Parashah #3
Lekh L’kha ~ Get yourself out
Torah: B’resheet/Genesis 12:1~17:27
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu/Isaiah 40:27-41:16
B’rit Hadashah: Acts 7:1-8; Romans 3:19-5:6; Galatians 3:15-18;
Galatians 5:1-6; Colossians 2:11-15; Ivrim/Hebrews 7:1-19; Ivrim/Hebrews 11:8-12
This week’s Parashah (Torah Portion) “Lekh L’kha” is literally translated as “go for yourself” with a figurative meaning of “go for your own benefit and for your own good.”
Before we get started, here’s a little Hebrew gemmatria/numerology for ya! The Hebrew letters for Lekh L’kah are (lah-mehd) lamed (kahf so-feet) kaf sofit, lamed, kaf sofit. Lamed has a numerical value of 30 and kaf has a numerical value of 20. SO 30 + 20 + 30 + 20 = 100. Avraham was 100 years old when Yitz’chak/Isaac was born. Coincidence??? Maybe, but I doubt it!!!
CHAPTER 12
There is a pretty tall order from The Almighty to Avram in verse 1! In fact, there are four directives:
• Get out of your country (away from everything familiar to you) You see, Avram’s father, Terach was THE chief idol maker in Ur and was quite wealthy. He had made a name for himself, through his trade and was known throughout the country of (Kahs-deem) Kasdim/Chaldees.
• Away from your kinsmen (away from everyone you know)
• Away from your father’s house (including even your family) Avram had lived a very comfortable life to this point. It is said that his home was quite luxurious.
• Go where I show you (no prior directions to an unknown location)
What a man of faith to leave all the creature comforts of his day to go to “who knows where”! Truly, Avram heard from The Holy One as there was no evangelist having tent revivals, not at that time!!! Nonetheless, he prepares to leave everything familiar to him. Interestingly, his nephew, Lot, chooses to go with him. (By the way, L-o-t is pronounced Loat and rhymes with boat, not the way we have been taught for years and years.)
Here, again, is a blue print for us. There WILL BE a time when we will be called away from all which is familiar and comfortable to us. As true followers of our Creator, will we be ready to go?
Immediately after the four directives are eight (double portion) blessings for obedience in verses 2-3 & 7.
• I will make you a great nation
• I will bless you
• I will make your name great
• You are to be a blessing
• I will bless those who bless you
• The one who curses you I will curse
• In you all the families of the earth will be blessed
• To your descendants I will give this land
I believe we see these verses being fulfilled even to this day when nations malign Isra’el.
(When the United States has pressured Israel to make concessions against the Word of God, the United States has suffered “like” consequences: i.e. Hurricane Katrina. The United States pushed Israel to uproot families in Gaza and then Katrina uprooted more than ten times as many Americans from their homes.)
11.17.05, Cindy Hemenway-Brodie (Now married to my bro, Jim Brodie), my friend who used to live in Jerusalem sent the following . . . “Batyah – At the beginning of this year’s Torah cycle, I began studying with Rabbi Yaakov Youlus who is an orthodox Rabbi who works closely with CFI. He is passionate for Torah and has been studying his whole life. He shared something that I wanted to pass on to my friends who love Torah.
Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you”. Rabbi Yaakov said he recently read a commentary (sorry, can’t remember which one – except I know he had a famous grandson) that explained that the third time the word “blessed” is used in this verse it means “grafted”!! In other words – All peoples of the earth will be grafted through you. He got so excited, because he understands what the Christians know about being grafted in. Now, in trying to pin point him down as to how and why that is, I was not able to understand. It has to do with grammar and the way it is used in the sentence. Wow. . . .”
When Lot first leaves with his Uncle Avram, verse 5 says “and Lot went with him. The Hebrew word used there is (ee-toe) ito, meaning to go with, follow after, be part of. At this point in Lot’s life, he was the faithful, trusted and able student. But, as Paul Harvey said, “stay tuned for the rest of the story”.
Avram enters Kena’an/Canaan; the Lord appears to him and promises to give his descendants “this land”. Avram continues to journey toward the Negev but, because there is a famine in the land, he decides to go to Egypt. Why do (Yah-ah-kove) Ya’akov/Jacob and his family and Yosef/Joseph, the carpenter, and his family come to mind, hmmmmm!?!?!?!? Is this the beginning of a pattern?
Verses 12-20 tell us this great man of God, Avram, asks his wife Sarai to lie about their relationship as husband and wife, to protect his life. Long story short, she does and he is given great wealth by Pharaoh, when the truth is learned, to get them to leave the country. There is a great parallel between Avram and Ya’akov. Each go into Egypt, plagues come upon Pharaoh and both amass great wealth before leaving Egypt. Very interesting!
Holding Marriage Sacred: The Almighty takes marriage very seriously. In the Scriptures, adultery is a sin punishable by death. Today people change partners and spouses more often than their apartments and houses. Nevertheless, The Creator has NOT changed how He feels about marriage. He still holds the marriage union as sacred. Pharaoh abducted Avram’s wife, Sarai, for his harem but he never did get around to consorting with her. Rather than let Sarai’s marriage be defiled, The Holy One struck the unsuspecting Pharaoh and his household with a painful, disabling disease. This is a good example of how something seemingly bad can actually be meant for good. Pharaoh probably could not see any good in being sick but the disease spared him from committing a great sin.
Pharaoh probably consulted with his wise men and priests, who identified the phenomenon as some sort of divine disfavor. They determined Sarai, the new addition to the household, must be the source of the problem. Putting two and two together, they realized she must have been a married woman. Pharaoh’s affliction was a punishment for attempting to transgress the bounds of marriage.
CHAPTER 13
So Avram leaves (Mitz-rah-yeem) Mitzrayim/Egypt and goes back to the (Neh-gehv) Negev and eventually to Beit-el/Bethel, which means House of God; where he first built the altar and called on the name of Yehovah. (verses 1-4) Oh, BTW, in this same area is a place called Ramallah (house of Allah) and is the headquarters for the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Org.)
“WITH YOU ~ ITO VS IMO”
Verse 1 says “and Lot was with him”, (This is “the rest of the story”!), but this time the Hebrew word used is (ee-moe) imo and carries the connotation of, I am with you as an equal. By this time, because of his uncle’s kindness, Lot has amassed his own flocks and herds, and no longer views himself as subordinate to Avram.
Avram said to Lot (verse 8), “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.” In the land of Kena’an/Canaan, water was limited, and the two kinsmen found it impossible to stay together. Their herdsmen quarreled over grazing territory and water rights. So Lot “gits and splits” to Sodom to free himself from the shackles of having a mentor.
Actually, in this relationship, Avram was Lot’s senior and was clearly in a position of authority over Lot. He could have sent Lot away or sent him back to Haran, or assigned him to any scrap of ground he chose. Instead, Avram chose to give Lot the first choice of territory and be content with whatever remained.
Philippians had not been written at this time but I am reminded of Chapter 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Most people don’t ordinarily behave this way. Usually, they look out for their own interests, and when a quarrel rears up, they do their best to come out on top! Looking out for “number one” is human nature, but it is not Godly nature.
By giving Lot the first choice of the land, Avram exemplified a spirit of humility and heart of love. To Avram, preserving peace between brothers was more important than success or prestige. Predictably, Lot chose the best land for himself. Lot was not wicked; he was a normal sort of person, self-serving and looking out for his own interests. Needless to say, Avram was not normal. He was quite atypical!
There is a deep symbolic instruction in Lot’s separation from Avram. Every act has its consequences for the future and we see this played out in Lot’s life. Although he knew right from wrong, Lot became trapped by the society where he chose to live. As we will learn later, he became so depraved he even offered his daughters for the sexual pleasure of the Sodomites. To me this indicates major spiritual deterioration. Because he wanted to maintain his reputation for hospitality, he condoned the immorality of his neighbors by prostituting his own daughters.
If Lot could not maintain his moral integrity after separating from his teacher, what does this say to us about remaining accountable, teachable and humble? As we read in Mishlei / Proverbs 18:1 “He who separates himself indulges his desires and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.” It is imperative for each of us to be accountable in every area of our lives.
Again, Yehovah tells Avram in verse 15 “all the land you see, I will give to you and your descendants forever.” Did you notice this promise was not made until AFTER Lot left? Interesting!!!!
CHAPTER 14
This chapter is referred to as “The War of the Kings”. Up to this point, we haven’t seen Avram as militant in any way. As a matter of fact, when they went into Mitzrayim/Egypt, he was “plumb wimpy”, if you ask me!
Our brother, Lynn Greuter, found an interesting “first mention” in this chapter.
This is the first mention of the Amalekites, (who have land??) Forerunners of
Amalek who hasn’t even been born yet! (Genesis 14:7) His birth is over 100
years away in Genesis 36:12. (He was born to Esau) How can someone have
land who isn’t even born??? There are only three people, other than Yeshua,
who are prophesied of before their birth in scripture. Amalek here, Cyrus in
Isaiah and Agag in Numbers. All three play a prominent roll in the history of
Israel. And out of the three, the worst is mentioned first. Very notable if you
ask me!!!” You go, Bro. Lynn!!!
Anyway, in verses 14-17 we learn Lot and his possessions are taken captive. Word gets back to Avram about the plight of his nephew, so he takes 318 of his men to rescue Lot. Three hundred is the number of faithful remnant and 18 is the numerical value of (khigh) chai/life. Greatly outnumbered, Avram miraculously triumphs. Although entitled to them, he refuses any of the spoils but did not deprive any of his men of their rightful share. By refusing the spoils, he proved he acted to save his nephew, not out of a desire for any personal gain. As a man of integrity, he also showed he wouldn’t deprive others of what was theirs.
Additionally, concerning the number 318 . . . 3+1+8 = 12. Twelve is the number of divine government, power, rule, and authority. Now we know how “greatly outnumbered, Avram miraculously triumphs”.
Here are some scriptures where we find the number 12 used:
• Jacob had 12 sons ~ B’resheet/Genesis 35:22
• Ishmael had 12 sons who were rulers ~ B’resheet/Genesis 17:20
• Israel was divided into 12 tribes ~ Vayikra/Exodus 24:4
• Yeshua chose 12 disciples who were foundational for & governed The Way ~ Luke 6:13
• The 12 apostles will rule with Yeshua in the coming kingdom ~ Matthew 19:28
• 12 months govern a year and in today’s culture there are 12 hours per day / night
• 12 is the number of the New Jerusalem
o 12 gates which are 12 pearls
o 12 angels at the gates
o 12 foundations with the names of the 12 apostles written on it
o 12 stones on the foundations
o 12 crops of fruit on the Tree of Life ~ one for each month
o 12 X 12 (144) cubits thickness of the wall
• Yeshua was 12 when He first appeared in public
• 12 seems to be linked with the elective purposes of The Almighty!
In verses 18-20 we are introduced to (Mahlkee Tzeh-dehk) Malki-Tzedek/King of Righteousness, the King of Salem or Shalem/King of Peace. We can find no genealogy for this individual and many think/believe this was Yeshua. He was (koh-hen) cohen/priest of (Ehl ‘Ehl-yown) El ‘Elyon/God Most High. Did you notice He brought out bread and wine and blessed Avram? According to Ivrim/Hebrews 7:3, “there is no record of his father, mother, ancestry, birth or death; rather, like the Son of God, he continues as a cohen/priest for all time.” Also, we have here the “first mention” of the tithe. Avram gave this “king” one-tenth of everything! Here we go again . . . if we don’t see foreshadows of Yeshua HaMashiach in Torah I’ll kiss your foot!!!!!
CHAPTER 15
According to verse 1, Avram has a vision, in which The Holy One tells him not to be afraid because He, Yehovah, will protect Avram and Avram’s reward will be very great. In verses 2-6, I’m not sure if Avram is whining or if he is speaking boldly before his Creator. Which ever, it elicits a response from The Almighty indicating Avram’s heirs will be from his own body and be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Again, The Holy One encourages Avram saying He has brought Avram from his home to give him possession of the land. (Verses 7-12) But Avram apparently needs some visible sign to assure him this will take place. So The Almighty says to bring him . . .
• A three year old cow
• A three year old female goat
• A three year old ram
• A dove and . . .
• A young pigeon
Avram does so, splits them in two, places the pieces opposite each other but he didn’t split the birds. Verse 11 states birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Avram drove them away.
I want to encourage all of us from the above. Through Yeshua, we have been promised the victory, in whatever our situation, however, even when we are making sacrifices to HaShem, the enemy will come to “steal . . . and destroy” but we must rise up like Avram and drive the enemy away!
A deep sleep comes upon Avram. The translation seems to indicate he went into a trance and was frightened by it. Then we read a very detailed prophecy about the coming Egyptian slavery as well as the deliverance in verses 12-16.
The smoking fire pot and flaming torch appeared and passed between the animal parts in verse 17. I’m sure this symbolizes something but I couldn’t put it all together. Could this be a precursor to the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night? According to the Artscroll Chumash commentary, “the furnace (smoking fire pot) and fire (flaming torch) symbolized the Divine Presence was there to seal the covenant.” It is also believed they represented the darkness and fire that would be present at Mt. Sinai.
In the ancient ritual of covenant, the two covenant parties walked between the halves of a dead animal(s) and called down on themselves the fate of the animals if they should violate the agreement. One of the Torah Teachers (I think, Rico Cortes) indicated instead of Avram and The Almighty walking between the two halves, The Almighty walked through the halves for both of them after causing a great sleep to fall upon Avram. Thus, The Holy One made Himself responsible for following the covenant for both of them. Later on, The Holy One would do it Himself, again, when He provides His own Son as the Passover Lamb.
CHAPTER 16
The parallels of our Creator’s permissive will and perfect will come to light in verses 1-12.
Sarai, still being barren, suggests Avram take her “slave-girl”, Hagar, so they might have a child. The last sentence of verse 2 says “Avram listened to what Sarai said.” I do believe it is wise counsel for a husband to listen to his wife especially when a decision will have a major impact on both parties. However, I wonder if Avram would have been quite so eager to comply had Sarai suggested something other than a pleasurable experience for him.
Tradition tells us Hagar was Pharaoh’s daughter. In other words, she was a princess. Remem-ber, Sarai was taken into Pharaoh’s court to become his wife and many calamities came upon the Egyptians but not to Avram and his family. So Pharaoh released Sarai and Avram to go to Canaan and sent his daughter, Hagar, with them saying it was better for her to be a servant in their house than a princess in someone else’s.
In the days of the patriarchs, men practiced polygamy, especially for the sake of preserving the family lineage. Culturally, Avram was free to take a second wife at any time. However, in 87 years, despite Sarai’s bareness, he had chosen to remain faithful to his one wife. Sarai’s plan to have another woman conceive on her behalf seems strange to us, but probably not as strange as our use of artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization would seem to her.
Based on verses 3-6, I found myself vacillating with feelings from Sarai to Hagar and back. Gosh, here is a barren woman. At the time, this was a disgrace and grounds for divorce, still Avram didn’t divorce her. He did, however, give in to Sarai’s wishes. At first the plan seemed to be working well. Then young and fertile Hagar is used for a “baby-making” machine and she becomes pregnant quickly. Instead of bearing a son for Sarai, Hagar regarded herself as a wife of equal standing and acts arrogantly towards Sarai. Sarai maintains her position which causes Hagar to become frustrated so she runs away.
(As I was typing the above, I thought, “Isn’t this just exactly the way we act sometimes, especially in our fellowships!” Something happens which isn’t the way we think it should be, so we just take a hike! The angel of Yah is likely to be telling us to get back into fellowship, at least somewhere. After all, Ivrim/Hebrews 10:25 says we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves. In other words, don’t cut yourself off just because you don’t agree! It makes you a prime target for HaSatan/the devil.)
What would you do if you were Avram? He had consented to the affair only at Sarai’s request. Now she comes lodging accusations at him, calling down curses on him and blaming him for her mistake. Most husbands would respond with a sharp rejoinder: “Hey, it was your bright idea, now it’s your problem. Don’t blame me.” But Avram was not like most husbands. Instead of returning Sarai’s recriminations, he listened past the verbal abuse and heard the pain of her heart. She was wounded, hurting and desperately afraid of losing her husband to her maidservant. Avram saw Hagar no longer considered herself as Sarai’s servant. She considered herself as Sarai’s peer. So, he told Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight (verse 6). Avram affirmed Hagar was still subordinate to Sarai and Sarai had not been replaced by the younger woman in Avram’s eyes. He passed the test by remaining true to his wife.
Rabbi Aryeh Levin has a very good comment. “It is incongruous to believe a woman as righteous as Sarai would persecute another human being out of personal pique. Rather, Sarai treated Hagar as she always had, but in light of Hagar’s newly inflated self-image, she took it as persecution.”
In verses 7-8, the angel of Yehovah, whom I believe was/is Yeshua, finds Hagar, calls her Sarai’s “slave-girl”, asks her where she has been and where she is going, as if He didn’t already know. Then He tells her to return and be submissive to her mistress’s authority. (According to the Jerusalem Bible, “in the most ancient texts, ‘the angel of Yahweh’ is not a created being, but is God himself in a form visible to men.” Believing in the triune nature of our Holy Father gives credence to this angel being Yeshua. In fact, the term, “the angel of the Lord” is used 79 times and “an angel of the Lord” is used 18 times in Scripture. Each time it is a reference to this same matter.)
Verses 11-17 are full of (eve-reet) Ivrit/Hebrew and prophecy. Hagar learns her son’s name is to be Yishma’el/Ishmael, which means God pays attention or God has heard. Then we are told the prophecy about Yishma’el.
• He will be like a wild donkey
• His hand against everyone
• Everyone’s hand against him
• Living at odds with (in close proximity to) all his kinsmen (even to this day!)
Because the angel of Yehovah had spoken with Hagar, she named Him(Ehl Roe-ee) El Roi/God of seeing or God of vision because she had seen Him and stayed alive! Consequently, the well where the spring was along the road to Shur, was named (Beh-her Lah-khi Roe-ee) Be’er-Lachai-Roi/Well of the one who lives and sees.
Out of the Almighty’s permissive will, Ishmael is born and becomes the father of 12 princes. On the other hand (Yitz-kahk) Yitzchak/Isa’ac is the product of The Holy One’s perfect will and be-comes the father of the 12 patriarchs. (Acts 7:1-8)
CHAPTER 17
In verses 5-15 we learn about the breath of God blowing into Avram and Sarai. The very breath which created the universe in B’resheet/Genesis 1 is the same breath which caused a barren Sarai to conceive. At the same time, Avram (exalted father), became Avraham, (father of many nations) and Sarai (mockery) became Sarah (princess), and the mother of many nations. (Ivrim/Hebrews 11:3-12)
The Hebrew letter hey (ה) has a numerical value of five which represents grace. Since the letter hey represents the breath of God as we read above, it has a significant impact upon one’s name and life. Shortly after I received my Hebrew name Batya, I heard this teaching about the breath of God so I inquired of my Rabbi, at the time, if I could put a hey on the end of my Hebrew name and this is why I spell it bet (ב), tav (ת), yod (י), hey (ה), B-a-t-y-a-h! בתיה Batyah!!!
In verse 11 we have the “first mention” of the number 8.
As this parashah closes, at the age of 99 Avraham receives his (breet meh-lah) b’rit milah / covenant of circumcision. “You are to be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; this will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. Dor v’dor/Generation after generation, every male among you who is eight days old is to be circumcised including slaves born within your household and those bought from a foreigner not descended from you. . . . thus my covenant will be in your flesh as a (breet oh-lahm) b’rit olam/everlasting covenant.” (verses11-13) Did you notice Avraham didn’t blurt out, “Say what??? You want me to cut myself where???” Furthermore, did you notice this wasn’t just for this generation and the covenant wasn’t just for the Hebrew people? And what is it about “generation after generation” and “everlasting covenant”, don’t we understand? Notice, too, he was in the covenant for several years prior to this event.
At this same time, Ishmael was 13 years old, which is the current day’s age of a young Hebrew man receiving his Bar Mitzvah and “coming of age”. Do you think there might be a correlation here? I do!
One other matter! Brother Lynn Greuter brought this “law of first mention” to my attention: “There are two first’s (law of first mention) in this parashah, one is the concept of
being “bought for a price”. This is the first time someone can inherit the covenant
and blessings by being purchased. Genesis 17:12, 13, 23, & 26. (And they say the
Gentiles were brought in at Pentecost . . . give me a break . . .)
Thanks Brother Lynn!
Lekh L’kha ~ Get yourself out
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu/Isaiah 40:27-41:16
This haftarah has two of my favorite passages of scripture. The Holy One has always been faithful to provide strength and endurance for me as it says 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (KJV) Again in chapter 41:10-13, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand. All those who were angry with you will be disgraced, put to shame; those who fought against you will be destroyed, brought to nothing. You will seek them but not find them, those who contended with you; yes, those who made war with you will be brought to nothing, nothing at all. For I, Yehovah, your God, say to you, as I hold your right hand, ‘Have no fear; I will help you’.” (Complete Jewish Bible) He has been faithful to sustain me against my adversaries. Baruch Yehovah/bless the Lord!!!
In this haftarah we find Avraham/Abraham in Yesha’yahu/Isaiah 41:8 & 9, in the form of a promise from Yah to his chosen Servant Isra’el (Avraham’s offspring). This is the link between the Torah portion and the haftarah. Another thing I think is rather obvious in these passages is Yah consistently affirms the covenant blessing promised to Isra’el many years earlier: possession of the Promised Land and the blessings and protection from those who oppose her! Also, this “servant” is the Hebrew word for bondservant. The bondservant lives in the house of the Lord and is totally under His protection. Therefore, His right hand (41:10) indicates the protection of His covenant with Avraham.
According to the Stone Edition of the Artscroll Chumash, Yesha’yahu/Isaiah proclaims, “God gives strength to the weary . . .” Those who trust in Him will find new strength and ultimately prevail. We need to realize, despite how the events may appear; the only intelligent course is to serve Yehovah and Him alone for surely He will deliver us, as well as the nation of Israel. We must have faith/trust in Yah and His assurances for good to triumph. Israel may seem weak and helpless as a worm (verse 14) but she will triumph in the end and defeat those who have come against her.
Lekh L’kha ~ Get yourself out
B’rit Hadashah: Acts 7:1-8; Romans 3:19-5:6; Galatians 3:15-18;
Galatians 5:1-6; Colossians 2:11-15; Ivrim/Hebrews 7:1-19; Ivrim/Hebrews 11:8-12
Acts 7:1-8 According to Acts 6:8-15, Stephen has been accused of not teaching Torah and is taken before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious court. In these verses Stephen very succinctly tells of the faithfulness of Avraham to Yehovah and vice versa. What a guy!!!
Did you notice the false witnesses were saying Steven was NOT teaching Torah. Therefore, he WAS teaching it! So much for the modern church teaching of Yeshua’s death did away with it. If so, nobody told Steven!
Romans 3:19-5:6 In Romans 3:19-31, I believe, verse 27 is the key verse here: 27 “Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of Torah? By a Torah of works? No, but by the Torah of faith.” Here, Paul is making a difference between the Oral Torah (works) and the Written Torah. Yes, there were and are two Torahs. One is man-made and one is God made.
Is the Apostle Paul saying the Torah is done away with? Not when we read verse 31. This is where the Church and even some Messianics go wrong in thinking the Torah has been set aside because faith has always been critical in our walk with Yehovah. Abraham demonstrated to us faith was the critical factor in following God. Abraham obeyed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. Was Abraham saved by grace? Yes! Did grace replace following the commandments of God? Of course not! Does Torah save? Absolutely Not! It points the way to the One who does! (According to Ya’akov/James 4:12, there is only one law (Torah) giver who has the power to save and to destroy. Therefore, Yeshua wrote the Torah.)
What about the Torah being only for the Jews and not for the Gentiles/pagans or the Nations? Verses 29 and 30 deal with this issue as well.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Paul clearly states both Jew (circumcised) and non-Jew (uncircumcised) are both saved by faith in Yehovah. We are all on equal footing together and no one is better than the other. By faith we are all saved and together we walk according to all Yeshua taught us and what He taught us was the Torah. I can not state it more strongly than I have. I will probably bore some by my constant repetition of the fact of one’s walk with Yeshua is based upon faith first and Torah obedience after. We must never lose sight of the goal we all must aim for and the goal is Yeshua.
The Word of God was in the beginning with the Father. Yeshua has always been with the Father. Yeshua is the living Word of God and the Word of God is the Torah. So the Torah has always been and to say otherwise is to deny the Word of God. The choice is yours – it is my prayer you make the right one.
Galatians 3:15-18 These verses clearly define B’resheet/Genesis 12:7; 13:5 and 17:7 “. . . and to your seed . . .” In the natural, Avraham had “seeds”. However, here, Rav Sha’ul/Rabbi Paul explains the one “Seed” as the Messiah.
Galatians 5:1-6 These verses parallel B’resheet/Genesis 17:12-26 with regard to b’rit milah/covenant of circumcision. However, it is important to know these verses are directed to the Gentiles who have been told they not only must believe in Yeshua but have to become Jews in order to be accepted by The Almighty. This is absolutely NOT the case. This is an example of legalistic Oral Torah followers causing problems by trying to Judaize new believers. Rav Sha’ul/Rabbi Paul is emphasizing the Gentiles do not have to circumcise the flesh to become followers of Yeshua, rather it is the circumcision of one’s heart and having faith/trust in Yehovah alone which causes one to be accepted by Yehovah. Oh, by the way, circumcision of the heart is from Torah. Check out D’varim/Deuteronomy 30:6
Colossians 2:11-15 These verses cover the same subject as the message to the Galatians only this time it is to the Messianic Community in Colosse. Here Sha’ul/Paul had an additional problem to deal with. Colosse also had gnostics perverting things with teachings such as “Jesus didn’t die. He was brought off the cross alive, married Mary Magdeline and had children.” These are addressed in verse 8 where Paul talks about philosophy and vain deceit. Later in verse 14, he addresses ordinances which can also translate civil law or dogma. Again, we find Oral Torah being done away with at the end of verse 14. Notice in verse 16, Paul is telling them to ignore these false teachings and keep Sabbath, Kosher and The Feasts of the Lord.
Ivrim/Hebrews 7:1-19 I get so excited when I read Ivrim/Hebrews 7:1-19!!! This particular scripture reading has always been interesting to me but once I had an understanding of B’resheet/Genesis 14:18-20 plus the verses immediately before and after, it means even more. Once again, I believe we see shadows of the Messiah in the Torah!!!
Ivrim/Hebrews 11:8-12 As most of us know, Ivrim/Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith” chapter. However, in The Complete Jewish Bible translation, the word “faith” has been translated as “trusting” and I find it most fitting. Avraham “trusted” and obeyed The Holy One, to go out, having no idea where he was going, living in accommodations quite unlike any he had been accustomed to during his lifetime. In fact, all of the verses from 8-12, show how Avraham had complete faith/trust in Yehovah.
The corresponding Psalm for this Torah portion is: Psalm 110
Next week’s lesson: Parashah #4
Vayera ~ ריאו ~ He appeared
Torah: B’resheet/Genesis 18:1~22:24
Haftarah: M’lakhim Bet/2nd Kings 4:1-37
B’rit Hadashah: Luke 17:26-37; Romans 9:6-9; Galatians 4:21-31; Ivrim/Hebrews 6:13-20; Ivrim/Hebrews 11:13-19; Ya’akov/James 2:14-24; Kefa Bet/2nd Peter 2:4-10
Who fills his mind with Torah clears it of fear and folly. ~ Rabbi Chanina Sgan HaKohanim
Organize yourselves into classes for the study of Torah, since it can best be acquired in association with others. ~ Talmud: Berkot 63b
