Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. So there was evening, and there was morning, one day.

 

After creation God transformed Earth from a condition of “unformed and void” to one that is filled with life by the power and authority of His words.

Scripture revealed the first six days God called forth all of what we see and experience here on Earth – the light that illuminate the day, the stars in the heavens, plant lives, sea creatures, birds, insects, and formed man of dust from the ground.

God is the creator of life.

God laid the foundations of the Earth we are currently living on today.

God intended for man to populate Earth and be in everlasting state of shalom (Heb. שָׁלוֹם‎) with Him through obeying His words.

However, our living environment on Earth today is saturated with pervasive lack of peace and endless human strive, not according to what was created to be. The world today is heading towards being more chaotic and overflow of spiritual darkness.

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

Sin separated man from the eternal presence of God and forfeited our access to God’s blessing of shalom (שָׁלוֹם‎).

Sin is in human acts of disbelieve in God’s words, disobedience against God’s teachings, willful rejection of God’s truth, and ignoring God’s judgement.

Sin darkens our understanding, depleted our knowledge of truth, and crippled our ability to express righteousness and justice as how God created us to function.

We lost shalom (שָׁלוֹם‎) with God and Earth suffered the consequences of humanity’s sin against God’s words.

 

WHAT MUST WE DO TO RECOVER SHALOM (שָׁלוֹם‎) WITH GOD?

 

God provided redemption for those who will turn away from sin in order to obey His words.

God’s provision for redemption is humanity’s only hope and path to shalom (שָׁלוֹם‎).

God’s way of redemption is revealed and recorded in Holy Scripture (teachings of God written in the Torah and Prophets).

Through scripture God revealed His established pattern of redemption for His chosen people who trusted and obeyed His words.

 

NOAH, ABRAHAM, MOSES and A HOLY NATION

 

NOAH – Noah and his three sons survived the Generation of The Flood when God judged the world.

 

Genesis 6:5-10

5 And the Lord (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only. 6 And the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart. 7 And the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) said, “I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth; and not only human beings, but animals, creeping things and birds in the air; for I regret that I ever made them.” 8 But Noach found grace in the sight of the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH).

9 Here is the history of Noach. In his generation, Noach was a man righteous and wholehearted; Noach walked with God. 10 Noach fathered three sons, Shem, Ham and Yefet

 

Noah’s acts of obedience to God’s words established a pattern of redemption designated by God.

Through Noah’s acts of obedience God expressed His approval for righteous living but executed His wrath and judgement on those who continued in sin.

God separated and selected Noah for redemption due to his acts of obedience.

God redeemed Noah from the Generation of The Flood and the Earth was again populated from the line of Noah’s three sons with the expectation they keep convent with God through obeying His words.

 

Genesis 10:32 – These were the families of the sons of Noach, according to their generations, in their nations. From these the nations of the earth were divided up after the flood.

 

ABRAHAM – Abraham from the line of Shem one of the sons of Noah separated and chosen of God to inherit The Promised Land.

 

Genesis 17:1-8

When Avram was 99 years old God (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) appeared to Avram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai [God Almighty]. Walk in my presence and be pure-hearted. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will increase your numbers greatly.” 3 Avram fell on his face, and God continued speaking with him: 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations. 5 Your name will no longer be Avram [exalted father], but your name will be Avraham [father of many], because I have made you the father of many nations. 6 I will cause you to be very fruitful. I will make nations of you, kings will descend from you.

7 “I am establishing my covenant between me and you, along with your descendants after you, generation after generation, as an everlasting covenant, to be God for you and for your descendants after you. 8 I will give you and your descendants after you the land in which you are now foreigners, all the land of Kena‘an, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.”

 

When God called Abraham to leave his land (Heb. אֶרֶץ erets), his birthplace (מוֹלֶדֶת moledeth), and his human father’s house (בּיִת אָב ab bayith) it revealed and affirmed a pattern of ongoing division, separation, and selection, to build up a set-apart people under obligation to keep covenant with God.

Abraham was divided, separated, and chosen for redemption and blessing due to his acts of obedience to God’s words and teachings.

Through Abraham’s acts of obedience God expressed His approval for those who obey but rejection to those who strayed from His words. The blessing of receiving possession of The Promised Land as an everlasting inheritance from God is reserved for the redeemed who keep covenant with God.

 

MOSES – Moses separated and chosen of God to deliver (Heb. נָצַל natsal) the children of Israel from Egypt.

 

Exodus 6:2-8

² God spoke to Moshe; he said to him, “I am the Lord (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH). ³ I appeared to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [יְהֹוָ֔ה]. ⁴ Also with them I established my covenant to give them the land of Kena‘an, the land where they wandered about and lived as foreigners. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Isra’el, whom the Egyptians are keeping in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant.

⁶ “Therefore, say to the people of Isra’el: ‘I am the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH). I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ⁷ I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. ⁸ I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov — I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH).’”

 

By the time of Moses the children of Israel had grown in multitude collectively through the 12 tribes named after the 12 sons of Jacob but were living as sojourners in Egypt since the days of Joseph.

God fulfilled His promise to Abraham in delivering the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt to inherit The Promised Land.

The children of Israel leaving Egypt were to receive possession of The Promised Land with the condition they keep covenant with God as Abraham did and be a holy nation set-apart for God. Israel as a nation is to be separated, chosen, and redeemed to serve God through living in obedience to His words.

 

Exodus 19:1-6

In the third month after the people of Isra’el had left the land of Egypt, the same day they came to the Sinai Desert. 2 After setting out from Refidim and arriving at the Sinai Desert, they set up camp in the desert; there in front of the mountain, Isra’el set up camp.

3 Moshe went up to God, and the Lord (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) called to him from the mountain: “Here is what you are to say to the household of Ya‘akov, to tell the people of Isra’el: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.’ These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra’el.”

 

Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation was to be prepared for the reign of God’s anointed The Mashiach (Heb. מָשִׁיחַ).

 

Psalm 2

Why are the nations in an uproar, the peoples grumbling in vain?

2 The earth’s kings are taking positions, leaders conspiring together, against the Lord (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) and his anointed (מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ Mashiach) 3 They cry, “Let’s break their fetters! Let’s throw off their chains!”

4 He who sits in heaven laughs; the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) looks at them in derision.

5 Then in his anger he rebukes them, terrifies them in his fury. 6 “I myself have installed my king on Tziyon, my holy mountain.”

7 “I will proclaim the decree: the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) said to me, ‘You are my son; today I became your father. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance; the whole wide world will be your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron rod, shatter them like a clay pot.’”

 

MASHIACH AND THE MESSIANIC ERA

The Mashiach chosen of God is to reign from Zion. The Messianic Era will commence with the rule of The Mashiach chosen of God and the magnification of God’s decree (Heb. חֹ֥ק choq) already revealed in Holy Scripture (teachings of God written in the Torah and Prophets).

The appointed Mashiach chosen of God will be of the seed of Abraham to receive possession of The Promised Land as an everlasting inheritance from God.

 

Genesis 17:7 – And I will establish My covenant between Me and between you and between your seed (Heb. זֶרַע zera) after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be to you for a God and to your seed after you.

 

The actual person and identity of the Mashiach have been highly anticipated, debated, disputed, and will remain a divisive issue till the day The Messianic Era begin with the Mashiach reigning from Mount Zion.

Yeshua of Nazareth who is of the line of King David and seed of Abraham had been identified but those who believe and accept he is the chosen anointed of God are in the minority.

 

Matthew 1:1 – This is the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah, son of David, son of Avraham

 

Matthew’s writing recon Yeshua of Nazareth as the seed (Heb. זֶרַע zera) of Abraham who will be the final recipient of God’s covenant as an everlasting covenant.

Abraham’s faith in God was tested and his ultimate test of obedience was the Akedah “binding of Isaac” which foretold the suffering of the seed of Abraham in fulfilling God’s will, and the afflictions of the Mashiach had been predicted in the prophetic writings of Isaiah

 

Isaiah 53

Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of the Lord (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us. 3 People despised and avoided him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, he was despised; we did not value him.

7 Though mistreated, he was submissive — he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered, like a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 After forcible arrest and sentencing, he was taken away; and none of his generation protested his being cut off from the land of the living for the crimes of my people, who deserved the punishment themselves. 9 He was given a grave among the wicked; in his death he was with a rich man.

Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, 10 yet it pleased the Lord (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring; and he will prolong his days; and at his hand the Lord’s (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) desire will be accomplished.

11 After this ordeal, he will see satisfaction. “By his knowing [pain and sacrifice], my righteous servant makes many righteous; it is for their sins that he suffers. 12 Therefore I will assign him a share with the great, he will divide the spoil with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and being counted among the sinners, while actually bearing the sin of many and interceding for the offenders.”

 

MASHIACH THE SEED OF ABRAHAM AND THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

 

Isaac’s life was offered through Abraham’s act of obedience to God’s word and a ram (Heb. אַיִל ayil) was killed for burnt offering (עֹלָה olah) to God.

Yeshua of Nazareth offered his life in complete obedience to God’s will but was killed by order of Pontius Pilate (governor of the Roman province of Judaea serving under Emperor Tiberius) and motivated by the Sanhedrin of that time.

The birth, life, suffering, and death of Yeshua of Nazareth fulfilled Scripture of unwavering trust and obedient in doing God’s words but suffered affliction by the hands of the unrighteous.

Yeshua of Nazareth being raised from the dead caused even more division and dispute about the identity of the Mashiach because Israel remained under subjugation to Rome and the Second Temple (reconstructed, refurbished, and overhauled by Herod) destroyed in 70 AD.

There is the expectation that the appearing and appointment of the Mashiach should coincide with the start of The Messianic Era and Zion being established as the center of governance for the Mashiach chosen of God.

Problem is our human understanding of God’s appointed time (Heb. מוֹעֵד moed) for specific future event can be severely lacking and limited until it is fulfilled.

Kefa a disciple of Yeshua of Nazareth testified at the festival of Shavu‘ot following the death and resurrection of Yeshua on Pesach

 

Acts 2:22-36

22 “Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua from Natzeret was a man demonstrated to you to have been from God by the powerful works, miracles and signs that God performed through him in your presence. You yourselves know this. 23 This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and, through the agency of persons not bound by the Torah, you nailed him up on a stake and killed him!

24 “But God has raised him up and freed him from the suffering of death; it was impossible that death could keep its hold on him.

25 For David says this about him: ‘I saw the Lord’s (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) always before me, for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 For this reason, my heart was glad; and my tongue rejoiced; and now my body too will live on in the certain hope 27 that you will not abandon me to Sh’ol or let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will fill me with joy by your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I know I can say to you frankly that the patriarch David died and was buried — his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that one of his descendants would sit on his throne, 31 he was speaking in advance about the resurrection of the Messiah, that it was he who was not abandoned in Sh’ol and whose flesh did not see decay. 32 God raised up this Yeshua! And we are all witnesses of it!

33 “Moreover, he has been exalted to the right hand of God; has received from the Father what he promised, namely, the Ruach HaKodesh; and has poured out this gift, which you are both seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into heaven. But he says,

35 ‘The Lord’s (יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

36 Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah — this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!”

 

Acts 3:18-21

18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced in advance, when he spoke through all the prophets, namely, that his Messiah was to die.

19 “Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord’s presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua. 21 He has to remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as God said long ago, when he spoke through the holy prophets.

 

According to the witness and testimony of Kefa the Messiah had already appeared and He will return. Yeshua of Nazareth being raised from the dead a foreshadow of things to come when God brings about the ultimate restoration of His chosen and redeemed and the start of The Messianic Era.

The person and identity of the Mashiach will continue to be sharply debated and disputed, and will remain a divisive issue till the day The Messianic Era begin with the Mashiach reigning from Mount Zion but we have received instructions to be ready

 

Deuteronomy 29:28(29)

“Things which are hidden belong to the Lord (Heb. יְהֹוָ֔ה YHVH) our God. But the things that have been revealed belong to us and our children forever, so that we can observe all the words of this Torah.

 

Scripture revealed God’s designated pattern of division, separation, selection, based on doing God’s words and being chosen of God for redemption and restoration.

 

DAVID Z