Torah Portion - January 13, 2018

Weekly Torah Studies

Today's Torah Reading: Genesis 11:1-32

Today's 
Torah
Portion: 

The Hebrew Alphabet: Kaph

Spiritual Meaning of the Kaph

Kaph = 20 and means “COVER” of Yahweh or “COVERING” of Yah.

The letters Yod and Kaph show different aspects of the hand. Yod is the Active Hand by which to grasp and hold things. It is a symbol showing the Power and Ownership of Yahweh.

Kaph is the Open Hand meaning to give and receive things.

The ancient Kaph was drawn as “a wing” (shown on the left).  The “wing” of the Almighty, is our protective covering –

Psalm 91:4    “He shall cover thee with His Feathers, and under His Wings (Kanaph) shalt thou trust…”

The Bible gives another Promise: Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His Wings (Kanaph)…”

The ancient Kaph also symbolized the palm of the hand. This too, when applied to Yahweh, depicts His protection and covering over His people.

Psalm 17:7-8 “Show Thy marvellous loving kindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right Hand them which put their trust in Thee from those that rise up against them.  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy Wings…”

Rejecting the Kaph Experience is Rebellion against Yahweh and His Headship…  This brings desolation and destruction:

Matthew 23:37-38  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”

Kanaf: The Healing Covering

In the Torah, Yahweh instructed His people were to wear tassels or fringes on the four corners of our Garments.  This is done so that they might look upon the tassels and remember the commandments of YAH:

A Hebrew Captive in Egypt from around the time of Hezekiah (probably of the Tribe of Joseph) notice the light skin, blue eyes, and the colour, arrangement and positioning of the tzitzit The picture on the left is from an Egyptian hieroglyphic. It shows a Hebrew captive, wearing the “tassels or fringes” (called tzitzits in Hebrew). The border of the garment was called the Kanaph (Covering or Wings) and was where the tzitzits were attached to the garment. The Bible teaches us at the husband is the covering of the wife, in a shadow-picture of how Yahshua is the Covering of His people – His Bride (1 Corinthians 11:3-10).

Numbers 15:37-41 “And YAH spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue. And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the YAH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be SET APART unto YAH. I am YAH your MIGHTY ONE, which brought you out of the land of Egypt…”

Ephesians 5:23-25 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”

When Ruth desired to be under Boaz’s protective covering – as her husband – she asked him to cover her with his garment, showing her desire to be under his wings (a shadow picture of Christ and His Bride).

Ruth_2:12 Yahweh^H3068 recompense^H7999 thy work,^H6467 and a full^H8003 reward^H4909 be given^H1961 thee of^{H4480 H5973} Yahweh^H3068 God^H430 of Israel,^H3478 under^H8478 Whose^H834 Wings^H3671 thou art come^H935 to trust.^H2620

Ruth 3:9 “And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid. Spread there-fore thy skirt (kanaph) over thine handmaid...”

Yahshua, the Messiah wore the fringes (tzitzits) in His kanaph... We spiritually find healing, covering and pro-tection under Yahshua’s spiritual “wings”

Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His Wings (kanaph)…”

But healing was also foretold to be literally in His Wings. It was this prophecy which gave the woman with the issue of blood, courage to touch Yahshua’s kanaph!

Matthew 9:19-22 “…And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him (Yahshua), and touched the hem of His garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Yahshua turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

The word HEM comes from the Greek word Kraspedon which MEANS A FRINGE OR TASSEL. (STRONG'S #2899) Thus, in the word “Kanaph” we find a powerful picture of the letter Kaph. Being under the protective Covering of Yahweh is what it means to be UNDER HIS WINGS! When we ask to be hid under the “shadow” of His Wings”, we are asking to be covered and protected – healed – and set apart to be His Bride.

This is our only shelter in the coming plagues, trials, and Judgment:

Psalm 36:7 “How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy Wings.” 

Under Yah’s Kanaf: The Place of Peace

The Nature of Peace

·         Peace of a quiet conscience (Rom. 8:33-35)

·         Peace of a restful mind (Phil. 4:7)

·         Peace of a surrendered Will

·         Peace of a hopeful heart (Isaiah 50:7)

·         Peace of loving fellowship with Yahweh

·         "Yahweh of peace Himself give you peace always by all means" (2 Thess. 3:16)

Long ago a great man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece between the two best artists in the land. Both artists immediately set to work, keeping their paintings and subject matter a great secret until the day of revelation. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. A crowd gathered to join the great man in viewing and judging the works. As the great man pulled the cover from the first painting, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The great man uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. 

In the end, it was the second picture, which the great man felt best conveyed true peace. Because peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. Peace comes from trusting the watchcare of the One Who Created you, knowing that He will provide and protect, no matter the circumstances. It comes from knowing:

GOD IS MY REALITY–NOT MY CIRCUMSTANCES!

This Week's Torah Studies: (Statutes 21-40)
The Torah studies are provided in two formats for your convenience. The first option (below) is the blank worksheets for this week, which will allow you to print out the worksheets and hand-write the studies yourself. If you have less time, you may wish to read/print my completed Statute studies. The completed worksheets are the second option (below):

Statutes 21-40 Blank Worksheets (pdf)

Statutes 21-40 Completed Worksheets (pdf)

An Overview of this Week's Torah Studies:
This week we will be studying Statutes 21-40, which are summarized below. Happy studying!

Statute 21-22 Summary:

(21) Bind (write) the Torah upon your hands (actions). (22) Bind (write) the Torah upon your mind (thoughts).

Deuteronomy 6:8  “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”

Statute 23 Summary:

(23) Make and wear blue tzit tzits on the edges of your clothes to help you remember to be faithful and obedient to YHWH. (In Bible times, this Statute was understood to be meant the men, for women did not wear the tzit tzits).

Numbers 15:38-40  “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the Commandments of YAHWEH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all My Commandments, and be holy unto your God.”

Statute 24 Summary:

(24) Preach and publish YHWH’s Law, putting it on the prominent places of your home and proclaiming it in the city.

Deuteronomy 6:9 “And thou shalt write them (YHWH’s Commands see Deut. 6:4-6) upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”  

Statute 25-26 Summary:

(25) Gather and read the whole Torah at the Feast of Tabernacles every Sabbatical year (seventh year). (26) Keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the place which YHWH selects and finds acceptable.

Deuteronomy 31:10-12  “And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the Feast of Tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before YAHWEH thy God in the place which He shall choose, thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear YAHWEH your God, and observe to do all the words of this Law.”

Statute 27 Summary:

(27) Kings (we are all kings – Revelation 5:10), under YHWH, must begin their service by writing out a personal copy of the Torah, which they are to study and read from daily, all their days.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20  “And it shall be, when he (a new king) sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear Yahweh his God, to keep all the words of this Law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the Commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”

Statute 28 Summary:

YHWH has made His Law readily available to us, so that there is no excuse for not knowing and obeying it. Therefore, (28) we are to turn to YHWH with all our hearts and souls and obey His Commandments and Statutes.

Deuteronomy 30:10-14 “If thou shalt hearken unto the Voice of Yahweh thy God, to keep His Commandments and His Statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if thou turn unto Yahweh thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.  It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?  Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?  But the Word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”

Statute 29 Summary:

Recognizing that everything you have (home, food, money, etc…) is from YHWH, (29) thank YHWH for everything He has given to you, regularly and often, lest you be tempted to think you got it by your own prowess or strength.

Deuteronomy 8:10-14 “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless Yahweh thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not Yahweh thy God, in not keeping His Commandments, and His Judgments, and His Statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget Yahweh thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” 

Statute 30 Summary:

(30) Build the Holy House (Sanctuary) of YHWH so that He will dwell with you. (This is not a literal building of a physical temple. This building is first and foremost a spiritual one...  We are the temple of YAH, and His people are His Temple – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 & 1 Peter 2:5).

Exodus 25:8-9 “And let them make Me a Sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I show thee, after the Pattern of the Tabernacle, and the Pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”

Statutes 31 Summary:

(31) Reverence YHWH in His Holy Sanctuary, on His Holy Sabbaths.

Leviticus 19:30  “Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My Sanctuary: I Am Yahweh.”

Statute 32 Summary:

(32) Never set up an Asherah (which is another name for Easter) pole, icon or “Happy (Easter)” items, sun-god images, columns or memorial stones. These things should not in any way be joined to the altar (the worship) of YHWH.

Deuteronomy 16:21-22 “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of Yahweh thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which Yahweh thy God hateth.”

Statute 33 Summary:

(33) Do not worship or revere any empty “gods,” nor make carved gods, nor set up pillars or memorials to false deities. Do not bow down to nor worship any false god of any kind, for they are all conceited imaginings.

Leviticus 26:1  “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I Am Yahweh your God.”  

Statutes 34 Summary:

(34) Do not spend time wishing about, or consider worshiping, nor speak the names of false gods. Their character, authority, or honor have no place in you.

Exodus 23:13 “And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” 

Statutes 35 Summary:

(35) Do not teach or entice anyone to worship false gods, nor allow anyone to come into the Body of Yahweh enticing others to false worship. Idolatry and its teachings must be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 13:12-15 “If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which Yahweh thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;  Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you. Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.”

Statutes 36-37 Summary:

If a dear friend or family member comes to you to entice or pressure you into a practice that glorifies satan (purposely not capitalized), (36) do not listen or fall prey to the enticement. (37) Do not protect, cover for, or go easy on someone who encourages you to worship the devil in such ways.

Deuteronomy 13:6-8 “If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him.”

Statutes 38-40 Summary:

(38) Destroy idols with fire. Do not desire or take any valuable parts of the idol that is being destroyed. (39) Do not bring any abominable objects into your home. (40) Abhor all abominations and abominable objects.

Deuteronomy 7:25-26 “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to Yahweh thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”