Joined To Hashem Newsletter October 22, 2010

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministery

That through them The האור Light,  רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

October 22, 2010 Joined To Hashem Newsletter In this issue...   Streaming Video Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list! TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD Streaming Video Vayera "And appeared" Genesis 18:1-22:24 2 Kings 4:1-37 *Archived teaching from 2009* VIDEO Torah Commentary Vayera "And appeared" Genesis 18:1-22:24 2 Kings 4:1-37 Joshua 10-12 Outcry of a City Remember Noah? In this week's Torah portion he has only been dead for just over a hundred years. His son Shem is still alive and able to tell the story about the time when his Dad built a huge boat which would provide a safe haven for his family. Shem could also tell stories of what the earth was like prior to the flood. He could tell of a time in which people engaged in all manner of sin. He could still, after all these years, with much emotion, tell of the day the door to the Ark was closed and the rain began to fall. Shem could, and no doubt would, continue to tell the story of hearing the cries for help which surrounded the ark. He could recall his attempts to help those who had sealed their fate by their hardness to the warnings of their neighbor, a prophet, a man named Noah. Even with the warnings of righteous people who had lived to tell of judgment, mankind would continue to turn from his Creator to walk the road of sin. He would willingly forget the judgment of the past and somehow think that it could never happen again. He would come to believe that now The Almighty may not see, may not notice and may not act upon His sure word that sin must be judged. Man would once again become so blinded by his debauchery that he would think that this time he could get away with it and nothing was going to happen to stop him. We read this week of an outcry going up to the heavens. Who was crying out about the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? Could it have been men like Shem who knew the certain fate that would come? We are not told the answer to this question or why Elohim allowed the cities to continue their downhill slide in sin. We are not told what actions prompted His visit to Abraham on that day. We are simply told that the day came when judgment would be certain and would be swift. In the account we are given a glimpse into the nature of the people when two angels are sent to rescue Lot. It is a story which almost seems beyond belief, at least for those who may have lived in the present world a century ago. But today we can read the words of scripture regarding life in Sodom and Gomorrah and, without too much imagination, understand how similar events could happen in many cities in the United States, Europe and in other countries. So has the world of today "gotten away with it?" Some would think so, or at least they are living like they think they will. We could even ask, "Why has the world, especially America seemed to be immune from the kind of judgment Sodom and Gomorrah were given?"_ I do not believe the world of today will get away with sin. Scripture is very clear that this is just not going to happen. But what will be the trigger that brings the world into judgment? Do the world of the flood and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah give us clues as to when these things will take place again? Maybe the greatest clue is not in the sin, but rather in the attitudes of the people. In both cases scripture tells us the people were living life like it would go on forever. They had no thought of eternity or that they were even doing anything wrong. They had fooled themselves into thinking they were living a life of peace and safety and that everything would just continue like it always had. Paul and Peter write of a time in which people will have the same attitudes that they had prior to the flood and to Sodom and Gomorrah. It would be a time they would be so removed from the clear words of The Creator that they would forget that He and His words will never be mocked. In their sin they will once again have created a world which is right in their own eyes, but very wrong in His. It will be during a time such as that in which sudden destruction will come as a woman giving birth to a child. Noah was told of the judgment to come as was Abraham. In our day we can trust in the same pattern to be upheld in the lives of those who are following Him. He is sounding the warning today that once again something is about to rain down upon this earth. This time as it was in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, an umbrella and a boat are just not going to cut it! How long will it be? We do not know. What will be the final event that triggers these events? We are not told. What we are told though is to be alert. We are commanded to understand the times we live in and warn of the approaching storm of wrath. We are not told to change others, but to warn them. It is up to them whether they will repent and turn to Him. Our job is to do as Noah and build our ark. We are to learn from Lot and make sure we are not lingering so long in our ways that angels have to pull us to safety at the last moment. Judgment has come throughout history and will no doubt come again. If this is not true then scripture is a lie. I believe it to be true. I wonder though, when other people see my life, are they able to tell that I believe its words only by my lip service or do they see its truth in my actions? Probing question, is it not? Shabbat Shalom, Mike PRINT VERSION email: hineni@mac.com phone: 405 257 6277 web: http://www.joinedtohashem.org

Shabbat Shalom - Abraham finds a God of Righteousness, Justice and Mercy

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

CFOIC Heartland

That through them The האור Light,  רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

Shabbat Shalom Want to listen and watch a teaching on the Torah Portion?  Click below to watch Sondra speaking about this week's Vayera Torah portion.      If you have difficulties watching the video, pause it for a few minutes to let it download and spool the video. When you push "play" again it should play smoothly for you. Make a Donation to help CFOIC Heartland in Israel!
October 22, 2010
What is Shabbat Shalom?   Jews all over the world read a portion of the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, in the synagogue every Shabbat morning.  The cycle begins right after the Feast of Tabernacles and concludes the following year at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles.  Traditionally, Jewish families discuss the Torah portion at their Shabbat Table, bringing new insights, each year, to the same inspirational words and stories that they have been reading for years. In this weekly column, Sondra Oster Baras, CFOIC Heartland's Israel Director, shares her personal reflections on the weekly Torah portion. *** Visit the Heartland Heartbeat Blog... If you received this email from a friend and want Shabbat Shalom sent directly to your inbox, please use the link below to join our email list. Join Email List... If you have friends who would enjoy reading this weekly Biblical thought, please use the link below to send it to your friends... Forward to a Friend  If you would like to support the brave men and women who have made their home in Biblical Israel; you can make a contribution to the ongoing work of CFOIC... Support CFOIC... Argaman Say YES! to Israel Samaria Trees	Vayera (And He Appeared) Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 This week we read the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Interestingly, though, we know very little of the nature of the evil that had become so entrenched in Sodom and that necessitated its destruction. The first we hear of Sodom is when Lot, Abraham's nephew chooses this area as his residence. Scripture then points out: "And the people of Sodom were evil and sinful before G-d, exceedingly." (Genesis 13:13). When G-d informs Abraham of His decision to destroy Sodom He says: "The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very heavy." (Gen. 18:20). The third piece of information that we have about the evil that is in Sodom is the story of the angels who visit Lot in order to save him from the destruction. Dressed as human beings, they are welcomed by Lot and his family, but the men of the city converge upon the house and demand that Lot deliver the men to them "so that we may know them," an explicit reference to sexual relations. (Gen. 18:5). From these scriptures, we can assume that the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah are many and varied. If G-d hears the cry of the city, we can assume that people are being hurt and wronged on a regular basis. We are told that the people are evil, an indication that their sins are an integral part of who they are. And the story with the angels tells us that the people of Sodom are not hospitable and that homosexual rape is common. There is another source that refers to Sodom. In Ezekiel 16 verse 49, the prophet explains the sin of Sodom as their failure to help the poor. The Midrash adds a number of elements to the Sodom story, recording examples of laws and incidents that illustrate the depravity of the place. It is not clear whether these midrash tales are based on ancient oral tradition or whether they were created to give examples of the sort of depravity that can be analyzed from the Bible itself. But they are illuminating just the same. One tale tells of a girl who inquires as to the reason that her friend is ill. She discovers that her friend is starving. Responding in a generous, human way, the girl gives her starving friend some flour. When the city officials find out, they kill her, for generosity is a crime in Sodom. Other stories tell of laws against hosting guests and severe punishments that are meted out, both to the guests and to the hosts. One midrash analyzes the verses in Genesis 13 as follows: the word "evil" refers to their evil behavior towards one another, the word "sinful" refers to their sexual depravity, the words "before G-d", refer to their idolatry and the word "exceedingly" refers to murder, one more sin they were enmeshed in. The sum total of these verses and their midrashic explanations point to an exceedingly evil and depraved town, where the very norms of human behavior are distorted, where people suffer deeply and the most innocent expressions of good will are quashed. Interestingly, it is the changing of norms, in the form of laws that seems to set Sodom apart from anywhere else. For there are evil people everywhere. The challenge is to avoid evil people, condemn their ways and prevent them from succeeding. But when evil becomes the law of the land, there is no escape. Shabbat Shalom from Samaria, Sondra Sondra Baras Director, Israel Office Did you enjoy hearing Sondra's insights? If so you can:Join our email list to have them delivered to your inbox every Friday morningForward to a Friend so they too can enjoyDonate to help the brave settlers of Judea and Samaria! May 23 - June 2, 2011 Israel Tour With Pastor Gary Cristofaro, First Assembly of God, Melbourne, FL May 23rd - June 2nd, 2011 Eilat Extension June 3rd- June 6th Israel Host for the Tour: Sondra Oster Baras, Director, CFOIC Heartland - Israel Only CFOIC Heartland gives you the inside story of Israel! Meet the people who are settling the Land of Israel.  Listen to stories of faith and courage.  Experience the Heartland of Biblical Israel like never before! Click here for details! Request your brochure today!  today! The Choosing of a Chosen People   A 5 part series on Genesis by Sondra Oster Baras Watch the trailer here!   Sondra Oster Baras, director of CFOIC Heartland's Israel office, takes you on a journey through the Book of Genesis, which lays the foundation for the creation of God's chosen people. Order the DVD set...    Each purchase of this DVD series goes 100% to support the Israel Office!

 

"Obama Opposes the Vision of the Prophets" by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed

Obama Opposes the Vision of the Prophets 

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed   

The Elections in America

Question:  We are immigrants to Israel from America. Should we make an effort to participate in the upcoming elections for the U.S. Senate and Congress in order to strengthen candidates who oppose the policies of President Barak Obama? Is it ethical for us, who live in Israel, to vote according to the interests of Israel, when the elections mainly concern those living in America?

Answer: The subject of discussion concerns the right of every U.S. citizen no matter where they are located, to vote in U.S. elections. Thus, in practice, U.S. citizens throughout the world execute their right to vote according to their personal interests. Why, then, should the rights of Jews who immigrated to Israel be any different? It is well known that that the Jews made great contributions in the fields of the arts, science, economy, and defense of America, and many U.S. immigrants to Israel still pay taxes on assets they possess there. Why should their rights be less than any other person holding U.S. citizenship?

Beyond this, as believers in God, we are sure that the support which America granted the Jewish exiles and the State of Israel is one of the significant merits of this great country. Like in the times of Cyrus, about whom it is said (Isaiah 44:28): "That says of Koresh (Cyrus), He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: and saying to Jerusalem, You shall be rebuilt; and to the Temple, your foundation shall be laid," so too, a number of outstanding Americans merited assisting the Jewish nation to return to its land and fulfill the vision of the Prophets – to plant vineyards in the mountains of Samaria, to return the sons to their borders, to build the desolate cities, and to fill them with “flocks of people.” And as it is written (Genesis 27:28): "Those who curse you are cursed, and those who bless you are blessed", thus America was blessed by helping the Jewish nation.

An Afro-American President

When Barak Obama was elected President, I, along with many others, felt a spirit of rejoicing. Behold, in the country that, at its very beginning, enslaved Africans as servants against their will ( for hundreds of year's traders and mercenaries would go out to capture people in Africa, kidnapping them from the lap of their families, in order to sell them to plantation owners in the south and north regions of America, thereby turning them and their offspring into eternal slaves until 150 years ago), and here, an African, married to a woman descended from slaves, was voted by the majority of citizens of the world's most powerful country, to the most esteemed office. I had tears in my eyes when I saw a picture of Afro-Americans standing upright with glorious honor, on the sides of the avenue leading to the White House, accompanying with their gaze the new President, Barak Obama, into the famous office.

What a wonderful victory for the spirit of a man who overcame all the obstacles. Undeniably, friends warned: "We're talking about a man who is hostile to the State of Israel." Nevertheless, there was hope that a man like him would also understand the Jewish nation, which granted the world the message of freedom and the foundations of morality, and concur that after 2,000 years of exile and suffering, it is fitting for the world to help the Jewish nation return to its land, as the word of God to his servants, the Prophets. Regretfully, it has become clear that he is perhaps the most hostile President that Israel has ever faced.

The splendid idea remains, the dream has not faded. However, its implementation by Barak Obama is awful.

They Have Raised Their Hand against Jerusalem and the Land of Israel

Instead of assisting the Jewish nation to build the Land of Israel, he began pressuring to freeze construction in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem. The Prophet said (Zachariah 12): "The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel. The saying of the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him; Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the peoples round about" -- that is, anyone who passes the threshold of Jerusalem in order to harm her, will be punished. "And on that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples: all that burden themselves with it (attempt to transfer her to another nation) shall be grievously hurt." "On that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem… and it shall come to pass on that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."

And Zachariah furthered prophesized (14): "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations who came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And whoever does not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, upon them shall be no rain (economic blessing)…" And lo and behold, precisely on Chag HaSukkot (the Feast of Booths) when the freeze on construction ended, instead of encouraging the Government of Israel to stop being negligent in building Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, Obama and his team of ministers and advisors pressured the Government of Israel to continue the freeze on building in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Certainly, this will bring a curse on his country.

Therefore, it is fitting for every American citizen who believes in God and His Prophets, to vote for true friends of Israel, for people who believe that the entire Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish nation, as God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – no matter whether he or she is a candidate from either the Republican or Democratic Party. And if there is no friend of Israel in that state, then one should vote for the candidate who will best hinder Barak Obama from exerting pressure on Israel.

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed is the Dean of Yeshiva Har Bracha and a prolific author on Jewish Law. Rabbi Melamed is one of the most active leaders amongst the religious-Zionist public. This article was translated from his popular weekly column "Revivim" which appears in the "Basheva" newspaper. According to official media surveys, his column is the most widely read editorial amongst the religious and ultra-Orthodox public in Israel.

Rabbi Melamed's articles also appear at: http://revivimen.yhb.org.il/