Daily Bible Portion (Friday)
Daily Bible Portion - 6 of 7
"IN THE BEGINNING"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 1:1-6:8, Isaiah 42:5-21, John 1:1-18)
The First Echoes of the Promise
[The Second Covenant: The Covenant of Adam]
In Genesis 3:14-19 a covenant is given to Adam that is universal to all mankind. In this Covenant there was a curse on Satan/ha Satan, and consequences for disobedience applied to the man and the woman. Yahweh did not leave Adam and Eve without hope. He promised a redeemer would come through the seed of the woman that would defeat the enemy.
Adam Names His Wife
Note: The Hebrew word for day is Yom which means a cycle of time. Our "Greek" reckoning of a "day" is limited to one 24 hr. cycle. The biblical definition of "Yom" can certainly apply to one 24 hr. day but also a 1000yr cycle.
Adam surely did die in the "day" he took of the fruit. This prophetic time cycle can also be seen within creation week. Day four (4000yrs) Yahweh created the luminaries of the sky. In the 4000yr from creation, The Word became flesh known as Jesus and came into the world. Jesus said, "I am The Light of the World!" [Mal 4:2] On the seventh day Yahweh rested. In the 7000th year we will "Shabbat" or "Rest" with Him [Rev 20:1-4, Heb 4:9-11].
Adam thoroughly understood the laws and boundaries of the universe, and the significant implications of sinning having been warned by Yahweh about dishonor against Him. Yahweh always makes Himself easily understood in all matters especially in reference to conduct for life in His Kingdom and the consequences for indifference when these instructions are ignored. Adam had not covered his wife. How do we know this? We see in scripture that sin was in the garden with Adam and Eve but did not activate or tempt Adam until he transgressed, not Eve. So it was by Adam that sin entered his generations – as sin of dishonor travels to the third and fourth generation.
Note on Original Sin:
The early church father St. Augustine, introduced a theory, which is still being taught today in many Christian circles, that Adam’s sin fell onto all mankind and that we are all born under Adam’s curse. This theory of original sin is not Biblical. Adam had two choices when faced with temptation: was he going to choose life (obedience) or choose death (disobedience)? Adam chose to disregard Yahweh’s instructions, thus he entertained the temptation to sin. In scripture we are told that if we sin we can repent and be made right with Yahweh. If we do not repent, sin perpetuates itself to the third and fourth generations. Sin can be inherited but there is a stopping point through repentance at any time. As Adam had a choice, we also have the same two choices before us every day: will we choose life or will we choose death? (Deuteronomy chapters 28-30).
When Adam ate what was forbidden a new revelation was given him. This did not make void the sentence of death but opened before him the final and complete deliverance through the seed of the woman.
His faith in the promise of a future salvation took on its first recorded form by his selection of a name for his wife. Adam chose the Hebrew name Eve/Chavah, which means life or living, “Because she was the mother of all living.” Earlier Adam was given the responsibility of naming all the animals on the earth, so when it came to naming Chavah, Adam would have known her characteristics and the behavior in order to name her. Adam knew the Hebrew letters intimately and selected the letters that would best describe his wife (Genesis 3:20).
The first letter was chet, which means: a fence or an inner room in ancient Hebrew, coming from the root word for: to surround or to gird. Fence symbolizes the acts of separating, cutting off from and protecting. The letter chet corresponds with the number eight, which represents life beyond. Chet is also used for the words brother, grace and favor, refuge, to keep silent and companion. Yahweh’s favor, grace and Word are a fence that keeps us safe within and keeps our enemies out.
The next letter Adam chose for Chavah is vav. In ancient Hebrew the letter vav looks like and represents a nail or a wooden peg, like the hooks that were used to hold together the curtains of the Tabernacle. The pictograph of a hook or nail symbolized a joining together, making secure or becoming bound (nailed to). It is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and denotes physical completion. The letter also means acceptance of Torah and the guarantor of Redemption.
Adam’s choice for naming his bride was evidenced of his certainty in the prophesy given earlier that Eve/Chavah was to become the mother of the human race to which ultimate victory would be given. This victory was foretold to come by “the seed of the woman” when He, the Messiah, will crush the head of the serpent i.e. the adversary.
Thus faith and hope were sealed forever in the meaning of this name. Chavah was privileged, and knew she was chosen. Even though they were now outside the Garden, Eve knew she was still made in the image and likeness of her Creator, and the promise of a Redeemer was kept deep in her heart forever. She knew the way back to the Garden for all mankind was given them through the gift of the Promise.
In Eve’s elation she exclaimed, “I have gotten a man with the help of Yahweh.” With the help of is not in the original text. The sentence in Hebrew is: “Qaniti ish et YHVH.” Eve is exclaiming, “I have gotten a man, Yahweh!” This shows clearly her interpretation of the original promise of Yahweh coming in physical form, which means she was expecting the Messiah (Genesis 4:1).
Eve understood the promise made to her as including the supernatural entrance of Yahweh into the human sphere (or back to the uniqueness of the Garden). This prophetic utterance begins to unfold and as we see that in the days of Seth man began to gather around the promise of the coming Redeemer and call upon the name of Yahweh. By Yahweh’s promise regarding the seed of the woman He had inspired faith in the hearts of mankind (Genesis 4:26). Eve/Chavah was a woman full of faith and hope.
Cain and Abel – Anger Management
We see in the account of Cain and Abel the first case of sibling rivalry. Looking at this story closely reveals something fundamental in little family quarrels that many may think are normal but that can actually lead to death (Genesis 4:1-8).
In Hebrew tradition, it is taught that Eve gave birth to twins. Abel was a keeper of flocks and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time (a Hebrew idiom meaning: a moed/an appointed Feast of Yahweh), Abel brought that which Yahweh required; a blood sacrifice. Cain brought what he produced from the ground by his own efforts. He chose personal preference over Yahweh’s instructions.
Here we have the first anger management course in history. Yahweh’s teaching on anger is complete and one which needs to be learned and applied today. We don’t need a counselor, a therapist or a doctor for anger management. Rather, we need to heed the words of Yahweh in order to overcome the attitudes of our heart. We need to take responsibility, deal with our own earthly sinful nature and choose to walk after His heavenly nature through repentance. The Fruit of the Spirit is our accountability witness on how we are doing (Galatians 5:22-23).
Cain was not angry with Abel but with Yahweh. His whole attitude, character and face reflected his anger. Anger outwardly or inwardly is rebellion. It is a level of manipulation and control akin to witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). This is why Yahweh is addressing anger management in the beginning to learn this lesson early. As we studied previously, anger (the earthly/sinful nature) will not only separate us from Yahweh but also hinder our ability to hear and walk in His ways resulting in us being naked and blind leaving us with a distortion of the truth. We are told that if we eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil these elements along with our added guilt will be laid bare, especially before the King of kings and the Lord of lords – Yeshua Ha Mashiach, our Bridegroom.
As Yahweh points out Cain’s anger to him, He asks him why he is angry and why is his face downcast. We are not shown Cain’s answer. It appears he did not answer Yahweh but continued in his anger, as Yahweh reasons with him saying, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” Cain had ignored Yahweh’s gift of atonement and tried to gain it by his own work and efforts through his offering.
continues tomorrow...
"IN THE BEGINNING"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 1:1-6:8, Isaiah 42:5-21, John 1:1-18)
The First Echoes of the Promise
[The Second Covenant: The Covenant of Adam]
In Genesis 3:14-19 a covenant is given to Adam that is universal to all mankind. In this Covenant there was a curse on Satan/ha Satan, and consequences for disobedience applied to the man and the woman. Yahweh did not leave Adam and Eve without hope. He promised a redeemer would come through the seed of the woman that would defeat the enemy.
Adam Names His Wife
Yahweh warned man that on the day he partook of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil he would surely die (Genesis 2:17).
Note: The Hebrew word for day is Yom which means a cycle of time. Our "Greek" reckoning of a "day" is limited to one 24 hr. cycle. The biblical definition of "Yom" can certainly apply to one 24 hr. day but also a 1000yr cycle.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Psalms 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
Psalms 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
Genesis 5:5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.
Adam surely did die in the "day" he took of the fruit. This prophetic time cycle can also be seen within creation week. Day four (4000yrs) Yahweh created the luminaries of the sky. In the 4000yr from creation, The Word became flesh known as Jesus and came into the world. Jesus said, "I am The Light of the World!" [Mal 4:2] On the seventh day Yahweh rested. In the 7000th year we will "Shabbat" or "Rest" with Him [Rev 20:1-4, Heb 4:9-11].
Adam thoroughly understood the laws and boundaries of the universe, and the significant implications of sinning having been warned by Yahweh about dishonor against Him. Yahweh always makes Himself easily understood in all matters especially in reference to conduct for life in His Kingdom and the consequences for indifference when these instructions are ignored. Adam had not covered his wife. How do we know this? We see in scripture that sin was in the garden with Adam and Eve but did not activate or tempt Adam until he transgressed, not Eve. So it was by Adam that sin entered his generations – as sin of dishonor travels to the third and fourth generation.
Note on Original Sin:
The early church father St. Augustine, introduced a theory, which is still being taught today in many Christian circles, that Adam’s sin fell onto all mankind and that we are all born under Adam’s curse. This theory of original sin is not Biblical. Adam had two choices when faced with temptation: was he going to choose life (obedience) or choose death (disobedience)? Adam chose to disregard Yahweh’s instructions, thus he entertained the temptation to sin. In scripture we are told that if we sin we can repent and be made right with Yahweh. If we do not repent, sin perpetuates itself to the third and fourth generations. Sin can be inherited but there is a stopping point through repentance at any time. As Adam had a choice, we also have the same two choices before us every day: will we choose life or will we choose death? (Deuteronomy chapters 28-30).
When Adam ate what was forbidden a new revelation was given him. This did not make void the sentence of death but opened before him the final and complete deliverance through the seed of the woman.
His faith in the promise of a future salvation took on its first recorded form by his selection of a name for his wife. Adam chose the Hebrew name Eve/Chavah, which means life or living, “Because she was the mother of all living.” Earlier Adam was given the responsibility of naming all the animals on the earth, so when it came to naming Chavah, Adam would have known her characteristics and the behavior in order to name her. Adam knew the Hebrew letters intimately and selected the letters that would best describe his wife (Genesis 3:20).
The first letter was chet, which means: a fence or an inner room in ancient Hebrew, coming from the root word for: to surround or to gird. Fence symbolizes the acts of separating, cutting off from and protecting. The letter chet corresponds with the number eight, which represents life beyond. Chet is also used for the words brother, grace and favor, refuge, to keep silent and companion. Yahweh’s favor, grace and Word are a fence that keeps us safe within and keeps our enemies out.
The next letter Adam chose for Chavah is vav. In ancient Hebrew the letter vav looks like and represents a nail or a wooden peg, like the hooks that were used to hold together the curtains of the Tabernacle. The pictograph of a hook or nail symbolized a joining together, making secure or becoming bound (nailed to). It is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and denotes physical completion. The letter also means acceptance of Torah and the guarantor of Redemption.
Adam’s choice for naming his bride was evidenced of his certainty in the prophesy given earlier that Eve/Chavah was to become the mother of the human race to which ultimate victory would be given. This victory was foretold to come by “the seed of the woman” when He, the Messiah, will crush the head of the serpent i.e. the adversary.
Thus faith and hope were sealed forever in the meaning of this name. Chavah was privileged, and knew she was chosen. Even though they were now outside the Garden, Eve knew she was still made in the image and likeness of her Creator, and the promise of a Redeemer was kept deep in her heart forever. She knew the way back to the Garden for all mankind was given them through the gift of the Promise.
“Adam knew his wife Eve and she conceived and bare Cain.” They did so in accordance with the original commandment to them from Yahweh in the Garden “to be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 4:1).
In Eve’s elation she exclaimed, “I have gotten a man with the help of Yahweh.” With the help of is not in the original text. The sentence in Hebrew is: “Qaniti ish et YHVH.” Eve is exclaiming, “I have gotten a man, Yahweh!” This shows clearly her interpretation of the original promise of Yahweh coming in physical form, which means she was expecting the Messiah (Genesis 4:1).
Eve understood the promise made to her as including the supernatural entrance of Yahweh into the human sphere (or back to the uniqueness of the Garden). This prophetic utterance begins to unfold and as we see that in the days of Seth man began to gather around the promise of the coming Redeemer and call upon the name of Yahweh. By Yahweh’s promise regarding the seed of the woman He had inspired faith in the hearts of mankind (Genesis 4:26). Eve/Chavah was a woman full of faith and hope.
Cain and Abel – Anger Management
We see in the account of Cain and Abel the first case of sibling rivalry. Looking at this story closely reveals something fundamental in little family quarrels that many may think are normal but that can actually lead to death (Genesis 4:1-8).
In Hebrew tradition, it is taught that Eve gave birth to twins. Abel was a keeper of flocks and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time (a Hebrew idiom meaning: a moed/an appointed Feast of Yahweh), Abel brought that which Yahweh required; a blood sacrifice. Cain brought what he produced from the ground by his own efforts. He chose personal preference over Yahweh’s instructions.
“Yahweh looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then Yahweh said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it’” (Genesis 4:4-7).
Here we have the first anger management course in history. Yahweh’s teaching on anger is complete and one which needs to be learned and applied today. We don’t need a counselor, a therapist or a doctor for anger management. Rather, we need to heed the words of Yahweh in order to overcome the attitudes of our heart. We need to take responsibility, deal with our own earthly sinful nature and choose to walk after His heavenly nature through repentance. The Fruit of the Spirit is our accountability witness on how we are doing (Galatians 5:22-23).
Cain was not angry with Abel but with Yahweh. His whole attitude, character and face reflected his anger. Anger outwardly or inwardly is rebellion. It is a level of manipulation and control akin to witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). This is why Yahweh is addressing anger management in the beginning to learn this lesson early. As we studied previously, anger (the earthly/sinful nature) will not only separate us from Yahweh but also hinder our ability to hear and walk in His ways resulting in us being naked and blind leaving us with a distortion of the truth. We are told that if we eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil these elements along with our added guilt will be laid bare, especially before the King of kings and the Lord of lords – Yeshua Ha Mashiach, our Bridegroom.
1 Corinthians 3:8-17 “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ/Yeshua Ha Mashiach. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, ….wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
As Yahweh points out Cain’s anger to him, He asks him why he is angry and why is his face downcast. We are not shown Cain’s answer. It appears he did not answer Yahweh but continued in his anger, as Yahweh reasons with him saying, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” Cain had ignored Yahweh’s gift of atonement and tried to gain it by his own work and efforts through his offering.
Yahweh says, “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7).
continues tomorrow...