TORAH 1020 Covenant Concepts - Ben Davis Creative · RESTORAH MINISTRIES Visit us online at: a ww.resTorahLife.com Unleaven U BI Day1 Author/Editor-in-Chief Torah 1020: Covenant Concepts

Covenant ConceptsTORAH 1020

A TORAH STUDY AND DEVOTIONAL GUIDETorah Groups | Home-School Curriculum | Individuals

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Ben DavisAuthor/Editor-in-ChiefTorah 1020: Covenant Concepts ©2016

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Ben DavisExecutive DirectorTori DavisAssistant DirectorBrahm DavisWeb DeveloperEzri DavisEditor/ContributorBess DavisContributor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro-duced, distributed, or transmit-ted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior permis-sion of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations em-bodied in certain noncommer-cial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact Unleaven U.

resTorah staff is available for teaching engagements, consult-ing services, and worship event/conference direction. Visit our website for more information or other resources.

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Footnotes:1. Genesis 1:22. Isaiah 60:193. Isaiah 9:24. Matthew 5:14

In the beginning Elohim/God created. When Elohim spoke His Words formed the heavens, the earth, light, land, sea,

vegetation, the luminaries, animals, and man. In the beginning, Elohim gave birth to everything by His spoken Word. Before the very first dawn, there was darkness. At inception of creation, Elohim existed and Elohim meditated there as His Ruach/Spirit hovered over the surface of the deep.1 In the beginning, only that which Elohim desired to disclose of Himself had been revealed. He separated the darkness with light. At this genesis, Elohim was revealed as Creator and His name YHVH/I Am That I Am had not yet been revealed. That was sufficient.

Disclosing Himself as Light, Elohim was the only luminary that was needed to dispel darkness. The Light of Elohim illuminated His forthcoming creation. Darkness could not comprehend the Light so it was dispelled causing the distinction between evening and morning, day and night. The Light of Elohim was the only essence needed to define the real-ity of day or night. Elohim manifested Himself in Light. That Light was life-giving and would serve as the invisible source of life on earth. The Creator foreknew His plan for man and man’s future inability to remain in His Light and to abide in Life. Elohim established for man signs and seasons through the created luminaries of the sun, moon and stars, as witnesses to His Great Light and Life. At this point, the Light of the Creator illuminated

earth. This is clear from the fact that the lesser lights did not exist until the fourth day. However, it was on the third day that the earth was commanded to sprout vegetation, plants, and trees all bearing seed after their own kind.

Human nature only understands the need for light as energy generation, as in plants during photosynthesis. This is because man does not comprehend the Light of Elohim, but searches for the carnal knowledge that was disclosed because of the existence of light. Man innately seeks to understand this. That is from Elohim, too. Without personal revela-tion of the Light, man suffers in despondent darkness, not realizing how much he needs Light for his eternal future.

In the end, the presence of Elohim will be the only illuminance needed over the face of the earth.2 He will illumine man and there will be no night, nor will we have need for lamp or the sun. We will have the Son, the Light of the world, that will sustain us and the vegetation of Paradise—the essence of His Life for all to live within. In that day, His Light will reflect the fullness of His Name as we call upon YHVH through Yeshua.

In the beginning, we have seen the great Light.4 The Elohim of peace has presented Himself as the One Who hovers over His creation and reveals Himself to us.1 Let us be separated from that which is dwells in dark-ness and dwell only in His Life. When we do this, we fulfill Yeshua’s words to become the light of the world,4 just as He is.

TORAH 1020:

COVENANT CONCEPTS

Parasha: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B’reisheet/In The Beginning Torah Portion: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Genesis 1:1–6:8 Tanak: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaiah 42:5-43:10 Brit Hadasha: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John 1

b’reisheet

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U N L E AV E N U | TO R A H 1 0 2 0 — C OV E N A N T C O N C E P T S

W W W. U N L E AV E N U . C O M | R E S TO R A H L I F E . C O M

Day 1 PRAYER TIME

READ PARASHA: GEN. 1:1-2:3

TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP

MIDRASH WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS

JOURNAL

Footnotes:1. Revelation 1:82. 1 John 1:53. Acts 17:284. John 8:585. 1 Peter 1:20-21

1. Revelation 1:18 tells that YHVH1 is the beginning and end. What does this tell us about the “beginning” from which Elohim created all things? Give an Hebraic interpretation of the be-ginning and end in relation to Rev. 22:13. Who was in the beginning, who will be in the end?

2. Give an account of what was created when in the table below.Day What Was Created / What Happened

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

5. If Elohim is Light,2 how was there darkness to separate light from it? Why have darkness?

4. Citing Scripture as your proof text, what was the seventh day, and how were days to be reckoned so that we know the beginning/start and end? Why is this important?

Connecting the Jots:How is something made out of nothing? Well, if you are Elohim, you can do anything. Yet, was there really nothing? After all, there was Elohim, and in Him we exist.3 So, there actually was something, and that something was and is Elohim, Who is everything. Since He is the beginning1, in Him all things already existed and could be brought forth. When you think about this, remember who you are and from where you came. More importantly, remember from Whom you came. It would be easy to assume that you were not thought of during creation; however, we know Messiah was before Abraham,4 and was foreknown before the foundations of the world.5 In other words, before anything was, Messiah Is, and He had you in mind when the foundations of the earth were created.

Words to Reflect | Ephesians 1:4. . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be set apart and blameless before Him.

About Torah 1020

Each week, you will be given the opportunity to study To-rah through this curriculum. The questions for each day’s reading are meant to provide you with topics of study and response, along with group and family discussions, and personal reflection.

In between your notebook pages, you are encouraged to write additional insights to questions, continued an-swers that do not fit on the regular pages, and areas you find yourself enlightened, thankful, repetitive, and needing prayer.

The study questions, along with the additional leaves, are your ongoing Torah journal that will encapsulate the thoughts and insights that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) shows you.

Some questions are to the point, while others are more subjective. You are encour-aged to write according to Scripture research and discussions. Please limit your research to canonized Scripture versus extraneous sources. This will help what seems subjective to become Ruach inspired conviction.

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B ’ R E I S H E E T/ I N T H E B E G I N N I N G

L I V E L I F E U N L E AV E N E D | H E A R . O B E Y. R E P E AT.

Day 2 PRAYER TIME

READ PARASHA: GEN. 2:4-19

TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Verses 4-6 reads as if this took a long time. Citing Scripture as your proof text, was the earth created in a literal seven days or is chapter 1 more a symbolic narrative? Explain your answer.

2. What is this Garden? What was within the Garden and how does the Garden represent man’s ideal habitat? Is there a better name to describe this place as found later in Scripture?

3. Why was man created and what was his purpose in the Garden?

4. What was the Tree of Life and how did its fruit sustain man? Why did it need tending to?

5. What was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Discuss if it needed tending to.

6. Why was it not be good for man to be alone? After all, Elohim created him that way. So, why would the Creator feel so inclined to create a companion for him? What does this tell us about the nature of Elohim?

Connecting the Jots:“It is not good for man to be alone.” No truer words were spoken, and no other person need to utter them but Elohim. Man may not have even understood the reason he was alone, or why he might have a helper. Like Elohim, man had an intrinsic desire for something else. For Elohim, He desired someone to be His counterpart. Man was created in His image, therefore, the same desire was within man. Was it a need? Since Elohim is completely sufficient, it definitely was not a need for Him. What about man? Under the creation circumstances, probably not yet. The actual need trumping desire for a helper did not arise until sin entered man’s life. Then, his desire for a helper became an intrinsic need. This need was not for companionship, but for the counterbalance or counterpart to be restored. Man would be void of the Creator’s presence within Him without restoration. It would be Messiah, the promised Seed, that would crush sin and fully restore the relationship of Elohim with His counterpart—us.

Words to Reflect | Psalm 51:6You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

Sandals: Worshipping in Spirit

The first paragraph of this portion points to the need for water in order for vegetation to grow and for man to culti-vate it. This does not mention the need for the sun for growth or the process. As a matter of fact, the vegetation was created on the third day, while the sun was created on the fourth day. Elohim was the only Light source needed. There was light already established and it had been separated from the darkness on the very first day.

There are many things on this earth that we believe we need; yet, we know Moshe and Yeshua both went 40 days without food or water. They had Elohim Who was sufficient. It was the Ruach that hovered over the surface of the deep Whose Light was in both of these men. We, too, must purpose to walk in the same Light, needing only Him.

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Footnotes: 1 Hebrews 12:2

Day 3 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Discuss your understanding of why woman was created from man instead of being created from the dust of the earth like man. What was Elohim’s purpose in creating woman this way?

2. Man and woman were naked and not ashamed. Why not, or why should they have been?

3. When Chavah says, “or touch it, or you will die,” what is she doing and how does this open the door for the serpent to carry out his deceptive plan? Cite a Torah ordinance for this.

4. Who/what was the serpent, where did he come from? Moreover, discuss his curse and what it means to him and man. Use Scripture to back up your thoughts.

5. Discuss the curses pronounced on man and woman. Why were there two curses instead of just one? Also, how would these affect future generations physically and spiritually?

Connecting the Jots:Elohim’s curse upon man is to work the ground for, both, bread and thorns and thistles. Only one of these is a result of grain that takes sweat and toil to get. Man, due to his fallen nature, would begin to look to the earth for his sustenance instead of the Creator. Later, in Devarim 26, we see that YHVH still gives to man all that he needs for sustenance. We are to give Him thanks and look to Him for all we need. The desire of man is not only to rationalize what he sees, but to look to what he understands. Unfortunately, what he understands is what lies before him on the earth. The toil and striving for bread makes him believe the earth is what gives and takes away, instead of the Creator. We must not look to the works of our hands, which will fade away, but must keep our eyes upon the One Who gives to us and completes what He began in us.1

Words to Reflect | Philippians 1:6. . . He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Messiah Yeshua.

Vocabulary:

The word enmity, as found in verse 3:15, is the Hebrew word ‘eybah (hbya), meaning the state of actively being opposed to or hostile toward something. It is like putting hatred in the mind and/or heart toward some other idea or entity. Elohim is the one Who placed this enmity in the serpent between his seed and the woman’s seed. Moreover, Elohim reveals that woman’s seed will crush the serpent’s head, having victory once and for all over the serpent and his lies.

We know this seed to be Yeshua, Who was born of woman, but not of man. He alone was capable of completely resisting the evil one and triumphing over the deception and curses so as to be resurrected from the dead.

Sadly, the enmity in the serpent has spread to man in that all of those born of this world, and not of Elohim, inherit his curse and hatred for righteousness.

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Day 4 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Why was the Tree of Life and its fruit important for man and his possible longevity?

2. Knowing the Garden was East of Eden, where would you place this Garden by today’s geopolitical map. What does this have to do with Elohim’s chosen people and their land?

3. What was the difference in Cain and Abel’s offerings so that Elohim regarded one and not the other? Cite what each offering would have consisted of and why these were chosen.

4. Discuss Cain’s punishment and response to Elohim. Could he have repented? Did Cain actually get sent away from Elohim or did Elohim hide His face from Cain? Explain.

5. Who are these other people Cain is afraid of and where did they come from? Moreover, who was his wife and where did she come from?

Connecting the Jots:As we study Torah, a notable comparison begins to emerge. First, there is a division forming between the righteous seed and corruptible seed. Moreover, the corrupt side gets quite large in comparison to the righteous. Yet, corruption seems to follow a similar pattern to righteousness. From similar names in the different genealogical lists (beginning with Cain’s name meaning begotten one), to having 12 chiefs over the clans of Esau compared to the 12 tribes of Israel; and, the similarities don’t stop there. The adversary, who resides on the earth, has influence over the inhabitants of the earth. Those that live by the earth, looking to it for sustenance in-stead of giving their allegiance to the Creator, will be under earthly influence in some way or another. The adversary’s desire is that all flesh follow him as their master. His agenda includes mimicking Elohim in order to show his power as superior to the Creator’s. It is not! There is only One Truth, One Way, and that is through the only begotten son, Yeshua. The adversary cannot counterfeit Messiah. Life begins in Yeshua as our Tree of Life. As we partake of His redemption, we readily eat the fruit that satisfies and gives eternal life.

Words to Reflect | 1 John 4:9YHVH has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

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Footnotes:1. Deuteronomy 32:10,

Psalm 17:8, Zechariah 2:8

Day 5 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Why was Abel’s death so significant and what role do you see Seth playing in place of Abel?

2. How is Seth’s role similar to our lives. What if we are not here to do Elohim’s work for Him?

3. This passage of Torah is the second, in the first five chapters, genealogical record/list. Where are the others in Torah? Moreover, why does Elohim choose to include these in His Word?

4. What do you believe Torah means when discussing the lifespan of Enoch by simply stating, “. . . and he was not, for Elohim took him”? Was he taken up alive or did he die? Explain.

Who else in Scripture do we see having a similar experience as Enoch? Why is this important?

5. There are extra books used in other religions, but not in Torah or the Tanak. The First and Second Books of Enoch are two of them. What do you think? Should these books be included in Scripture, studied, or taken seriously at all, or are they just pseudepigraphical?

Connecting the Jots:We are important to Elohim. Each and every one of us. So important, in fact, that He sent Mes-siah to die for us, in order for us to be raised to new, eternal life in Him. But, are we so important that the Creator’s plan will fall apart if we don’t do our part? If we stamp our feet and refuse to go, are we really throwing cog’s into the wheel of Elohim’s will and plan for His creation? Maybe, but probably not. While being the apple of His eye,1 Elohim’s grand design of life, the universe, and everything does not revolve around us. In fact, we are to revolve around Him. We are to empty ourselves out and be selfless, knowing that if we don’t do Elohim’s will, He can and will raise up another to do exactly what He has asked. Count yourself blessed to be called to serve, not privileged. YHVH is the Maker and He deservse our attention, not the other way around.

Words to Reflect | Luke 19:40Yeshua answered, “I tell you, if these [disciples] become silent, the stones will cry out!”

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Footnotes:1. 2 Peter 3:8

Day 6 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. The genealogical data in Torah reveals that people lived much longer than today, but their life-spans decreased over the centuries. Why did pre-Noach man have such longevity of life?

2. Some would try and argue that if a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day to Elohim1, time could have been shortened or lengthened for ages and creation. Explain how you understand YHVH’s calculation of time and if this has changed since the beginning.

3. Previously, we discussed what enmity is. What does enmity have to do with today’s reading in regard to the Sons of Elohim and the daughters of man? Discuss how this relates to the enmity between the serpent’s offspring and the woman’s seed.

4. In order to justify the existence of nephilim, the above demon/man intermarriage is given. Considering men like Hitler have tried to build the “master” race, give a rational explana-tion for whom the nephilim were, citing a physical, Biblical origin theory? Also, if these were men with genetic traits, does it stand to reason that Ham’s wife could have had these genes to pass along to the “anakim, rephaim, and emim” of future generations? Explain.

Connecting the Jots:Not all that is assumed as nuances and doctrine, either through tradition or extra-Biblical sources, is Truth. The only Truth record we have is Torah, along with the Tanak (Writings/Prophets) and what has been canonized as the Brit haDasha (New Covenant writings). Even venerated sources such as the Mishnah and other “sacred” Judaic writings should not be con-sidered Truth as defined as YHVH’s Word. They are man’s interpretations, inventions, discus-sions, and rantings, not to be confused with what Moshe received and wrote down for us to observe. Speculations of the origins of giants or the whereabouts of the lost tribes abound; yet, the Truth we have is and can be applicable. All else is done in vain and is used to manipulate others into walking in man’s perverse understanding versus what is prescribed by Elohim. The Word is our Truth, we should walk in it.

Words to Reflect | Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than ac-cording to Messiah.

Midrash Point

Many would contend that the daughters of men were daughters of actual men listed in the genealogical records; whereas, the sons of Elohim were fallen angels or demons. It is important that we emphasize our stance that the sons of Elohim were believers in Elohim from Adam, while the daughters of men were the nations not following Elohim. Do you see any Torah/Tanak precedence indicating demonic entities breeding with women? Explain what your Torah-based perspec-tive on this is. Moreover, if demons entered humanity’s gene-pool, why is this not happening today?

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Day 7 PRAYER TIME

READ PARASHA: GENESIS 1:1–6:8

TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

Words to Reflect | 2 Corinthians 3:3. . . being manifested that you are a letter of Messiah, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Ruach of the living YHVH, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

A whole lot can happen in just a week, or in 1,700 years, as far as that goes. In just one week of reading, Torah has

divulged information about patriarchs, people, and the creation of the entire universe. Inter-estingly, what is considered by humanists to have taken eons is described and attributed to only six days, while the remaining information fills the 1,700 year void.

This raises some great issues about reading Torah and how to study it. While it’s great to read Scripture, taking in as much knowledge of our history as possible, as well as learning what pleases our Creator, there are some parameters that must be kept in check for proper interpre-tation. Time line and order of documentation are certainly two important factors.

Looking at just the first two chapters of B’reisheet, a bit of confusion already arises when seeing the six day creation, with a sev-enth day Shabbat, then flipping the page to read a second narration about the creation of man, animals and so forth. Is this a retell-ing of the creation story, but with a bit more detail? Perhaps. But, could it be a secondary informative block, filling in the details of where the nations came from in the first nar-rative and where Elohim’s seed (Adam) came from? Theologians rigorously debate various theories of the sequence of events and how it all was established.

Furthermore, the amount of time it actually took to get from verse one of B’reisheet to the Garden is under much more scrutiny. Even some believers vehemently argue that taking Torah at face value—buying into a literal six day creation cycle—to be naive and misunder-stood. Others would shoot back with attribu-tions of the authenticity of Elohim’s Word and the faith it takes to believe in a Creator and creation narrative.

And this is just the beginning. From discus-sions about ages and orders to the meanings of commandments, laws, seasons, and even words and idioms, Torah is full of knowledge that takes interpretation and understanding to properly consume and digest. Yet, we are, repeatedly, commanded to hear/understand and obey.

A great deal of what is written in Torah does take faith to believe at face value. How-ever, what kind of oblique faith does it take to whole-heartedly believe in symbolic meanings and gestures many would attribute to Torah instead of its written, surface meaning? Ei-ther way, it is faith that makes that engine go. Without it, none of us would be able to take any Scripture seriously, beyond the human rationality of the wisdom it imparts.

Where so many believers and non-believers fall short in understanding and applying To-rah to their lives is one simple oversight—the Ruach haKodesh. Without Him, we are simply reading text on a page and trying to make heads or tails of it. With the Spirit of Truth, having been fully immersed and filled with His presence inside us, it is possible to gain insight into the texts’ meaning and breadth.

Quite frankly, reading Torah and all of Scripture without the lens of the Ruach is taking, in faith, aspects of Who Elohim is in blind faith. Instead, being immersed in the Ruach is the same as having the Author within us, writing His Words on the walls of our hearts.1 And, while having faith that To-rah is real in any situation is great, having the understanding of what is—with it internally applied to become externally acted upon—is better. Isn’t this what Yeshua exhorts us to do when shown to worship YHVH in Spirit and in Truth? Understanding is nothing without faith-based action. Otherwise, it is dead faith.2

Footnotes:1. Jeremiah 31:31-342. James 2:26

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R E S T O R A H M I N I S T R I E S

Visit us online at:www.UnleavenU.com and www.resTorahLife.com

Unleaven U

Ben DavisAuthor/Editor-in-ChiefTorah 1020: Covenant Concepts ©2016

resTorah Staff

Ben DavisExecutive DirectorTori DavisAssistant DirectorBrahm DavisWeb DeveloperEzri DavisEditor/ContributorBess DavisContributor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro-duced, distributed, or transmit-ted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior permis-sion of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations em-bodied in certain noncommer-cial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact Unleaven U.

resTorah staff is available for teaching engagements, consult-ing services, and worship event/conference direction. Visit our website for more information or other resources.

Footnotes:1. B’reisheet 272. B’reisheet 49

There is an inheritance for all of Israel. None are left out, from the least to the greatest, all partake

in this inheritance. What Moshe gives as blessings is telling of what Israel’s individual tribes will receive for their inheritance.

One might ask here, “What does an in-heritance have to do with a blessing?” That’s a great question! You see, from a Torah per-spective, prior to someone’s death, they would give a blessing to the next generation. This is seen being done by Isaac1 and Yacov2 to their sons. Moreover, as indicated with the story of Yacov’s deception,1 the firstborn son would receive a double-portion for his inheritance.

What we see at the end of Yacov’s life is exactly this—a man blesses all the children of Israel and giving two firstborn sons their double-portions. Both Yehudah and Ephraim receive more than their counter-parts. Though, one might ask why Ephraim receives this double allotment.

To understand this, we must look at Yoseph’s life in Israel, then in Egypt. His children were born, not of his own distant family members (as was the custom of that time) but of a daughter of a priest of On. Moreover, she was completely pagan and did not know Elohim. Yoseph’s sons, however, were taught to fear and serve Elohim by their father. Later, Yacov adopted these sons, making them His own. The consequence of this action was that Yoseph is considered a complete tribe, but he is commonly referred

to as Ephraim and all his house falls into either Ephraim’s or Manasseh’s “half ” tribes.

To complicate matters more, Manasseh was the first born, and it was he who should have received the double-portion inheri-tance. Instead, Yacov chose Ephraim, the sec-ond son of a pagan woman, to be a first-born and equal to Yehudah (who was actually the fourth born as the first three abdicated their birth position through shame and/or sin).

What does all this mean? It points to the fact that YHVH sees beyond human genetics and looks at the heart. YHVH already knew Israel would sin and fall away, but He had promised Abraham that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his seed. The divisions of the sons of Israel who sided with Ephraim fell away first, then the those who were accounted with Yehudah had a similar fate, both being assimilated into the nations. Furthermore, while Yehudah would return to the land and become the modern Jew, it would be Ephraim that would be dispersed into all the nations. Inasmuch, as Ephraim is awakened, they are drawn back to YHVH, brining with them the nation members who see Yeshua.

The blessings of Moshe provide great insight to how YHVH sees His people. It shows their hearts and where their alle-giance is. The question becomes, where do our eyes look: to our earthly circumstances or to what YHVH has places within our hearts? It is here that citizenship and birth-rights are given and maintained.

TORAH 1020:

COVENANT CONCEPTS

Parasha: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vezot ha’Bracha/ And This Is The Blessing

Torah Portion: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deut. 33:1-34:12 Tanak: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joshua 1:1-18, Isaiah 2:1-4 Brit Hadasha: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Peter 1:22-25

vezot ha’bracha

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Footnotes:* NASB vs. KJV1. 1 Exodus 19:162. Hebrews 11:1

Day 1 PRAYER TIME

READ PARASHA: DEUT. 33:1-6

TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Where have we seen something like this before; and, after comparing these, what do you understand as the underlying differences between them?

2. Why would Moshe feel the need to bless Israel in this fashion? Was it his or YHVH’s idea?

3. Verse 2 says, “At His right hand there was *flashing lightning for them,” yet other translations use “*there was a fiery law . . .” instead. This is followed by, “Indeed, He loves the people . . .” How would this affect the meaning and what does it have to do with loving His people?

4. After hearing a song about how Israel will fall away, we see a blessing for her stating, “All Your holy ones are in Your hand, and they followed in Your steps . . .” Who are these holy ones?

5. Who was king in Yeshurun; and, when did this happen? Did they recognize their king?

6. Explain Reuben’s blessing. It seems to the point, but what does it mean? Why was it given?

Connecting the Jots:YHVH will make Himself known to those whom He has chosen to be His. For ancient Israel, this was shown through YHVH’s deliverance from Egypt and provision in the wilderness. Then, He brought the people to Mt. Sinai in order to behold a “fiery law” with lightening and flash-ing and the shofar blast.1 This people saw much, yet spurned their Salvation. Like the people who believe Yeshua was resurrected, but have not seen Him (unlike Thomas who desired to see and feel the nail wounds in order to believe), those of faith will believe and obey because they know truth has been set before them. When YHVH calls His people, He places within them the ability to believe. We must exercise that faith and believe. It is not blind faith, it the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.2

Words to Reflect | Rom. 12:3, Matt. 17:20. . . YHVH has allotted to each a measure of faith . . . “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.”

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V E ZOT H A’ B R AC H A / A N D T H I S I S T H E B L E S S I N G


Footnotes:1. Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:82. Matthew 5:14, John 8:123. 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 3:5

Day 2 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. What is important about Yehudah and who’s voice is it Moshe beckon’s YHVH to hear?

2. Did “he” get brought to his people? Who was this and how was “he” brought? Moreover, how did his hands contend for them?

3. Describe how Levi didn’t consider father or mother, nor acknowledge brothers or sons?

4. Why does Levi get such a lengthy and poignant blessing? How does this tribe measure up to this blessing and make these words a reality?

5. What does the tribe of Levi eventually do so that they are not held in such esteem by YHVH? (See Ezekiel 44 and the priesthood during Yeshua’s time.)

6. Describe a correlation between Yehudah and Levi in terms of priesthood and selection for use.

Connecting the Jots:Thummin (µymt) literally means perfection and is the plural of the noun tom (µt). Tom means integrity or completeness and fullness. Urim (µyrwa) literally means lights, being the plural of the noun ore (rwa). Ore means light of flame or flame, and could signify the Eternal Flame and the Light/Fire that was seen at Mt. Sinai when Torah was given. Torah, meaning Teachings and Instructions, has ore within it, so that we will clearly see Truth. Together, the thummim and urim give perfect knowledge of the Truth as from YHVH. The high priest was to hold stones in a pocket behind the breastplate with these words written upon them.1 Using these stones was to render YHVH’s counsel to any situation so that man could walk (with perfect knowledge and wisdom given to him) in His light. We have Yeshua as our High Priest. He is Light2 and Perfec-tion,3 and has given us the Ruach in our hearts. He clothes us with His garments, including His breastplate, under which His Ruach gives us His knowledge and wisdom to walk before Him.

Words to Reflect | Psalm 119:130The unfolding of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Sandals Worshipping in Truth:

Sidebar copy goes here.

Sandals Worshipping in Spirit:

Sidebar copy goes here.

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Footnotes:1. Isaiah 53:2

Day 3 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. The word “beloved” brings to mind King David, whose name means “beloved.” There is, also, a disciple this word applies to. Who was he and how does this describe him? Discuss the future role of the 12 disciples and why they each would have come from the Tribes of Israel.

2. Find a map of ancient Israel. Looking at the tribal portions, find Benyamin and discuss what surrounds this tribe, and why this tribe would “dwell between His shoulders.”

3. Explain who Yoseph was, what happened to him, and why he was so special to Yacov.

4. Why does the Yoseph tribe get such an elaborate and incredible blessing from Moshe?

5. When verse 17 sates, “to the ends of the earth,” what do you understand this to mean and where would Yoseph have to be in order to accomplish this? Why would he be there?

6. What would Yoseph push the peoples with? Describe the significance of this feature.

Connecting the Jots:Even though the smallest of the twelve tribes, Benyamin plays an important part of who Israel is. Benyamin means “son of my right hand.” With this in mind, it should be noted that Yeshua not only came from (or was begotten by) YHVH, but is His Right Arm being bore to the world.* Like Benyamin, Yeshua was seemingly unremarkable in appearance.1 In reality, Yeshua could do nothing less than be remarkable and accomplish much. Not only was Yeshua born as the Son of YHVH, but He is the Fathers’ right hand. As such, all blessings and authority flow through Him. While Yeshua is from the tribe of Yehudah, He will reach out to every tribe, na-tion, and tongue, from the smallest to the greatest. May we be an extension of His right hand as we walk in this dark world.

Words to Reflect | Isaiah 52:10*

YHVH has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation [Yeshua] of our Elohim.

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Footnotes:1. Revelation 2:17

Day 4 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Discuss what Zebulun means, then compare that meaning to the blessing Moshe gives to this tribe. How do you see this tribe’s name and blessing being fulfilled?

2. Discuss the meaning of Issachar, then compare that meaning to the blessing Moshe gives to this tribe. How do you see this tribe’s name and blessing being fulfilled?

3. Discuss the meaning of Gad, then compare that meaning to the blessing Moshe gives to this tribe. How do you see this tribe’s name and blessing being fulfilled?

4. Looking at Gad’s blessing, what do you understand this tribe would be doing to fulfill it? Why would Gad need to step up to do this in comparison to the Levites?

5. How would someone go about executing the justice of YHVH and His ordinances? Why would this only apply to Israel and not other nations?

Connecting the Jots:Names are important. No doubt, if you are walking in any aspect of the Messianic movement, you know people who have changed their names to something Hebraic. YHVH Himself changed the names of Abram to Abraham and Yacov to Israel. Yacov changed his son’s name from Ben-Oni to Benyamin, and Yeshua changed Simeon’s name to Peter/Petra. So why all the switching of identities? Sometimes, we just get in the way of our own destinies. The way our parents name us or the way our names were derived may not have been what the Creator intended for us. What we do in our lives may not be dictated by our name’s sake, but we will be known by our works and the outcomes of our lives. YHVH knows our beginnings and our ends. He will call us by the fulfillment of all that He will accomplish in our lives, then disclose this to us. This new name will be given to us and recorded, even as it is already inscribed on the palms of Yeshua.1

Words to Reflect | Isaiah 62:2The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of YHVH will designate.

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Footnotes:1. Psalm 222. John 14:15

Day 5 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. What does it mean to be compared to a lion’s whelp? Moreover, understanding that Bashan is where strong bulls are from,1 discuss how this is fulfilled using Psalms and other Scripture.

2. Discuss the meaning of Naphtali, then compare that meaning to the blessing Moshe gives to this tribe. How do you see this tribe’s name and blessing being fulfilled?

3. Discuss the meaning of Asher then compare that meaning to the blessing Moshe gives to this tribe. How do you see this tribe’s name and blessing being fulfilled?

4. Discuss why the tribe of Simeon is excluded from the blessings of Moshe.

5. In another tribal listing, there is a different name/tribe missing. Where is this and which tribe is omitted from that account? Why do you think that tribe gets left off the roster?

6. Describe how the eternal Elohim is your dwelling place and your refuge.

Connecting the Jots:In Romans 8:31 Paul exhorts us saying, “What then shall we say to these things? If YHVH is for us, who is against us?” What we must ask, then, is, “Is YHVH for us or not?” The answer to that lies in our relationship with Yeshua and our obedience to Him. Yeshua taught us to show our love of Him by obeying His commandments.2 When we are in right standing in Yeshua (mean-ing we are seen in His righteousness, not our own due to our entire surrender to Him), and we have faith by doing the work He asks of us, then He is our refuge and strength. Fear is nothing and flesh is nothing when we are seen in our Salvation by YHVH and look through His eyes.

Words to Reflect | Psalm 46:1-2Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea . . .

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Footnotes:1. John 8:56

Day 6 PRAYER TIME


TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

1. Psalm 116:15 reminds us how precious the death is of the righteous. Compare this to Moshe’s death and describe the sadness, as well as the good, that comes out of his passing.

2. Moshe was 120 years old when he died; yet, seemingly could have lived longer. What caused his death? Moreover, what passage in Scripture depicts the new paradigm of age and why was this age decreased with a curse as recorded in the Psalm 90?

3. Joshua was commissioned to lead Israel. Moshe laid his on of hands on Joshua as part of the process. What is the relevance of laying on of hands? How does this apply to us today?

4. Torah states that no prophet has arisen like Moshe since his death. How is this statement been overturned and what other Torah passage set the precedent that it would?

Connecting the Jots:There is sadness when any of our loved one’s pass away. Reading Scripture gives some comfort, as does allowing the Ruach to minister to us during such sorrow. Torah tells of many men’s death, some due to wickedness, others to old age. As we encounter Moshe’s death, it’s humbling and sad for us as spectators. Though these are just words on a page, there was a real life and righteous acts associated with this man. This sadness will abate as we continue to read, study, and most importantly, worship YHVH through His Prophet and Son, Yeshua. In a similar vein, we know Yeshua suffers a similar fate of death. His lack of sin made Him incorruptible bringing about resurrection and eternal life for all those who believe. Today, take hope and have courage. Yeshua lives and Moshe is alive with Him. Our patriarchs saw the day of Mes-siah and rejoiced.1 How much more should we take joy as we receive Yeshua into our hearts and become His righteous ones?

Words to Reflect | Isaiah 52:7How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Tzion, “Your Elohim reigns!”

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Day 7 PRAYER TIME

READ PARASHA: DEUT. 33:1-34:12

TORAH STUDY

PRAISE & WORSHIP


JOURNAL

One hundred and twenty-years-old! That’s incredible. Yet, Moshe would have kept going if he had not spurned

YHVH by hitting the rock.1

Here is a man that never seemed to tire of do-ing righteousness, nor did he shrink back from repeating what YHVH told Israel to uphold and obey. This doesn’t mean he was perfect, and from the previous acknowledgement of his denied entry into the Land, we know Moshe was capable of and did sin. Does that make him a reject or a habitual sinner? No. So, what does this say about Moshe or about YHVH?

Moshe, most certainly, was not only disap-pointed from his barred entrance into the Promised Land, he seemed to dwell on this loss, at least to some extent.2 Most likely, this prolonged sense of loss brought about YHVH’s desired change in Moshe’s heart—repentance and surrender to the Master’s will. Moshe would forever be changed after his encounter of strik-ing the Rock instead of simply speaking to it. What had worked once for him, at the beginning of the wilderness journey did not have the exact same outcome when seeking water once again.

While the water did flow, on both occa-sions,3 YHVH would not be taken for granted, even by Moshe. The Father demanded respect. This respect of YHVH’s presence and sancti-fication was dismissed as Moshe assumed He could act out his frustrations by taking action not sanctioned by the Water Giver. So, what changed? Did YHVH change the way He was to be approached or the way He interacted with man, specifically Moshe?

No, YHVH doesn’t change,4 man does—for the good and for the worse. The negative changes man goes through is his propensity to do exactly what Moshe did—take YHVH, or even Yeshua and His love, for granted. What is given as grace, to have an encounter

and grow in Elohim, cannot be dismissed as always available in the same methodology previously obtained. In other words, the gift YHVH gives us to seek Him by drawing us to Himself doesn’t always come in the same wrapper. While the Giver is always the same, and His Son (Who is the Giver come to us) doesn’t change either, the ways He works with man has a dynamic aspect to it.

It is the growth in our relationship with YHVH that He desires. In that growth, He develops in us an abiding faith and the ability to hear and know His voice. The previous en-counters, where everything seemed to “work” perfectly is the grace He provides us in order to meet with Him where we are and on the terms He has ordained, so that we are drawn closer to Him. Nonetheless, we are not per-mitted to remain stagnate in that place. To be complacent is to backslide and YHVH wants us to grow in His love and cultivate the faith He has planted within each of us.

Moshe may have been over 80 when his sin redacted his ability to enter the Land, but YHVH was still interested in Moshe’s heart and whole being as belonging to Him. It is YHVH’s steadfast, never-changing character that demands each of us, including Moshe, to change. He desires each of our hearts to be circumcised.5 That means the believer’s heart is ever changing as the Ruach haKodesh removes the dark places and exposes those areas with Light. His Word is Light6 and that is what is placed on the walls of our hearts.7

We can be like Moshe. If we place our trust in Yeshua to carry us forward. Our Deliverer will bear us up and carry our load.8 Even to our dying breath, He is faithful, never chang-ing, and will deliver us. Yet, in each moment, we are to take notice of where He is and what He requires of us.

Words to Reflect | Isaiah 46:4Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.

Footnotes:1. Numbers 20:112. Deuteronomy 3:263. Exodus 17, Numbers 204. Malachi 3:65. Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, Jeremiah 32:396. Psalm 119:105, 130, Prov. 6:237. Jeremiah 31:338. Psalms 68:19

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TORAH 1020 Covenant Concepts - Ben Davis Creative · RESTORAH MINISTRIES Visit us online at: a ww.resTorahLife.com Unleaven U BI Day1 Author/Editor-in-Chief Torah 1020: Covenant Concepts