Let us pray for the brethren throughout the world who are enduring tremendous oppression and persecution as a result of the leaders of the nations they reside exercising their evil powers over them (Australia; Austria; New Zealand; Germany; Greece). 

We’re seeing the beginnings of these things happening here in this nation. We must stand fast and walk obediently and steadfastly in our faith, and carry forth the great commission while it is still time. We gotta be like Noach in many ways. Despite the futility of our efforts sometimes, we are expected to keep on keeping on in our declaring of the Gospel and making disciples for our Master Yahoshua Messiah. We must also continue to image Yehovah in all the earth as we await our Master’s return. We must maintain true biblical faith in the earth, despite a drought of the Word and faith in the World. Master asked,  “When the Son of Man comes, will He find true biblical faith–trust–on the earth at all” (Luk. 18:8; CJB).

The organization “United in Yah” is leading a “Come Let Us Gather Together For Prayer & Fasting 28th Nov 2021.”

https://www.unitedinyah.org/

I post updated news article links that I feel may be of use to the brethren throughout the week on themessianictorahobserver.org landing page.

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Points of thoughts and reflection on Parashah 8–Genesis 9:18-10:32

• Despite the cleansing of humanity through the instrument of the Great Flood, the depravity of the human heart bled through to the other side.  Of the human heart, Yehovah, through the Prophet Jeremiah described it as being “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). And the interesting thing is that Yehovah is a trier of the human heart–He searches out the content and state of people’s heart (Jer. 17:10).  And this is key. Despite those in our day who claim vociferously that they are out there doing what they’re doing for the good of humanity, Yehovah see through their evil.

• Much is made in various commentaries and other extra-biblical writings on Noach planting a vineyard and getting drunk from the wine that came from the harvested grapes. But the truth of the matter is that Father’s intent in bringing this story to our attention was not to prohibit the consumption of wine nor to show the depravity of Noach. Noach, because he was overcome by the effects of the alcohol, found himself in a position where the corrupt heart of his son Ham was able to take advantage of him. Ham, Noach’s son, violates his father leading to Noach’s cursing of Ham’s offspring; specifically Canaan. (It’s possible that Moshe was led to ping on Ham’s descendant Canaan as opposed to specifically Ham himself, because the Canaanites were the nation peoples Yisra’el would seek to uproot through the hand of Yehovah.

• The blessing of Shem and Japheth. We find in 9:27, that Noach blesses Yapheth such that Yapheth’s line would be enlarged. But of Shem, Noach’s blessing was that Yehovah’s Shekinah would dwell in the tabernacles of Shem. And indeed, this did happen as Noach prophesied.

• Indeed, Noach’s covenant relationship with Yehovah carried weight. For whether Noach was speaking in accordance with the leading of the Ruach haKodesh or via some other inspiration, we see Noach’s blessings and cursings trickled down through humanity’s generations. This says to us that our covenant relationship with Yehovah carries significant weight with it.  Our Master instructed His disciples that He would build His ekklesia upon the truth of His Person and Ministry, and that the gates of hades would not be able to overcome it (Mat. 16:18). In so doing, Yahoshua granted them–and by extension us today–the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, such that whatsoever we prohibit here on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatsoever we permit on earth will be permitted in heaven (Mat. 16:19).  Just as Noach received and maintained a righteous mantle over him to image Yehovah and promote Yehovah’s kingdom here on earth, we as well possess that same righteous mantle over us.  What will we do with that mantle? Are we doing with that mantle that which we have been instructed to do?

• Noach is the last of the millennials as the longevity of humanity quickly began to wane. Yehovah recognized that the longevity of humans only exacerbated the iniquity that existed on the earth.

• The provision of the Table of Nations: No other such explanation of the origin of the nations has been provided in the world. This is the only such known documentation.

• Nimrod is singled out as the first mighty man on earth (10:8). The extra-biblical, apocryphal books  and modern commentators have awarded Nimrod as the mighty one who ushered in the age of paganism on the earth–the whole Semiramis-Nimrod-Tammuz story, as convoluted and uncertain as it is, is the basis of a great deal of discussion and finger pointing as it relates to paganism, the Catholic Church and the destiny of humanity.

• There is somehow a breakdown in righteousness in Noach’s/Ham’s line.

• Shem is highlighted as the father of Eber; Shem being the father of the nation people who would become the Hebrews (i.e., ‘ibrim). Eber means: “From the other side” (of the river).

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Matthew 24:36-39; Luke 17:26; cf. Genesis 6–As in the days of Noah, thus will be the coming of the Son of man.

• People eating, drinking and marrying. Humanity is oblivious to the coming wrath and judgment.
• Powerful men holding humanity sway in evil (cf. Gen. 6:1-4). The Nephilim.
• Wickedness was great upon the whole earth.
• Earth was filled with violence.
• There was total corruption of humanity in every way.
• Idolatry; hearts were hardened (the love of many waxed cold); their ears dull; there is no repentance; there is no seeking after the things and ways of Yehovah.

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Jubilees 5

• The human population had exploded.
• There was the sin of the Watchers.
• Yehovah’s living creation was corrupted in every conceivable and possibly every inconceivable way.
• Iniquity increased in the earth.
• Every imagination of the thoughts of man was evil continually.
• Blatant evil was committed by humanity before the eyes of Elohim, despite humanity’s inherent knowledge of Yehovah and its ability to discern good from evil and right from wrong (Rom. 1:18-2:1).

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Jasher 5

• The righteous ones had all died out with the exception of Noach and Methuselah. And so, in obedience to Yehovah, Methuselah and Noach preached 120 years of the coming wrath and judgment to humanity; to teshuvah and escape Yah’s coming wrath and punishment. But alas, humanity “would not hearken to them, nor incline their ears to their words, and they were stiffnecked.” This was twice iterated in Jubilees.

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Enoch

• The sin of the Watchers (Chap. 6).
• The corruption of the human genome (Chap. 7).
• Humanity was taught by the fallen ones forbidden arts of sorcery; enchantments; cutting of roots; warfare; cosmetology and seduction; astrology.
• The animal kingdom was corrupted.

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Practical Halachah

• Shaul warned his student the Evangelist Timothy of the end times in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

• Everything humans thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. There was no regard for the things of Elohim. Yah’s people, however, are required to live by/walk by/halachah in their faith regardless (Hab. 2:4–Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright; but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness…they shall live by their faith).

• Only a small remnant finds favor in Yah’s eyes. Noach was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 11:7). Yehovah’s patience was sustained for many years (1 Pet. 3:20).