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What's New
Compliments of First Fruits of Zion
reprinted by permission of FFOZ
Rosh Hashanah
Torah : Genesis 21-22
Haftarah : 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10; Jeremiah 31:2-20
Gospel : Matthew 24, 25
"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 18:14) God tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son “at the appointed time.” The Hebrew word for “appointed time” is moed (מועד). It is the same word that the Torah uses to refer to the biblical festivals, God’s appointed times. As such, its use in Genesis 18:14 and 21:2 invited the Sages to speculate that Isaac might have been born on a festival. The majority opinions are that Isaac was born either at the appointed time of Passover or at the appointed time of Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets). Because of the latter opinion, Genesis 21 (which tells the story of the birth of Isaac) is the primary Torah reading for Rosh Hashanah.
The birth of Isaac can be compared to the coming of Messiah. Isaac is the promised and long-awaited son. Just as Isaac was born at the appointed time, so too Messiah will come at the appointed time. “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority,” (Acts 1:7) and “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36) Nonetheless, we celebrate Messiah’s first coming in the appointed times of the spring festivals (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost) and we celebrate His anticipated second coming in the appointed times of the fall festivals (Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Booths). Redemption does come at the appointed time.
When Isaac was born, “Sarah said, ‘God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.’” (Genesis 21:6)
In Genesis 18, when she overheard the Angel of the LORD promise that she would conceive and bear a son, Sarah laughed a laugh of incredulity. In Genesis 21, she laughs the laugh of joy. She says, “God has made laughter for me.” Isaac (Yitzchak, יצחק) means “laughter.”
This teaches us about the Messiah. When Messiah comes, it is written, “Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful [song].” (Psalm 126:2) The Master tells us, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21) When will the mourner’s weeping turn to laughter? When Messiah comes, we will all laugh with joy. Then we will all declare, along with Sarah our mother, “God has made laughter for us.” Hence it is fitting that the promised son of Abraham should be named “laughter.”
Please consider supporting FFOZ with a financial contribution.
We are pleased to announce 3 different Restoration products, now available at the FFOZ Store (http://ffoz.com/store). The Restoration Book, the Restoration Workbook and the Audio Book. The new workbook contains fifteen chapters that correspond to the chapters in the book Restoration, written by D. Thomas Lancaster. Each chapter contains an introduction and questions to help the reader explore the concepts and ideas presented in the book in more detail.
This workbook is primarily intended for use in a group setting. Group leaders could set up a book study, where participants read a chapter during the week, and then the group could go over the workbook portion of the chapter during the study.
The Restoration Audio Book, read by D. Thomas Lancaster, contains six
CDs and is narrated by the Author.
FFOZ's Weekly e-Drash is based on our popular Torah Study
Program,
Torah Club. For an introduction to Torah Club
click here.
First Fruits of Zion, PO Box 620099, Littleton, CO
80162-0099 USA
Telephone 303 933 2119, Toll-free 800 775 4807, Fax 303 933 0997
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