10/9/04 Highlights from teaching on B'reisheet.

The Biblical Calendar in Genesis

We see in Genesis 1:14 that God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years. The Hebrew word for 'sign' is oth: It means sign, a signal, a distinguishing mark, a remembrance. Our Biblical Feasts are remembrances, distinguishing marks . . . setting us apart from those who follow after the paganized religions that are most popular in this world. The Hebrew word for seasons used in this verse is moed, meaning an appointed time, a sacred season, a set (unchangeable) feast. It is the same word used in Leviticus 23:1-2, establishing the Biblical Feasts of YHVH. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: "The feasts (moed) of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts (moed) .

He goes on to describe our keeping of all of the Biblical Feasts. Our dilemma is this: How do we know which 'light' in the firmament of the heavens is the one (the sun or the moon) to distinguish the Biblical Holy Days of the LORD? The verse in Genesis is non-definitive.

The answer is in Psalm 104:19. He appointed the moon for the seasons (moed) and the sun knows its going down. As different as the sun is from the moon, so are the Holydays designed and distinguished by each. The feasts of the LORD are set by the rising of the moon. The pagan 'feasts' are set by the rising of the sun . . . Christmas, Easter (Ezekiel 8), and the day of the sun, Sun-day.

The system of keeping time in the Torah was based on the cycles of the moon rather than a solar calendar like most use today. In fact, the Hebrew term for "month," chodesh, means "new [moon]," referring to the new moon that began the month. The lunar cycle played a significant role in the cultural and religious life in ancient Israel so that time could be counted by the cycles of the moon (Ex. 19:1).

The Eating of the Forbidden Fruit Genesis 2:8-17

The context is one of the best known stories of the bible. Together in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by the rich glory of creation, the first human couple have everything they could possibly want - except one thing, a tree from which they are forbidden to eat. Needless to say, that is the one thing they want. "Stolen waters taste sweet," says the Book of Proverbs. They eat; their eyes are opened; they lose their innocence; for the first time they feel shame. When they hear "the voice of God" they try to hide, but they discover that God is someone from whom we cannot hide (see Psalm 139). God asks them what they have done. Adam blames his wife. She blames the serpent. The result is paradise lost.

How could this possibly happen? The episode is rich in its implications, but let's take a closer look at one of its hidden features. As we read this passage, in context, we see that it was the LORD who spoke directly to Adam these words, And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." We see that the man received this command about the tree direct from the LORD, and that Eve had not been created (as a physical being) at that time. It wasn't until verse 22 that she came into being. When she was confronted in the Garden by the serpent, she said We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, GOD has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. (3:3)

Was this what the LORD had spoken to Adam, regarding the tree? No. Adam had told his wife about the tree, and it was his responsibility to convey the truth, without adding to or taking away from the Word that the LORD had spoken (You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.-Deuteronomy 4:2). GOD clearly told Adam that he was not to eat from the tree (vs. 17), and never mentioned not to touch it, as Eve had reported to the serpent (Ch. 3:3). Perhaps it wasn't as much that the 'serpent' deceived Eve, as it was that her husband misled her. Perhaps.

One key is the apparent fact that distrust has entered early in the relationship between Adam and Eve. Adam had added to the Word that the LORD had spoken by telling Eve not to 'touch' the tree. In his 'reasoning' he probably believed that in order to keep Eve from eating of the tree he must tell her not to even touch it. This was an added 'fence' to the Word. A fence that was intended to guard and protect, but in the end, it was the very thing that contributed to Eve's violation of GOD's direct command. She took the fruit first (vs.6) and saw that she did not die which led directly to her eating of it.

More than Naked Genesis 3:7-10

After the disobedience regarding the tree in the Garden, Adam and Eve realize their nakedness. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they knew that they were naked . . . The consciousness of this type of "nakedness" was something that they had not perceived previously. Obviously they had seen that they were not clothed (though they did not understand the concept of clothing) - but this new "emotion" was something more than nakedness . . it was a "feeling" that they had not known. Suddenly, they were afraid and distressed. They did not know what to do, so quickly they sewed themselves coverings of 'fig leaves.' (resorting to natural means to "cover up" a spiritual problem).

The word naked in Hebrew is ah'room. Its meaning is much more complex than mere physical nakedness. It carries with it a suggestion of a much greater emotion . . that is a feeling of susceptibility, fear, and vulnerability. Suddenly, because of their sin, they realized that they were alienated from GOD. They had lost their security (Heb. bittachon), trust, and confidence. Their fear caused them to act without wisdom and they 'hid' from GOD (vs.10)

Our lesson? Sin alienates. It creates fear, insecurity, and irrational behavior. We are 'naked', exposed and susceptible. Obedience creates the opposite reality, that is, security, faith, openness and confidence.

Back to File Catalog