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Parsha Page
Torah, Genesis 8:1 - 9:17
And when the waters had swelled on the earth one hundred and fifty days, God
remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the
ark, and God caused a wind to blow across the earth, and the waters subsided.
The story now turns from the judgment of Adonai to the mercy of Adonai. After
the earth was flooded 150 days, HaShem turned His attention to enacting His
covenant with Noah. He sent the Ruach, or a wind, to cause the waters to
subside. After the ark came to rest in the mountains of Ararat, Noah sent a
raven out of the window, followed by a dove. Finally, in his six hundred and
first year, Noah was told to leave the ark. Every living being came out by
families. The first thing Noah did was to build an altar and made a sacrifice to
Adonai that came from every clean animal and bird. Verse 8:21 indicates that
through this sacrifice, Adonai accepted all of our human weaknesses and evil
inclination, and decided to offer forgiveness in spite of our weaknesses.
Chapter 9 shows Adonai fulfilling His vow to make a covenant with Noah. That
covenant uses the rainbow as a reminder that He will never again use a flood to
destroy all life upon the earth. Adonai also gave all the animals as food, with
the command not to eat the blood. Qeriath, Habakkuk 3:2-19
This prayer is in the form of a psalm, and was probably intended to be performed
with instruments and singing. Habakkuk describes the awesome power of Adonai as
He brings judgment upon those who oppose Him. God has come to deliver His
people, and the destruction of their enemies is tremendous. The prophet
expresses his calm confidence in Adonai, even though the earth is failing to
bring forth sustenance. Da'ath, Revelation 21:1-8
Yochanon is telling us his vision of the new earth and heaven, as he sees the
New Yerushalayim coming down from heaven. The holy city is coming from God, and
is adorned as a bride for her groom. A great voice from heaven declares that the
Tabernacle of Adonai has come to men, and will dwell among men, God will also
dwell among men, and He will be their God. He will wipe away all tears; there
will be no more death, suffering or pain. HaShem, seated on His throne, says
that He has made all things new. He is the beginning and the end; He will give
freely of the fountain of life. Anyone that overcomes will be God's son, but
those who hold onto idolatrous or evil ways will be given over to the second
death. Igarath, Hebrews 4:1-13
The author is again exhorting us to fear Adonoi, to have
true faith in Him. Through that faith, we can enter into the rest that He
established for us when He rested on the Seventh Day. Those of us who have heard
the Gospel, and receive it with trust are those that will enter God's rest. In
chapter 4 verse 4 the writer quotes Genesis 2:2 "And God rested on the seventh
day from all His works."
Thus our rest is connected with observance of Shabbat. In verse 6, the
author uses an example of people who did not enter into this rest because of
their unbelief. This verse seems to connect the example of the people refusing
to enter the Land with Isra'el at a later time when they heard the Gospel first,
and failed to accept Yeshua as Messiah in faith. The final verses of the
reading tell of the coming judgment of Yeshua. He sees our thoughts and desires,
and He knows all that is in our hearts. Conclusion Torah shows Adonai rescuing
Noah and his family as He remembers His promise to make a covenant with Noah. In
Qeriath there is the prophecy that Adonai will rescue Isra’el from their
enemies. Da'ath teaches us that God will create a new heaven and earth in which
He will dwell with Israel. Igarath encourages us to have faith in Adonoi, to
enter His rest through belief in Yeshua.
Barukh HaShem,
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Shalom