Genesis

בייה

This discussion is in the loving memory of Ethel Channah bat Chanah and George Belk ben Ida ז”ל.

(Genesis 41.1) is enter-twined with Lord our God’s pinpoint timing in Holy Scripture. Every part of this immensely complicated universe functions by Lord’s precise timing. Solomon summed up our Creator’s timing when he wrote, ‘To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace,’ Ecclesiastics 3.1-8).

(Genesis 1.14) says, ‘And God Said, ”Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, וּלְמוֹעֲדִים and seasons / appointed times, and for days and years.”’ If we were to study the word מוֹעֵד Moh Ayd throughout Ha Tanach, i.e., The Hebrew Scriptures, we would learn that מוֹעֵד Moh Ayd means an appointed time or an appointed place. (Deuteronomy 16.6) says, ‘But at the place which [the] Lord your God shall choose to place His Name in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at the evening, at the going down of the sun, in the appointed time/season when you came out of Egypt, i.e., Passover.’ (Exodus 12:40-41). ‘Now the sojourning of the people of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even on that very day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Lord went out from the land of Egypt.’ What was that very day? It was Passover!

That day was Abraham and Isaac’s birthdays they were intertwined with Passover. How do we know that? Let’s carefully consider the succession of these Holy Scriptures. (Genesis 17.1; 23-27) informs us that Abraham was ninety-nine years old when Lord appeared to him, directing him, Ishmael, and the men of his household who were older than thirteen and purchased with his money to circumcise the flesh of their foreskin. They circumcised themselves that very day. Three days later, Lord appears to Abraham in a vision. Based on three Scripture references, that day was Erev Passover. First – Abraham asked Sarah to quickly make ready three measures of fine meal and make it into cakes, i.e., ‘ Matzah. Second – One of the Malachim/ Messengers/ Angels said to Abraham, ‘And he said, I will certainly return to you at this season/ appointed time; and, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son’ (Genesis 18.10 and 14). Dear Ones, Abraham had been asking for a son for over thirty years. The answer to his prayer was okay, ‘You shall have a son when the appointed time aligns with the appointed season, i.e., Passover.’ Third – As night began to arrive, Lot made his guests a feast and baked unleavened bread (Genesis 19.3).

(Genesis 15.13) says, [Lord our God] Said to Abraham, ‘Know for a certainty that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great wealth.’ Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1736 – This prophecy was from the time of Isaac’s birth.

(Genesis 41.1), ‘And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed.’ God visited Pharaoh in a unique dream. Our sages teach that the above Scripture is about (Genesis 40.14) Where Joseph committed an offense that required him to be punished. Even though we strive for greater heights of righteousness, in a minute of weakness, perhaps discouragement or desperation knocks us off course. Instead of trusting God, we take a wrong turn. We may place trust in man. Joseph placed faith in Pharaoh’s cupbearer to intercede for him before Pharaoh to gain his freedom. See (Genesis 40.14 – 15). From that point, the Holy Scripture refers to (Genesis 41.1) ‘at the end of two full years.’Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1734 – 1736 Forcing a circle into a triangle doesn’t work well.

(Bereisheit Rabba 89.2) – Joseph maligned ten tribes of Israel to his father. He gave an evil report. Joseph did not lie. He was truthful. Yet even though he was truthful, his words were harmful, hostile, and damaging. He was punished for these sins. In Genesis 37, I explained how Jacob’s Shepherd’s staff was passed to Joseph. (Genesis 37.3) says, ‘Israel loved Joseph more than all his children.’ It was evident to Joseph’s ten older brothers that as the firstborn of the beloved Rachel, their father had selected him to lead the family when he died. Joseph’s fine wool long-sleeved embroidered tunic of many colors annunciated his wisdom, leadership, and designation as heir to Israel. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold for 20 pieces of silver.

God is never late! God is always on time. So when our timing does not align with God or Ha Torah, we have a problem. Some teach that confusion is not from God. Okay! Who muddied the waters, making it more challenging to understand Truth and how Holy Scriptures are enter-twined with God’s pinpoint timing in Holy Scripture? Who changed the original Numbering system of The Holy Scriptures? Who did this? Who messed with The Holy Scriptures God gave Moses, Joshua, and the 70 Elders? At the time of this writing, we are in the year 5783 FC From Creation, not 2023 AD. Who is behind all that confusion? Politicians, government officials, and religious leaders are mudding the waters when they interfere with Jewish writings. They develop layer upon layer that one has to study and research to determine the TRUTH for oneself. Mostly, people will not dedicate the time or resources to diligent assiduous research. Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph stand out. They lived on a higher level of righteousness. Still, they were human. They slipped up from time to time.

That is Unfortunate! Why? It is more of a challenge to learn Ha Torah when politicians and religious leaders interfere with what God has given us. Down through the centuries, powerful men have altered our Holy Scriptures in a number of ways. We know that from the Hebrew Scriptures, the day does not begin at midnight. We know that the names of the Hebrew days and months are not pagan names. The original biblical text is not numbered by verses or chapters. Why does the Scripture numbering system in Ha Tanach, which they added, differ from the numbering system in their Bibles? Why did they do that?

(Genesis 41.1) is speaking about the exact length of Joseph’s punishment for leaning on the arm of flesh instead of God. That is why I ask, What does two full years mean? Everyone is not on the same page when it comes to calendars. That depends on the calendar one uses. Should we be using a calendar that is utterly foreign to Ha Torah? Should we use a lunar calendar, which could be as few as 709 days, or a solar calendar, which could be as many as 731 days?

There are many lenses that one must consider to be accurate and truthful. Being aware of the historical setting is essential.

Even though we strive for greater heights of righteousness in a minute of weakness, perhaps discouragement or desperation knocks us off course. Instead of trusting God, we take a wrong turn. We may place trust in man. Joseph placed faith in Pharaoh’s cupbearer to intercede for him before Pharaoh to gain his freedom. See (Genesis 40.14 – 15). From that point, the Holy Scripture refers to (Genesis 41.1) ‘at the end of two full years.’ Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson. Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1734 – 1736.

Friends, we do not need to live in confusion or fear in the world God Created. We need to get back to our roots. We are the children of Adam and Chavah, Noach and Na’amah. The People of Israel are descendants of Jacob. These are our roots. Yes, more effort is required to be accurate. It is frustrating to know that these deceptions exist.

We must be cautious NOT to trust in the arm of flesh. It is NOT GOOD for anyone to openly malign the Scribes, i.e., the Holy Men who dedicate themselves to writing the Hebrew Scriptures or the Pharisees who oversee Torah Instruction and sit as Judges on the High Court in Jerusalem. Holy men like Micah, Mordecai, Zachariah, and Malachi were previous Pharisees of the High Court in Jerusalem, so speaking unfavorably about them in public is a sin. Maligning them is an act of striking against God. (Isaiah 55.11) says, ‘So shall my word be that goes out of my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’

Our choices do not change that we are people of the covenant. God has chosen to use us even though our lives are messy. God’s Will ultimately prevails in the end, regardless of us. Remember, we are the branch of His planting. We are His handiwork. In these instances, things started in the wrong direction and progressively worsened. The point is that even though we get ourselves in pretty nasty situations, Lord can help us iron out every situation and bring beauty to our mess. So even though we may mess things up severely, Lord can work everything out for all good. So hope, beauty, love, and joy exist for each of us.

May Lord Bless us in our daily walk, and may we stay within Torah’s guidelines. May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Author