Faith Starts with Beresheet (Genesis), by Messianic Jewish Rabbi Yaacob Farber, CMY

[mevaser]

Faith Starts with Beresheet (Genesis), by Messianic Jewish Rabbi Yaacob Farber, CMY
Congregation Melech Yisrael, Toronto, Canada
Shabbat 29 Tishrei 5764, October 25, 2003
http://www.cmy.on.ca / cmy@ca.inter.net

This week's Reading list:
* Beresheet / Genesis 1:1-6:8
* Yeshayahu / Isaiah 42:5-43:11
* Yochanan / John 1:1-5

Beresheet 1:1 In the beginning G-d created heaven and earth. 1:2 The earth was without form and empty, with darkness on the face of the depths, but G-d's spirit moved on the water's surface. 1:3 G-d said, 'There shall be light,' and light came into existence. 1:4 G-d saw that the light was good, and G-d divided between the light and the darkness. 1:5 G-d named the light 'Day,' and the darkness He named 'Night.' It was evening and it was morning, one day.

Was there an earth before this one or wasn't there? Did G-d create everything or was it just the result of a big bang and a lot of slime? Did the creation take place in a literal six days or was it six million years? Was there a talking snake or is this only an allegory, a story? Was there even a Garden of Eden?

Have you ever wondered why G-d created the earth, man and everything else on the earth? I have! In fact I have a hard time understanding why He even did. After all from the very beginning He had nothing but problems with us. I've read Beresheet 1:1 over and over again and I've contemplated on it and meditated on it.

Now I don't claim to be a biblical guru, but it sure seems that the creation as described in Beresheet 1:2-31 was not G-d's first attempt at earth. Is it possible that G-d didn't get it right the first time so He had to start over again? If so is there another record somewhere of another Beresheet?

You know, when we think about it, there are a lot more questions then there are answers and maybe some day, either in this world or the next we will get the answers.

As a rabbi, most of the questions I've mentioned above have been asked of me. Could that be why so many believers have not developed a healthy, prosperous relationship with G-d? Because they've never gotten past Beresheet 1:1 in their faith. The problem I believe lies with the fact that too many believers spend less time seeking the perfection as described in Beresheet then they do in making excuses for why they don't live a life pleasing to G-d.

The account of creation and the Garden of Eden suggests that man was to live harmoniously with his environment. G-d didn't put us on the earth and expect us to fend for ourselves, although Torah does say that we were to tend and protect the Garden.

As I see it, the L-rd's intention, was for our relationship with Him to be the same as a small child's with their parents. Parents supply a peaceful, protected, supportive environment in which the child can grow and prosper. But then there are rules of the household, that have to be adhered to, choices to be made that deal with right and wrong. When I was a kid, I had a curfew until the day I moved out!

Beresheet is not so much about creation as it is about relationship. Before creation there was nothing but darkness: Beresheet 1:2: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep....." The forces of darkness had dominion over whatever it was that was out there. But G-d brought light into the darkness, exposed it for what it was and He liked what He saw, it as good: Beresheet 1:4: "And G-d saw the light, that it was good: and G-d divided the light from the darkness."

Now as I see it, there were two very special trees in the Garden, one represented darkness, "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," and the other represented light "the tree of life." The darkness, I believe is Satan and the light is Yeshua and there was a battle going on, a battle that obviously started long before man appeared on the scene. However now there was a new battle ground, earth. G-d also prepared a prize, the souls of man. Scripture doesn't tell us exactly when Satan sinned and fell, but it doesn't take a Torah scholar to determine that it was prior to the creation of earth and man, because he was already here to greet us when we arrived. So you see Beresheet is not so much about creation as it is about choice and it's about our relationship with G-d. Is all this over your head and a bit confusing? Think about it, maybe it was meant to be! We may have all the questions but we sure don't have all the answers.

A lot of us believe that faith started with Avraham (Abraham), we look at him in fact, as the father of faith. But do you know what? The more I read the account of creation the more unanswerable questions I come up with, therefore I've concluded that faith starts with Beresheet (in the beginning).

I pray G-d will say of me what He said of Avraham. "Yaacov" (Rabbi Jack) believed and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

****************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Jack (Yaacov) Farber

Hallelujah to our L-rd, our Teacher, our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
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Shalom Shalom....

[andrewblow]

There are others here - including myself - that would echo that prayer. G-D bless you for your ministry.

Andrew

[theja]

Yes, I too believe that faith for redemption was there before the calling of Abraham.

But humans having minds of their own rebelled against God right from the start as evidenced in the muder of Abel. Adam and Eve were deceived; Cain knowingly rebelled. And as humans multiplied, they united against God in their symbolic coming together in the Tower of Babel. So there was wickedness in both pre and post flood.

To preserve His redemption plan from the man-made religions, God called Abraham and set the stage rolling, so to speak. Even here God's love is universal for He plans to bless all mankind (Genesis 12:1-3).

The unfolding goes ... Abraham to Jacob to Israel to David to Jesus, in short. After God's revelation was complete (enough to guide mankind, 2 Peter 1:3) through the experience of the Jews, the Messiah appeared. Now the redemption of God is fully revealed and proclaimed to all the world. Romans 1:16; Galatians 3:26-29.

The pre-Abraham God is the same as the Post-Abraham God. Only God used (privilege) the descendants of Abraham as instruments to carry his message to all mankind. God's focus is the world.

For that purpose God favored the Jews. At the same time, God dealt firmly with the Jews when they stepped out of line. The Babylonian captivity is an example.

[Edited by theja on 21st October 2003 at 23:00]