B'reisheet - Day #7

B'reisheet בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

Shabbat Reading #7: Genesis 5:25–6:8

5:25 Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, then became the father of Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 27 All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

28 Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, then became the father of a son. 29 He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which Hashem has cursed.” 30 Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah for five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 31 All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died. 32 Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

6 When men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 Elohim’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives. 3 Hashem said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when Elohim’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

5 Hashem saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. 6 Hashem was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in His heart. 7 Hashem said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in Hashem’s eyes.

Today’s Meditation:

Everyone has thoughts on who the “Sons of G-d” are and the “Daughters of Men” (Genesis 6:1). Many people believe that the “Sons of G-d” are demons or fallen angels. I have a different thought. My idea is that the “Sons of G-d” are actually the set-apart Hebrew people of G-d, descending from Adam, including Seth’s line. Throughout Scripture, the terms “sons” or “children” refer to individuals in a covenant relationship with Hashem. 

So, that leaves us with the question: who are the daughters of men? I have this unique theory that there was a “pre-creation” (Genesis 1) before Hashem created Adam and the Garden. This population, both male and female, was likely not following Hashem, so He then created a set-apart Hebrew people through Adam. If this were true, then at some point His set-apart people meet up with His first creation of people, and they begin to marry. This is the Bible’s first sign of mixed marriages. And the result does not fare well. The descendants of these mixed marriages become corrupt and sinful, so much so that Hashem wishes He had not created them. This is just an idea.

Amidst all this corruption, one man stands out, Noah. He found favor with G-d. Hashem always has a remnant that genuinely loves and serves Him. I would like to be part of this group. Those who love Hashem with their whole heart, soul, and being.

Today’s Challenge:

Do you desire to be a “son/daughter of men” or a “son/daughter of G-d”? I want to be a daughter of Hashem. I want to be picked to be a part of His remnant. I challenge you and myself to find out how we can do that.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5 - 43:10

42:5 Hashem Elohim, He who created the heavens and stretched them out, He who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, He who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it, says:

6 “I, Hashem, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations, 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.

8 “I am Hashem. That is My name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images. 9 Behold, the former things have happened and I declare new things, I tell you about them before they come up.”

10 Sing to Hashem a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants, 11 Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing.  Let them shout from the top of the mountains!

12 Let them give glory to Hashem, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 Hashem will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies.

14 “I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant. 15 I will destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools, 16 I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know.  I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.

17 “Those who trust in engraved images, who tell molten images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back. They will be utterly disappointed.

18 “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind,  that you may see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is at peace, and as blind as Hashem’s servant? 20 You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen. 21 It pleased Hashem, for His righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honorable. 22 But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become captives, and no one delivers, and a plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore them!’

23 Who is there among you who will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob as plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Didn’t Hashem, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, and they disobeyed his law. 25 Therefore, he poured the fierceness of his anger on him and the strength of battle. It set him on fire all around, but he didn’t know. It burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.”

43 But now Hashem, who created you, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the Rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.

3 For I am Hashem your Elohim, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia, and Seba in your place. 4 Since you have been precious and honored in My sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.

5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. 6 I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth—7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’”

8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified, or let them hear, and say, “That is true.” 10 “You are my witnesses,” says Hashem, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.

Before me there was no god formed, neither will there be after Me.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

What promises do we have from our great and mighty G-d? If only we could understand that He requires us to be active in our love for Him. That means following His commandments and displaying true worship to Him in every moment of our waking lives. He says, “But now Hashem who created you, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel, says: 'Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you. For I am Hashem your Elohim, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

He knows our name. He has redeemed us. And He will be with us through every trial and test, for He is Elohim.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

In this verse, think about how He has redeemed you. How many times has He pulled you out of deep waters? Or rescued you from the fire? Reflect on His mercy and goodness.

B'reisheet - Day #6

B'reisheet בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Day #6: Genesis 4:23–5:24

4:23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. 24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”

25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “For Elohim has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time, men began to call on Hashem’s name.

5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that Elohim created man, He made him in Elohim’s likeness. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, He named them Adam. 3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after His image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of other sons and daughters. 5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6 Seth lived one hundred five years, then became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh for eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 8 All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan for eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 11 All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12 Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters 14 and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared for eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 17 All of the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

18 Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch for eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 20 All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Methuselah. 22 After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with Elohim for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters. 23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with Elohim, and he was not found, for Elohim took him.

Today’s Meditation:

If you study the phrase “Men began to call on G-d’s name” (verse 4:26), you will be surprised, actually, to find two possible meanings. The first being that men began to give the name of Hashem to other physical forms, including themselves. In other words, they began to initiate a false deity. I suppose that since sin had entered the world, it manifested itself in various ways, including false worship.

The second meaning we would probably agree on. That man began to call upon, pray, and/or worship Hashem. Now having a sense of good and evil, they most likely found that worshiping Hashem and seeking Him brought peace and joy into their lives. It became evident that humans were beginning to distinguish between light and dark. And, just like us, they desired to be in the light.

Today’s Challenge:

Today, I challenge you to call upon Hashem’s Name. See if you can closely walk with Him today in very special ways. Look for what He is doing and try to join Him. You will find this is a very exciting way to live.

B'reisheet - Day #5

B'reisheet בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning

Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Day #5: Genesis 4:19–22

4:19 Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. 22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Today’s Meditation:

After Cain moves away and leaves the presence of G-d and his family, Scripture begins to list a line of his descendants. In this relatively short reading, we learn a little about Tubal Cain, “a forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron.” If you begin researching this, you may find that it was thought that Tubal Cain was a blacksmith who made weapons. Ironic, don’t you think? His distant great-grandfather, Cain, commits the first documented murder in the Bible. Now his great-grandson (to the 5th generation) is producing weapons. Maybe for defense, maybe not.

Hashem specifically gives us the commandment not to murder. And yet, we see how early on in the history of mankind this commandment is broken, and sin persists. Don’t you ever wonder how man so quickly and easily began to sin, even when Hashem’s presence was still evident? Something to think about. 

Today’s Challenge:

So, maybe you have a great time praying with Hashem, or you are in a church/synagogue service and really feel His presence in that place. But you leave, and five minutes later, you do something sinful? I’ve been there and done it. My challenge today is to help you become more aware of not sinning. Even if for just a day.