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For today's reading and resTorahtory, along with an improved user experience, please visit www.restorah.com/blog.This week's parasha is Vayikra/And He Called, and its devotions can be found in the 2/25-3/02/2008 archived section to the left.Over a year's worth (an entire Torah cycle equating to 378 days) of daily devotions are listed to the left. Each day has a few paragraphs for study,

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B'reisheet/Genesis 37:1-40:23Torah uses Yacov as a teaching tool showing lifestyle, family and dwelling places. Going from freely living where his father, Abraham, had sojourned: the land of Canaan, to Haran and then back again, he became a resident of the Promised Land. Yet, the end of Yacov's life concludes with the disclosure of captivity and of the hope of a future of justice presiding

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B'reisheet/Genesis 40:1-23Many allusions to Messiah abound in regard to Yoseph's plight in prison. The cupbearer and the baker both have to remain in the "pit" for three days after they have come to an encounter with the anointed of YHVH. This verbiage of three days is repeated throughout the Tanak and Brit Hadasha. Two well known stories are Jonah and the whale; and, of course, we see this as

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B'reisheet/Genesis 39:7-23There is a great parallel between the Torah account of Yosef and our lives of today. Indeed, the history of mankind can be likened to the experiences found in the life events of Yosef. YHVH wants to challenge us, to test us. In doing so, His goal is not to destroy us, but to accomplish in us what our destiny is. Greatness in Him, for Him and through Him. We cannot escape

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B'reisheet/Genesis 39:1-6Is it possible to earn the trust of YHVH Elohim? It looks as if some of the patriarchs, our forefathers, did just that in some regard. Enoch certainly made enough of an impression of the Father that he walked with Elohim and then was taken by the Creator, seemingly not dying the physical death that humanity suffers. Noach garnished the attention of Elohim as he found His

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B'reisheet/Genesis 38:1-30Torah gives so much information, and some of it are just streams of narratives that give information and backgrounds to various characters, patriarchs and story lines. It is important to note that all of the deviations, preambles, salutations, closings and parables give accurate information if even in the form or allegories or narratives. Much of what Torah gives can be

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B'reisheet/Genesis 37:18-36There are many figures and shadows in Torah that represent Messiah. Yoseph is one of those as he is begins his sole sojourning amongst the nations of the earth. The second youngest and used by his own father to look upon his brother's conduct could have been an advocate, even intercessory to between his brothers and dad. As an informant, however, he became a nuisance to

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B'reisheet/Genesis 37:1-17Being the messenger can have both its high and low points, depending on the message, the audience and the way it is delivered. One the one hand, nobody likes a know-it-all, nor do people like a constantly negative report or naysayer. On the other hand, some sent on missions of information gathering and reporting divulge too much information, too quickly and to the wrong

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B'reisheet/Genesis 32:3-36:43What's in a name? For larger reasons that man can fathom, the Name above all names is most important and encompasses more than man can think or ask. Not only does Elohim disclose His personage in different names, but He does it with progressive revelation, withholding His name as YHVH until the burning bush encounter with Moshe. Shemot 6:2-3 reveals "Elohim spoke

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B'reisheet/Genesis 36:20-43The enemies of YHVH abound. They surround His people like locusts and seem to be just as thick as many swarms. Often, these adversaries are used by YHVH to punish supposed Covenant keepers when they rebel from the Creator's authority and Words. Other times, the unrighteous nations are used as honing tools and purification methods so that Israel will mature to the

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B'reisheet/Genesis 35:13-36:19Immediately following YHVH officially changing Yacov's name to Israel, Torah narrates the arrival of Rachel's second and last son. What was just the start of life soon became a dark day for all of Israel. Because of Rachel's desire to take her father's household idols, she became a warning to all generations. Not only did she succumb to Yacov's vow that whoever had

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B'reisheet/Genesis 34:1-35:12Just because a believer says the right words or offers wonderful prayers does not make him an authority or righteous. The journey to righteousness is full of places where faith and belief are tried, tested and purified. This is the road that Yacov traversed, along with his family, when living in Canaan. From a humanist point-of-view, Shechem and his people were not

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B'reisheet/Genesis 33:1-20Throughout Yacov’s hiatus in the land Paddam-aran he learned some invaluable lessons of obedience. Paddam-aran proved to be a twenty-year crucible for Yacov. Consequently, on his way there he was granted a vision from YHVH known as the “Jacob’s ladder” and called that place Bethel/the House of El. On his way back from Paddam-aran, in anticipation to see his long lost

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B'reisheet/Genesis 32:13-32YHVH reminds His people that He desires them to reason with Him. He wants His people to present their case before the Father. If man only went to the adversary to present their side, the adversary would have it very easy to deceive more and more. All he would have to do is continually say "your right." YHVH is not a yes man. He is faithful to tell us when we are wrong

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B'reisheet/Genesis 32:3-12Yacov started his sojourning in Haran because of a fear of man. It was Yacov's own actions that had warranted retaliation, but his brother Esau was bent on revenge to the point of scheming Yacov's murder. This would have been enough to send anyone fleeing from being killed. Twenty years later, it was time for Yacov to return to the land of his fathers'. He begins that

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B'reisheet/Genesis 28:10-32:2Our abiding faith in YHVH is deeply rooted in the lives of the preceding three Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Yacov. This is the juncture of eternity when our Creator set in motion an ongoing account of His faithfulness to His chosen ones. After the great flood He chose a man, seemingly from obscurity, Abram, from Shem the seed of Noach. YHVH chose Abram to become the

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B'reisheet/Genesis 31:22-32:2YHVH sees everything. He sees the arrogant and prideful in their insolence, just as He watches the humble of heart being beat down. The Creator sees every behavior in between these contrasts and observes all the actions of man, recording them for the day of judgment. Those who repent from their evil inclinations and deeds, their records are wiped of the regretted

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B'reisheet/Genesis 31:1-21Times of discomfort can be for purification, but also to get the believer out of his comfort zone in order to move into the next season, reach the next destination or to leave a situation behind. YHVH inspired discomfort or dissatisfaction is all about getting the believer's attention, unlike rebellion which incites chastisement. Yacov was in the midst of knowing change

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B'reisheet/Genesis 30:14-43YHVH is all about perfection; yet, in the creation of man, He elected to create something that could choose imperfection, and did. Man is imperfect. All that he undertakes, especially without Elohim, is contaminated with humanities sin, the world's corruption and all that both bring in attitudes and behaviors. That which cannot be seen, though, is what YHVH is looking

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B'reisheet/Genesis 29:21-30:13If Yacov was not tired from working in the field, his strength must have been tested at home with what would turn out to be four wives. Not only would physical strength have been spent, but the emotional output for not one, two or three, but four wives could have been unnerving. This is clearly marked as Yacov spoke to Rachel, the wife he loved, harshly saying, "Am I

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B'reisheet/Genesis 29:1-20When making deals, receiving promises or entering into covenant with others, the only tangible evidence or proof that these will be honored is the word given by each party. From Yacov's perspective, this should not be an issue to haunt him since the person he is engaging into promises and a deal for the hand of Rachel is an uncle. The love that he had for Laban's

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B'reisheet/Genesis 28:10-22Yacov, upon leaving his home in Beersheba, went to Bethel and arrived there after sunset. He picked up a rock from that place and used it as a pillow for the night. This rock was from the land that YHVH had named for His children and was part of their possession and inheritance forever. Not only was it deemed special due to this, but it was significant because it had

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B'reisheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9Isaac's life is not presented as being nearly as eventful as Abraham's. In fact, Torah reveals much less about Isaac and his lifestyle than of Abraham or most of the other major patriarchs. Similarly, Rebekah is found to be beautiful like her mother-in-law, Sarah; but Torah leaves much to the imagination concerning her character and her personal relationship with

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B'reisheet/Genesis 27:46-28:9Yacov was a complete man, according to B'reisheet 25:27. What he lacked in skill could be learned. What he lacked in wisdom, could be experienced, then practiced. The eventualities of Yacov's life would be used to further give insight for fearing Elohim and utilizing the discernment granted to him from on High. It is that discernment that was in need of being honed,

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B'reisheet/Genesis 27:30-45There will be a day when the righteous will be blessed in the Firstborn, Yeshua, as they receive their reward for faithfulness and obedience. Conversely, the wicked of the earth will wail violently at their demise and gnash their teeth in the realization that they lost the blessing of the Most High. Even as those who have presumed to be good people, or did not really

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