Roots of Faith

Strange title? Preparing tomorrow’s class for the synagogue service I came across something that I find quite amazing. As the Sabbath approached this evening, people all over, waited in line for hours for Apple’s latest gadget, called “revolutionary” by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple. A 4 gig model runs about $500 and an 8 gig model runs about $600.

From what I read briefly on the Internet, Apple anticipates sales exceeding 10 million units worldwide by 2008. Stock in Apple is up 40% since January when talk of the phone began.

In our technological world, it is hard to keep up with all that is going on. Today’s release of the IPhone may indeed prove to be a giant step in the global communications market. But what could the release of Apple’s newest technology gizmo have to do with my Torah class? You may be surprised!

About this same time of year, actually on Shavuoth to be precise, in the year 1844, a similar advancement in technology took place. At 8:45 AM on Friday, May 24th, 1844, Samuel Morse sent a communication from Washington to Alfred Vail in Baltimore. The technology revolution of that time was called the telegraph - formed by two Greek words; tele=far and graphy=to write.

Interestingly, the words that revolutionized the communications of the world on Pentecost 1844 will be read this Sabbath as people again stand in lines to purchase the latest modern technological breakthrough. The words sent in that historic telegraph were proposed by Annie Ellsworth, described on numerous web sites that I researched as “a young daughter of a friend” (of Morse).

The words that she chose, as rendered by the King James Version are: What hath God wrought?

Truly there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

I can only hope that Steve Jobs sees this blog and listens to my podcast of the weekly Torah lesson tomorrow. Surely he could give me one of these phones for finding such a cool connection. Perhaps he could hire me in his marketing group. You out there Steve? It gets better.

The words sent over the wire May 24th, 1844 were first uttered by the pagan prophet Balaam. Balaam was a “seer” but not an Israelite. He is the earliest person that the Bible mentions that is also found in an archaeological source. In 1967, a plaster inscription, dated to the 8th century BCE was found in Tell Deir Alla.

So think about this: Annie Ellsworth choses Balaam’s words to inaugurate the Technological Communication Age and then the latest “revolution” in Communication Technology is released on the day that these words are read again in synagogues throughout the world!

Is there something deeper in all of this? Is there a Divine hand at work?

Balaam’s story or at least mention is made of him in the Torah (Numbers 22-24; 31:8, 16: Deuteronomy 23:3-6) the Prophets (Joshua 13:22; 24:9-10; Judges 11:25 and Micah 6:5) and the Writings (Nehemiah 13:1-2).

One of the sayings of this ancient gentile prophet are spoken every Sabbath in synagogues around the world. Those words are found in Numbers 24:5. Samuel Morse sent a final telegraph in June of 1871. It read, “Greetings and thanks to the telegraph Fraternity throughout the world, Glory to God in the Highest, on earth, peace, goodwill to men”. May we always find more ways to speak and communicate God’s prophetic word through modern technology.

Steve Jobs, you can email me directly to find out where to send that phone! I hope that someone at Apple picks this podcast and blog up.  After all, my podcasts are published on iTunes!

Shalom and please check out my web site. Tomorrow’s lesson should be up by the end of the weekend.

 

 Intro to Balak [37:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Balak Torah Reading [36:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Comments on Balak [25:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this class Ross explores some key Biblical themes that were not part of the original plan.

Yeshua in Matthew 19:3-8 is asked a question on the subject of divorce. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 allows a man to divorce his “women”, but Yeshua claims that from the beginning it was not so and that this allowance was made due to the hardness of heart of the people.

Were there other accommodations made for the hardness of heart.

Ross shows that there were indeed other allowances made, and you may be surprised what they are.

Ross puts forth a strong case from the Bible that God never intended to have a human monarchy, that God never wanted a Temple and that the sacrificial system was not the ideal. This may be rather surprising since these three subjects make up a large portion of the Biblical message.

The teaching is in two parts this week and you really need to listen to both parts in order to get the full impact of this lesson.

Ross also teaches on the sons of Korah. Some have missed a key point of this week’s Torah lesson. All of Korah’s sons were not swallowed up when the earth opened her mouth to “eat” the rebels. In fact, Ross shows that Samuel the great and final judge of Israel was a “son of Korah”. Ross also discusses a group of Temple singers who descended from this famous Korah.

They are credited with 11 Psalms. Here they are;

Psalm 42, 44, 45, 46, 47 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, and 88

You will not want to miss this week’s lesson.

 

 Korah Intro part A [57:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Korah Intro part B [26:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Korah Torah Reading [44:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Questions and Answers Session [56:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s lesson contains the story of the sending out of the spies - one from each tribe except the tribe of Levi.

Since this lesson introduces us to Rahab, Ross talks about the significance of the 5 women listed in the geneology of Jesus (Matthew chapter 1).

In this week’s lesson we learn that Moses changed his attendant’s name from Hoshea to Joshua (Numbers 13:16). Ross uses this to explain that the “real name” of Jesus was Yeshua - and would have been better rendered into English by the name Joshua.  See for example the “authorized version” in Acts 7:45 / Hebrew 4:8.

Ross also covers the subject of the fringe or tzittzit. This week’s lesson from the Torah includes Numbers 15:37-41. Using this and Deuteronomy 22:12, Ross teaches on the purpose of the fringe.

The New Testament contains references to Yeshua wearing these fringes; Matthew 9:18-26, 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56 and Luke 5:27-28.

Check out this week’s class. The introduction is in two parts this week so be sure and listen to the entire class.

 

 Shelach Lecha - Intro Part A [47:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Shelach Lecha - Intro Part B [49:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Shelach Lecha - Reading [37:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this week’s class, Ross begins with a riddle.

The Riddle

~As an infant I went into Egypt to preserve my life
~As an adult I became a savior of my people
~I am a man and a prophet (the greatest, according to the Bible)
~Men bowed to me
~I was called, “my lord” and God
Who am I?

You don’t even have to leave the Torah to find the one of which I speak in this riddle.  The subject of the riddle was Moses. What!?  Moses?

Several years ago Ross wrote an article called the Deity of Moses.  In that article the subject matter of this week’s class was covered.  What is a prophet? In order to fully understand this topic, Ross goes through numerous passages and really focuses on Moses to illustrate the point.  Here are some of those verses.

Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Deuteronomy 18:9-22
Numbers 12:1-2 (from the week’s Torah lesson)
Exodus 33:6-11

For the substance of the riddle check the following passages out: Exodus 4:16; 7:1; and 11:8 for starters.  To get the full impact of this subject though, you have to hear the lesson.

Does Ross claim that Moses is God?  a better question might be - Did Moses claim to be God? 

You really do not want to miss this class.  Look for the article, The Deity of Moses.  It will be posted again on the site soon.

Be sure and rate this and other podcasts.  Place the cursor over the appropriate star and click.  This helps people know what to listen to first.

Shalom

 

 Be-Ha'alotcha Intro [64:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Be-Ha'alotcha Reading [41:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download