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BREISHEET - IN THE BEGINNING

GENESIS CH 1 6:8 ISAIAH CH 42:5 43:10 JOHN CH 1:1-18
Today we start the first portion of the new Torah cycle called in Hebrew Breisheet which translates into English as in the beginning. Many of us will be more familiar with the name Genesis. Either way this is a very important Book in the history of the existence of mankind. There has been over the past years a lot of argumentation over the Book of Genesis. And still it continues to this day between evolutionists and those who believe Scripture and the witness it provides. Many have undertaken to prove that the Bible is incorrect, but time after time they have to turn away in shame because they cannot prove that the Bible is incorrect. Father is true to His Word and His Word stands forever. It is He who created everything, He is Master of all. May Father open our eyes to see and open our ears to hear His Word as we begin the study of the Book of Genesis. [This is not a highly detailed study; rather it is a brief summary of the first portion discussed on Sabbath] Genesis 1:1-5 1 IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.(1) Job 38:4; Ps 33:6; Ps 89:11; Ps 136:5; Acts 14:15; Acts 17:24; Heb 11:3; 2 The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, let there be light; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness.(2) 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

We read of Elohim (God) creating the heavens and the earth in the beginning. God does not have a beginning nor does He have an end. He has always been there and always will be. He was not created, He IS the Creator of all. This might be a little hard to wrap our heads around because we live in a physical world that has many restrictions. But God is above all and He lives outside of our reckoning of time and dimensions. So at some point God started to form and prepare that which He has created for we are told that the earth was without form and an empty waste. So God is creating form and order, much like a potter works with a lump of clay. He presses it and stretches it until it is the desired shape and form that He wants it. Then He starts to fill it and decorate it. We are told in verse 3 and 4 that God said let light be and there was light. He then divided the light from the darkness and called the light good. But how can this be if the luminaries (sun, moon and stars) are only created on day four? What light is this verse speaking of? Clearly it cannot be light in the sense that we know it as coming from the sun. For the sun is only created on day four. This must be referring to another light, which is not the light of a light emitting object, but rather this light is spiritual in nature. Also note that the Source of this Light is God Himself. I believe this is referring to the same light of:

Revelation ch 22 : 3 - 5 3 There shall no longer exist there anything that is accursed (detestable, foul, offensive, impure, hateful, or horrible). But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall worship Him [pay divine honors to Him and do Him holy service].(2) 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.(3) Rev 3:12; 5 And there shall be no more night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will illuminate them and be their light, and they shall reign [as kings] forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities).

This is not a foreign word to Scripture because throughout Scripture we find mention of Light and darkness and many times it is used figuratively. Here are a few examples: Psalm 119: 130 130 The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

Psalm 118: 27 27 The Lord is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]. Decorate the festival with leafy boughs and bind the sacrifices to be offered with thick cords [all over the priest's court, right up] to the horns of the altar.

Psalm 119:105 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Isaiah 2:5 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 5:20 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 9:2 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.

Hoseah 6:5 5 Therefore have I hewn down and smitten them by means of the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; My judgments [pronounced upon them by you prophets] are like the light that goes forth.

These are just a few Scriptures referring to light in this way. There are many more. When we take a look at the Hebrew words for these words we find another clue as to the meaning of this light and darkness:

Hebrew word (Owr)

English word Light

Meaning (Strongs)

From H215; illumination or Also used figuratively (concretely) luminary for those walking in (in every sense, Gods ways and keeping including lightning, His Commands and happiness, etc.): Instruction. bright, clear, + day, light (-ning), morning, sun. Darkness Also used figuratively for those NOT walking in Gods Ways and NOT keeping his Commands and Instruction. From H2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: dark (-ness), night, obscurity.

(Choshek)

What we can glean from the Hebrew and the context of the rest of Scripture is that the Light and darkness in the first verses of Genesis is referring to something spiritual. One is life and peace and goodness. The other is death, wickedness and gloom. Notice that God only called the Light good and not the darkness! One more verse on this topic. Listen to what Shaul (Paul) says in: 2 Corinthians 4:5 - 11 5 For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. 6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).(1) Gen 1:3; 2Pet 1:19; 7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 2Cor 5:1; 1Cor 2:5; 8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every

way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9 We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; 10 Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [[1]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. Rom 8:17; Gal 6:17; Phil 3:10; 2Tim 2:11-12; 1Pet 4:13; 11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, that the [[2]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death. Ps 44:22; Matt 5:11; Rom 8:36; 1Cor 4:9; 1Cor 15:49; Col 3:4; Next we find the basis for the reckoning of time in Scripture. If we dont understand this concept then the timing of events in Scripture will forever remain a mystery to us. The reckoning of time according to Scripture is this: Genesis 1:5 ..And there was evening and there was morning, one day. So we see that a Biblical day begins at sunset. Our reckoning of time from midnight was only invented later. Even the Jewish people of today still practice this reckoning of time according to Scripture. We have further evidence of this in the following verses: Leviticus 23:32 It shall be to you a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict yourselves [by fasting in penitence and humility]. On the ninth day of the month from evening to evening you shall keep your sabbath. Neh 13:19 When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be closed. I further directed that they were not to be opened until after the Sabbath. I positioned some of my young men at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

Thus it is quite clear that a day is from sunset to sunset. This is not instituted by a man but by God since creation. Scripture then records how God created everything and filled the earth. In chapter two we see another foundation that is laid for us. It says:

Genesis 2:1 -3 1 THUS THE heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.(1) Exod 20:11; Exod 31:17; Deut 5:14; Heb 4:4; 3 And God blessed (spoke good of) the seventh day, set it apart as His own, and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all His work which He had created and done. God had finished creating (working) and He rested on the seventh day. Now does God need rest? Does He get tired? No He does not, He is the Creator. He never sleeps, He never gets weary. He does not need anything from us for all are His and He is Master over all. So this is not speaking of God resting as if He was tired. Rather it is speaking about God enjoying everything He had made and refreshing Himself. Even more it speaks of God seeking fellowship with man that He created. God never needed anything from anybody, He is all sufficient and lacks nothing. But, all He wanted was fellowship with man. He yearns for you to speak to Him beloved. He wants you to trust Him and know that He is your source of life. That He is your Creator. Does this not move your heart? That the Creator of all is seeking your fellowship, wanting to lead you and care for you. He set a Day aside and blessed it so that we may rest as He rested and be refreshed. Our true rest is in Him and on that Day we fellowship with Him and worship Him. Now notice that God rested on the Seventh day. And He blessed the Seventh day and He set it apart. It cannot be the sixth, fifth or first day because He didnt set them apart or blessed those days as He did the seventh day (which is our Saturday). This is the foundation of the Sabbath day. Note that this is long before the Law was given or before there was such a nation as the Jewish nation. Once again this is Gods principle and foundation which He laid out from creation. Exodus 20:8 -11 8 [Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God). Ezek 20:12; 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, Exod 23:12; Exod 34:21; Luke 13:14; 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your domestic animals, or the sojourner within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it [set it apart for His purposes]. Gen 2:2;

The creation of man In verse 7 of chapter 2 we read the following: 7 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being. Im pretty confident that you have heard the phrase a shadow of things to come before? In churches it is a very common phrase they use, in fact so common that it has become a clich and lost its significance. So what does this phrase a shadow of things to come actually mean? Well lets begin by looking at the properties of a shadow. What is a shadow? It is a cast image (a vague one) of a reality but leaves out the details. One cannot tell the colour of a persons hair by looking at their shadow; neither can we know what type of raiment the person is wearing. So a shadow is an image of a reality that leaves out the detail. Secondly, my shadow cannot move on its own. My shadow is completely dependent on me. Lastly, if I die, my shadow also dies. My shadow cannot live on its own, because it IS me in a sense. Why I am telling you this is because we get these shadows of things to come many a time in Scripture. We will deal with one example of this later in this portion. Another thing we must note is that often times in Scripture a natural/physical thing are used to convey a spiritual truth. One such example is the creation of man. It says that God formed man from the dust of the ground (our bodies) and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life( our spirit) and man became a living being(our soul). So it seems to me that the moment God breathed the breath of life into man that at that moment he became a living being; that is, he was endowed with speech and reason and God gave man the ability of free will. Now notice again that it is something spiritual in something physical. God gave man something unique to man, something animals did not have. He made man in His Image. He gave man a spirit; and it is with our spirit that we have fellowship and commune with God. For does not John 4:24 say: Joh 4:24 Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth. And Paul says the following: 2Co 4:6 For Elohim, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, is the One who has shone in our hearts for the enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in the face of Messiah. 2Co 4:7 And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim, and not of us

We have a treasure inside us (earthen vessels) put there by God, and it is the Light of Messiah and the Spirit of God. The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In verse 9 we are introduced to this tree we are all familiar with. We are told it was created by God and also another tree in the center of the garden, the Tree of Life. In verse 15 17 God commanded the man not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the day that he eats of it he shall surely die. Then God causes a deep sleep to fall on Adam and takes a rib from him and forms it into a woman and presents her to Adam. Adam responded: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one is called woman, because she was taken out of man. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Thus marriage was instituted by God and it is between a male and female (not male with male or female with female) who becomes one flesh again. Then we are told that they were both naked but not ashamed. Chapter 3 opens with the words: And the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which Elohim had made, and he said to the woman, Is it true that Elohim has said, Do not eat of every tree of the garden? Thus sin crouched at the door of mankind. We know that the serpent is used to speak of satan. One way we can know this is through the following Scriptures: Eze 28: ou were in en, the garden of Elohim. Every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, shoham, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald and gold. The workmanship of your settings and mountings was prepared for you on the day you were created. Eze 28: 4 ou were the anointed keru that covered. And I placed you, you were on the set-apart mountain of Elohim. You walked up and down in the midst of stones of fire. Eze 28: 5 ou were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. Eze 28: 6 By the greatness of your trade you became filled with violence within, and you sinned. So I thrust you from the mountain of Elohim, and I destroyed you, O covering keru , from the midst of the stones of fire. Eze 28: 7 our heart was lifted up because of your loveliness, you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendour. I threw you to the earth, I laid you before sovereigns, to look at you.

Eze 28: 8 ou profaned your set-apart places by your many crookednesses, by the unrighteousness of your trading. Therefore I brought forth fire from your midst. It has devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth before the eyes of all who see you. Rev 12:3 And another sign was seen in the heaven: and see, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads. Rev 12:4 And his tail draws a third of the stars of the heaven and throws them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born. Rev 12:5 And she bore a male child1 who was to shepherd all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught away to Elohim and to His throne. Footnote: 1Isa. 66:7. Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by Elohim, to be nourished there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. ev 2:7 And there came to be fighting in the heaven: Mi a l and his messengers fought against the dragon. And the dragon and his messengers fought, Rev 12:8 but they were not strong enough, nor was a place found for them in the heaven any longer. Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who leads all the world astray. He was thrown to the earth, and his messengers were thrown out with him. ev 2: 0 And I heard a loud voice saying in the heaven, Now have come the deliverance and the power and the reign of our Elohim,1 and the authority of His Messiah, for the accuser of our brothers, who accused them before our Elohim day and night, has been thrown down. Look at the way he deceived Chawah (eve). He starts with a question, has God said, thus putting doubt into her mind. Then the woman responded that they may eat of all the trees except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan then said that they surely would not die if they ate of it, in a sense telling her that God lied to her. In verse 5 he gets to the heart of his deceiving message and that what his goal was all along. He tells the woman that God is withholding from them because He didnt want them to be like Him. He encourages rebellion against the Most High. Serpent talk is very dangerous beloved, we better watch our step as well. No doubt he deceived her with many more soft and nice stories, enticing the womans senses and passions; for in verse 6 we read:

Gen 3:6 And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, and she took of its fruit and ate. And she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Notice the three things the woman saw: 1. The tree was good for food. 2. It was pleasant to the eyes. 3. It was desirable to make one wise. Lets compare this to another Scripture in the New Covenant and see how it applies to us today: 1 John ch 2:15-17 1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.1 Footnote: 1Jm. 4:4. 1Jn 2:16 Because all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. 1Jn 2:17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but the one doing the desire of Elohim remains forever. Note how John describes the love of the world: 1. Lust of the flesh. 2. Lust of the eyes. 3. Pride of life. Now lets compare this with Genesis : 1. Lust of the flesh = the tree was good for food. 2. Lust of the eyes = the tree was pleasant to the eyes. 3. Pride of life = the tree was desirable to make one wise. Satans plan has never changed; we still fight the battle that Adam and Chawwah fought in the Garden. He always tries to mix a bit of truth with a whole lot of error. True they did not die immediately, physically when they ate of the tree; but what he did NOT tell them is that they died in their relationship with God and they died spiritually! The result of our decisions. What was the result of disobedience? 1. Beautiful fellowship between God and man has been corrupted.

2. Mans evil inclination was now made more active . Mans relationship with the earth to till and keep it was corrupted. 4. Man was driven out of the garden 5. Man was now in a fallen state. Notice what God said to the serpent in verse 14: Gen 3:14 And Elohim said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and more than every beast of the field. On your belly you are to go, and eat dust all the days of your life. Gen : 5 And I put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed . He shall crush your head, and you shall crush His heel. The serpent was cursed and caused to go on his belly and eat dust all his days. Brethren I want to remind you that we were created from the dust of the ground, I believe this is why satan hates man so much. Then in verse 5 we have a shadow of things to come; the first promise of the Messiah. There is enmity between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. But the Seed of the woman shall crush his head (signifying total destruction), however the serpent seed would crush His heel (signifying He would be wounded but not fatally). Has this not been the case with Messiah, who is the promised Seed? He was wounded (nailed to a stake for our transgression) but He overcame and defeated death and sin forever! In the next verse God addresses the woman because of her disobedience and also the man in verse 7. Notice how mans disobedience affected his relationship with the earth; the earth would from now on bring forth thorns and thistles and man would have to put in real effort to get the ground to produce. In verses 20-24 we see more interesting things happening. Adam gave his wife a name, in Hebrew, Chawwah, meaning life. Henceforth they would anticipate the arrival of the promised Seed of the woman. They would look and anticipate the Messiah. Previously they made themselves garments of fig leaves, but God did not accept that and He made them coats of animal skin. Here we have another shadow of things to come. Now as you know, if you want skin, you have to kill an animal. So God provided the first atonement and covering for man. He instituted the practice of a substitute sacrifice (the animal) until the promised Seed should come. Blood in the Bible is very important. The Book of Hebrews says that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins. God gave us a picture here of what Messiah,

the promised Seed, would come and do for us. He would shed His Blood for the remission and forgiveness of our sin. In verse 24 man is driven out of the garden and the entrance is sealed by cherubim with flaming swords. Chapter 4 begins with Adam knowing (which is a polite way of saying they had intercourse) his wife and she bearing children. Now in ancient culture a firstborn held a special status, as he was to continue his fathers line. If a man had four daughters and the fifth child was a son, he would be reckoned the firstborn even though he was born last. Chawwah gave birth first to Cain and then Abel. But we are going to see that the spiritual line does not always go through the physical firstborn but through the second. When chawwah gave birth she literally said in Hebrew: I have gotten a man, with [the help of] the LORD. Gen 4: And A am knew awwah his wife, and she conceived and bore ayin, and said, I have gained a man from . Gen 4:2 And again, she gave birth to his brother He el. And He el became a keeper of sheep, but Qayin became a tiller of the ground. This is the story of Cain and Abel, which Im sure you are familiar with. When we look at the Hebrew words we can glean some more insight. Cain in Hebrew means a spear or to attain, Abel means breath or vanity. Now Cain was a tiller and Abel a keeper of sheep. The Hebrew for a tiller is Awbad and it means to work,to serve another out of obligation but also to dress. On the other hand the word for keep( as in Abels case) is oeh and it means to tend a flock, pasture it and to associate with as a friend, also to rule. What Im trying to show here is that the Hebrew language conveys to us the nature of these two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain is a tiller of the ground and his way is that of service out of obligation, not from the heart. His way is tiresome and almost like slavery. Abel on the other hand is soft and gentle, leading the sheep and nurturing them, but also protecting them from harm. His way is that of love and servitude out of a pure heart. I think this is clearly shown when they both brought an offering to God in due time and Abel was accepted but Cain rejected. Gen 4:3-7 And it came to be, in the course of time, that Qayin brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to .And He el also brought of the first-born of his flock

and of their fat. And looked to He el and his offering, but He did not look to Qayin and his offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and his face fell. And said to ayin, Why are you wroth? And why is your face fallen? If you do well, is there not acceptance? And if you do not do well, sin1 is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should master it. After looking at the Hebrew we can better understand why Cains offering was rejected. It is obvious he did not bring it according to the word of Father, and it is possible that he brought it out of an insincere and evil heart. What was the result? He slew his brother! Note that Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock, which is as we discussed earlier of special importance and a very special offering. Of Cains offering we read that he just brought of the fruit of the ground, it doesnt say that he brought of the best of his fruit. Is Scripture giving us a hint here maybe.? Cain was angry and jealous of his brother Abel because God accepted Abels offering but not Cains. So he talked with him in the field and he slew his brother. In verse 17-21 we see the line/offspring of Cain. In chapter 5 we see the line/offspring of Adam through Seth. Why is this important? Because the Messiah is coming through the line of Seth (righteousness) and not Cain (wickedness). In upcoming chapters we are going to see how corrupt the line of Cain became in a mere few generations time. Chapter 5 gives us the generations of Adam through Seth and introduces us to a man named Noach/Noah. Gen 5:28 And Leme lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and brought forth a son, Gen 5:29 and called his name Noa , saying, This one does comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which has cursed. Chapter 6 starts with men having multiplied and daughters being born to them. Then it goes on to say that the sons of God saw the women and took them and produced offspring through them. These offspring were known as Nephillim. The word nephillim means fallen one. They were described as giants and very violent. Eating animals (which was not intended to be consumed; mans food consisted of fruit etc.) and even drinking blood, which you will later see is an abomination in the eyes of Father. The world God had created that was so very good was now on a pathway of violence, destruction and utter ruin. All flesh had corrupted its way on the earth and their thoughts were evil continually. So God had to intervene and do something, He said He is going to make an end to all living things, only Noah and his family found grace in His eyes; and thats where we will continue next time.

Thank you for studying with us; we hope this has been a blessing to you and please do let us know how you feel about this and if it has helped you in any way. We appreciate all comments. If you have any questions please contact us on rootedinmessiah@hotmail.co.za. Or leave a comment on the blog at www.rootedinmessiah.wordpress.com. Father Bless You. Shalom.