How was the Messiah taken from Sedom?

Genesis 19:21 – 21:4

Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

(Gen. 19:36-38 ESV)

How was the Messiah taken from Sedom?

The Eternal doesn’t want anybody to perish but that all are saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He doesn’t take pleasure in the death of the wicked. He always desires the repentance of the sinner in order to rescue him from his misery and give him a new life.

When the children of Israel came into the promised land, they received orders to destroy the seven nations who were descendants of Kenaan, because of their depravation. But there was an exception among them: a prostitute named Rachav (Rahab) repented of her sins (Heb. 11:31, Yaacov (James) 2:25) and was received in the people of Israel in such a way that she became one of the mothers (women in the genealogy) of the Messiah. (Matt. 1:5)

This teaches us that the door wasn’t closed for Kenaan’s descendants to enter into the people of the salvation, Israel. Through repentance and faithfulness to the Elokim of Israel, any gentile, no matter how far away from the Eternal he is, can receive an inheritance among those who are sanctified.

Rachav, descendant of a cursed and depraved people was honoured to be mentioned in the genealogy of the Messiah, Yeshua. How great is the Eternal’s grace to a repented person!

This means that there are Kenaan’s genes in the Messiah. When the body and soul of the Messiah were formed, a part had to come from the people of Kenaan in order to be able to redeem them of their sins, because he is not only the redeemer of the Jewish people, but of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). The Messiah had to reunite in his own being, all men on earth and Rachav’s example shows that the most cursed people in history were also included in the salvation plan that takes effect through the Messiah, Yeshua. If these people could fit in the Messiah, also all the other peoples can.

Now, there is more in this sense. Lot’s daughters had a mother from Sedom, also a daughter (descendent) of Kenaan. Both of them got pregnant of their father after making a drinking plot taking advantage of him. In spite of not having a high moral standard, they had a good motivation behind that act of fornication. They wanted to have descendants and that’s why the Eternal granted them to be mothers of two peoples. The oldest had a child and shamelessly named him Moav – from the Hebrew meav

מאב

“from father”. The younger one, a bit more discreet, called her son Ben Ammi – בן עמי “son of my people”. From Moav came the Moabite people and from Ben Ammi, the Ammonites.

Further on, we find a Moabite woman, Ruth, that makes the decision of leaving her gods and her people and enter the people of her mother in law, Naomi, the people of Israel where salvation is found. Ruth the Moabite was accepted by the judges, because they had established the halachah – practical law – that the prohibition of entering the people of Israel against the Ammonites and Moabites applied only to men, and not to women (Deut 23:3). Boaz was the head judge in Israel at that time and he established this halachah. This also teaches us that a large part of the written Torah has to be interpreted and understood by the oral torah, transmitted from leader to leader of the people of Israel throughout history.

Ruth came from the Moabites, who in turn came from Lot’s wife, who came from Sedom that came from Kenaan (Gen 10:19), the cursed people.

Later on, there was a king, Rechavam (Rehoboam), son of king Shlomo (Solomon) who was born from Shlomo and an Ammonite woman named Naamah (1 Kin. 14:21, 31; 2 Cron. 12:13). This king Rechavam is also one of the ancestors of the Messiah Yeshua (Matt. 1:7).

In other words, we see that through three women, genes from Kenaan came into the Messiah Yeshua and that by his merit, his suffering and atoning death, these women were rescued from curse and death that had befallen upon their peoples. Repentance and faithfulness toward the Elokim of Israel set on this redemption plan for them. All the descendants of Kenaan had this opportunity to repent but very few took advantage of it.

This shows us that there is no curse too big that cannot be removed through the work of the Messiah. He became a curse in order to redeem from the curse those who trust the Eternal and his redemption plan in the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord (Gal. 3:13).

This is why we understand that the angels had to take Lot and his daughters out of Sedom, because indirectly, they were taking the Messiah from there. He needed part of the genes from that people in order to be able to represent them before the Almighty and take them in his body to rectify what they had twisted.

How wonderful are the plans of the Eternal! He can use evil and wickedness to carry out His purpose and He can deliver us from all consequences of sin through His Anointed one Yeshua. Blessed be His name forever!

Yom tov – have a good day,

Ketriel. www.messianictorah.org

Where did Lot’s wife come from?

Genesis 19:1-20

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man. I pray you, let me bring them out to you, and you do to them as you see fit. But do nothing to these men, for this is why they came under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back! And they said, This one came in to stay, and must he judge always? Now we will deal worse with you than with them. And they pressed hard upon the man, Lot, and came near to breaking the door

(Gen. 19:8-9 MKJV)

Where did Lot’s wife come from?

When the two angels came to Sedom to save Lot and his family, all the men in the city wanted to abuse them sexually. Lot refused to bring them out and offered them his two virgin daughters instead.

We can learn two things from this: first, it was very important for Lot to treat his guests well, to give them shelter, food and safety in every way. This was a very positive feature in Lot.

The second thing we can learn is that Lot’s level of morality was very low. How could this righteous man be willing to deliver his virgin daughters to these beasts that lacked any sense of sexual morality? Free sex and homosexuality are results of having apostatized from the Creator and His commandments. Homosexuality is in the lowest level in the scale of depravation, down on the road of apostasy and perdition. (see Rom. 1:18-32).

According to the context (v12), it seems that Lot had more children that were already married to people from Sedom. Now he just had two girls left at home (v.15) and he didn’t seem to care much that they would be degraded in their bodies and souls by this free sex practice. Where did these values come from? Not from Avraham avinu, who had very high moral standards.

The Hebrew text shows that these evil men said that Lot had come to Sedom alone, meaning single, because he had indeed come with many servants. What was translated in 19:9 as “This one came in to stay” says literally in Hebrew: “This one came to sojourn”– haechad ba lagur האחד בא לגור – which teaches us that Lot had taken a woman from Sedom. She was a descendant of Kenaan – the one who treated Noach in such an evil manner when he was drunk and therefore was cursed. Depravation in Kenaan’s descendants caused them to surrender to all kinds of immoralities, especially the sexual one.

Avraham was very careful not to mix his seed with Kenaan’s descendants due to their low moral standards (24:3), but Lot didn’t have that inner strength to refuse the values of the world that surrounded him. This made him surrender little by little, to the pressure of his wife and the other inhabitants of Sedom. It is true that his righteous soul suffered because of the sin of the sons of Kenaan, as it is written in 2 Peter 2:7-8: “and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard)”. (ESV) However, Lot didn’t have the spiritual strength to guide his sons and daughters in the path of high moral values, as did our father Avraham (18:19). This was one of the reasons why Avraham had to split from Lot.

The Eternal had mercy of Lot and saved him from destruction, but he lost most of his family, his wife turned into a pillar of salt for turning back – possibly because of her motherly instinct when thinking of her children who stayed behind, and her love to the world in which she lived until then. Lot also lost all his possessions and all he had left was his two daughters, daughters of Sedom, whose moral principles weren’t higher than the rest of Kenaan’s descendants.

Avraham refused to be influenced and guided by the values of the world around him, and that’s why he was chosen and blessed. His moral strength keeps blessing the world until today. But Lot gave in to low moral values and lost pretty much everything. The Eternal however, had mercy of him and saved him along with his daughters, because he had a wonderful plan for the girls’ future. We’ll talk about that in tomorrow’s manna.

Let’s reject Lot’s behaviour and follow our father Avraham’s example, refusing to stain our souls with sin of the world around us. Let’s teach our children and grandchildren to walk in the path of the Eternal, doing judgment and justice so that they can remain in the line of blessing that comes from heaven; not only for the physical offspring of Avraham, but also for those who follow the steps of his faith, because all those who are the Messiah’s are seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise (Rom. 4:9-13; Gal. 3:29).

Chazak ubaruch – be strong and blessed,

Ketriel. www.messianictorah.org

The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do...

Genesis 18:15-33

The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do...

(Gen. 18:17 ESV)

What does a true friendship involve?

Our father Avraham had had a magnificent divine visit of three angels. One of them carried the Eternal’s Name because he represented the Eternal more than the other two. When they got up to leave, Avraham got up too, to set them on their way, which is a very nice gesture that honours one’s guests and should be present in a person who walks with the Eternal.

On the way, the main angel speaks for himself with an audible voice and reveals what lies in the heart of the Eternal who was in heaven. His words reveal a great truth about what is a real friendship. Avraham was the Eternal’s friend. (2 Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23). The level of intimacy in their relationship forced the Eternal, in this instance, to reveal what lied in His heart and which were His plans for the cities on the plains. In Amos 3:7 it is written: “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (ESV) It’s true that Avraham was a prophet (Gen. 20:7), but his relationship with the Eternal went beyond that one of a prophet, it was a true friendship.

A true friendship involves being totally transparent to each other. A true friendship makes you vulnerable because you open up your most intimate self and reveal the most sensitive areas of your heart trusting that the other one will not use it to harm you directly or indirectly. A true friendship allows for an honest and respectful correction. A real friendship compels you to tell the other what happens to you, what you think and how you feel. In a true friendship, what lies inside our innermost being is known.

The friendship bond between the Eternal and our father compelled the Eternal to tell Avraham what He was going to do with Sedom, partly because Lot was there. The friendship that Avraham shared with the Eternal allowed him to challenge Him not to destroy the evil cities.

In Galatians 4:9a it is written: “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God...” (ESV) It is not the same to know the Eternal than to be known by Him. Many wish to know the Eternal but very few let Him know them. Being known by Him implies to open up completely and let Him review all the areas of your life. Being known by Him means to be willing to be corrected by Him and change behaviours, ways of speaking and inner attitudes that are not pleasing to Him.

Dear disciple of the Messiah: Open yourself up completely to the Eternal so that He seeks with His Spirit within you and reveals all that needs to be changed inside. Allow Him to take control of your soul. Let go of the ‘reins’ of your life and let Him have them. Allow Him to do whatever He pleases with you. Don’t resist His correction. Ask Him for help to really change those areas that you know He doesn’t approve of. Tell Him everything that happens to you. Open your heart and deepen your relationship with Him.

Let us be known by the Eternal, our heavenly Father, so that we can also be considered His friends.

I wish you blessings in your intimate relationship with the Father and with His son Yeshua HaMashiach,

Ketriel. www.messianictorah.org

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Why did Sarah laugh?

Genesis 18:1-14

The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."

(Gen. 18:13-14 ESV)

Why did Sarah laugh?

Both Avraham avinu and his wife Sarah laughed when listening to the news of their son’s future birth. This shows us in the first place, that they were happy people who expressed their feelings. Their relationship with the Eternal consisted not only of a serious and reverent fear but also of joy and happiness, as it is written in Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (ESV)

In the second place, from this passage we can draw a very deep teaching. The majority’s, if not everyone’s, minds, are limited to what we have learned. Men were made with a creative mind that looks for solutions and moves on to new things, fresh ideas. We can clearly see this in children whose minds are not closed to ideas due to previous learning, because their brains haven’t had long time collecting information. They are more open to learning new things and coming up with new ideas. Children can teach adults many, many things, especially to be open to new ideas. Fantasy and creativity are good and necessary to be able to walk with the Creator whose mind is not limited by anything. He is always making things new, as it is written in Numbers 16:30: “But if the LORD creates something new...”, and Isaiah 43:19a: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (ESV) and Revelation 21:5a: “And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." (ESV)

Avraham and Sarah were almost 100 years old. Their minds worked mainly based on routine by what they had learned. Even if their minds had been opened considerably due to what they experienced when coming out of their small world to live in other countries, their thoughts were still limited for what the Eternal wanted to do in their lives.

When the angel came to announce the birth of their son, they could not receive such a wonderful message. Their reaction was common to most people with a limited and narrow mind; they thought it was a joke. The divine news caused a confrontation with all they’ve learned throughout their lives and that caused them to laugh.

The name Yitzchak means “he will laugh” and it is related to what our fathers did when they received such a message of a supernatural birth.

The angel’s answer when Sarah laughed was: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (ESV) The expression that was translated as “too hard” is yipaleh (יפלא) whose root has to do with something hidden, covered up. In Deuteronomy 30:11 it is used as something hidden from all understanding, something unthinkable. Here, it is about something that is out of the ordinary. The Targum translates it as follows: “Is there anything too wonderful, distant and hidden from Me so that I do My will?

This shows us that the angel challenged our fathers, Avraham and Sarah’s, narrow minds. When we are dealing with the Eternal our minds should not interfere in our perception of His power, knowledge and ability to intervene in a most surprising and wonderful way. The Eternal can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us (Eph. 3:20). So let’s be careful not to come in His way with our minds and let’s not laugh in disbelief when a supernatural idea that breaks away from our mindset comes up.

May the Eternal give us a week full of new ideas guided by His creative Spirit,

Ketriel.  www.messianictorac.org

Is the covenant of circumcision still in effect?

Genesis 17:7-27

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you... Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.

"

(Gen. 17:7, 14 ESV)

Is the covenant of circumcision still in effect?

A later covenant cannot revoke a previous one. The Eternal cannot change His covenants, nor change His mind, nor can He revoke any of His words. But He indeed, can fulfill His part in the covenants and His words in many different ways.

The covenant of the circumcision in the flesh was established between the Eternal and Avraham and his physical offspring for all generations. It is an eternal covenant. This means that all male children – in the flesh – of Avraham have the obligation of circumcising their foreskin in order to remain inside the covenant. A descendant of Avraham that is not circumcised on the eighth day of birth, or later, loses his right to belong to the people of Israel, the Jewish people.

According to Jewish law, one has to be born of a Jewish mother in order to be accepted as Jewish. That is to say, that if someone doesn’t have a Jewish mother, he is not obliged to be circumcised in the flesh. This is why Paul circumcised Timothy, because he was the son of a Jewish woman. (Acts 16:1-3).

Circumcision in the flesh is a visible sign that speaks of another circumcision, the one of the heart. Circumcision of the heart already existed in the times of Moshe (Moses), as it is written in Deuteronomy 10:16: “Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stiff-necked.” (MKJV) The Eternal requires from His people, not only the circumcision of the flesh but also the one of the heart. But it is very important to understand that invisible things do not cancel visible things and vice versa. These realities exist in both worlds at the same time; one speaks of the other and they are connected to each other.

In other words, if a Jewish man experiments circumcision in his heart, that does not revoke his circumcision in the flesh nor takes away the responsibility of circumcising his sons on the eighth day of their birth. On the other hand, a circumcised Jew – in the flesh – is not complete until he has circumcised his heart; because his circumcision in the flesh does not exempt him from the responsibility of circumcising his heart.

Now, in the Messiah there is a more powerful circumcision of the heart than the one Moshe rabenu – our teacher – speaks of. What he speaks of is something we can do. How? By taking away from our hearts anything that could make them insensitive to spiritual matters. An uncircumcised heart is one that is insensitive to the spiritual world. A circumcised heart, on the other hand, is one that not only obeys the commandments of the Eternal but that does it sincerely, with joy and love. A circumcised heart listens to the voice of the Spirit.

In the circumcision in the Messiah something more profound takes place in the heart of men. Part of the yetser harah – the evil inclination which Paul calls “the flesh” – is eliminated, as it is written in Colossians 2:11 “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah” (ESV revised).

However, not all flesh is eliminated in the circumcision of the Messiah because one who has experienced the new birth in the Messiah still has yetser harah (the flesh), but the dominating power of that sinful nature is broken. One who is in the Messiah is not a slave of sin anymore. He can dominate his instincts and inclinations much more powerfully than one who is not in the Messiah.

This fact is the result of the renewed covenant in the Messiah as we can see in Ezekiel 36:26-27: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (ESV) and Jeremiah 31:33: “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (ESV)

If one says that the circumcision of the flesh for those born to a Jewish mother is not necessary if they have experienced the circumcision of the Messiah, he is denying what is established in the covenant of circumcision between the Eternal and Avraham and his offspring forever. We can’t mix the different kinds of circumcisions and say that if we have one we don’t need the other. That would be a great deviation from the truth and would make the Eternal seem unfaithful and His name would be blemished.

The one who is not born of a Jewish mother has no obligation of circumcising the flesh of his foreskin. A gentile who has experienced circumcision in the Messiah has no obligation of circumcising his flesh. When the messianic kingdom comes, the yetser harah – the flesh – will be eliminated. But before that, we will still have to cope with the internal struggle.

Dear disciple: Learn the lesson between material and spiritual. One does not cancel the other; on the contrary, they complement each other. They can coexist in perfect harmony and they actually should. In this way, a unity between the inferior and superior worlds is created, and that is the purpose of creation.

May the Eternal give you His grace to be able to live in the power of the renewed covenant in the Messiah and have victory over sin.

Shabbat shalom,

Ketriel.  www.messianictorah.org

Is Yishmael a blessing or a curse?

Genesis 15:7 – 17:6

The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Yishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.”

(Gen. 16:10-11 ESV)

Is Yishmael a blessing or a curse?

In this passage, we have an expression that has been translated: “Behold, you are pregnant...”– in Hebrew hinaj harahהנך הרה . Exactly the same expression is found in Judges 13:5a where the birth of Samson is narrated: “For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.” (ESV) This is the reason why Rashi deducts that it is not that Hagar had already conceived, but that she would conceive. But, doesn’t the Torah say that she had conceived before? (v.4) Yes, Hagar had conceived before. This leads to interpreting the text as if Hagar had had an abortion. Now, the angel told her to go back to Sarah and submit to her. In this way, she would conceive again.

It is obvious that the Eternal wanted Hagar to conceive a child with Avraham avinu. The Eternal wanted to multiply her offspring so that they couldn’t be numbered. That offspring is nowadays the Arab people.

Other texts also show us that the birth and blessing of Yishmael (Ismael) is part of the Eternal’s plan. Yishmael’s birth was not a curse, but a blessing. Avraham loved his son Yishmael and pleaded for him before the Eternal. The Eternal answered and promised to bless him as it is written in Genesis 17:18, 20: “And Avraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You... As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.” (ESV)

The Torah is very clear to reveal us the willingness and plan from the Eternal to bless and multiply Yishmael. It is true that the covenant was not with Yishmael but with Yitzchak, and that through Yitzchak come the descendants of the promise, but this doesn’t rule out the fact that Yishmael has an important role in the world, especially in the last days.

It is also true that the Arab people had greatly hurt their younger brother, the Jewish people; and that they still do it every day. But we have to understand that behind the attacks from the Arabs is the hand of the Eternal. Because of the sins of the Jewish people, the Eternal uses the Arabs, to hurt us. His purpose is that we turn from our sin and seek His face with all our heart and all our might and that we keep his commandments, so that there is peace in the land of Israel and the world. The Arabs are carrying out a divine task.

Now, the Eternal is using them to discipline His chosen people but the future will be very different. The Arab people will leave their false god and will turn to the True One, the Elokhim of Israel, the Elokhim of the Jews, the Eternal, Creator of heaven and earth, Who made a covenant with Yitzchak. Through acknowledging the blessing that comes through Yitzchak and the Jewish people and the blessed seed of David, Messiah Yeshua, the Arabs will be uplifted tremendously and millions of them will partake in the life of the world to come, as it is written in Isaiah 19:22-25: “And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." (ESV)

Hagar was Egyptian and is called “the Egyptian” (21:9) this is why Yishmael is a bond between Egypt and our father. The offspring of Yishmael mixed with many other peoples and nowadays we can say that the Arab people, with Egypt in the gap, are the offspring of Yishmael. When the Islam is broken, Yishmael will humble himself and will seek the Eternal. He will answer and call them: “Egypt, my people”. What a glorious day that will be!

So, the Eternal wanted to have a large people, Yishmael’s offspring, and that’s why the angel sent Hagar back to Avraham and Sarah so that she could conceive again and have a child. Not the child of the promise but a son that would be of great blessing.

Let’s not see the Arabs in their present situation, under the curse of the Islam. Let’s focus our sight toward their future when the Eternal intervenes in the Arab world in a powerful way. Then we will see more clearly that that birth of Yishmael wasn’t a mistake but part of a divine plan, important to the world, nowadays and in the future. Don’t stop praying for the salvation of the Arab people. Their salvation will come from the Jews. (John 4:22)

May you see peace upon Israel and blessing upon the whole world,

Ketriel. www.messianictorah.org

Is Yishmael a blessing or a curse?

Genesis 15:7 – 17:6

The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Yishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.”

(Gen. 16:10-11 ESV)

Is Yishmael a blessing or a curse?

In this passage, we have an expression that has been translated: “Behold, you are pregnant...”– in Hebrew hinaj harahהנך הרה . Exactly the same expression is found in Judges 13:5a where the birth of Samson is narrated: “For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.” (ESV) This is the reason why Rashi deducts that it is not that Hagar had already conceived, but that she would conceive. But, doesn’t the Torah say that she had conceived before? (v.4) Yes, Hagar had conceived before. This leads to interpreting the text as if Hagar had had an abortion. Now, the angel told her to go back to Sarah and submit to her. In this way, she would conceive again.

It is obvious that the Eternal wanted Hagar to conceive a child with Avraham avinu. The Eternal wanted to multiply her offspring so that they couldn’t be numbered. That offspring is nowadays the Arab people.

Other texts also show us that the birth and blessing of Yishmael (Ismael) is part of the Eternal’s plan. Yishmael’s birth was not a curse, but a blessing. Avraham loved his son Yishmael and pleaded for him before the Eternal. The Eternal answered and promised to bless him as it is written in Genesis 17:18, 20: “And Avraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You... As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.” (ESV)

The Torah is very clear to reveal us the willingness and plan from the Eternal to bless and multiply Yishmael. It is true that the covenant was not with Yishmael but with Yitzchak, and that through Yitzchak come the descendants of the promise, but this doesn’t rule out the fact that Yishmael has an important role in the world, especially in the last days.

It is also true that the Arab people had greatly hurt their younger brother, the Jewish people; and that they still do it every day. But we have to understand that behind the attacks from the Arabs is the hand of the Eternal. Because of the sins of the Jewish people, the Eternal uses the Arabs, to hurt us. His purpose is that we turn from our sin and seek His face with all our heart and all our might and that we keep his commandments, so that there is peace in the land of Israel and the world. The Arabs are carrying out a divine task.

Now, the Eternal is using them to discipline His chosen people but the future will be very different. The Arab people will leave their false god and will turn to the True One, the Elokhim of Israel, the Elokhim of the Jews, the Eternal, Creator of heaven and earth, Who made a covenant with Yitzchak. Through acknowledging the blessing that comes through Yitzchak and the Jewish people and the blessed seed of David, Messiah Yeshua, the Arabs will be uplifted tremendously and millions of them will partake in the life of the world to come, as it is written in Isaiah 19:22-25: “And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." (ESV)

Hagar was Egyptian and is called “the Egyptian” (21:9) this is why Yishmael is a bond between Egypt and our father. The offspring of Yishmael mixed with many other peoples and nowadays we can say that the Arab people, with Egypt in the gap, are the offspring of Yishmael. When the Islam is broken, Yishmael will humble himself and will seek the Eternal. He will answer and call them: “Egypt, my people”. What a glorious day that will be!

So, the Eternal wanted to have a large people, Yishmael’s offspring, and that’s why the angel sent Hagar back to Avraham and Sarah so that she could conceive again and have a child. Not the child of the promise but a son that would be of great blessing.

Let’s not see the Arabs in their present situation, under the curse of the Islam. Let’s focus our sight toward their future when the Eternal intervenes in the Arab world in a powerful way. Then we will see more clearly that that birth of Yishmael wasn’t a mistake but part of a divine plan, important to the world, nowadays and in the future. Don’t stop praying for the salvation of the Arab people. Their salvation will come from the Jews. (John 4:22)

May you see peace upon Israel and blessing upon the whole world,

Ketriel.www.messianictorah.org

Who is the real owner of everything?

Genesis 14:1-20

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything

.

(Gen.14:18-20 ESV)

Who is the real owner of everything?

Melkhi-Tzedek was priest of El Eliyon – The Most High. When he blessed Avraham he pointed out that El Eliyon was the Possessor of heaven and earth. The Hebrew word translated as possessor is kanah (קנה) whose root has to do with: to build, to create, to obtain, to buy. In this passage, the Eternal is portrayed not only as the Creator – in Hebrew, boreh בורא – but also as the Owner of heavens and earth. He is the Owner of all that exists, as it is written in Psalm 50:10-11: “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.” (ESV) And Ezekiel 18:4a: “Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine...” (ESV)

This truth, the fact that the Eternal is the Owner of all that exists, caused Avraham to give his tithe to Melkhi-Tzedek who represented the Owner of the world. Since everything is His, we have to acknowledge Him in a practical way, with our personal finances. None of Avraham’s riches belonged to him. By tithing, he showed that he was only an administrator of the goods that belonged to the Most High, who is the Possessor of heaven and earth.

In the Scriptures, the number 10 represents a totality. The one who tithes is saying, in a practical way, that everything he has received to administer belongs to the Eternal and that one day, he will have to account for the way he used the remaining 90%. He who does not tithe is not acknowledging that the Eternal is the Owner of everything and he is robbing Him from what belongs to Him in a special way.

There is no word for “mine” in Hebrew. So, to say that something belongs to me, we say: “yesh li (יש לי)

– “there is (something) for me” - or sheli (שלי) – “(it) is for me”. In other words, all that we possess is actually not ours, they are things that the Eternal has allowed us to manage. Our giving up the tithe is the only practical way to express this truth.

Tithe all you receive and in this way you will acknowledge that the Most High is the Possessor of your belongings. Thus, the windows of heaven will always be open in favour of your finances.

May the Eternal bless you and truly prosper you,

Ketriel. www.messianictora.org

What is the reward for generosity?

The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

(Gen 13:14-16 ESV)

What is the reward for generosity?

Avraham sought peace with his nephew Lot. He didn’t want quarrel between both sides. The Eternal had multiplied their riches in such a way that they couldn’t live together anymore because the pasture wasn’t enough. Avraham chose not to fight for his rights. He had received a calling to go to the land and he was blessed financially because he obeyed that calling. Avraham walked with the Eternal. But Lot didn’t walk with the Eternal, he walked with Avraham. Lot didn’t know where the source of true prosperity was. It wasn’t in men, but in the Eternal.

HaShem brought up a situation that caused a crisis in their relationship, so Avraham told Lot to choose first the place he wanted to move to. Lot chose for himself what he considered better. Avraham chose to give in and humble himself, and not to try to get benefit from his calling, or his relative or anyone. This attitude is highly pleasing to the Eternal.

When Avraham was called to leave his land, he was also told to leave his family. He had not left Lot so the Eternal had to bring up this situation in order to free Avraham from his nephew. Avraham parted from him in a very courteous manner, with no disputes or emotional wounds left between them.

What was the reward for this kind of generosity?

The Eternal made him look at everything his sight could reach and He told him that all that would belong to him and his descendants forever, including the area where Lot had settled. That who gives in wins, that who is generous prospers. But that one who chooses for himself at the end will lose everything.

Don’t fight to get what is yours. Be generous. Humble yourself before others. Don’t be greedy. Don’t be jealous. Let others choose first and the Eternal will greatly reward you in His own way and time.

May the Eternal help us understand this great truth. This way we’ll be like the Messiah,

Ketriel. www.messianictora.org

How to overcome crises in our lives.

Lech Lechah 3-2

Go for you

Genesis 12:14 – 13:4

And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD

.

(Gen 13:3-4 ESV)

How to overcome crises in our lives.

There was famine in the land because of lack of rain. This came as a result of the sin of men who lived in the land of the Eternal. Kenaan’s descendants settled there. And famine forced our father Avraham to move temporarily to Egypt where there was enough pasture and food. When he arrived in Egypt, Sarah was taken as Pharaoh’s wife. Not only Avraham’s life was in danger, but also Avraham’s descendants divine plan was about to be aborted. What did our father do in that situation? How could he come out in victory from that great trial? There are three truths that we must take into account in order to overcome crises of life:

· The Eternal manages circumstances that surround every person.

· The Eternal intervenes in circumstances of every person that trusts Him.

· The Eternal causes critical situations in order to forge each person’s soul and create an acceptable character in each one of us.

The Eternal stopped the rain on the land because men were sinners. The hand of the Almighty is behind everything happening around us. He allowed these circumstances in Avraham’s life in order to force him to leave to Egypt. At that moment, Avraham could choose to complain or to trust. He could complain about the depraved conduct of the inhabitants of the area that caused such divine judgement. But instead of complaining, he turned to Egypt and tried to find a temporary solution to this problem.

There are moments in life in which we have to make decisions that we don’t like and due to circumstances we are forced to do things that don’t agree with our ideals.

However, there is a Mighty One in heaven who guides the steps of men and He meant our father Avraham’s feet to step into Egypt, because in the future, He wanted to give every place where he had stepped on to his descendants. The Eternal had plans that were much higher than what Avraham could imagine then. If he had placed his life in the hands of the Eternal, and He in turn, had promised to keep him and bless him, then He had to keep His promise and take care of Avraham avinu – our father. Our soul’s worries want to drown peace, to cause us pain and to complain. Avraham had to learn to overcome all those feelings and trust Him, who was in control of everything.

When arriving in Egypt, they had to go through a much stronger trial than famine in the land. His wife was taken away and he was in danger of death. What a distress did Avraham feel when his beloved one was taken to Pharaoh’s palace to become his wife! Did he go through a sleepless night? Did he cry out to heavens for them both? Now their lives were in danger and the Eternal’s plan for their lives was about to be broken. Certainly, it was the moment to cry out, to pour his soul before the Eternal and release all his anxiety. Or, maybe Avraham trusted the Eternal so that he could live above fear and distress without crying out to heaven. I don’t think so, because for fear of being killed he said a half-truth when he assured the Egyptians that Sarah was his sister. His fear made him be disloyal to his marriage covenant, expose his wife to adultery and put her in a very dangerous situation.

Avraham didn’t fight Pharaoh. He couldn’t prevent Pharaoh’s men from taking Sarah. When he saw this abuse of authority, he didn’t fight in rage but overcame his anger and frustration as he turned up to the One who ruled over all circumstances. I believe that Avraham thought: “If the Eternal has allowed us to be in this situation, He, who is responsible for our lives, is powerful enough to deliver us from this.”

And the Eternal was faithful and helped those who cried to Him not fighting in their own strength to change circumstances that couldn’t be changed in a natural way. All that happens in the physical world is a result of what has already happened in the invisible one. That is why Avraham and Sarah decided to change, through prayer, whatever was happening in the invisible world. They made the decision of trusting the Eternal and He responded sending a heavenly messenger, and turned defeat into victory in a moment. Avraham and Sarah came out of Egypt without bodily harm and with many riches.

However, the anguish their souls had been through demanded a renewed intimate encounter with the Eternal. That is why Avraham didn’t rest until he got back to one of the places in which he had experienced such an encounter before going to Egypt. He went non-stop to the altar that was between Bethel and HaAy. Bethel means “House of the Mighty One” and HaAy means “The heap of ruins”. In that place, Avraham had had a very intimate encounter with the Eternal and he now wanted to deepen in his relationship with Him, after overcoming Egypt’s crisis.

I think that his new encounter with the Eternal consisted of two outcries: gratitude for having being saved and a strong desire for renewed strength in their souls.

Dear disciple of the Messiah: If you’ve placed your life in the hands of the Eternal, you must know that all circumstances and every single happening are under His control. Don’t complain, just trust, cry out to Him and search for a solution from Him; He will send everything you need in His own terms and time. You must also know that everything, absolutely everything that happens to you is within His plan for your life and He allows it in order to shape your character and to forge your soul into perfection. So don’t lose courage, keep looking up to the heavens and he will do his work. After having overcome the crisis, go back to the place of your encounter with Him. You will need it.

May the Eternal grant you patience and joy to come out of trial in victory.

Ketriel.   www.mesianictora.org

How can we get to the finish line?

Lech Lechah 3-1

Go for you

Genesis 12:1-13

(...) and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

(Gen 12:5b KJV)

How can we get to the finish line?

Both the city and the tower were left halfway through because the motivation behind the project was incorrect. They built for themselves with rebellion and pride in their hearts; they sought fame. The Eternal condemned their attitudes and intentions.

Terach, Avraham’s father, died in Haran without reaching the Land of Kenaan, which he had intended when leaving Ur. He couldn’t get there because it wasn’t his calling.

In today’s passage we see that Avraham and his companions reached the goal of their project. What is the difference between what we saw last week and what we see in Avraham’s life? They didn’t reach their goal but Avraham did.

The great difference lies in the attitude of the heart. Avraham, our father, didn’t seek a name; he didn’t seek his own fame and glory. That’s why the Eternal made him famous and until now his name is known everywhere in the world. Instead of aiming at building a big city to make a great name for himself, he was willing to leave his home and leave his family. Avraham didn’t seek glory for himself, but for the Eternal.

When he received a calling, he obeyed the voice of the Eternal without even knowing exactly where he was going. Instead of rebelling he remained humble. Instead of seeking his own interests, he sought the Almighty’s. Instead of seeking in astrology, he sought to have a personal relationship with the Eternal. Instead of doing his will, he did the Eternal’s will. That is the key to his success.

Check the motivation of your heart. Stop seeking your own pleasure and interests. Don’t seek popularity, fame or money. Try with all your heart to do what you believe the Eternal wants you to do. Do everything to please Him. If you are doing something that you know He doesn’t like, stop doing it immediately. Choose what is pleasing before him and you will find true and lasting prosperity. Obey His commandments, fulfill His precepts, follow His paths and you will have good success in all you do, and everything will go well for you and your children forever.

Shavuah Tov (Good week),

Ketriel. www.mesianictora.org

Comfort Genesis 9:18 – 10:32

Noach 2-6

Comfort

Genesis 9:18 – 10:32

Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness

.

(Gen. 9:23 ESV)

What effect do family relationships have for future generations?

Cham (Cam) saw his father’s nakedness. But instead of honouring his father and cover him, he took off to spread the news. That’s why his son Kenaan (Canaan) did something so evil that the Torah can’t even narrate it. Cham’s brothers did the opposite and honoured their father, covering him without looking. These things brought very important consequences not only in the lives of Noach’s children, but also in his future generations.

Noach knew how to use the power of the word. By a prophetic word, he cursed his grandson Kenaan for what he had done. Cham wasn’t cursed; he had already been blessed (9:1). Both Shem and and Yefet received a powerful blessing. The words uttered by Noach were so powerful that they still influence the development of the world today.

How important it is to use our tongue correctly, especially when we speak about our children! Parents’ words have great power over the life and development of their children. In many cases, they will be decisive for their future.

In a family with a high moral level it is incorrect that its members expose themselves naked, except between husband and wife. Parents should not expose themselves to their children just as their children should not expose themselves to their siblings or parents, except when they are very young. Young children must be taught to cover themselves and not to expose their private parts to others. It is not correct for children to bathe naked in public.

Cham brought a terrible curse upon his son due to his lack of a high moral level relationship with his father. The Eternal commanded the children of Israel to exterminate the children of Kenaan when they conquered the Promised Land, in which Kenaan’s children lived under very poor moral standards.

Shem and Yefet’s high moral standards brought such strong blessings upon the world that these still benefit us today as they will forever.

Keep a high moral standard in your family and you will receive blessings for you and your children forever.

May the Eternal always help you have a good relationship with your parents,

Ketriel. www.mesianictora.org

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What are the implications that the covenant between The Eternal and Noach have nowadays?

Noach 2-5

Comfort

Genesis 9:8-17

And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

(Gen. 9:12-13 NKJV)

What are the implications that the covenant between The Eternal and Noach have nowadays?

A covenant is the strongest bond between two or more parties. In a covenant, there are privileges and conditions for all the parties involved. After the Flood, the Eternal established a covenant with Noach and his descendants including all future generations. All men are the offspring of Noach so this covenant applies to all humankind.

Further on, the Eternal made several other covenants with the children of Israel. However, it is important to remember that a later covenant cannot revoke a previous one.

In the covenant with Noach there is a blessing for all mankind (9:1). The Eternal committed Himself to protect the children of Noach so there will never be a flood upon the earth again. The sign of the covenant is the rainbow.

The conditions of the covenant for Noach and his children have been decoded by the rabbis through logical deduction of this passage. They are known as the seven Noahide laws or laws of Noach, and they are the same number as the colours of the rainbow. These seven laws are the main rules and they are mandatory for all sons of men for all generations.

They are the following:

1. Prohibition of Idolatry.

2. Prohibition of Blasphemy.

3. Prohibition of Murder.

4. Prohibition of Fornication (illicit sexual intercourse).

5. Prohibition of Theft.

6. Prohibition of eating blood or flesh taken from an animal while it is still alive.

7. Requirement to have law courts that regulate men’s behaviour according to the first six laws.

The Eternal didn’t grant men permission to eat animals until after the Flood. When the Scriptures refer to clean and unclean animals before the Flood, it doesn’t mean animals that were meant to be eaten or not, but ritually clean animals that could be offered to the Eternal. In Genesis 9:3 we see that The Eternal gave Noach and his children permission to eat all kinds of animals with no distinction between clean and unclean.

Further on, when the people of Israel were set apart from the rest of the nations to become a priestly nation for the rest of the nations, He restricted the animals that they would be allowed to eat. Thus for the children of Israel there are different dietary laws compared to those for the rest of the nations. A son of Noach can eat all kinds of animals, but the children of Israel cannot eat ritually unclean animals.

Dear disciple of the Messiah: Commit yourself not only to fulfill these rules given through the covenant with Noach, but to teach them to others because they apply to all mankind. In this way you will contribute towards the betterment of the world.

May the Eternal grant you strength to be faithful,

Ketriel www.mesiacnivtorah.org

How can the Eternal rejoice in the burning of innocent beings

Noach 2-4

Comfort

Genesis 8:15 – 9:7

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done

.

(Gen. 8:20-21 MKJV)

How can the Eternal rejoice in the burning of innocent beings?
What kind of Supreme Being is presented in the sacred Scriptures? How is it possible that He can rejoice in the offering of cruelly sacrificed innocent animals? Isn’t this a very primitive way of serving the Eternal, with animal sacrifices?

First, we have to understand that sacrifices of the innocent weren’t part of the original creation in which everything was very good. (Gen. 1:31). Innocent animal sacrifices were introduced by the Eternal on the day men sinned. To cover their nakedness, He sacrificed one or more animals and covered them with the animals’ skins. So, innocent bloodshed is part of a world in which sin was introduced. In this fallen world bloodshed is necessary to be accepted before the Eternal. This truth is what moved Hevel (Abel) to sacrifice animals before the Eternal. It was due to innocent bloodshed that he was accepted as pleasant before the Almighty.

Now, Is the Almighty pleased by the death of innocent lives? No, it isn’t so. He is not a bloodthirsty Supreme Being. He doesn’t rejoice in the suffering of the precious creatures He has made. He isn’t cruel at all, nor does He want the death of the innocent, whether it is men or animals.
Then, how is it possible that it is written that the Eternal considered the smell of entirely burnt animals pleasing? Is it that He likes the smell of burnt flesh? Or, is it that He needs to eat from those sacrifices? No, it has nothing to do with that.

From what we learned before about Cain and Hevel’s sacrifices, we can draw an important truth. It isn’t the sacrifice itself what pleases the Eternal, but what is behind that sacrifice. Behind Noach’s sacrifice offering was a grateful heart for the salvation he had received. It wasn’t the smell of flesh what reached the Eternal, but the smell of Noach’s heart. Noach’s gratitude was expressed in the sacrifice of those clean animals that were suitable for sacrificing before the Eternal. That gratitude expressed in innocent animal burnt flesh rendered a pleasing smell to the Eternal.

The only way to the Eternal is through sacrifice. The Eternal’s justice demands the death of the sinner, but when there is a substitute sacrifice, the sinner, obviously repented, is forgiven and accepted. All animal sacrifices point out to the atoning death of the Messiah. The Eternal does not rejoice in the sacrifice of a man, but His justice demands the sinner’s death. An animal isn’t enough to pay for men. That is why the sacrifice of Yeshua, the Messiah, was introduced in order to complete animal sacrifices and perfect men’s redemption.

All those who want to be pleasing before the Eternal will have to sacrifice something they have. In the burnt offering the whole animal is sacrificed. That animal represents men. In a burnt offering, or ascent offering – olah in Hebrew – a man expresses that he had to be sacrificed because of his sin, but the animal takes his place. He also expresses that he has no right over his own life but that his life belongs to the Eternal. With the ascent offerings of these clean animals, Noach showed that his life belonged entirely and exclusively to the Eternal, and it was this that produced a pleasant smell in heaven.

Dear disciple of the Messiah, give yourself entirely to the Eternal as an ascent offering. Don’t let any part of your life be reserved for yourself or others, but only and exclusively for the Eternal. Be a living, set apart and pleasant sacrifice for the Eternal and in this way you’ll be of a sweet savour for Him.

May the Eternal help us be pleasant sacrifices all the days of our lives,

Ketriel

 

www.mesianictora.org

What is the relationship between the Flood and the resurrection and the return of the Messiah?

Noach 2-3

Comfort

Genesis 7:17 – 8:14

Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat…And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked,

and indeed the surface of the ground was dry.

(Gen. 8:4,13 NKJV)

What is the relationship between the Flood and the resurrection and the return of the Messiah?

On the dates mentioned in the narration of the Flood we can find prophetic signs that talk about the resurrection and return of Yeshua, the Messiah. Adam started counting time according to what the sun, moon and stars pointed out, since the day he was created. So, he was created on the first day of the first month. At that time, the solar year coincided with the lunar year of 360 days. Many years later, there was an imbalance in our solar system which caused a separation between solar and lunar years. The solar year gained around five days and the lunar year lost around six. So there is a mismatch in the world today compared to the way it was in the beginning. But we are not going deeper into this subject today.

The truth is that when the Eternal brought out His people from Egypt, he changed the way of counting the years. The month in which Israel got out of slavery is appointed by the Eternal to be the first of the year for the people of Israel. The verse in Exodus 12:2 implies that only for the people of Israel that month, Aviv – the tender sprig – would be the first month of the year from the redemption of Egypt. This teaches us that for the other peoples it wasn’t the same. People of the nations that still counted years and months since Adam would have the same month as their seventh, but for Israel it would be the first one. So there was a six month change in the count of the months of the year. From this we learn that the day the ark rested on dry ground after being floating on water, would correspond to the current first month from the departure of Egypt. If we look at the dates of the Feasts of the Eternal, we notice that the 17^th day of the first month is in the first of the three annual Feasts, the Feast of the unleavened breads, also referred to as Passover.

After deepening my research, I’ve come to the conclusion that the third day after Yeshua’s death was the 17^th of the first month. He was hung on the tree and put on the ground on the 14^th of the first month and three days later, on the 17^th of the first month, he was raised from the dead by the glory of the Eternal. That day was the first day of the omer – the temple offer of the first fruit of the barley harvest – that year.

What is interesting is that there is a coincidence between the moment in which the ark touched dry land and the date of Yeshua, the Messiah’s resurrection. Both events happened on the same day.

The second interesting date in the account of the ark is when almost half a year later, on the first day of the first month – counting since Adam, the waters upon the earth dried up and Noach removed the covering of the ark and looked at the new world in which he would then live. Adam was created on the first day of the first month; Noach and those who were in the ark could see the new world exactly on that same day. If we go back again to the plan of redemption revealed on the Feasts of the Eternal (Lev. 23), we realize that that same day is Yom Truah, also known as Rosh Hashanah – new year –, in which until today, the Jewish people celebrate the creation of the world. That is also the judgement day when the return of the Messiah is announced, as well as the establishment of the new world order that comes from heaven, not from men.

So in the account of the Flood, there are prophetic dates that speak of the resurrection of the Messiah and of his return to the earth.

All those who were in the ark could see the new world on Rosh Hashanah. That way, all those who are born again, by coming into the Messiah will be able to see the world to come when the Messiah returns on Rosh Hashanah – the same day that Adam was created and the same day that Yeshua was born. In John 3:3 our rabbi says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. On Yom Truah we will be able to see the kingdom to come just as Noach could see the new world after the Flood on that same day.

In 1 Peter 3:20b-21 it is written: “...in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah.” (NKJV revised) In this text we see a clear relation between the Flood, the salvation and the resurrection of Yeshua, the Messiah. How wonderful are the ways of the Eternal!

May the Eternal give us grace to be able to see the return of the Messiah with joy,  www.mesianictora.org