In this vidcast (video), "Against the Gods,"  we will again study God's word in its historical context.  However, this time we add a new perspective to our study. 

We will continue to ask what those early believers heard and saw and understood when they first heard God's word.  But, we will also see how God comes against the pagan gods and man made religions in the ancient Middle East in very unique ways in His word.  This time we will see how God taught His people, the Hebrews, in ways that would make sense only to them in their day.  We would not recognize it as we read the Bible.  God is writing to a people thousands of years ago using concepts only they understood and not us.  

Dr. John Currid, a highly credible Egyptologist, archaeologist, and theologian, wrote a book entitled, "Against the Gods."  His thesis in the book is to show us how we in the 21st century miss how God taught His people in their time using things they were familiar with.  Here's an example Dr. Currid uses his paper, "The Nature of Polemical Thought and Writing."  He writes ...

A STRONG HAND

Some common expressions found in ancient Egyptian texts to describe the power of Pharaoh over his foes are that the monarch had “a strong hand,” or “he possessed a strong arm,” or he was “the one who destroyed his enemies with his arm.” It is ironic that the author of the book of Exodus assigns the same features to the Lord as he humiliates and destroys Pharaoh and Egypt (Ex. 3:19–20; 6:1; 7:4; 15:6, etc.).  James Hoffmeier, a famous Egyptologist, comments on this parallel, asking, “what better way for the Exodus traditions to describe God’s victory over Pharaoh, and as a result his superiority, than to use Hebrew derivations or counterparts to Egyptian expressions that symbolized Egyptian royal power?” 

For most of us this would have escaped us completely.  We are not familiar with ancient Egyptian writings nor are we into the ancient culture and customs on Egypt in the days of Moses.  But, God is clearly inspiring Moses to use an Egyptian idiom that the Hebrews would have been familiar with.  God uses this to come against Pharaoh and show His power over Pharaoh and all Egypt.  In this way God uses something Egyptian to teach His people about Himself and His character.  However, we will also see that these amazing lessons that made sense to those first believers also make sense to us today in the 21st century.  

Ready?  Let's begin our first lesson.  Let's see how God uses Genesis 1:1 to teach His people coming out of Egypt that He is God and not Amun Ra.  Let's also see how this relates to us today, us being His people, and knowing that God never changes (Mal. 3:6).  He was the same 3400 years ago and today.  

Link to John Currid's article referenced above - https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/polemic.html

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Video links to videos 1-7 in the series "Five Small Stones" is now ready.   These are 5 minutes Bible study videos; short and sweet.  See the instructions below to access the links.

We read in Mat 21:42-45 ...

Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. (Mat 21:42-45)

Clearly, Jesus is saying He is this rejected stone that has become the chief cornerstone. Scholars agree that 1) Jesus is referring to Psalm 118:22-23 and 2) in Hebrew it says, "EVEN HAYEHTAH ROSH PEENA," or the stone has become the chief stone of the "place of turning." Scholars say his means is can be a cornerstone or possibly a keystone. The cornerstone is the 1st stone to set the course of the rest of the construction. The keystone is the last stone placed when constructing an arch - the two sides of the arch turn towards the final place where the last stone is inserted. This is the "place of turning." So, how is Jesus the cornerstone? This we studied in episode 4-6. Now we ask how is He the keystone? In this lesson we focus on the keystone of the arch. We ask then how does the Bible teach that Jesus is the last, the end, He who finishes what was started in Genesis, and how does He complete all things. We will be studying Moses and Messiah. There are some awesome connections between the them. Check out this article at the amazing website HEBREW4CHRISTIANS.COM. Here's the link to the article ... https://hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Like_Moses/like_moses.html

To access all the links to the first 7 videos go to the website and look on the right hand side of the home page.  You will find the picture you can see below.  On the website click on that picture to take you to the links.  The link to the website is www.LightofMenorah.org.  

Here's the links to videos 1-6 now ready in the series, "Five Small Stones?" These are five minute Bible study videos. I am repeating access to the first 7 of these videos before I do video 8 (it'll be released later this week).  Once again we study how is Jesus "the first." It is all connected to Rev. 22:13 and Psalm 118:22-24 and ancient archaeology. The first implies a "cornerstone of a building" and the last implies "the keystone of an arch." How does the Bible say Jesus is the first and the last.

Jesus says He is the fist and the last in Rev. 22:13.  He says He is the beginning and the end. He uses Psalm 118:22-24 to teach this in the Temple Courts to His disciples and the Scribes, the Chief Priests, and the Pharisees who called themselves "the builders!" So, how is Jesus the first? How is He the beginning? This is the first of a number of way the Bible testifies of this truth.

To access videos 1-4 go to the website (www.LightofMenorah.org) and click on the ICON (see below) on the lower right hand side that says LINK.  

In Isa. 28:14-16, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception' Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.'" Years after Jesus' day this became a set of verses predicting the Messiah in Judaism. It might have been possible this was understood that way when Jesus was here. Matter of fact, Jesus seems to relate Himself to the cornerstone here in Isaiah and also in Psalm 118:22-24. Let's go see how the Lord connects Himself to the cornerstone and even, perhaps, the keystone, the final stone when building an arch.

To access videos 1, 2 and 3 - go to the website (www.LightofMenorah.org) and click on the ICON (see below) on the lower right hand side that says LINK.  

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

There was a day that God's stone became the head stone of the corner - some say the "cornerstone." It was a day we can look and and rejoice everyday. It was the day His stone became the fist and the last, the beginning and the end.

To access video 1 & 2 - go to the website (www.LightofMenorah.org) and click on the ICON (see below) on the lower right hand side that says LINK.

This is a new vidcast (video) series from Light of Menorah.  It is a 5 minute Bible lesson of the Bible in it historical context.  Each small stone represents one minute that, God willing, the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit, can use to teach us to be true disciples (talmideem in Hebrew) of Adonai Yeshua to obey Him in John 8:31-32.  "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (Joh 8:31-32) He says to integrate our lives in His word to know the truth, the truth that sets us free, so we may live our lives as the Light of the World as Jesus told us we are to be in our days.   "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Mat 5:14-16)

To access - go to the website and click on the ICON on the lower right hand side that says LINKS.  Link to the website - www.LightofMenorah.org