First, through the power of His word, Adonai established parallelism during creation. On the first day, He brought forth light, and on the fourth day, He created the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. Similarly, on the second day, Adonai formed the sky and waters, corresponding to the fifth day when He created creatures in the air and water. Furthermore, on the third day, Adonai produced fruits and vegetables to serve as sustenance for the humans He would create on the sixth day. These parallels demonstrate that our Creator, Adonai YHVH, is both all-knowing and all-powerful.
Second, through the power of Adonai's word, everything He created was deemed good. Genesis chapter one reaffirms this goodness seven times. The Hebrew word used for good is "tov." It is likely that Adonai declared His creation good because they effectively fulfilled the functions for which He designed them. Here, we discern His original intent for creation, which is to bring glory to Him.
Third, through the power of Adonai's word, He created humans in His own image. In Psalm 139:13-14, David writes, "For it was You who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You because I have been fearfully and wonderfully made." This passage serves as a reminder that we should be content with everything we have. We need not seek worldly remedies to alter our appearance. When Adonai said, "Let Us make man in Our image," it signifies a righteous image, for Adonai is righteous. Regrettably, this righteous image was tarnished when humans sinned. However, the good news is that Romans 5:19 states, "For as by one man's (Adam's) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's (Yeshua's) obedience many will be made righteous." Through Yeshua, we can regain that righteous image when we declare and receive Him as our Lord and Savior and diligently work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).
Fourth, through the power of Adonai's word, we have been given authority to rule over other creatures. This authority establishes a unique relationship between humans and creation. We are Adonai's representatives to govern over His creation. With this authority comes the responsibility of stewarding the earth.
Fifth, through the power of Adonai's word, there is a theme of separation. Adonai separates light from darkness, waters from waters, and sanctifies the seventh day by resting in it. When Adonai called Moses to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, it signified a separation from Egypt, which symbolizes paganism and the patterns of the world. In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, when Adonai provided instructions on permissible and forbidden foods, it was to separate us from unclean things. Our Creator detests syncretism and desires separation because He is holy. The Apostle Paul affirms this in Romans 12:2, urging believers not to conform to the pattern of this pagan world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.
Last, through the power of Adonai's word, He ordained a day of rest for us. Adonai did not rest on the seventh day due to weariness; rather, He established it as a model for the human work cycle. Yeshua stated in Mark 2:27-28, "The Shabbat was made for man, and not man for the Shabbat. Therefore, the Son of Man is also the Lord of the Shabbat." Here, it is evident that the Sabbath is intended for all mankind, not just Israel. Yeshua proclaimed Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, as seen in Luke 4:16 when He observed it as His customary practice. The Sabbath is a moed, a fixed appointed time, and therefore, no one has the authority to change it. Our Creator established it, and it is our responsibility to follow and rest on the same day.
Now, let us proceed to our Haftarah portion. As we examine verse 5, we observe Adonai's role as the Creator of the Cosmos (Greek term for Universe) and His plan to fulfill His will through Messiah Yeshua. In Isaiah 49:6b, it is stated, "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." Aside from Yeshua, it is the role of Israel to be a light to the Gentiles or nations by spreading the power of Adonai's word. In Isaiah 42:7, it is proclaimed that through the power of Adonai's word, blind eyes will be opened, captives will be set free, and those who dwell in darkness will be brought into the light. This resonates with my personal experience. I was trapped in a twelve-year-long drug addiction and was admitted to a Rehabilitation Center, where I had to complete a six-month program. During my second month, I struggled immensely and turned to playing basketball to alleviate my sorrow. While on the court, tears streaming down my face, I noticed something written on the basketball. It was a Bible verse from Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." From that moment on, I began meditating on the word of Adonai, and I successfully completed the program. Through the power of Adonai's words, my life was transformed. Baruch HaShem!
Moving on to our Apostolic portion, Paul's letter to the Colossians addresses the challenges they faced in Colosse, a city in Phrygia within the Roman province of Asia (part of modern-day Turkey). Paul wrote this letter to warn the Colossians against the heretical teachings they had encountered. The primary issue was the denial of Yeshua's true humanity and the embrace of aspects of Jewish legalism, particularly the requirement of circumcision for salvation, given that the population of Colosse consisted mainly of Gentiles. In response, Paul exhorted them to combat these false teachings. He expressed his continuous prayers for them, asking that they be filled with knowledge and understanding. In verses 15-20, Paul defended Yeshua's divinity, emphasizing that He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one through whom all things were created and exist, the preexistent One who surpasses all, and the head of the body. Paul did this because he firmly believed in the power of Adonai's word, which is personified in Yeshua, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.
The connection between our Parasha and the subsequent portions is evident. In the Torah portion, the universe came into being through the power of Adonai's Word. In the Haftarah portion, the power of His Word brings sight to the blind, freedom to captives, and light to those dwelling in darkness. It emphasizes the role of Israel as a light to the nations. In the Apostolic portion, Paul emphasizes Yeshua's deity as the Word made flesh, who has the power to save us and transform our lives.
God's word is simply powerful. That's why He used it when He created the heavens and the earth, perhaps to restore it. And this is also what He used to change my life. So let us strive to meditate, study, and read His words, because its power is the solution to whatever we are going through.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Topher
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Adonai be praised!
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