Bereishit/In the beginning Genesis 1:1-6:8 Isaiah 42:5-21 Oh my, how can we even begin to process the heights and depths of the first six chapters of Genesis…our minds and hearts are taken from unimaginable glories of intimacy with the Living God; the Creator of All; to the utter dregs of unredeemed flesh! If this… Read more: #1 Genesis Screenplay 10/10
Noach/Noah Genesis 6:9-11:32 Isaiah 54:1-10 Whenever I sit down to write my weekly post for the torah and haftorah portion, part of my ‘exercise’ is to still the voices or thoughts in my head of all the teachings I have heard about those verses or just the most obvious themes. I desire to find… Read more: #2 On Building An Ark 10/17
Lech Lecha/Go forth! Genesis 12:1-17:27 Isaiah 40:27 – 41:16 This week’s reading is filled with great promises made to whom we call “our father of faith” and to our great fortune; this great man of faith is much like us. God visits him and says, Genesis 12: 2”I will make you a great nation;… Read more: #3 “Walk On, Oh Holy Brothers and Sisters!” 10/24
Vayeira/God appeared Genesis 18:1 – 22:24 II Kings 4:1-37 As usual I want to avoid the ‘obvious’ insights or thoughts on the torah portion, but sometimes the ‘well of my heart’ is a bit dry. I had to read the torah and haftorah a few times to see if anything stirred me or if… Read more: #4 “Angels Walking Through Your Open Door” 10/31
Chayei Sarah/the life of Sarah Genesis 23:1-25:18 IKings 1:1-31 Boy the themes this week for the torah portion were just ‘all over the place’! Even fitting the torah and haftorah portions together, seemed to escape me. There is, however, the obvious problem of succession from one generation to the other; especially for David and… Read more: #5 “Our Eliezer on the Journey” 11/07
Toldot/Generations This week’s torah portion contains a story of two brothers that prompted me to come up with a slogan that I have used for years and will explain as we go: “Don’t eat the Porridge!”. I can already ‘see’ my wife Christie’s face when I tell her what I have written…she won’t be… Read more: #6 “No Porridge for Eating” 11/14
Vayetze/and he went out Genesis 28:10-32:2 Hosea 12:12-14:10 Part of the ‘battle’ of walking with the Lord and keeping our hearts alive, partially resides in how we approach the word of God. By being on a cyclical bible reading program; whether it’s something like the weekly torah and haftorah portions, or if you are… Read more: #7 “Cement Culvert Culture” 11/21
Vayishlach/and He sent out Genesis 32:3-36:43 Hosea 11:7-12:12, Obadiah 1:1-21 Today’s Torah portion begins with what unfortunately becomes a common occurrence that seems to mark a lot of Israel’s history; namely serving other gods, instead of the Holy One of Israel. Sometimes it’s just the ‘drift’ toward those evil heavenly rulers, as when you… Read more: #8 “Juggling with God” 11/28
Vayeshev/and he settled Genesis 37:1 -40:23 Amos 2:6-3:8 On the road (sometimes called Emmaus) Jesus walks…I submit to you that Jesus has been on a journey among the Gentiles for the last 2000 years giving them the riches and provision to ‘nourish’ Israel’s spiritual famine, in the future. He has more than just sustaining… Read more: #9 “The Pit and the Cross” 12/05
Miketz/at the end Genesis 41:1-47:17 Isaiah 66:1-24 “Hugging a cactus”… As usual I have to fight the battle in my mind to address the obvious great truths in this week’s torah portion…but Genesis 45:5,7 ‘jumped out” at me: 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me… Read more: #10 “Of Cacti and Splinters” 12/12
Vayigash/and he approached Genesis 44:18-47:27 Ezekiel 37:15-28 This week’s torah portion is one of my favorite ‘pictures’ in the scriptures. Just imagine the drama and emotion of Joseph, appearing to be a very powerful Gentile ruler, as his estranged brothers come to Egypt in a time of great need and famine…they meant for this… Read more: #11 “Welcome to the Household!”12/19
Vayechi/and he lived Genesis 47:28-50:26 IKings 2:1-12 Both the torah portion and haftorah this week have some incredibly tender moments between father and son; but also give us a sense of how much the future needs to be linked; and actually is, whether we recognize it or not, to the past. In fact, I… Read more: #12 “Passing a Holy Paton”12/26
Shemot/names Exodus 1:1-6:1 Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 In this week’s haftorah I feel a ‘focus’ of the Lord upon His people as individuals; not just in their corporate identity (whether as the children of Israel; or the bride of Christ). Exodus 6 begins with the names of those that went ‘down to Egypt’; before He… Read more: #13 “Numbered and Noticed” 01/02
Va’eira/and I appeared Exodus 6:2-9:34 Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 This may not be too ‘touchy feely’; but if you spend some time with the implications of this, it could change the way or your motivation for praying for Israel and the Jewish people. It may also change the way you view history and the news. The… Read more: #14 “God’s Chessboard” 01/09
Bo/come! Exodus 10:1-13:16 Jeremiah 46:13-28 Sometimes when I read the torah portion and the haftorah, I struggle to see the ‘connection’ between the two. I realize these were done through the human ‘agency’ and not officially ordained of God, but He must have inspired them to be able to make these connections. I have… Read more: #15 “…them aren’t our gods…” 01/16
Beshalach/When He sent out Exodus 13:17-17:16 Judges 4:4-5:31 Sometimes when I read a section of scripture I feel like I’m such a ‘peewee’ and don’t know much or see much. In some ways it actually helps me to be open to Holy Spirit showing me something that may not be so obvious; involving His… Read more: #16 “Sing, Oh My Beautiful Bride, Sing!” 01/23
Ki Tisa/When you count Exodus 30:11-34:35 IKings 18:1-39 I could say this every week: “I am not a teacher or preacher; nor for that matter, a ‘student of the word’…just a regular schmo”. I do these posts for each week’s torah portion, because I have a little ‘secret’ that helps motivate me to come… Read more: #17 “Fragrance-free Flesh” 01/30
Tetzaveh/You Shall Command Exodus 27:20-30:10 Ezekiel 43:10-27 In today’s torah/haftorah I felt the message may be a bit abstract, but I hope in some small measure, I can help it be more understandable or practical. Documents that are written (by God or man) that are meant to be foundational for a people, cause, or… Read more: #18 “Stay Out of the Ditch” 02/06
Terumah/Donation Exodus 25:1-27:19 IKings 5:12-6:13 The readings this week are like ‘fishing in a stocked pond’; there are so many easy things to draw my attention to or learn from. One of the most difficult things in devotionally approaching scripture is not to just repeat the messages you have heard over the years that… Read more: #19 “Two for the Price of One” 02/13
Mishpatim/Laws Exodus 21:1-24:18 Jeremiah 33:25-26,34:8-22 What can I say that could possibly do justice to the way I feel after reading the torah and haftorah portions this week…between my heart being so full of potential things I could communicate, and just a general fear of the Lord. I am so thankful for both! I… Read more: #20 “Slaves as the Canary in the Mine” 02/20
Yitro/Jethro Exodus 18:1-20:26 Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6 As I read today’s portions, I couldn’t help but notice that they contain some classic verses that are oft quoted. They represented very significant thoughts and truths that we carry as the people of the Living God. I can memorize them; quote them; sing them, ‘theologize’ them, and… Read more: #21 “God’s ‘heart’ team” 02/27
Vayakhel/And He assembled Exodus 35:1-38:20 IKings 7:13-8:21 This week’s readings are filled with much work; in IKings if you consider the magnitude of the project that Huram had before himself, it feels overwhelming. Even if you throw in “being filled with understanding and wisdom and skill”; man, you still have to do the work!… Read more: #22 “Presence not just Presents” 03/06
Pekudei/Accountings Exodus 38:21-40:38 IKings 7:51-8:21 I’m reminded of a scripture that says something about “not growing wearing in doing well” …don’t give up; but don’t just do things out of sheer duty and miss out on the “why” for doing them. As we are reading about the construction of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness… Read more: #23 “…and I Will Come and Dwell in them” 03/13
Vayikra/And He called Leviticus 1:1-6:7 Isaiah 43:21-44:23 What a privilege it is to serve the Only, True and Living God! A God Who is not far off; though so holy, no one can come near and live; yet He desires our hearts, for His heart daily, as we approach, covered in the blood of… Read more: #24 “Tears for Your Bottle” 03/20
Tzav/Command Leviticus 6:8-8:36 Jeremiah 7:21-8:3,9:22-23 The torah portion this week lays out some of the ‘mechanics’ of functioning with the required offerings etc. What we don’t want to miss here for starters is, “why do any of this in the first place?”…or maybe, “does it really matter exactly how we do it?” I can’t… Read more: #25 “So what’s the big deal; just a couple of blemishes!” 03/27
Tazria/she bears seed Leviticus 12:1-13:59 IIKings 4:42-5:19 As I read these portions in Leviticus over the last week or so; I have never seen or felt this before, so rather than trying to understand or decipher the various commands, I can tell you it just feels like Holy Spirit walking among the children of… Read more: #27 “The Jordan dip isn’t a dance step” 04/03
Sh’mini/Eighth Leviticus 9:1-11:47 2 Samuel 6:1-7:17 In this ‘small’ space we can’t begin to unpack all that is here…for that matter it could take a lifetime to even begin, so here are a few crumbs I offer you, to add to whatever you too may see in these verses. It’s funny I really don’t… Read more: #26 “Keep your hands in your pockets” 04/10
Metzora/Leprous Leviticus 14:1-15:33 IIKings 7:3-20 I don’t mean to be disrespectful to the scriptures, but part of today’s haftorah portion reads like a Monty Python (irreverent British comedy) script. The ‘heroes’ are a family of 4; Gehazi (Elisha’s servant and his 3 sons), all stricken with leprosy. I will address the reason for their… Read more: #28 “Ministry’s Reward” 04/17
Acharei Mot/after the death Leviticus 16:1-18:30 Ezekiel l22:1-19 I feel like I need the Star Trek intro to go on: “Go where no man has gone before”… or shouldn’t go. I will try to explain. There are certain subjects or areas you aren’t supposed to address or act like you notice, and I believe… Read more: #29 “Scab removal” 05/01
Kedoshim/Holy ones Leviticus 19:1-20:27 Amos 9:7-15 This week I would like to take you on a ‘journey’ to the book of Acts, by way of Amos. In the torah portion this week the Holy One of Israel lays out the measuring line for His people; the litmus test for who they really will and… Read more: #30 “Amos in Acts?” 05/08
Emor/Speak Leviticus 21:1-24:23 Ezekiel 44:15-31 I think this week I will focus on the Haftorah, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Christie’s books on the Biblical Feasts, since her ‘mandate’ comes up this week in Leviticus 23; so kindly check out her two books: “Finding the Afikoman” and “Watching and Waiting”,… Read more: #31 “Revelation not Promotion” 05/15
Behar/On the Mount Leviticus 25:1-26:2 Jeremiah 32:6-27 Do we stand on one side of the road and see God’s judgments and displeasure; or on the other side and see the abundant grace in His promises for a future and abundant life? Take some time if you can and read the torah portion in Leviticus… Read more: #32 “God’s Treasure Keepers” 05/22
Bechukotai/In My statutes Leviticus 26:3-27:34 Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 Promises and problems…think about the ‘promises’ for the future of whatever country you may be living in; things written in the official documents that were used to establish order there and your history…some of course have worked out better than others, but we could all say they… Read more: #33 “Sand Isn’t the Foundation” 05/29
Bamidbar/In the wilderness Numbers 1:1 – 4:20 Hosea 1:10 – 2:22 As usual there is enough to write a large volume here, so I will just endeavor to stir your heart and interest to spend some time in these verses and ‘discover gold and silver’. Numbers begins, as you would expect, and ‘numbers’ the… Read more: #34 “Yet;yet;yet;yet: not” 06/05
Numbers 4:21-7:89 Judges 13:2-25 I can’t explain all that I feel whenever I read Numbers; it’s so easy just to ‘skirt’ through it and whiz by all the numbers and names of the tribes; people, and families mentioned. Think of it; first of all, what an amazing thing it would be to see your… Read more: #35 Nasso/Count! 06/12
Beha’alotcha/When You raise Numbers 8:1-12:16 Zechariah 2:10-4:7 When reading Numbers, it’s easy to either be distracted or overly conscious of the rules, regulations, or just the numbers enumerated therein. Take a ‘step back’ for a moment and consider who these words are written to. Not long before these words were presented to them, they… Read more: #36 “Four hundred years of rags” 06/19
Shelach/Send out! Numbers 13:1-15:41 Joshua 1: 1-24 Let me start at the ‘end’ so we can appreciate the ‘beginning’: Salmon and Rahab were the father and mother of Boaz. Boaz and Ruth were the father and mother of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse… Matthew 1:5 It was by faith that Rahab the… Read more: #37 “Pearls for the prostitute” 06/26
Korach/Korah Numbers 16:1-18:32 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22 One of the lessons from this week’s portion may be: Be careful, you might get what you asked for! I will try to keep this pretty simple and direct, though there are so many ‘cul de sacs’ we could wander down. Here are a couple of irresistible ones:… Read more: #38 “Fire in the whole; not hole” 07/03
Chukat/Statute Numbers 19:1-22:1 Judges 11:1-33 The Torah portion this week (Numbers 19:1-22:1) is so full of themes that could speak to us, that it would be like ‘fishing in a stocked pond’, so I welcome you all to spend some time there and see what the Lord would speak to you. I chose this… Read more: #39 “The anointed thief” 07/10
Balak/Balak Numbers 22:2-25:9 Micah 5:6-6:8 When reading the story of Balak, it’s hard to get past the part of his donkey speaking to him and all the roads we could go down with that. It kind of makes you want to keep an eye on your dog or other pets in case you are… Read more: #40 “Shouting with the Lord” 07/17
Pinchas/Phineas Numbers 25:10-30:1 Jeremiah 2:13-22 Let’s start at the ‘end’ of the haftorah portion for this week: Jeremiah 2:21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine? How differently we may have appraised our… Read more: #41 “the freewill of man within God’s pasture of His sovereignty” 07/24
Mattot/Massei/tibes/journeys Numbers 30:32-36:13 Isaiah 66:1-24 New King James Version 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” 1 Samuel 15:3 Kind of funny place to start talking about… Read more: #42,43 “Love kills every man, woman and child” 07/31
Devarim/Words Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 Isaiah 1:1-27 The first 3 chapters of Deuteronomy begin with such hope and promise; if only the Children of Israel could have ‘stayed the course’ (if only we could ‘stay the course’). Unfortunately, we have to leave the joy of these chapters and move on to the haftorah portion (Isaiah 1:1-27),… Read more: #43 “the inconvenient cost” 08/07
Va’etchanan/and I pleaded Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 Isaiah 40 In this week’s torah portion (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) and haftorah (Isaiah 40) there are a lifetime of messages the Lord could speak to our hearts and lives in these chapters. This week as in every week, I don’t go looking for a commentary on the entire portion; but… Read more: #44“The land of seeking” 08/14
Eikev/As a consequence Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 Isaiah 49:14-51:3 As I was reading this week’s portion, I felt the words “contract vs covenant”. In the reading, God keeps pushing the idea of covenant, yet the people (me/us), tend to live like a contract. The idea of contract is like an agreement that I need to fulfill… Read more: #45 “Heavenly sprinklers” 08/21
Re’eh/See! Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 Isaiah 54:11-55:5 Being ‘heavenly’ correct…isn’t a term you hear in most of today’s discourse. Whether spoken or unspoken there is pressure to be ‘politically correct’ for all citizens, including those of the Kingdom of God. Rather than argue political or social constraints and considerations; let’s try for a ‘heavenly’ perspective. Whether… Read more: #46 “Household of the blood” 08/28
Shoftim/Judges Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 Isaiah 51:12-52:12 I’m sure I have mentioned this before, but sometimes it’s so difficult to write my weekly Torah portion; not only because I have to ‘figure out’ what to write; but because there is so much to write! If we sit before the Lord and His word, we can be… Read more: #47 “Take the land!” 09/04
Ki Teitzei/When you go out Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 Isaiah 54:1-10 Knowing where to begin in this week’s torah/haftorah portion was quite a challenge and I also had a difficult time seeing the connection between the two. The haftorah always sheds some light or clarification on the torah portion. Sometimes the ‘connection’ isn’t completely obvious and… Read more: #48 “my dog must have eaten those pages” 09/11
Ki Tavo/When you come in Deuteronomy 26:1-29:9 Isaiah 60:1-22 When I was a kid I would have called this week’s portions “a smorgasbord ”, but now a lot of people would say, “What?”. Today it’s probably called “a buffet”…so much more sophisticated sounding, I guess. If you give me some ‘poetic license’, I would… Read more: 49 “No napkins needed” 09/18
Nitzavim/Vayelech/standing/went Deuteronomy 29:10-30:20 Isaiah 61:10-63:9 Wow! OH,WOW! A few years ago, while praying with a small group of people for Israel and God’s purposes for the Jewish people; I got a small ‘picture’: we were in a small boat on the ocean, in the midst of a gigantic storm with 40+ foot swells; destined… Read more: #50 “The storm’s antidote” 09/25
Ha’azinu/Listen! Deuteronomy 32:1-52 2Samuel 22:1-51 I was recently listening to a radio program, and as they went to break, you could hear ever so quietly a tune playing in the background; I found myself ‘leaning toward’ this faint melody; I couldn’t really make out the words or even very clearly the melody; but I… Read more: #51 “Soul stirred army” 10/09
Verzot haBracha/and this is the blessing Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 Joshua 1:1-18 This week’s torah and haftorah deal with transitions of leadership; not just a change in the leader themselves, but also how the Holy One of Israel interacts with the people, through that person. Moses of course had something very special: Deut. 34:10 But since… Read more: #52 “Word of courage and the courageous word”
Vayelech | “and he went” Deuteronomy 31:1-30 Isaiah 55:6-56:8 Have we been so unfortunate as to think that Jesus’ main or only goal was to save us from hell (though He has)? Did He also just get the children of Israel out of Egypt so they could worship a new set of gods? Did… Read more: #51a “the distraction of hell”
