The Torah Portion for this last Shabbat was Toldot or in English, Generations.
The word for “generations” or Toldot is defined in the Strong’s Concordance #8435. There are two different spellings of Toldot in the original Hebrew in the Tanakh. When we first encounter the word in the Tanakh it is in Genesis 2:4.
Ge 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, (KJV)
The word “Toldot” in this verse is spelled, תולדות. This is before the creation of man and before sin entered the world. There is an interesting word picture of the word Toldot.
The picture language for toledot, תולדות.
The Tav, ת is the cross. It means to seal or to covenant. Specifically it’s the sign of the covenant.
The Vav, ו is the nail or peg. It connects or attaches.
The Lamed, ל is the shepherd’s staff. It speaks of control or authority.
The Dalet, ד is the door. It is the pathway or entrance.
The Vav, ו again the nail or peg. It connects or attaches.
The Tav, ת is the cross. the sign of the covenant.
The sign of the covenant is connected to the shepherd who is the doorway connecting the covenant. Yeshua often referred to Himself as the “door” to the Father and as a Shepherd.
John 10:7 MKJV 7 Then Jesus said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:11 MKJV 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
So before the creation of man and before sin entered the world, the connections were complete. Something interesting happens to the word “Toldot”. From this point on in the Torah, after the fall of man, the second vav is missing! Toldot is now spelled תולדת. The “door” is now disconnected from the covenant with man. Not until the book of Ruth is the vav restored to Toldot.
Ruth 4:18-22 MKJV 18 And these are the generations of Pharez. Pharez fathered Hezron, 19 and Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 and Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, 22 and Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
After sin entered the world, the generations of creation were diminished and would not be restored until the Son of Perez comes and restores all things. It is this line, the line of David, that the covenant will be restored. The “vav” is restored in Toldot, Generations”!
Luke 3:23-38 MKJV 23 And Jesus Himself was beginning to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) son of Joseph, son of of Heli, 24 son of of Matthat, son of of Levi, son of of Melchi, son of of Janna, son of of Joseph, 25 son of of Mattathias, son of of Amos, son of of Nahum, son of of Esli, son of of Naggai, 26 son of of Maath, son of of Mattathias, son of of Semei, son of of Joseph, son of of Juda, 27 son of of Joanna, son of of Rhesa, son of of Zerubbabel, son of of Shealtiel, son of of Neri, 28 son of of Melchi, son of of Addi, son of of Cosam, son of of Elmodam, son of of Er, 29 son of of Joses, son of of Eliezer, son of of Jorum, son of of Matthat, son of of Levi, 30 son of of Simeon, son of of Juda, son of of Joseph, son of of Jonan, son of of Eliakim, 31 son of of Melea, the son of Menan, son of of Mattatha, son of of Nathan, son of of David, 32 son of of Jesse, son of of Obed, son of of Boaz, son of of Salma, son of of Nahshon, 33 son of of Amminadab, son of of Ram, son of of Hezron, son of of Pharez, son of of Judah, 34 son of of Jacob, son of of Isaac, son of of Abraham, son of of Terah, son of of Nahor, 35 son of of Serug, son of of Reu, son of of Peleg, son of of Eber, son of of Shelah, 36 son of of Cainan, son of of Arphaxad, son of of Shem, son of of Noah, son of of Lamech, 37 son of of Methuselah, son of of Enoch, son of of Jared, son of of Mahalaleel, son of of Cainan, 38 son of of Enos, son of of Seth, son of of Adam, son of of God.
Paul speaks in Romans about creation being subject to sin and liberated when Yeshua comes again.
Romans 8:20-22 (NIV) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Revelation 22:1 (NIV) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
The pathway was blocked off by the sin brought into the world through Adam. But Yeshua restores the connections and the generations are made complete and the way is open once again.
Micah 2:13 (NIV) One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head."
Yeshua is the fulfillment of the prophesy of Toldot, the prophesy of Generations!
שלום ברוך
Shalom and Be Blessed
Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Brenda and I are going to Israel next June 19th to 29th. You can join us in the land promised to Abraham for a special tour where you will see the promised Messiah of Israel like you have never seen Him before! We will visit places off the beaten path and follow in the foot steps of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Join us as we also explore the people, culture, politics and conflict that is today’s Israel and a special Sabbath day in Jerusalem. For details on the tour visit www.theheartofisrael.com .
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Torah Portion Chayei Sarah, Cheshvan 27, 5770. November 14, 2009
This weeks Torah Portion is Chayie Sarah, The Life of Sarah. Genesis23:1 to 25:18. Haftarah is 1 Kings 1:1-31. And the Gospel reading is from Matthew 11 & 12.
Sarah was righteous and the glory of God was with her and it was said that a cloud rested at Sarah's tent and when she died the cloud left.
Genesis 24:67 KJV “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.”
The midrashic legend is that when Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent, the cloud of glory returned, the Sabbath lamp kindled, the blessing returned to the dough, and the curtains were once again open to receive visitors.
“You find that as long as Sarah lived, a cloud hung over her tent, when she died, that cloud disappeared, but when Rebekah came, the cloud returned. As long as Sarah lived, her doors were wide open; when she died that liberality ceased, but when Rebekah came, that openhandedness returned. As long as Sarah lived, there was a blessing on her dough, and the lamp used to burn from evening of the Sabbath until the evening of the following Sabbath; when she died, these ceased, but when Rebekah came, they returned.” (Genesis Rabbah 60:16)
There is a definite Messianic interpretation and metaphor here. Isaac is a type of Messiah and Sarah symbolizes Jerusalem and the Temple (her tent). Who is the young woman, Rebekah, bearing Sarah’s image? Taking residence in her tent and continuing her legacy? Who is the bride of Isaac, but none other than a type of Bride of Messiah!
Jewish tradition draws heavily on the likening of Sarah to Jerusalem and the Temple. See Isaiah 54. Paul seems to have recalled the same midrashic material in his letter to the Galatians.
In this midrash, Sarah’s tent (Jerusalem and the Temple) is restored when Isaac (Yeshua) meets his bride (Believing Israel and those grafted in) and brings her into it. This is a foretelling, in fact a portent, of the return of Messiah and the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple. She is the living Temple of Revelation 21, the “bride adorned for her husband”
שלום ברוך
Shalom and Be Blessed
Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Brenda and I are going to Israel next June 19th to 29th. You can join us in the land promised to Abraham for a special tour where you will see the promised Messiah of Israel like you have never seen Him before! We will visit places off the beaten path and follow in the foot steps of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Join us as we also explore the people, culture, politics and conflict that is today’s Israel and a special Sabbath day in Jerusalem. For details on the tour visit www.theheartofisrael.com .
Sarah was righteous and the glory of God was with her and it was said that a cloud rested at Sarah's tent and when she died the cloud left.
Genesis 24:67 KJV “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.”
The midrashic legend is that when Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent, the cloud of glory returned, the Sabbath lamp kindled, the blessing returned to the dough, and the curtains were once again open to receive visitors.
“You find that as long as Sarah lived, a cloud hung over her tent, when she died, that cloud disappeared, but when Rebekah came, the cloud returned. As long as Sarah lived, her doors were wide open; when she died that liberality ceased, but when Rebekah came, that openhandedness returned. As long as Sarah lived, there was a blessing on her dough, and the lamp used to burn from evening of the Sabbath until the evening of the following Sabbath; when she died, these ceased, but when Rebekah came, they returned.” (Genesis Rabbah 60:16)
There is a definite Messianic interpretation and metaphor here. Isaac is a type of Messiah and Sarah symbolizes Jerusalem and the Temple (her tent). Who is the young woman, Rebekah, bearing Sarah’s image? Taking residence in her tent and continuing her legacy? Who is the bride of Isaac, but none other than a type of Bride of Messiah!
Jewish tradition draws heavily on the likening of Sarah to Jerusalem and the Temple. See Isaiah 54. Paul seems to have recalled the same midrashic material in his letter to the Galatians.
In this midrash, Sarah’s tent (Jerusalem and the Temple) is restored when Isaac (Yeshua) meets his bride (Believing Israel and those grafted in) and brings her into it. This is a foretelling, in fact a portent, of the return of Messiah and the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple. She is the living Temple of Revelation 21, the “bride adorned for her husband”
שלום ברוך
Shalom and Be Blessed
Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Brenda and I are going to Israel next June 19th to 29th. You can join us in the land promised to Abraham for a special tour where you will see the promised Messiah of Israel like you have never seen Him before! We will visit places off the beaten path and follow in the foot steps of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Join us as we also explore the people, culture, politics and conflict that is today’s Israel and a special Sabbath day in Jerusalem. For details on the tour visit www.theheartofisrael.com .
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