Bereshit - “In the Beginning” The Basis of Self Loathing

Bereshit 1:1 – 6:8

 
1. In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth:
       
2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; And a wind from Elohim moved upon the face of the waters:
      
3. And Elohim said, Let there be light; and there was light:

4. And Elohim saw the light, that it was good; and Elohim divided the light from the darkness:
      
5. And Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night; And there was evening and there was morning, one day:

An apikarot once asked R. Akiva,”Who created the world?”
“HaShem,” replied R. Akiva.
“Prove it,” replied the apikarot
R. Akiva answered only, “Come back tomorrow.”
When the man returned on the following day, R. Akiva asked him, “What are you wearing?”
“ A robe.”
“Who made it?”
“The weaver.”
“I don’t believe it! Prove it,: demanded R. Akiva.
“That is ridiculous.  Can’t you tell from the fabric and design that a weaver made this garment?” said the man.
“And – can you not clearly tell that Hashem made the world?”
After the apikarot left, R. Akiva explained to his students, “ Just as a house was obviously built by a builder and a garment obviously built by a tailor, so was the world (Which follows a natural order) obviously made by a Creator!”
The Midrash Says, Beraishis, R. Moshe Weissman, 1980, p4

This portion discusses the creation epic.  It is amazing that so many in this world fall into the heresy of rejecting Torah, Elohim, Messiah, etc.  I had a great deal of trouble at one time in understanding how and why some people could be so blind.  Yet our prophets tell us that Elohim allows some to be blind, while removing the blinders from others.

Consider those who would put a higher value on an animals life than that of a human.  How is such a thing even conceivable?  They would protect the birth of an animal going to extra-ordinary measures to ensure a viable, safe, and easy birth.  Yet, these same individuals and organizations would fund and support the abortion of human babies.  Why?

Believe it or not, it is a natural Torah response to a decision and practice in their lives. 

That decision is the rejection of Torah.  The rabbis have taught that one who rejects Torah becomes less than an animal.  Being less than an animal, it only makes sense that those who would reject Torah would elevate the animal kingdom above the needs and rights of their own species.  The activities of the people enables a natural law that is a result of their actions against or for Torah.  The Torah actually gives us specific blessings and curses as we discussed in that final parashot from last cycle, and will revisit again in this cycle.

The Ketuvim Netzarim backs up this view point in Romans 1:18-25

18.    For the wrath of Eloah is revealed from heaven upon all the iniquity and the ungodliness of men, those who hold the truth in iniquity,
19.    Because the knowledge of Eloah is revealed among them, for Eloah revealed it among them.
20.    For the hidden things of Eloah from the foundations of the world by his creations, by [his] wisdom were made evident and power and godhead, which is eternal, that they might be without excuse,
21.    Because they knew Eloah and they did not glorify him as Eloah and give thanks to him but were made vain in their reasonings, and their heart was darkened, without understanding, .
22.    And while they were thinking in their nefeshot that they were wise they were fools,
23.    And they changed the glory of the incorruptible Eloah into the likeness of the image of a son of man who is corruptible and into the likeness of birds and of four-footed [animals] and of creeping things of the earth.
24.    Because of this, Eloah released them to the defiled lust of their heart that they might dishonor their bodies by them.
25.    And they changed the truth of Eloah into a lie, and they reverenced and served the created more than their creator, to whom [be] our praises and our blessings forever and ever.  Amen

By the rejection of the creator and His Torah, of a necessity people become animals by comparison.  Even elevating the needs of animals above the needs of humanity.

In verse 25 above we see the word “truth”.  What is Truth?  We, of a necessity, but use the text to define itself in the use of idiomatic euphemism phrases.  The psalms define “Truth” for us:

Psalm 119:142
Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.

Psalm 119:151
Thou [art] near, O YHWH; and all thy commandments [are] truth.

In these two witnesses, we see that the Torah is TRUTH!!  Most of the time this euphemism can be seen where ever the word “truth” is used in the English.  Most of the time when you see the word you can mentally substitute “Torah” in its stead.  When you do this, an amazing thing happens in your understanding of scripture, and especially in your reading of the Ketuvim Netzarim.

Of a special note, and on this closing:

Yochanan 8:32
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Shabbat Shalom.