Torah Portion Noach: Who are the Fallen Ones?

Genesis 6:9-11:32; Isaiah 66:1-27; Mattai 3-4

This Torah portion contains an abundance of material for commentary, but let’s venture into an area that has been and continues to be a controversy: the identity of the Nephilim.

There are two factors which made Noah’s generation especially flood-worthy. They are the sons of Cain and the sons of God.

The sons of Cain find their fulfillment in Lamech. He is the first man who took two wives violating the statement of Adam at the creation of Eve that a man and his wife are one flesh.

Genesis 2:23-24 YLT 23 and the man saith, `This is the proper step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken; 24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh.

Lamech also started the system of violence and vengeance that permeated society at the time of the flood when he killed a man for wounding him and bragged that he would avenge himself seventy-seven fold.

Genesis 4:23-24 MKJV 23 And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have killed a man because of my wound, and a young man because of my hurt. 24 For Cain is avenged seven times, and Lamech seventy-seven times.

Genesis 6:11 MKJV 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

There are two possibilities for the identity of the nephilim and the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6:4. The word nephilim as usually translated as giants.

Genesis 6:4 MKJV 4 There were giants in the earth in those days. And also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore to them, they were mighty men who existed of old, men of renown.

#5303.    naphiyl,  nef-eel' or nphil {nef-eel'}; from 5307; properly, a feller, i.e. a bully or tyrant:--giant.

#5307.   naphal,  naw-fal' a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

The Jewish sage Rashi says they are giants because they fell and cause others to fall through their egregious sinfulness. Ibn Ezra said that people fell in amazement at their size.

So, who are these nephilim and the sons of God? One possible interpretation is that the sons of God are fallen angels who gave birth to the nephilim who are angel/human crossbreeds. Job makes many references to the “sons of God” and, in at least one verse, it is clear that angels are referred to as the “sons of God.”

Job 38:4-7 MKJV 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell if you have understanding! 5 Who has set its measurements, for you know? Or who has stretched the line on it? 6 On what are its bases sunk, or who cast its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

But we are also referred to as the sons of God.

Romans 8:14 MKJV 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Also, Yeshua tells us that angels don’t procreate!

Matthew 22:30 MKJV 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven.

A second interpretation, and the one that I happen to agree with, is that the sons of God are men of the line of Seth through whom we have the promise of a redeemer, and the daughters of men are from the sinful line of Cain. The result of their union was a godless and rebellious culture. Their offspring would be similar to those like Nimrod, who was after the flood, who were “men of renown.”

Genesis 10:8 MKJV 8 And Cush fathered Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.

This interpretation is consistent with subsequent events in scripture.

In seeking a wife for Isaac, Abraham made his servant take a vow that he would not choose a wife from among the Canaanites of the Land.

Genesis 24:3-4 MKJV 3 And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of Heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. 4 But you shall go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife to my son Isaac.

An incident just before Israel was to enter the Promised Land occurred with the Moabite women enticing the Israelites into sin. Balak, king of the Moabites was frightened of the Israelites as they sought to pass through his land. Balak enlisted the help of the prophet Balaam paying him to curse Israel. God would not allow Balaam to curse Israel and turned all his curses to blessings on Israel.

Numbers 23:20-21 MKJV 20 Behold, I have received word to bless. And He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. 21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob, neither has He seen perverseness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king among them.

In verse 21, Balaam notes that there is no iniquity in Jacob; God is with them. Perhaps this prophecy inspired Balaam’s next actions. He counseled Balak to use their women to entice Israel into sin.

Micah 6:5 MKJV 5 O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab planned, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may know the righteousness acts of the LORD.

Revelation 2:14 MKJV 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.

So, Balak sent the women in to seduce Israel.

Numbers 25:1-3 MKJV 1 And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Here, the daughters of Moab (Moab means from her father) seduced Israel whom God called His firstborn son. Literally, the daughters of men seduced the sons of God. This theme is repeated again in God’s instructions not to marry Canaanite women.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4 MKJV 3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter to your son. 4 For they will turn away your son from following Me, so that they may serve other gods. So the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and will destroy you suddenly.

Solomon did not follow this instruction and took wives from among the surrounding nations. This led to his downfall and the wrenching away of most of the kingdom from his sons.

1 Kings 11:1-9 MKJV 1 And king Solomon loved many foreign women, even the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites; 2 of the nations which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, You shall not go in to them, and they shall not go in to you; surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it happened when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods. And his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites; 6 and Solomon did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and did not go fully after the LORD like his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill which is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the sons of Ammon. 8 And likewise he did for all his foreign wives, and burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.

Finally, in the Brit Hadashah, the New Testament, Paul tells believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 6:14 MKJV 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness?

So who are the Nephilim?  Who are the mighty men of renown? Who are the giants?  We must always remember to study the scripture from an historic, cultural and linguistic point of view.  We have the unfortunate tendency to add our own interpretations to scripture based on our own cultural influences.   We have to constantly ask ourselves about the nature of symbolism in the scriptures.  What does a symbol or concept in the scriptures mean?  And we have to be aware of and take into account the idiomatic nature of the Hebrew language.  I think we should let the scriptures themselves answer that question.

יבורך שלום

Shalom and be blessed

Dan & Brenda Cathcart

Please visit our web site at www.moedministries.com

Volume 4 of our Bible study series “Shadows of the Messiah in the Torah” is now available.  For a limited time we are offering the entire set, all 4 volumes at a special price.  Click on the link below for this special internet only offer.

www.moedministries.com/SOMSpecial.html

The Sign of Jonah in the Plagues: Exodus and Revelation

 

Brenda and I presented a teaching last Monday night at El Shaddai Ministries as a part of the Torah Treasures series.  Did you know that there is a direct connection between the plagues brought against Egypt in the Exodus and the plagues foretold in Revelation?  Did you know that both of these sets of plagues involve the Sign of Jonah?

In Yeshua’s rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 12, He tells them that the only sigh they will receive is the Sign of Jonah.

Matthew 12:39-40 NKJV 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The sign of Jonah involves the number three, which signifies divine completion, a certain death situation and a miraculous deliverance.

Each of the ten plagues that God brought against Egypt challenged one of Egypt’s gods with the final plague completing that judgment.

Exodus 12:12 12 'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. (NKJV)

The number ten signifies the perfection of divine order. It signals that a whole cycle is complete; that a deed has been accomplished in its entirety. At the end of the tenth plague, God completed His judgment against the gods of Egypt and accomplished the redemption of His people.

In the prelude to Yeshua’s second coming, God will send seven trumpet judgments on all the earth. Seven is the number of spiritual completion.

The end of a cycle is happening in the end times; and the number seven and the seven plagues tell us it is the time of spiritual completion. The six trumpets bring plagues similar to the first nine plagues on Egypt. They start with four plagues on creation itself with each plague killing one third of that aspect of creation.

Revelation 8:7-12 NKJV 7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

Four is the number of creation and so we have four plagues against all creation. The last two plagues are specifically on the people. Two is the number of differentiation. Here God differentiates between those who are His and those who are not.

Then God releases the four angels who were bound at the Euphrates River expressly for this “hour, day, month and year” to execute the last plague. Once again, we see the number four, twice, indicating that this judgment is against all creation. God gives them authority to destroy one third of mankind with an army of 200 million horsemen. This last plague is itself divided up into three means of death—three plagues in one.

Revelation 9:17-18 NKJV 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three (plagues) a third of mankind was killed--by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.

But still the people loved darkness more than light and refuse to repent. Even at the end of the sixth trumpet judgment, they choose to cling to their man-made gods.

Revelation 9:20-21 NKJV 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

These are just a few of the amazing connections between the plagues in Exodus and those in Revelation.  You can watch the entire video of the study as well as download the study notes at this link:

www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/hiddentreasures/20121015.html

Shalom and be blessed

Dan & Brenda Cathcart

Visit our web site at www.moedministries.com

For information on the meaning of numbers in scripture see E.W. Bullinger “Numbers in Scripture” available in the public domain.

Torah Portion Bresheet: The Promise of Eve

We are all familiar with the curse of Eve in that bearing children would be painful. But this can be seen as a promise as well. First, God promised that a redeemer would be born from her. The promise is hidden in the curse on the serpent. Look at Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (MKJV)

The redeemer who would crush the serpent would be of the woman’s “seed.” Women don’t have “seed”, men do! But this redeemer would not be from a man’s seed—He would be born of a woman, Mary, and the Holy Spirit would quicken the “seed” in her.

Second, she was promised pain in bearing. Specifically, there is pain associated with bearing the Messiah. The pain foreshadows the pain of God Himself as He redeems the world. Isaiah tells us in chapter 42:13-14

“The LORD goes out as a warrior, He stirs up zeal like a man of wars; He shouts, yea, roars; He overcomes His enemies. 14 I have kept silence from forever; I have been still and refrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in pangs of labor, I will pant and gasp at once.” (MKJV)

He will triumph over His enemies but the victory is accomplished by pain as in childbirth. Like childbirth, it is eagerly awaited and its outcome will bring great joy. But the pain for God comes when He must bring judgment to those who won’t repent and accept the salvation offered to them. Peter tells us in 2 peter 3:9 that,

“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any of us should perish, but that all of us should come to repentance.” (MKJV)

But the time will come suddenly, like a woman in childbirth. Although the birth is expected, the actual time of birth is not known. Paul says in 1 Thes. 5:3

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape.” (MKJV)

After the pain, a woman receives great joy—a child.

John 16:21 “The woman has grief when she bears, because her hour has come. But when she brings forth the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, because of the joy that a man is born into the world.” (MKJV)

The reign of Messiah will come and He will reign in peace.

Mic 5:3-5a “Therefore He will give them over until the time the one giving birth has given birth; then the rest of His brothers shall return to the sons of Israel. 4 And He shall stand and feed in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah His God. And they shall sit, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And this One shall be peace.” (MKJV)

At that time, there will be no more curse. John writes in the Revelation,

Re 22:3 “And every curse will no longer be; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him.” (MKJV)

So, you mothers and mothers-to-be, as your remember the birth of your child or as the time for the birth of your child comes, pray for people to be saved. And when you remember your newborn or look now on the face of your newborn, rejoice that God will make all things new.

יבורך שלום

Shalom and be Blessed

Dan & Brenda Cathcart

Visit our web site at www.moedministries.com

Reason One for Christians to Celebrate Yom Kippur

As we are now in the prophetically significant month of Tishrei, I wanted to share with you a series of essays that Brenda wrote a couple of years ago.  These are compiled and published in our book titled “Reasons for Christians to Celebrate the Biblical Feasts”.  It is available from Amazon.com, our web site at moedministries.com and from www.elshaddaiministries.us.

Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonements this year begins at local sunset on September 25^th.

The Day of Atonement is the one day a year when the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. He entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for Himself and his fellow priests and for the nation of Israel.

It falls on the tenth of Tishrei, ten days from the beginning of the two day Feast of Trumpets. One of the reasons to blow the trumpets was to remind God to have mercy on His people. Now, on the Day of Atonement, that will be put to the test. Will God come down and “sit” on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies or will He instead bring judgment? The ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement are called the Days of Awe, reminding of us of the awe in which we should hold God. They are intense days of spiritual introspection with one reviewing one’s actions of the past year. It leads to sorrow for wrongs done to God and others, and repentance leading one back to walking in God’s ways.

On this day, God says that His people are to “afflict their souls.”

Leviticus 23:27 MKJV 27 Also, on the tenth of this seventh month, this is a day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you. And you shall afflict your souls and offer a fire offering to the LORD.

This is interpreted as a full 24 hour fast, putting aside the needs and desires of the flesh and focusing totally on the spiritual seeking God with all one’s heart.

As believers in Jesus as our Messiah, we know that we have attained mercy by His blood that He shed for us and that we are sealed for that final day of redemption.

Ephesians 1:13-14 MKJV 13 in whom also you, hearing the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Paul goes on to remind us that we must continue in the faith.

Colossians 1:21-23 MKJV 21 And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blame, and without charge in His sight, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was proclaimed in all the creation under Heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister…

What does it mean to be grounded and settled? In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul expands on this theme.

Ephesians 4:30-32 MKJV 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed until the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and tumult and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

On the Day of Atonement, Christians can also set aside the desires of flesh and participate in the Fast. How was our walk this year? Have we grown in our knowledge of God, in our faith and good deeds? Have we walked in the power of the Holy Spirit and allowed God to transform us into the image of His son?

Romans 12:2 MKJV 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

שלום ברוך
Shalom and Be Blessed

Dan and Brenda Cathcart

Please visit our website at www.moedministries.com

Shadows of the Messiah in the Torah Volume 4 released.

Brenda and I are proud to announce the release of the latest edition of our Hebrew Roots Bible study series, Shadows of the Messiah in the Torah, Volume Four.  This edition contains all new material in twelve new lessons which include discussion questions for your small groups or self study.  These questions help you dig deeper into the study and encourage you to research further.  As with our previously released revised editions of volumes one through three, this volume contains a CD with the student notes sections and other general handout materials in PDF format for easy printing and distribution to your study group.

The studies in this volume are:

• Isaac: The Promised Seed
• The Stone the Builders Rejected
• Innocent Until Proven Guilty
• Grace and Truth in the Torah
• Naomi and Ruth: Jew and Gentile
• The Cities of Refuge, The Blood Avenger, and the High Priest
• The Land of Israel
• Hebron: The Promise of Resurrection
• Shechem: Choose Life
• Shechem: Decisions, Decisions!
• Bethlehem: The City of Yeshua's Birth
• Jerusalem: The Eternal City

Each of the editions of this study are printed in a bound paperback form and are available through Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com as well as through El Shaddai ministries and from our own website, www.moedministries.com.

Preorder the complete set at a special price of just $60.00 plus shipping.  This offer is good for US and Canadian orders only and is only available at the link below.  The regular price for the set of four volumes is $68.00

SPECIAL OFFER

For all orders outside the US and Canada please order through Amazon.com. or www.elshaddaiministries.us