the leadership of Shem, that Avraham knew; (either through the written scrolls or through the scrolls of the heavens) that The Son would one day fulfill this Sacrifice? Melechim Aleph 15: We read in this chpt. of 3 civil wars between the Northern House of Israel and the Southern House of Judah. The seperation of the 2 Houses that had been brought together under King David, and King Solomon is beginning. An interesting comment in verse 5 is that King David was recognized as a righteous person, and the only sin held against him is the matter of Uriah; one of his captains and the husband of Bathsheba. Acts 26: Shaul comes before King Agrippa to makes his defense. He acknowledges his part in the death of many believers, in his zeal to follow the teachings of the Pharisees. Even the same Pharisees who were now condemning him. Verse 28 is interesting in as much as; after Shaul has given his testimony, King Agrippa states that he too is almost convinced to become a "Notsri" (preserved one or a watchman). King Agrippa; having a great understanding of the Scriptures, now acknowledges that Shaul has done nothing worthy of death, and could have been set free, had he not appealed to Caesar. (notes courtesy of bro. James)

Yom Shabbat  November 8th,  Shabbat Location Outside Waldron Michigan Harlyn and Peggy's Home 1:00pm-5:00pm Parsha 3 Lech Lecha 8 Nov 2008 10 Cheshvan 5769 Gen 12:1–17:27 Alef Melachim/1st KINGS 14, Acts 25 11-8-08  Parsha 3 Bereshith 12:1 -17:27 We started out the Torah study with a reading of Chapter 9 of The scroll of Yahsher. This was done to bring out the missing fact from the Torah, that Avram/Avraham spent his early years in the beit of Shem learning the writtings of Enoch which apparently included The Torah in it's 'pre-Mosiac' form. Ber. 12:1-3 We see in these Scriptures the promise of multiplicity given to Avram for the first time.  In verse 2 the word "nation" in Hebrew is "goy", this has come to mean any nation not Jewish in todays understanding, but here we see it as covering any nation, as we will see it used again later for multiple nations. In verse 3 the word at the end of the sentence translated 'blessed', in Hebrew is "nivrechu", which can also mean "mixed". So in context, what we see is that in Avram all nations would be mixed. Verse 4: " So Avram departed as YHWH has spoken to him..."; Avram was totally obedient to what YHWH required of him. Verse 7: The land of Kanaan (later to become the land of Israel) is here promised to Avram's seed. Verse 8: we notice here at the end of the verse that Avram knew the Name of YHWH. Verses 8-10: We see here that Avram journeyed from Beth-El to Ai to Mitzrayim; this route will later be followed by Israel. So we see a concept repeated throughout Scriptures; i.e. What has been, is what will be. Verses 11-19: Avram calls his wife; his sister, which leads to Pharoah taking her to become his wife, when he is plagued for this, then he returns Sarai to Avram and tells Avram to leave the country. Chapter 13: Avram returns to The Land; and now the herds of Lot and Avram are so large that they must separate.  Verse 10: we notice that the land of  Sodom is compared to the Garden of Eden. Very well watered. Not what we see today. Verse 14-17: YHWH promises Avram that he will inherit all the land to the N; E; S; W. This would include the land where Lot chose. YHWH also renews the promise of multiplicity. Chapter 14:1-17 Here we read the story of Avram and his servants attacking the 4 kings who took captive his nephew Lot and his family. After defeating these kings, he returns to the king of Sodom all that was taken from him. Verse 18: We are introduced here to Melech-Tzedek; In The Scroll of Yahsher 16:11 we read that this is the same Shem who taught Avram the Torah Chapter 15:1 YHWH gives Avram a 2 great promises here; 1) That HE would be Abram's "shield" This word in Hebrew is" mogan" and can also be defined as a 'fence', or 'hedge'. Verses 4-5:  YHWH promises Avram that his heir would be from his own body, and that his children would be very numerous, as the stars of heaven. Verse 6: Very important fact here that is brought out by Shaul in Heb.11. Verses 8-21: Avram asks for a 'proof" that YHWH would fulfill these promises and YHWH "cuts' a brit/covenant with Avram while reiterating the promises. Chapter 16: an interesting chpt. in as much that Avram takes Hagar has his second "wife". A question concerning whether this is actually a wife or perhaps a concubine, as she is later relaesed from his home with little more then bread and water. This would appear to go against the Torah command that a wife was to be provided for for the rest of her life. Also; in verses 9-12 we see YHWH commanding Hagar to return to her mistress; not her 'husband'. We also see a promise given to Hagar concerning her son Ishma-el; whose seed would also be multiplied and the character he would have. Chapter 17: 4 YHWH here makes another brit/covenant with Avram; we notice this time that it includes the word "nations" is the same Hebrew word we seen earlier; that being, 'goy'. So this time the brit is that Avram's seed would become a multitude of nations. Verses 5-15: Avram's name is changed, as is Sarai's. The promises are restated and this time it is Abraham who has to perform the "cutting" Verses 19-27: YHWH promises that the son born to Avraham and Sarah will receive the inheritance promised to Abraham, also that Ishmael would also become very numerous, but none the less,  Issac is to receive the blessings. Melechim Aleph 14: We read in this chapter about the evil deeds of Israel in committing spiritual idolatry, and the verses 14-16 are the prophecies of Israel being removed from The Land. Acts 24: Here we see Shaul being brought before Governor Felix to give his testimony. In verse 4; we see the the Kohen and zechanim accusing  Shaul of being "the ringleader" of a group called "the Notsim" meaning "preserved' and " watchmen". An interesting aspect considering that most translations say "Christian". (notes courtesy of bro. James)