Study Notes Week 52

Torah Study Notes for Week 52 of the Torah Reading Cycle

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

  • Torah (T): Shemot (Exodus) 2:1-25
  • Prophets (P): Isaiah 27:6-13
  • Apostolic (A): Acts 7:17-22; Hebrews 11:23-27
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 46:9 – 47:12

Torah Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Shemot (Exodus) 2:1-25

2:1 A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a good child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrush for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank. 4 His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him. 5 Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the ark among the reeds, and sent her servant to get it. 6 She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. [And Pharaoh's daughter](LXX) had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews' children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” The young woman went and called the child's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” The woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 [And when the child was grown](LXX) she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” 11 In those days, when Moses [became great],(LXX) he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. 12 He turned here and here, and when he saw that there was no man, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow?” 14 He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian [yesterday]?”(LXX) Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.” 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, [and drew water for them,](LXX) and watered their flock. 18 When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter [in marriage].(LXX) 22 She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.” 23 In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to Elohim because of the bondage. 24 Elohim heard their groaning, and Elohim remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 Elohim saw the sons of Israel, and Elohim understood.

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Hebrews 11 is the “Faith Chapter”.
    1. It gives us a definition.
      1. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
    2. It reveals faith to us through examples of actions and behavior of real individuals.
      1. Abel, Enoch, Noaḥ, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel.
    3. It reveals a mere fraction of the “manifold (#4182) wisdom of God” (Eph. 3:10).
      1. G4182. polupoikilos – “ultra-diverse” 
        1. πολυποίκιλος highlights divine wisdom as endlessly rich, intricately varied, and harmoniously integrated. The word evokes a tapestry woven with countless hues, implying not mere diversity for its own sake but an overarching unity in God’s redemptive design.
  2. While we can and should read about the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, we’ll always be on the outside, looking in. 
    1. Learning what faith is, how it works, and what fruit it should produce in our lives comes through two primary things. 
      1. #1 — Covenant relationship with God that begins through repentance from sin and baptism into Messiah.
      2. #2 – Discipleship from other mature Believers, the most important of whom are parents.  
  3. While not an actual verse from Hebrews 11, the main idea for today’s discussion is still important:
    1. “By faith, parents…”
      1. In other words, what is faith for parents, how does it work, and what fruit should it produce in their lives and the lives of their children?

Apostolic Exhortation
Counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15)

  1. Let’s first look at our parenting example from our portion.
    1. “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Heb. 11:23).
      1. Note that it is not Moses’ faith celebrated in this verse, but that of his parents, Amram and Jochebed.
    2. The king’s edict was that every son who was born was to be cast into the Nile, and every daughter was to be kept alive (Exo. 1:22).
    3. Scripture tells us that the Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh because they feared God (Exo. 1:17,21).
    4. In like manner, Moses’ parents “were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Heb. 11:23). 
  2. We often talk about “faith versus fear”.
    1. “We can overcome our fears by trusting God”.
    2. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).
  3. Fear =  “the motivation to obey a greater power or authority”.  

KEY POINT:

Our obedience provides evidence of who and what we fear…and what we have faith in.

  1. More people today are afraid of even having children.
    1. From, “Top Five Reasons You’re Afraid a Baby Might Ruin Your Life” (Scared having a baby will ruin your life? Here’s what to do — Calm Blog):
      1. Losing freedom.
      2. Fear about impact on career.
      3. Fear about impact on finances.
      4. Fear of losing connection with a partner.
      5. Fear of losing sight of who you are.
    2. Other less selfish reasons might include personal trauma, negative childhood experiences, health concerns, etc.
    3. By faith, people can overcome their fears about having children by entrusting themselves to God.
      1. This includes trusting Him – with wisdom — for when to have children and how many to have.
  2. As parents, a proper expression of faith requires that we renew our minds regarding children.
    1. Throughout history, children have usually been seen as an asset.
      1. Asset (def.) – “A useful or valuable quality, person, or thing; an advantage or resource”.
      2. They could make a contribution to the family economy and the larger tribe.
    2. These days, they are often viewed as a liability. 
      1. Liability (def.) – “something for which one is liable; an obligation, responsibility, or debt”.
    3. I would submit that scripture teaches that children are neither an asset nor a liability. 
      1. “Behold, children are a heritage (#5159) of YHWH, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psa. 127:3-5).
      2. Children are a gift.
        1. God’s gifts come through and with His Grace (See Rom. 3:24; 5:15,17;12:6; Eph. 2:8; 3:7;4:7; 1 Pet. 4:10).
        2. Grace is God’s power to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
          1. When God gives us children, He guarantees that His Grace will meet every other need that comes with them.
      3. The reward of children is heritage, or inheritance.
        1. H5159. nachalah – “inheritance”.
          1. In Hebrew, inherited possession granted by divine decree. It ties the covenant people to place, promise, family continuity, and ultimately to the Lord Himself.  “inheritance” is both gift and responsibility.
        2. The value of heritage is different than a standard asset.
          1. It is a long-term investment.
          2. It is enjoyed without liquidation – i.e. consumption.

KEY POINT:

The true value of children can only be understood through God’s heart and design.

  1. “By faith, parents…”
    1. Entrust themselves to God for the “when” and “how many” of children.
    2. Value children from a biblical perspective.
    3. Fear the Lord alone by taking full ownership and accountability for parenting as the most important job they’ve been given in life.
  2. We mentioned above that learning what faith is, how it works, and what fruit it should produce in our lives comes through discipleship from parents. 
    1. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline (#3809) and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).
      1. G3809. Paideia – “tutorage”.
        1. Usage: properly, instruction that trains someone to reach full development (maturity).
    2. Fathers are the earthly representation of God to their children and discipleship is their primary mission.
      1. “[A]nd you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM. FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:5-11).
      2. “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire” (Pro. 29:17).
      3. “You shall consider in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you” (Deu. 8:5).

KEY POINT:

Bringing our children to spiritual maturity is the most important job we have as parents.

  1. Few Christian/Messianic parents would disagree with this statement.
    1. But what fruit of faith/fear exists in their lives and those of their children?
      1. What are the priorities for the father’s time and treasure?
      2. Who leads the children in their spiritual formation through paideia?
      3. Who is responsible for educating the children?
  2. While the times we live in are not as extreme as for Moses’ parents, we face our own edicts of an earthly king when it comes to raising our children.

KEY POINT:

The edict of the Pharaoh represents the world system’s assertion of authority over human life beginning at conception and continuing through birth and childhood. 

  1. The idea that the government is considered the primary authority over children’s upbringing and education, rather than parents or families, finds its origins in ancient philosophy and is strongly woven into our world today. ​
    1. Plato argued in “The Laws” that “children belong to the state first and their parents second,” advocating for communal child-rearing for the good of the state.​
    2. Aristotle similarly claimed in his works that all children belong to the state and criticized education systems that left instruction solely in parental hands.​
    3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau viewed the state as owning its citizens from birth, arguing that education is more important to the state than to the parents and should thus be regulated by the government.
  2. By faith, parents accept full responsibility for the development of their children including their education.
    1. By design, this will require sacrifice and separation.
      1. Amram and Jochebed’s faith is what shaped Moses’ character.
        1. “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26).
    2. Parenting is discipleship and education is more than gaining knowledge from books.
      1. “Education is the process of learning to serve one’s God, and to fight all idols”—Douglas Wilson

“Therefore, as you have received Messiah Yeshua the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Col. 2:6).

Does anyone have specific questions or need any clarification from what was said during the Summary or Exhortation?

Application & Discussion
Living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13)
Questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

    1. What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
    2. “What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?”
    3. Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
    4. “What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s Torah Study?”
    5. What about parenting requires faith?
    6. What lessons have you learned from your own parents?
    7. How do we equip our children to be in the world not of it?

Additional Notes