Torah Study

[iwant2serve]

Well the accounts in Gen 1 can stir up much conversation. I preached a message on in the beginning God created and the earth was void and without form. The in the beginning was the start of time as we know it for before that there was no exsistence of time or any need for it. The beginning of the physical which had no exsistance.
For the void and formless earth and darkness was on the face of the deep. God said let there be light. The light at that moment there was no more darkkness as the light made was empty and good for nothing visable and alive. This reminded me of the Son coming to a dark and empty world with no light. He brought us light as becoming the light of the world and the darkness of man became visible as our need for a savior became evident.

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

i just thought of something...

we all know that God was not actually tired when he decided to rest on the first sabbath...

but if God saw fit to rest when he was not even tired...then how much more must God understand our need for rest since we do get tired?

 

[flob]

i think the whole idea of -God himself- resting is worth a lot more pondering...i would like to hear what other people have to say about the meaning of God resting on the first sabbath...and what God's rest means for his people.

God finished creation. He did the consummate work: His own image, something in His own likeness. A little 'Him.' 2 little 'Hims.'
Actually comprising one flesh (I'm getting into chapter 2). Now picturing His eternal purpose, His own wife. The wife though to a Lamb. Found in the last 2 chapters of Revelation.
But back to chapter one. And this may blow some away. Or maybe not. If waste and void represents us, under God's judgment and ............ or, I know, I should quote Paul: you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated...and strangers...having no hope and without God in the world. Then God's Spirit begins to sanctify us. Not the 'sanctification' of salvation........but the brooding of the Spirit ......to Lead us to faith in His Son.
'Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit UNTO the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ,' 1 Pet 1:2.

 

[psychomom]

i just thought of something...

we all know that God was not actually tired when he decided to rest on the first sabbath...

but if God saw fit to rest when he was not even tired...then how much more must God understand our need for rest since we do get tired?

agreed

God rested from His work of creation... had He rested from absolutely everything... poof!
there goes creation.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb 1:3a)

 

[Grandpa]

i just thought of something...

we all know that God was not actually tired when he decided to rest on the first sabbath...

but if God saw fit to rest when he was not even tired...then how much more must God understand our need for rest since we do get tired?

I think rest, as it pertains to God, is more about trust than being tired.

God trusted that His Creation was finished. He wasn't worried that something was left un-finished or un-done.

God didn't pick up His Work the following day and then re-rest the following 7th day. When God rested that was it. He was finished with His Work of creation.

The command to rest is about trust. Not being tired. (IMO)

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

agreed

God rested from His work of creation... had He rested from absolutely everything... poof!
there goes creation.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb 1:3a)

that verse from hebrews is exactly what i meant when i said that God did not cease from sustaining everything he had finished creating...thank you

there is another verse somewhere that says in jesus all things are held together...and we know that jesus is the word of creation in genesis 1...

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

I think rest, as it pertains to God, is more about trust than being tired.

God trusted that His Creation was finished. He wasn't worried that something was left un-finished or un-done.

God didn't pick up His Work the following day and then re-rest the following 7th day. When God rested that was it. He was finished with His Work of creation.

The command to rest is about trust. Not being tired. (IMO)

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

honestly i was having a really hard time finding the right thing to say in that particular post to get my meaning across...i guess it still wasn't completely clear what i meant...sorry...

let me try again...

the point i was trying to make was that since God chose to rest on the first sabbath...he evidently enjoys and values rest...

and i was trying to say that if this is God's attitude towards rest...then he must sympathize with us when we desire rest...and even moreso because he knows that we actually -need- rest at times...

 

[psychomom]

that verse from hebrews is exactly what i meant when i said that God did not cease from sustaining everything he had finished creating...thank you

there is another verse somewhere that says in jesus all things are held together...and we know that jesus is the word of creation in genesis 1...

Col 1:17 ?

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

you're doing a nice job.

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

Col 1:17 ?

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

you're doing a nice job.

yes that is the verse! thank you again!

 

[crossnote]

John 5:17 (KJV) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

John 5:17 (NET) So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.”

 

[psalm6819]

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God

Dovetails nicely with Genesis

 

[robinriley]

Rachel, I like your idea about having a specific, more specific scriptural study discussion ... your Torah study is not something I'd be interested in, at the moment, but I like the idea; wish that there were other such specific study groups, especially one for the epistles of Paul. I've been twelve years in compiling from the Greek, my own reading of his letters, and it would be "fun" to find others that actually wanted to get down in the weeds with me on his verses. That is, not so much doctrine, although I suppose that's always going to rear it's head in any discussion, but more so on the very words, themselves ... that is, brush the rubble off, and simply try to read the words for what they truely say, and how they "fit" with the other words within a particular verse. For instance, I just posted elsewhere, on this site, a question about 1Cor 3:11, and how best to "read" a particular verb form ... it's an interesting question, and one that, depending upon how one decides, changes the flavor of the whole verse. But I doubt, very seriously, that there will be many replies ... I can already "hear" all the blank stares and eyes rolling, but I do keep looking for some forum, or study group, where there are scriptural nerds like myself. Good luck with your Torah Study Group, you will surely have better luck with finding those interested, than I have ... will.

 

[KohenMatt]

​

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [SUP]2 [/SUP]The earth was [SUP][a][/SUP]formless and void, and darkness was over the [SUP][/SUP]surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was [SUP][c][/SUP]moving over the [SUP][d][/SUP]surface of the waters. [SUP]3 [/SUP]Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. [SUP]4 [/SUP]God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. [SUP]5 [/SUP]God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

One of the things that strikes me about God's character as demonstrated through creation is the fact that He takes what is void and chaotic and begins creating order from it. This physical creation sets the tone for spiritual creation in God's people. He takes man, which is chaotic and void of form and purpose, and creates something that is "good." He does this by separating light from dark. He does this work in us by separating life from dark. He does this by the grace, mercy and salvation all throughout history.

 

[KohenMatt]

this section shows the first sabbath...there wasn't a command yet...but God himself rested and blessed and sanctified the day...

i think it is important to know what kind of 'rest' God took on the first sabbath...he rested from his work of creating...because he was finished making everything...but he did not cease from sustaining what he had created...

Good distinction there between creating and sustaining.

There is the command later in the Torah to not "kindle a fire on the Sabbath" (Exodus 35:3). There is no command about not having a fire going on the Sabbath. When I first read this command and God laid it on my heart to observe it, we had a wood stove in our house that was our primary source of heat. I remember starting the fire before sundown, but having to keep the fire going all night because we had a pretty terrible stove. I sat there all night wondering why I had to keep this small fire going and not let it go out. Through this exercise, God showed me that I should have that same dilligence in my relationship with Him. To resist the temptation to just give in and let my relationship with Him die out, but instead to keep it going at all costs, even if it means tediously staying up all night.

All that to say, 1 aspect of "resting on the Sabbath" is to resist the urge to work at forming my relationship with God on that day, and to instead enjoy the rest He graciously grants me and keep that strong.

 

[KohenMatt]

ok so i think the whole idea of -God himself- resting is worth a lot more pondering...i would like to hear what other people have to say about the meaning of God resting on the first sabbath...and what God's rest means for his people...

God was setting an example for His children. He might not need to rest, but He knows His children do. What better way to show them what that looks like than to do it Himself?

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

There is the command later in the Torah to not "kindle a fire on the Sabbath" (Exodus 35:3). There is no command about not having a fire going on the Sabbath. When I first read this command and God laid it on my heart to observe it, we had a wood stove in our house that was our primary source of heat. I remember starting the fire before sundown, but having to keep the fire going all night because we had a pretty terrible stove. I sat there all night wondering why I had to keep this small fire going and not let it go out. Through this exercise, God showed me that I should have that same dilligence in my relationship with Him. To resist the temptation to just give in and let my relationship with Him die out, but instead to keep it going at all costs, even if it means tediously staying up all night.

we will get to this more later when we reach the sections of the torah where specific sabbath commands are given...but for now i will add that the sabbath laws in the torah also speak against procrastination...you were not able to put off your sabbath preparations until the day of because you had to have everything ready by sunset the day before...

 

[oldthennew]

One of the things that strikes me about God's character as demonstrated through creation is the fact that He takes what is void and chaotic and begins creating order from it. This physical creation sets the tone for spiritual creation in God's people. He takes man, which is chaotic and void of form and purpose, and creates something that is "good." He does this by separating light from dark. He does this work in us by separating life from dark. He does this by the grace, mercy and salvation all throughout........
=============================================

what discernment.

praise God!!!

 

[MarcR]

here are some posts i made a couple of years ago about genesis 1...


the hebrew name for God in this chapter is 'elohim'...the '-im' ending indicates that the word is plural... the plural name elohim accompanied by the singular verbs in this chapter...plus the way God refers to himself as 'us' in the creation of humankind...hint at God's three-in-one nature...which is revealed more clearly in the new testament...

in this chapter we also meet the 'spirit of God' or holy spirit... in the hebrew his action here is described using a word that describes the way a mother bird sits on and covers her eggs... this beautifully explains the spirit's lifegiving care for the creation from the very beginning...

this chapter also shows the means by which God created everything...he simply spoke and there is was... this shows the supernatural power of God's word... we should remember that the same God who called out 'let there be light' and made it appear also calls us descendants of abraham and children of God and justified in christ...and it has happened to us according to God's word just as it happened to the universe during the days of creation...

later in the bible we learn that jesus christ was that word of God that brought everything into being... if this word called the universe into existence...then we can also trust that the same word that is the 'resurrection and the life' has to power to call us back to life when he returns...

chapter one of genesis shows us God's omniscience in every field of knowledge...he is the creator of the light that quantum physicists still cannot claim to have explained completely...he is the designer of the living things that continue to amaze biologists...he created the stars and planets and galaxies that astronomers are still trying to understand...and he is the mathematician whose creations often follow the most precise mathematical regularity...

we can also see how God is a God of order...every step in his creation was done in an orderly fashion... on day one God made day and night...on day four he made the lights that rule over the day and night... on day two God made the sky to differentiate the ocean from the water above the sky...on day five he made the animals that live in the sky and sea... on day three God made the land and the plants...on day six God made the land animals and humans and gave them the plants to eat... God was following a definite step by step plan from the very beginning of his creation...on each day of creation he anticipated the work of the following days...

finally this chapter records God's blessing to his various creatures...commands to be fruitful and multiply... those blessings continue to this day...every time a living thing reproduces it is doing so according to the mandate of God's blessing during this week of creation... in theology the way God continues to sustain his creation by the power of these original blessings is known as providence...


the creation account shows us that there is one creator of all things...meaning that there is only one God who deserves our worship... everything else is just his creation...which we are not to worship... that is why idolatry and nature worship and pantheism are false...

we should also appreciate the beauty and complexity of God's creation and praise him for the amazing power and wisdom he showed in making it all...

the account of day four indicates the true purpose of the celestial bodies...they are there to be light sources and timekeepers...meaning that their movements are not to be interpreted mystically...which exposes the sinfulness of the study and practice of astrology...

in this chapter God gives a direct command to the human race to rule over his creation...this means that we have a mandate to make use of the earth in ways that are beneficial to us... however we also have to make sure we follow God's definition of an ideal ruler...specifically the ultimate ruler according to the bible is jesus christ...and when we rule over the creation we should follow jesus' method... jesus' example of reigning is one of service...always caring for and watching over his subjects... similarly our dominion over creation means using it wisely and taking good care of it...not wasting or abusing it... we should not consume the earth's resources recklessly...

finally we see in the chapter that God commanded a vegetarian diet for humans and animals... although later passages in the bible permit us to eat meat and even previously 'unclean' foods...fruits and vegetables were our original diet in God's perfect creation...and they remain the healthiest choice for eating even today... a fully vegetarian diet is not necessary...but we should remember that God intended for plants to be our primary source of nutrition... ideally meat should not be more than about 20% of our diet...which is much less than many people in the developed world are accustomed to eating... we should not be so quick to forgo the benefits of God's wonderful blessing of fruits and vegetables for eating...

Random thoughts: Hebrew has a definite article 'the'; but b'reshiyt doesn't use it. this should be 'in beginning', or 'at first'.

In Dt 6:4, we are told that God is 'one'; but the word 'echad ', translated as one, signifies composite rather than absolute unity; as seen in Nu 13:23
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
KJV

therefore 'Elohiym,' in verse 1, may be regarded as a collective singular, rather than a plural.

In verse 6 the word 'hashmaiym', translated expanse could as well be translated horizon.

 

[MarcR]

It boggles my mind how the eternal God speaks forth His eternal Word and what it creates is finite.
Or to put it in other terms, God is spirit, yet what is created has measureable clunkiness (mass, weight, distance etc.).

It's almost as if His creating is a type of the Incarnation.

Jn 1:1-14 informs us that God spoke all things into existence by His Word, who is the pre-incarnate Jesus.

 

[JimmieD]

we all know that God was not actually tired when he decided to rest on the first sabbath...

Did God rest all day on the Sabbath? Gen 2:2 literally says God finished his work on the 7th day, which might imply that he did a little work on day 7 before resting.